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Rhythmology

A bagful of skills for improving your rhythm playing skills

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Rhythmology
Brad Carlton

Brad Carlton

Educator

multi genre

Genres

About this course

Ask any instructor worth their salt and they'll tell you that students struggle more with rhythm than any other aspect of their playing. Ask a pro and they'll tell you that getting tons of studio work is all about rhythm chops. Ask any band looking to fill the guitar slot and they'll tell you it's the solid rhythm player they're interested in, not just the "lead guitar" pyrotechnician. In short, strong rhythm guitar skills "pay the bills" and clearly distinguishes the great players from the mediocre.

Presented by studio hot shot, Brad Carlton, the video guitar lessons in Rhythmology demonstrate essential techniques for spicing up your rhythm parts with bubble parts, keyboard voicings, hybrid picking, chord extensions, triple stops, fills and a bagful of other skills that will quickly advance your rhythm playing.

You'll play your way through the Rhythmology working with blues, rock, pop, jazz, funk, twang and fusion tracks structured around contemporary progressions and vamps.

What you'll learn

  • Play dominant 7th chord voicings (root, third, flat7, root) on middle four strings
  • Navigate between lead and rhythm guitar roles in a trio/quartet
  • Create rhythm guitar parts that work with keyboards in a full band context
  • Build power chord progressions from pentatonic scale tones
  • Develop question-and-answer melodic phrases over 4-bar forms
Release date: 01/26/2005 • 4h 41m runtime
intermediatelate intermediateadvancedguitarelectric guitarchordsrhythm
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Sample lessons
Section 1: Funk Patterns
Section 1: Funk Patterns
Part 2
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Part 1
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Part 2
Section 1: Blues Patterns
Section 1: Blues Patterns
Part 1

