Muted Open String Rhythms and Gallop Rhythm playing...

[nat_louie]

Hi Everyone,

First of all i would like to say thanks for all of the nice people who replied to my previous thread and thanks for the help you have given me... Im getting better with my picking now...

I wanted to ask, how do you do a Single Open palm musted string rhythm? for example this shape:

D|--------------|
A|--------------|
E|-000000000000|
pm..................

like the ones they do in power metal songs... is there a correct way to do it... im really having a hard time doing this and whenever i try it, my pinky is always pusing/pulling/anchoring on the high e string or on the pickguard. Any tips on doing this or excercises??? it would really help me wiht my playing. I aways wanted to do these kinds of rhythm playing...

also is there a right way of ding the "gallop rhythm", because i cant do gallops two times in a row, whenever i do a gallop the 2nd time, im having a hard time and its not very accurate... can you help me with this kind of technique pls...

heres an example of what the gallop is like:

D|----------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------|
E|-0-000-000-000-333-333-444-444-|
pm.......

its like the famous Raining Blood riff from slayer and i really am having a hard time doing it...

I really need help on this people... any tips on doing these correctly...
i would really apprecieate the help...
thanks to you all and Godbless

Rock On!!!

[newamerikangosp]

Don't tense your wrist up while playing, relaxing is key. The best technique I have run across is rotating the wrist. That is how you play quick and precise. Also, find a fear factory song you like, and learn it. Slave Labour off of archetype is almost an etude because of the songs machine like precision and fast syncopations

[Bodom]

yep...palm mute lightly and COUNT. Counting is very underestimated. It's just not easy to pick up a guitar and blast triplets..once yu get good at that you will be busting out 4s, 5s and 6s and sounding like meshuggah...it just takes a lot of practice and timing.

[Schooligo]

Hi,

first let me tell you, one of MY biggest challenges on the guitar was playing consistently the Gallop rhythm and it's corresponding rhythmic figure

I was playing music like Iron Maiden and they were so fast at playing this rhythm, it was challenge to make the rhythm
(and then to include the necessary accents, make it clean sounding, galloping, etc) at the speed and professional level they played this rhythm at.

(I read somewhere that Paul Gilbert also thought this rhythm was a challenge, so you and I are in good company) :D

the "common" gallop is different then what you have listed:

it is a short rhythmic figure played 4 times, in a 4/4 bar

I will take your example but notice the modifications I made:

heres an example of what the gallop is like:

D|----------------------|
A|----------------------|
E|0-00-0-00-0-00-3-33|
count 1, &a, 2, &a, 3 &a, 4 &a
beat 1-----2----3----4
pm--------
the rhythmic figure for the gallop is typically notated as 1 beat, the beat contains an 8th note followed by 2 sixteenth notes. remember there are 4 beats per bar.

it is important to practice this rhythmic figure slowly(after consistency is obtained) gradually speed it up.

how do I play this rhythm, I use a downstroke of the pick for the 8th note and I accent this 8th note, then I play another downstroke on the 1st sixteenth note, and an upstroke on the 2nd sixteenth note.

that's one beat, then I start over, beat 2 the same thing, beat 3 etc.

one way to remember the rhythmic figure is to think of your pick directions during the entire beat:

down down,up
down down,up etc.

this follows the common strategy of playing downstrokes on the even beats of a measure.

but you don't have to play starting with downstrokes, if you choose to you can start with upstrokes, or strickly alternate pick,

whatever works for you so you can get the right sound and rhythm, that should be what you base your strategy on.

practice playing this rhythm palm muted, as well as without palm muting, both have their unique sounds,

practice playing this rhythm on various strings, each will have their own challenges to adjust to.

practice accenting on each beat, then after you are comfortable with that, accent on the 2nd and 4th beats, etc.

really concentrate on getting consistency and the right rhythm so it sounds right, then gradually speed up to Iron maiden speed. ;)

Most importantly have fun playing guitar!!

[Buebo]

(I read somewhere that Paul Gilbert also thought this rhythm was a challenge, so you and I are in good company) :D


Yeah when he still was playing with UPSTROKES ONLY!
:D

Good luck!