The Most Important Thing A Guitar Player Can Do Is This

[@dbucka]

I’m about your age and a beginner guitarist. So your advice here is perfect. I find myself worrying about what I’m not learning and need to focus! Thanks!

[@steveb9325]

When I met my lead guitarist 40 years ago he couldn't play rhythm guitar to save his life! I taught him laying down grooves and he taught me some killer licks...we've come a long way! Excellent points and so true!!

[@michaellornie7910]

Well said jamming on an acoustic guitar is the fundamental and lead is the icing on the cake 🎉

[@jtarman70]

Been playing 36 years and I agree 100% with you Jimmy! Great advice to the younger ones, somebody has to lead the way. I had an old man that I used to play music with tell me the exact same thing. Leads, arpeggios, triads , riffs, it all sounds great.....laid on top of the tracks....a train can't move without tracks, a sailor can't sail without a boat....to all you young ones.....LEARN RHYTHM guitar first, then learn all the other stuff, you'll be glad you learned it that way when you are mine and Jimmy's age!

[@pennyparlay6520]

So true Jimmy. Feel is everything. If it don't feel good you got nothing. And the groove is it. If the band is locked in and steamroller, as a lead blues guy you just have to place a few notes just right, with just the right vibrato and there's nothing better! Of course that's easier said than done! Haha less is more ya know.

[@parickyates]

Yes Jimmy, please keep making these instructional videos. I’m a lifelong musician (drummer - love a good shuffle) adding guitar (acoustic mainly), and what you’re saying in the title and content of this video is absolutely correct. But as soon as I heard you play I said to myself, “ok this is a guy I have to follow.” So I subscribed.

[@stevecrawford3551]

These are wonderful fundamentals. It nice that you’re able to break it down with titles. Keep up the good work. 😀🥳😎

[@jdf3434]

Laying down the groove is what I learned today. That I can do!

[@billrogers5870]

Great Points! it is easy to get caught up inleads and flash and forget the groove really makes a song great

[@TheAlex8675309]

Hey Jimmy greetings! Just saw your channel🤠🎸a little colder where I live here in Canada! Happy new year🤠

[@JimmyDillon]

Happy New Year to you too! Stay warm.

[@Garyhubbard007]

Really enjoyed this video Jimmy. I need to learn some grooves. I know they are very important.

[@drewdietz2115]

I totally agree with you brother! Keep the groove going.

[@tonykehoe123]

Always had the foundation down below thank you Jimmy 👍

[@JimmyDillon]

You bet

[@georgemessenger7539]

Thanks buddy, happy New Year. You’re a stud.

[@Doowopsid]

Great video, thanks! I’ve been playing rhythm for years and have also always said that the solo is the icing on top but the rhythm is the cake. Whatever you play you have to have fun and enjoy doing it😊

[@tjstevens001]

Thanks, first time watching. I'll keep it up!

[@JimmyDillon]

Thanks for tuning in.

[@jamesmcdowell8441]

Solid advice !

[@Doowopsid]

Hey Jimmy, can you lay down the tabs for that little bluesy shuffle you play so well? Thanks

[@alexgramm5170]

Here we are and the 1-4-5 is still what it is. That's it. Play it ..absorb it and groove with the rythym of it... nice and easy. It's in all the songs you have heard. People like it. There are plenty of variations throughout blues , jazz.. et al. Well just saw you... never heard of you before. Amazing really. The phone.. We could sit right down and play like we been doing it for 20 yrs.

[@anthonywhite6530]

Excellent advice

[@davidmccaffery7977]

Laying down the groove 👍🎸🤠

[@lightfoot413]

thanks for sharing that info Jimmy...helps a great deal...

[@dougrhatigan1661]

Nice little acoustic groove in the garden ! Thanks Again and Happy New Year !

[@sobeit1927]

I put myself down cos I just can’t do all the spontaneous improv stuff after 40 plus years of playing . I absolutely can hold down a groove though and some seriously good ones at that . Thanks for the video .

[@JimmyDillon]

Rock on!

[@aquariumlife2929]

Same here. 40+ years no improv at all. Used to play 'sweet child of mine' , 'layla acoustic version' , 'sultans of swing' and so on solos, didn't miss a note, perfect timing and all. Today i can't remember any of that. Spent so many years decorating/memorizing notes of a solo for nothing. That being said Today i can still groove tho. I can play rich base guitars such as Nile Roger's 'lose yourself to dance' and Nirvana songs and is so much more joyful than having to memorize all those notes of a guitar solo . Is so exhausting to keep learning and practicing all those scales and modes expecting it will make you somehow magically play improv guitar one day i cannot care less about improvising anything today, playing a well played rich base guitar/groove makes me just as happy if not more...i can totally relate to what your 'saying'...not to count that guitar solos are out dated, most of them sound old , not grooves tho, a well played groove still rocks just as always did

[@MOAB-UT]

Nice soundtrack in the background. Goats for the GOAT.

