Nelsonm@ciel94
Verified buyer
09/15/25
is a nice simple course, give some basic that even experiment player would like the inside know how
Rhythm Makeover: Adam Levy
Creative applications for distinctive rhythm electric guitar approaches
Get this course and 1,000+ more with All Access
Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.
Adam Levy
Educator
Genres
About this course
In this Rhythm Makeover edition, Adam Levy presents his signature electric rhythm guitar techniques and creative approaches. Adam has been featured on recordings by major-label artists such as Norah Jones (her first three albums), Tracy Chapman (New Beginning) and Amos Lee (Amos Lee), and acclaimed indie artists such as Ani DiFranco and Anais Mitchell.
Expand your electric rhythm guitar prowess with Adam Levy’s Rhythm Makeover and be sure to check out Muriel Anderson’s Rhythm Makeover for fingerstyle and Vicki Genfan’s Rhythm Makeover for acoustic guitar.
Thousands of #1 hit records use the same handful of chord progressions. So, what makes those songs so distinctive from one another? Melody, lyrics and production values are all very important of course, but rhythm is what gets the feet tapping, the bodies moving and the lips smiling.
Whether they perform in bands, duos or solo as a singer-songwriter, guitarists play rhythm 95% of the time supporting the vocalist and/or soloist. A pretty big responsibility, and a pretty big challenge making those common chord progressions sound original and interesting.
TrueFire’s Rhythm Makeover series focuses on the art of crafting compelling, original and interesting rhythm guitar parts by equipping players with the harmonic skills, playing techniques, chord vocabulary and creative approaches for breathing fresh life into any chord progression.
Rhythm Makeover courses are presented by educators with vast experience composing, arranging, recording and performing songs for audiences world-wide. Each edition is presented a single educator, but all of the educators examine the same 15 chord progressions.
The 15 chord progressions were specifically selected because they have each powered hundreds of hit records, across a variety of popular styles. All of the educators also work with the very same bass and drum tracks to emphasize just how much influence the guitar part has on the distinctive qualities of a song. The progressions and tracks cover a variety of keys:
I-V-vi-IV progression in the key of C major
I-vi-ii-V progression in the key of G major
Descending IV-iii-ii-I progression in the key of E major
ii-V-I-IV progression in the key of A major
I-Imaj7-I7-IV progression in the key of G major
iii-vi-ii-V progression in the key of C major
I-vi-iii-IV progression in the key of G major
I-IV-V-I in the key of E major
Ascending I-ii-iii-IV progression in the key of A major
vi-V-VI progression in the key of D
i-bVII-bVI-V progression in the key of C minor
I-iii-IV-V progression in the key of G major
vi-ii-V-I-IV-iv-I chord progression in the key of E major
I-II-V-I progression in the key of A major
I-bVII-IV progression in the key of D
Bringing his or her unique perspective and skill set to the table, the educator presents two distinct creative and technical approaches for each of the 15 chord progressions (30 approaches in all).
As you work through the 30 different approaches, you’ll learn new chord voicings, strumming and fingerstyle patterns, harmonic approaches, creative ideas, right and left-hand techniques and much more, all of which can be applied to any progression that you might encounter, in any key.
Expand your electric rhythm guitar prowess with Adam Levy’s Rhythm Makeover and be sure to check out Muriel Anderson’s Rhythm Makeover for fingerstyle and Vicki Genfan’s Rhythm Makeover for acoustic guitar.
Thousands of #1 hit records use the same handful of chord progressions. So, what makes those songs so distinctive from one another? Melody, lyrics and production values are all very important of course, but rhythm is what gets the feet tapping, the bodies moving and the lips smiling.
Whether they perform in bands, duos or solo as a singer-songwriter, guitarists play rhythm 95% of the time supporting the vocalist and/or soloist. A pretty big responsibility, and a pretty big challenge making those common chord progressions sound original and interesting.
TrueFire’s Rhythm Makeover series focuses on the art of crafting compelling, original and interesting rhythm guitar parts by equipping players with the harmonic skills, playing techniques, chord vocabulary and creative approaches for breathing fresh life into any chord progression.
Rhythm Makeover courses are presented by educators with vast experience composing, arranging, recording and performing songs for audiences world-wide. Each edition is presented a single educator, but all of the educators examine the same 15 chord progressions.
