Rhythm Exercises

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Accented Downbeat

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   
A-|.-7--------------|7-------------.|
E-|.-5---5---5---5--|5---5---5---5-.|

This is a simple rhythm that accents the downbeat but plays every beat.

Accented Downbeat and Backbeat

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4
A-|.-7-------7------|7-------7-----.|
E-|.-5---5---5---5--|5---5---5---5-.| 

Same thing but also accenting the 3rd beat, so this accents the on-beats - it's a classic on beat rhythm, reminiscent of the common "boom ssss taah ssss" drum pattern. The accent on the 3rd beat is called the backbeat.

Accented Downbeat w/ Upbeat

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   
A-|.-7--------------|7-------------.|
E-|.-5-----------5--|5-----------5-.|

Here we are accenting the down beat and using the up beat to enhance anticipation of the down beat.

Accented Downbeat and Backbeat w/ Upbeat

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   
A-|.-7-------7------|7-------7-----.|
E-|.-5-------5---5--|5-------5---5-.|

Kind of combines the above. We aren't simply accenting the on beats but using the up beat to enhance the down beat. Notice how the 1st beat has a bit more emphasis than the 3rd.

Off-Beat Accents

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   
A-|.-----7-------7--|----7-------7-.|
E-|.-5---5---5---5--|5---5---5---5-.|

Classic off-beat rhythm. Reminiscent of some ole west or folk music.

Odd-time Feel

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   
A-|.-7---7-------7--|7-------7-----.|
E-|.-5---5---5---5--|5---5---5---5-.|

Here we have a kind of hybrid, but the effect is that the first measure creates confusion and the second measure alleviates it by having a clear on-beat rhythm. It feels almost like we've left 4/4 and are in 3/4 with the kind of "bam bam sss|bam bam sss" pattern, but then the single accented power chord on the 3rd beat of the 2nd measure puts us back into 4/4.

Counting Odd-time Feel

     1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   
A-|.-7---7-------7--|7-------------.|
E-|.-5---5---5---5--|5-----------5-.|

Again, we have a hybrid rhythm that briefly implies a 3/4 feel, but we emphasize the down beat in the second measure and use the up beat to anticipate the down beat in the first measure.

     1   n   2   n   3       4   n   
A-|.-7---7-------7---7-------------.|
E-|.-5---5---5---5---5-----------5-.|

This is the exact same rhythm as the last tab but we've condensed it down to one measure. Set your metronome to half the tempo you previously used - now the duration is exactly the same. The only difference now is that you have to play eighth notes between the beats. This is a primer for more difficult stuff. Be sure to count!

     1   n   2   n   3       4   n   
A-|.-7---7-------7---7-------7-----.|
E-|.-5---5-------5---5-------5-----.|

This is the same as the first odd-time tab above, but now we're not playing anything in between the accented power chords. Also, we're using eighth notes instead of quarter notes, so we have to play between the beats. But we're not getting too difficult yet.

Rhythm Master

     1   2 n 3 n 4 n 1 n 2   3 n 4    
A-|.-7---7-7---7---7|--7-7---7-7-7-.|
E-|.-5---5-5---5---5|--5-5---5-5-5-.|

Ok, so now things are difficult! We start on beat but quickly switch off beat from the eighth note on the 1st measure 2nd beat. This persists all the way until the 2nd beat of the 2nd measure. This is very common in strumming patterns - the rhythmic pattern switches from on to off beat from measure to measure. Listen to R.E.M. Losing My Religion or Radiohead Fake Plastic Trees to name two off the top of my head.