I started reading "Zen Guitar" by Philip Toshio Sudo. The book is about finding The Way and the music inside yourself, through the study of guitar. So far it is an interesting read as the book does not focus on teaching technique, but rather, Philip teaches you how to learn and encompass Eastern Zen teachings into your life while using the guitar as the medium to understanding The Way. Will this book enlighten my life? I have no clue, but it can't hurt.I've been working on a rhythm and it's rough. Guitarists, in my opinion, are good at faking rhythm. We can get along with fellow musicians just fine, but for us to nail a complex riff with complex rhythm at a speed of 120bps or more, well it's game over for a lot of us.
Rhythm is essential for distinguishing the different styles. You can use the same lick in blues, jazz, country or even metal, but it won't sound the same. This is due to the rhythm, or phrasing, of the lick. If you think about it that way, that's pretty amazing. Hell, even Slash uses country licks in his songs!
The point is, musical genres aren't real. They don't apply to guitarists, to well-rounded guitarists. Don't let pride get in the way of learning a country lick if you are a metal player (or vice versa). There is a lot of information out there to learn, don't be afraid to try something new, it'll only make you a better player.
Brush the dust of the old metronome (or buy one) and practice rhythm for a minimum of 15 minutes a day, that's what I'm doing.
Song of the day: "Back in Black" - AC/DC
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