The 15 chord progressions were specifically selected because they have each powered hundreds of hit records, across a variety of popular styles. All of the educators also work with the very same bass and drum tracks to emphasize just how much influence the guitar part has on the distinctive qualities of a song. The progressions and tracks cover a variety of keys:
I-V-vi-IV progression in the key of C major
I-vi-ii-V progression in the key of G major
Descending IV-iii-ii-I progression in the key of E major
ii-V-I-IV progression in the key of A major
I-Imaj7-I7-IV progression in the key of G major
iii-vi-ii-V progression in the key of C major
I-vi-iii-IV progression in the key of G major
I-IV-V-I in the key of E major
Ascending I-ii-iii-IV progression in the key of A major
vi-V-VI progression in the key of D
i-bVII-bVI-V progression in the key of C minor
I-iii-IV-V progression in the key of G major
vi-ii-V-I-IV-iv-I chord progression in the key of E major
I-II-V-I progression in the key of A major
I-bVII-IV progression in the key of D
Bringing his or her unique perspective and skill set to the table, the educator presents two distinct creative and technical approaches for each of the 15 chord progressions (30 approaches in all).
As you work through the 30 different approaches, you’ll learn new chord voicings, strumming and fingerstyle patterns, harmonic approaches, creative ideas, right and left-hand techniques and much more, all of which can be applied to any progression that you might encounter, in any key.
What you'll learn
- Use pedal tones to create cohesive parts across chord changes
- Create droning banjo-style patterns on guitar
- Create rhythm parts by imagining different guitarists in unusual contexts
- Use palm muting for percussive rhythm parts
- Incorporate 16th note funk rhythms with space
Release date: 02/05/2014 • 2h 53m runtime
Sample lessons
The I V vi IV Progression
Overview
Approach 1: Performance
The I V vi IV Progression
Approach 1: Breakdown
The I V vi IV Progression
Approach 2: Performance
The I V vi IV Progression
What's included
77 lessons • 60 charts • 15 Jam Tracks
Rhythm Makeover: Adam Levy
Hello and welcome. My name is Adam Levy and I’ll be your guide for this Rhythm Makeover course. The idea for Rhythm Makeover was originally suggested by my friends at TrueFire. I was excited right away, because the course addresses a hurdle I see over and over in my private teaching practice. Many students don’t know how to create compelling rhythm guitar parts - even if they have a good sense of rhythm and know a lot of chord shapes. The ability to create strong parts is, of course, essential for any working player. In Rhythm Makeover, we’ll look at 15 common chord progressions and I’ll show you two completely different rhythm guitar approaches for each progression. As I break down each approach, I’ll explain the concepts and techniques used. When you’ve worked through the entire course, you’ll have a new set of tools at your disposal and a finer appreciation of all things rhythmic.
The I V vi IV Progression
This is Example 1—a I-V-vi-IV progression in the key of C major. You may recognize the chord progression from songs like U2’s “With or Without You” or “Let It Be” by the Beatles.
Approach 1: Performance
In Approach #1, we’ll play steady eighth notes, in pairs, hinting at the chords but not playing them in a literal way.
Approach 1: Breakdown
In Approach #1, we’ll play steady eighth notes, in pairs, hinting at the chords but not playing them in a literal way.
Approach 2: Performance
Approach #2 is more spacious. We will arpeggiate a chord cluster that can ring out over the changing basic chords.
Approach 2: Breakdown
Approach #2 is more spacious. We will arpeggiate a chord cluster that can ring out over the changing basic chords.
The I vi ii V Progression
This is Example 2—a I-vi-ii-V progression in the key of G major. If you grew up with a piano in your house, you probably played “Heart and Soul” a few thousand times. Other examples include pretty much every song from the 1950s.
+ 70 more lessons
Reviews
20 results
kbeaumont1959
Verified buyer
02/01/25
A thorough rhythmic journey
I really like Adam Levy’s laid back methodical way of teaching. I have 5 of his courses and this one doesn’t disappoint. He presents 2 completely different grooves over 15 popular progressions. And these are useful grooves in a variety of styles. I highly recommend it.
Dave58
Verified buyer
09/20/22
Less is more
Fantastic course, virtuoso teacher, everything I start from Adam Levy is a must of interesting teaching material. Very clearly explained and fascinating teaching material, with beautiful video images and meaningful tabs. His courses are a joy to learn and that teacher will teach you so much with as few notes as possible. Recommended!
oldust
Verified buyer
06/12/20
Thanks Adam for such a great course full of usefull musical ideas.
Revman2015
04/30/20
To the backbone folks
An absolute no-nonsense gem of a course. Limits the time spent on theory or repetition as Adam cuts right to the chaise should happen more.One of the absolute best approaches any where and this entire course should lift my playing into an entirely new fantastic level!! Great that Adam shares all this and I look forward to future True Fire courses.
Stop searching. Start improving with All Access.
Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.
