19. How To Play In Time. Beginner’s Guitar Lesson.
For beginners, learning basic rhythm is as easy as counting to four or tapping your foot, but it’s probably the most neglected aspect of learning guitar for the self-taught student. No matter what style you’re playing, rhythm is more important than any other element of making music—you could memorize every chord, know how to sweep-pick in Lydian mode, and play a $10,000 Gibson, but if you can’t groove, you suck. On the other hand, if you’re rock solid on the beat, all you need to know is one power chord shape and you’re Johnny Ramone. So use a metronome or a beatbox, play along to songs, tap your foot, and count to yourself.
