It is often said that rhythm is the driving force of any music. In either case, rhythm is certainly an integral musical element much like, melody and harmony. The guitar is the instrument providing this rhythm especially in Rock, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues. The rhythm guitarist has important a role as the more celebrated lead guitarist in any band. In understanding this fact, Teach Yourself Rhythm Guitar by Paul J. Newman provides a comprehensive instructional approach to learning “how to fill” that essential “Rhythm” role.
The explanations of musical notation, rhythm, styles of rhythm and technique are detailed and could certainly fill a book of their own. Some of the material surveyed is covered in greater detail in companion volumes such as Teach Yourself Chords & Progressions, Teach Yourself Scales & Modes and Teach Yourself Lead Guitar. All editions of “Teach Yourself” products are exclusively available from Santorella Publications including Teach Yourself Rhythm Guitar which stands alone, and to master its content would be an incredible reward.
Chord Frames • Notation • Chords, Keys and the Guitar • The Minor Triad • Seventh Chord • Minor Seventh Chord • Major Seventh Chord • Notes • Beats • Strumming • The Triplet • Syncopation • Strumming 16th Notes • Blues Rhythm • Blues to Rock • Beyond Rock • Jazz • Reggae & Ska • Technique • The Release • Muting • The Choke • Bass Chord Patterns • Position Shifting • Songs 1-8; “No Problem” • “I’ll Drive” • “Free Swinger” • “Gentle Breeze” •“Circles” • “Spaces” • “Walk in the Park” • “Hi and Goodbye”
About the Author
Paul Jared Newman hails from Greenwich Village, New York and has been involved with the guitar since the late 60’s. Forming his first group, “The Lower Class”, at age 13, their first engagement was at the now legendary Judson Poet’s Theatre, in The Love Cure, one of the first Rock musicals produced in New York.
The early work of the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton inspired Jared to explore the Blues records of John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and others greats, leading to nights spent painstakingly trying to copy their guitar playing, and days falling asleep at school. An infatuation with classical music and Spanish guitar began soon after, and he has remained a musical eclectic ever since.
The day after graduating UC Berkeley in music, Jared took off for Europe and hooked up with a band from Antwerp, Belgium, with whom he toured for almost two years. The call of his hometown was strong, however, and he returned to the “Big Apple” to embark on a multifaceted career as musician, classical and pop music editor, publisher and songwriter.
In the 80’s Jared formed the Art Rock band “Not Heaven”, playing the New York club circuit. He taught guitar and music theory at the American Institute of Guitar in Manhattan for several years and started AIG Publications, concentrating on classical and flamenco guitar editions including the bestselling Keys to Flamenco Guitar series by Dennis Koster.
As an author, Jared’s published work includes the Teach Yourself series of guitar books and Classics for the Guitar in Tablature, all available wherever Santorella Publications are sold. His arrangements Five Women Composers for Guitar and Ernesto Nazareth: Brazilian Tangos are published by MelBay.
Jared holds an MM in Guitar Performance from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and continues to play, teach and write about his favorite styles of guitar playing.