What's included

60 lessons • 15 charts • 15 Jam Tracks

Rhythmology
This is the first in a new series we're calling Rhythmology, which will focus exclusively on developing better rhythm chops. Most players are stronger when it comes to soloing than they are on rhythm guitar. This series will fix that by demonstrating various approaches for spicing up your rhythm parts with bubble parts, voicings, extensions, triple stops and fills. On this CD, we'll cover five styles, each with their own basic backing track and a PDF chart of the voicings and patterns referenced in the video lessons. An overview of the rhythm track is provided in these text elements. No Power Tab element is required. Ready? Let's dig in with some funk ... With funk grooves, what you don't play is as important as what you do play. Learn how to lock up with the bass and drums to form a solid foundation that will contribute ideas as well as hold down the groove. Rhythm Track Overview Chords: E9 Street Key E Theoretical Key A: V9 Mode:: EMix Parent Scale: AMaj Pentatonic Options: EMaj Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent, EMin Pent, E Blues, E B.C. Option #2 Modes: ELydb7 Parent Scales: BMel Min Option #3 Mode: EDor Parent Scale: DMaj Pentatonic Options: EMin Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent Option #4 E7#9, E Half-Whole Dim
Section 1: Funk Patterns
This is the first in a new series we're calling Rhythmology, which will focus exclusively on developing better rhythm chops. Most players are stronger when it comes to soloing than they are on rhythm guitar. This series will fix that by demonstrating various approaches for spicing up your rhythm parts with bubble parts, voicings, extensions, triple stops and fills. On this CD, we'll cover five styles, each with their own basic backing track and a PDF chart of the voicings and patterns referenced in the video lessons. An overview of the rhythm track is provided in these text elements. No Power Tab element is required. Ready? Let's dig in with some funk ... With funk grooves, what you don't play is as important as what you do play. Learn how to lock up with the bass and drums to form a solid foundation that will contribute ideas as well as hold down the groove. Rhythm Track Overview Chords: E9 Street Key E Theoretical Key A: V9 Mode:: EMix Parent Scale: AMaj Pentatonic Options: EMaj Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent, EMin Pent, E Blues, E B.C. Option #2 Modes: ELydb7 Parent Scales: BMel Min Option #3 Mode: EDor Parent Scale: DMaj Pentatonic Options: EMin Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent Option #4 E7#9, E Half-Whole Dim
Section 1: Funk Patterns
Rhythm Track Overview Chords: E9 Street Key : E: I9 Theoretical Key : A: V9 Mode:: EMix Parent Scale: AMaj Pentatonic Options: EMaj Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent, EMin Pent, E Blues, E B.C. Option #2 Modes: ELydb7 Parent Scales: BMel Min Option #3 Mode: EDor Parent Scale: DMaj Pentatonic Options: EMin Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent Option #4 - E7#9, E Half-Whole Dim
Section 1: Funk Patterns
Rhythm Track Overview Chords: E9 Street Key : E: I9 Theoretical Key : A: V9 Mode:: EMix Parent Scale: AMaj Pentatonic Options: EMaj Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent, EMin Pent, E Blues, E B.C. Option #2 Modes: ELydb7 Parent Scales: BMel Min Option #3 Mode: EDor Parent Scale: DMaj Pentatonic Options: EMin Pent, DMaj Pent, F#Min Pent Option #4 - E7#9, E Half-Whole Dim
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Hone your rhythm chops to a razor's edge with the techniques illustrated in this lesson. You'll increase your inventory of power chords and learn to how to build your own voicings. We'll also explore sus2, sus4, add9, add4 and other hybrid voicings. You'll also learn what not to play to help preserve the rock tonality and keep the groove on track. Rhythm Track Overview Chords: B A Street Key: B - I bVII Theoretical Key: E - V IV Modes: BMix ALyd Parent Scales: EMaj EMaj Pentatonic Options: BMaj Pent, AMaj Pent, EMaj Pent
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Hone your rhythm chops to a razor's edge with the techniques illustrated in this lesson. You'll increase your inventory of power chords and learn to how to build your own voicings. We'll also explore sus2, sus4, add9, add4 and other hybrid voicings. You'll also learn what not to play to help preserve the rock tonality and keep the groove on track. Rhythm Track Overview Chords: B A Street Key: B - I bVII Theoretical Key: E - V IV Modes: BMix ALyd Parent Scales: EMaj EMaj Pentatonic Options: BMaj Pent, AMaj Pent, EMaj Pent
Section 1: Rock Patterns
Rhythm Track Overview Chords: B A Street Key: B - I bVII Theoretical Key: E - V IV Modes: BMix ALyd Parent Scales: EMaj EMaj Pentatonic Options: BMaj Pent, AMaj Pent, EMaj Pent

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Reviews

19 results

snail

Verified buyer

05/24/26

An interesting and useful course

I really like this course. It covers a lot of ground giving you a good grounding in several key rhythm styles. You are led through each session with explanations and chord charts. Lots of examples are given. I think the course as is - is great for less experienced players. However for the intermediate player it guides you into a whole world of working stuff out for yourself. You'll learn about rhythm, staying out of the bass players way, lots of voicings, bubble parts, voice leading and useful tricks. . . and more! Brad takes you through everything in a logical order building skills as you go. There is enough theory in there for understanding and signposting about other things you might want to learn later. What makes this course stand out for me is how the material presented set me off on several different directions on my own. This material is a springboard for your own explorations. Brad is a terrific guide. Highly recommended for improving your rhythm skills and fretboard knowledge.

rockjazz

Verified buyer

12/12/25

Rythmology

Another great course from Brad Carlton. He explains easily how to utilize different rhythms and chords with the many genres of music. This course opens up a lot of creative ideas and inspiration.

MashW

Verified buyer

11/13/25

Love Brad's talent

I haven't done anything with Rhythmology yet as I am doing another course of Brad's at the moment. I can't speak highly enough of his teachings and he is very thorough. I have 13 of his courses and will be getting more.

whodathought

Verified buyer

09/04/25

Great systematic approach.

jmcooper1

Verified buyer

03/31/25

Essential skills for all players

Great timeless instruction for players of all levels - no pun intended :). Solid foundation for starting out and establishing good timing, great practice for the more advanced, and exposure to new styles for all situations. Key for playing with others

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