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DIME ONLINE/JTC Degree Rhythm Studies (Weeks 1-13)

1. Introduction to unit

Level: 4, Stage 1
Credits: 20 Credits

Tutor(s): Martin Goulding

Duration of 1 trimester (Study Block)
Unit:
Total Study 13 weeks
Time: Indicatively, this module will consist of:
• 26 hours of lectures (13 x 2.0 hours)
• Small groups/individual tutorials (7.5 hours)
• Peer chat groups/master-classes (7.5 hours)

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Unit Outline: The Rhythm Studies module provides you with the opportunity to study a wide
variety of rhythmic concepts across a range of musical genres. The concepts
examined in this module are intended to support the development of your
individual practice and will be applicable into the broader contexts of your
course.

In addition to identifying, applying and performing rhythmic concepts, you will

be asked to provide critical reflection on your own abilities and how the
concepts studied may inform your thinking around professional practice.

You will be expected to develop a strategic approach for doing the practice
and research required that employs effective time management. The module
is a mixture of directed and self- directed study, and lectures will be supported
with tutorials and group sessions.

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2. Scheme Of Work

Rhythm Studies

Week 1 Part 1: Folk/Rock Rhythm exercise

• Introducing a basic folk/rock groove with open chords

• Relearning the open G chord
• Applying internal melodies and bass-lines within a static chord shape
• Introducing basic syncopation and tied notes
• Using the repeat sign and observing metronome markings on a chart

Part 2: Folk/Rock in 3/4 time

• Playing folk/rock in 3/4

• Introducing the internal hammer-on
• Developing an alternate strumming pattern
• Relaxing the strumming hand and playing lightly
• Maintaining intensity and focus in rhythm playing

Week 2 Part 1: Rock and Roll Rhythms

• Developing a feel on a basic rock n roll groove

• Introducing the 8th note rest
• Adding lead licks to a rhythm part
• Introducing the technique of sliding into a chord
• Exploring the pitfalls of playing rhythm parts with overdrive

Part 2: Slow Blues

• Maintaining a steady tempo on a slow blues

• Introducing extended chord voicings on a blues
• Developing the half-step chord manoeuvre
• Introducing the triplet
• Opening up the neck

Week 3 Part 1: Rock/R&B Ballad Style

• Introducing the Rock/R&B ballad style

• Working with double-stops and ornamentation
• More complex chord slides
• More about letting notes ring within a chord
• Introducing melody into rhythm guitar playing

Part 2: 'Hendrix' Rhythm

• Introduction to Jimi Hendrix’s rhythm style

• Introducing the 7#9 and the 9th chord into rock playing
• More on slides and hammer-ons
• Using internal “licks” to add flavour
• Picking out bass notes from a set chord

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Week 4 Part 1: Classic Rock workout

• Working with a 70’s “classic” rock feel

• Introducing more complex syncopation
• Developing muted rhythm accents
• Developing more complex combinations of up/down strokes
• Introducing fretting hand muting techniques

Part 2: Rock/Shuffle Rhythm

• Introducing the shuffle/swing feel

• Developing a stronger upstroke
• Introducing the D.C sign
• Working on swung 8th notes
• Working on visualising regular chords in unfamiliar positions

Week 5 Part 1: Rock "Chugging" Rhythm

• Introducing the “chugging” rock style

• Creating sweeter harmony with basic triads/static bass note
• Combining muted bass with un-muted chords
• More on strumming hand technique
• Maintaining a good feel with constant 8th notes

Part 2: Heavy Metal 16th note exercise

• Introducing 16th note heavy metal phrasing

• Introducing lower strings arpeggio ideas
• Developing 16th note accuracy in the picking hand
• Introducing dual time signatures in a piece - 4/4 to 3/4
• More advanced chart reading and navigation

Week 6 Part 1: Pop "Jangle" Rhythm

• Introducing pop rhythm guitar - “jangle” style

• Developing cross string picking
• Using added notes in a single chord
• Working with a chorus pedal/effect
• Developing the pull-off

Part 2: 6/8 Arpeggio exercise

• Further use of an arpeggisted approach to rhythm

• Introducing 6/8 time signature
• More advanced arpeggios and string skipping
• Introducing the rallentando
• Learning to follow a more complex picking pattern

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 Week 7 Part 1: An introduction to Funk

• Introducing funk guitar styles

• Combining chords and single notes into a rhythm part
• Introducing the diad
• Using more complex muting techniques
• Developing minor 7th and major 7th chord vocabulary

Part 2: Advanced Funk

• Working with an advanced funk groove

• Introducing 7/4 time signature
• Introducing a key change during a piece
• Using the 9th chord slide
• Relaxing the strumming wrist to create a better feel

WEEK 8 –
FORMATIVE WEEK 8 – FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT

Week 9 Part 1: Funky Jazz/Rock Rhythm Study

• Introducing jazz chords into a rock song

• Developing a constant 16th note groove
• More advanced syncopation
• More advanced fretting hand press-and-release
• Introducing the major 9th, 7#5 and minor 7b5 chords

Part 2: Soul/Pop Rhythm Exercise

• Working on a soul/pop rhythm pattern

• Introducing some ‘jazz’ chords
• Notes on playing solo rhythm guitar
• Introducing the ‘open repeat’ sign on a chart
• Introducing tied notes over a bar line

Week 10 Part 1: Fingerstyle Rhythm pattern

• Introducing a fingerstyle rhythm chart

• Using “drone” notes
• Introducing the D.S and Coda signs
• Introducing A and B sections in a chart
• Introducing scale based harmony

Part 2: Rockabilly fingerpicking study

• Introducing rockabilly/rock and roll fingerpicking

• Developing an independent bassline
• Picking out melody notes with index and 2nd fingers
• Developing a feel for 1950's rhythm guitar style
• Introducing a country sound into a 12 bar blues

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 Week 11 Part 1: The Jazz Ballad

• Introducing the jazz ballad

• Learning more complex chord extensions
• Playing with the thumb instead of the plectrum
• Maintaining a steady feel at ballad tempo
• Developing a linear approach to the neck

Part 2: Jazz ‘walking bass’ pattern

• Working with a swing jazz feel

• Developing a walking bass-line
• Developing adding chord accents between bass notes
• Introducing new chord inversions
• Developing further the linear approach to the fingerboard

WEEK 12 –
REVISION WEEK 12 – REVISION WEEK
WEEK

WEEK 13 –
SUMMATIVE WEEK 13 – SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT

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