Brett Garsed Discussion

[stratcat78]

Hi guys!

When I first heard Brett's playing, I found myself slack-jawed by his amazing sense of rhythm. He swings with time, and locks in on it too. There are plenty of guitarists out there that can perform a barrage of notes, but Bretts timing is just something else!

I read in an online interview that his advice for players is to work on their rhythm skills, and stressed the value of this. Most guitarists, unfortunately, suffer from poor rhythm skills due to the focus on the melodic and harmonic elements.

How about sharing some tips on how to develope this facility? Asided from using a metronome and practicing etudes? i've always wondered how the jazz guys lock in on time

thanx a bunch!

[JernR]

Hey there,

I would download a nice variety of backing tracks from the web. Here's a nice site:

http://www.online-discussion.com/NothingButClips/

Try to play to as many different styles as possible and you'll start to notice what makes each style unique from a rhythmic standpoint.

Hope it helped,

Reid

[stratcat78]

wow, thanx for the tip! looks like i'll be woodshedding in my room over the weekend.

how about some theory or tricks to quickly absorb different rhythmic groupings?

i kinda thought up of this practice method while meditating on the bus home-

over a backing track, soloing throughout its duration strictly using a note value? eg. 5mins of pure 1/2 notes, followed by 5mins of just 1/4 notes, then 8th notes, variations of triplets, then possibly after a few weeks (when the beats have registered in my system, hopefully), move up to odd groupings such as 5, 7, 9, different rhythmic "feels" etc.

would this help? would like you to share your thoughts on this thought

[bretto212]

Try jamming along to albums. That way you'll be playing with some of the best rhythm sections in the world. I'd recommend picking up Gary Willis's solo albums (Bent and No Sweat). The grooves are unbelievable (naturally!) and there's no guitar on the albums.
Just listen to your favorite players and try to assimilate some of their phrasing. You won't end up like a clone if you just use the phrasing ideas and create your own melodies. I sincerely doubt there's any "trick" to getting this happening quickly. If there is, someone please tell me!

[stratcat78]

Wow! Thank you very much for your sage advise Brett, you are absolutely awesome

it'll take alot of sleepless nights and coffee to try to assimilate your phrasing

[ilovemusic]

g'day stratcat, ive found that one of the most important things in my rythym playing is to be confident, maybe even over confident, its important that you take charge and make sure youre deciding what youre playing as opposed to being hesitant. hope this helps my friend. bye.
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[stratcat78]