[@Teeder]

Jimmy, thanks for sharing your insights with a fellow wannabe. I think I could really set that groove if I was in Hawaii with you. As it turns out, my fingers and toes are being bitten by Jack Frost in beautiful Ontario, Canada! I agree, a smokin’ groove can chase those clouds, blues, and frozen whatnots away! Keep your excellent videos coming. Happy New Year! I’m a fan.

[@mikecunningham7621]

Thanks Jimmy! I have learned a lot from you this year. Happy New Year!

[@JimmyDillon]

Thanks, Happy New Year to you too!

[@michaelcoppola7523]

Well said. A great point so frequently overlooked nowadays

[@P3photo]

Hardest thing for me to do. Years later and I’m still struggling with it. Mahalo, I was stationed on Oahu at the Air Force Base there for six years Hawaii became like my second home. I still miss it and love it today.

[@victorformosa228]

Thank you for these little nuggets of gold Jimmy.

[@Kawinomad]

Thanks so much

[@greggorsag9787]

For the win! Anyone who’s played lots of shows, recorded, etc. will agree with this. Hell, you can mis-fret half of the notes and if your rhythm/groove is pristine no one will care 😂 To be fair, though, there’s groove and there’s *groove*. After many years I can drop in with a click or stay solid on my own while singing or with a band, but I’ve got nowhere near the feel you’re showing just goofing around here. Very nice! By the way, I learned this listening to Mississippi John Hurt. He recorded mostly late in life after being re-discovered, so his fretting wasn’t always perfect. But his rhythm was elemental. Made the songs move like nothing else. Taught my kid this way. Rhythm first, until you’ve got that nothing else matters.

[@sideman7117]

I’m glad to see you playing that Martin again.

[@robertjuenemann5845]

Spot on, IMO.

[@rwr2643]

Some of the best advise i've ever heard about guitar playing .good vid Thanks and god bless

[@thehillbillyhoarder4996]

Thank you for taking the time to make and post this video. Happy New Year

[@1ststater611]

This is so much fun thanks 👍

[@Bigchurchmusic]

Absolutely correct

[@pennhill5459]

Great advice, well said

[@stevemurray2737]

You playing Boz Skaggs, “Lowdown” there? Sweet. Love the Martin.

[@carltonhinote2247]

What are those chords your playing here ? They sound good .

[@bgt7874]

You get all that: bleu skies, happy flowers, palmtrees and what not. Happiness, love, sex, goodtimes and laughter. All by playing the guitar.

[@leighcecil3322]

💯.. totally agree... I'm groove believer...🇦🇺👍

[@johnyblandofoz952]

HI JD... just found Ya M8... Sounds good... Looks good... letz do this... WE ARE ALL WITH YOU... PLEASE KEEPEM COMMIN...

[@RobertSweeney-fz1nb]

That was Awesome Jimmy! Just scrolling? You never know what you'll run into? Thanks

[@Sherman1862]

Aloha! Nice Video! what model Martin are you playing there? I like the cut away! : ) Happy New Year to all!

[@HappyJohnson-u3o]

Groovy

[@peterlaws1653]

beautiful

[@richardfinney3179]

Great info !, You remind me of TOMMY EMANUAL

[@JazzgutsVGvanKampen]

Certainly a good groove should be essential but when it's time to play solo you better got your chops down.

[@pennyparlay6520]

Steamrollin'

[@alienguitarabduction]

The best thing a guitarist can do is put down the guitar and go to Maui for a while to chill.

[@JimmyDillon]

Not a bad strategy.

[@mrx-b3i]

low down boz scaggs

[@chrispaulick]

I agree but I think learning independent thumb and finger picking / Travis picking will open up the door to great guitar playing. Check out Justin Townes Earle kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2maYqafgs2Vpq8si=xkRVnWRtKKY-msni kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqTKdKqDpLNobpIsi=KdRIprXKJgiM-UGC

[@jimkangas4176]

I wouldn't call that Travis picking, but it's very good!

[@chrispaulick]

Well I consider Travis picking really just independent thumb from fingers or index finger. Thumb is the bass rhythm and finger or fingers are lead. Roots back to delta blues and Piedmont blues players like Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins come to mind .Some of Justin’s playing style adds a drum with his frelling slam. Travis didn’t come up with that right hand style, he was just a white guy (that was very good at it) that people saw using it. IMHO Here’s Malcolm Holcombe a great guitar player and writer that we lost in March. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m365hIBundereqcsi=I6aMjLDwDaxCtdrg kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX7IqGSar5iJacksi=l0qoLmB-VqeIUCCW

[@johnlanham4050]

Yeah he is pretty good but he is no Chet Atkins!

[@RJ-lf8ex]

Anthony Bourdain….back from the dead

[@sidewaysrain7609]

Of course...... If you don't have a groove it's just noodling

[@tuneyouup]

Don’t like slap style

[@alan4sure]

That will get me exactly nowhere playing bluegrass. Slow,boring...

[@markmarsh27]

Putting the camera down low so your students can't see the chords you're playing is a major faux paux. You'll never grow your channel that way.

[@jamestaylor5231]

Sounds like Chinese to me lol