Three Must Know Rock Rhythms

Steve Stine

Chords used in this lesson

A D G

w #w w
& 44 #w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w w

⁄
0 2 3
2 3 3
2 2 0
2 0 0
0 X
3

Basic beats

& V V V V V V V V
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

& V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

c d
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Offbeat/ Downbeat
Upbeat

1. Downstrokes on the last Upbeat

A

≥ ≥ ≥ ≥
& V V V V

I I I I
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Downstroke Downstroke Downstroke Downstroke

A D G A

≥ ≥ ≥ ≥
& V V V V
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
2. "The Eagles" Strum

≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤
& ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ?
Down Down Up Up Down Up Down Down Up Up Down Up

1 2 & & 4 &

≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤
& ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ?
Down Down Up Up Down Up Down Down Up Up Down Up

Using Chords

G D

≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤
& ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ?
Down Down Up Up Down Up Down Down Up Up Down Up

≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≤
& ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ?
Down Down Up Up Down Up Down Down Up Up Down Up

Using Sixteenh Notes

G D

≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≥ ≤
& ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ?
Down Down Up Up Down Down Up Down Down Up Up Down Down Up

≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥ ≤ ≤j ≥ ≥ ≤
& ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ‰ ? ? ? ?
Down Down Up Up Down Down Up Down Down Up Up Down Down Up
3. Offbeat accentuation

A G D A

≥j ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥j ≥j
& V ‰ V V V V V V ‰ ‰ ‰ V ‰ ‰ ‰ V
1 (&) 2
P.M.
& 3 & 4
¿ & (1) (&) (2) & (3) (&) (4) &

G D A

≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥j ≥j
& ‰ ‰ V V V V V V ‰ ‰ ‰ V ‰ ‰ ‰ V
(1) (&) 2
P.M.
& 3 & 4
¿ & (1) (&) (2) & (3) (&) (4) &

G D A

≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥j ≥j
& ‰ ‰ V V V V V V ‰ ‰ ‰ V ‰ ‰ ‰ V
(1) (&) 2
P.M.
& 3 & 4
¿ & (1) (&) (2) & (3) (&) (4) &

Variation

A G D A

≥j ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≤j ≥j ≤j ≥j
& V ‰ V V V V V V ‰ V ‰ V ‰ V ‰ V
1 (&) 2
P.M.
& 3 & 4
¿ & (1) & (2) & (3) & (4) &
 Guitar Notation Key
E‹

CHORD DIAGRAM RIGHT HAND

It illustrates how to form FINGERINGS
ACCENT a chord. The 6th string t (thumb) m (middle)

≥ ≤ ≥ ≥
Play this (thickest) is on the left. i (index) r (ring)

4 >˙ œ. œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ
note louder

Œ Œ œœ œ
t t i
m r m
STANDARD NOTATION is
&4 œœ œœ œœ œ
written on a five-line staff.
œ œ œ œ œ
STACCATO
œ œ œ
> ≥ ≤ ≥ ≥
Play this

.
note short
t t i m r m

⁄
0 0 0 0 0
TABLATURE represents the six 0 0 0 1 1 1
strings of the guitar. The first 5 7 0 0 0 2 2
2 2 2 2 2
string (thinnest) is on the top. 2 2 2 0 0
0 0 0
UPSTROKE
DOWNSTROKE

ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Hammer-On Pull-Off Vibrato Wide Vibrato

& œ œ & œ œ & ˙ & ˙

ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ ¯¯¯¯¯¯
⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
5 7 7 5 7 7

Pick the first note then Pick the first note then Bend and release Bend and release
sound the second by sound the second by the note continuosly the note continuosly
fretting it without picking. pulling the finger off and smoothly. and widely to alter
without picking. the pitch.

œ bœ œ
Whole Step Bend Half Step Bend
œ
Grace Note Bend Blues Bend

& œ & œ &

j
& œ
full 1/2 full 1/4

⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
7 7 7 5

Pick the note then bend Pick the note then bend Bend the string up Pick the note then
the string up one step. the string up a half step. immediately. bend the string up
slightly.

œ œ œ œ œ œœ
Bend and Release Pre-Bend Pre-Bend and Release Unison Bend

& œ œ œ
j j
Brackets
indicate that & œ
& &
this note
full should not full full full
be picked.

⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
5
7 7 7 7 7 7

Pick both notes at the

Pick only the first note then Before picking the note, First bend the string up same time, immediately
bend the string up one step. bend the string up. then pick the note and bend up the lower to
Finally release the bend. finally release the bend back. the pitch of the higher.
Legato Slide Airplane Slide
˙
Shift Slide
Ÿ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trill

& œ œ & & œ œ & œ œ

Ÿ~~~~~~~~~~~
⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
5 7 9 5 7 5 7

Pick the first note, then Quickly slide into the note. Pick the first note, then Quickly alternate between
slide to the next without slide to the next, then the two notes by
picking the last note. pick the last note as well. continuosly hammering
on and pulling off.

+ “”
Tapping Natural Harmonic Pinch Harmonic Harp Harmonic

& œ œ & ‚ & ‚ & ‚

+ Harm. P.H. H.H.

⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
7 5 5 5 5 17

Fret the first note by tapping it
with a finger of your picking hand,
then pull off to the second note.
Gently touch the string Pick the note normally, Gently touch the string
above the fretwire without immediately touch the above the indicated fretwire
pressing it. Pick it. Finally bring string with the thumb (in brackets) with your picking
your finger back immediately. of your picking hand. hand's index finger while
the pick strikes the fretted note.

¿ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pick Scrape Palm Muting Muffled Strings Rake
œ
¿¿
& & & ¿¿ &
¿
œ œ œ œ
P.S. rake ¿
P.M.

⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
5
X
X

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 3 3 3
X
Scrape the edge of the pick Gently rest the palm of
along the wounded strings. your picking hand near
the bridge to partially
mute the notes.
X
X
Gently rest your fret hand Quickly drag the pick
across the strings to obtain across the strings. Mute
a percussive sound by the first two strings.
stricking them with your
picking hand.

ææ ææ
œ œ
& õ œ õœ õ
Tremolo Picking Vibrato Bar Scoop Vibrato Bar Bend Arpeggiate
œ œ
& & œ œ œ & œœ
∏∏∏∏∏∏

¿ ¿
ææ8 ææ
õ5 õ7 õ9
w/bar w/bar

⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄
10
5
∏∏∏∏

4 2 4 5
5

Continuosly pick the notes Pull the bar down just before Pick the first note, Roll the pick across
as rapidly as possible. picking the note, immediately then pull the whammy the notes as indicated
release the bar. bar down to the indicated pitch by the arrow.
(in brackets), finally release
the bar back.

& ™™ ™™ & ™™ ™™
Repetition Signs Repetition Signs
1. 2.

D.C. al Fine

™ ™ ™ ™
Go back to the beginning of the song,

⁄ ™ ™ ⁄ ™ ™
then play until the mark "Fine", that
means "end".

D.S. al Coda
Repeat bars Repeat bars between signs.
between signs Go back to the sign ($),
First time play the first ending,
second time continue through then play until the bar marked (To CodaØ),
the second ending. then skip to the section marked (ØCoda)