Rhythm guitar is the use of a
guitar to provide
rhythmic
chordal
accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a
musical ensemble. In ensembles or "bands" playing within the
acoustic,
country,
blues,
rock or
metal genres (among others), a guitarist playing the rhythm part of a composition supports the melodic lines and solos played on the lead instrument or instruments, be they string, brass, wind, keyboard or even percussion instruments, or simply the human voice.
In the most commercially available and consumed genres,
electric guitars tend to dominate their
acoustic cousins in both the
recording studio and the live venue. However the
acoustic guitar remains a popular choice in
country,
western and especially
bluegrass music, and is used almost exclusively in
folk music.
Role
In
popular music, the role of rhythm guitar is most often to provide the
chord sequence or "
progression" of a
composition, frequently providing the
rhythm or "
beat" as well, usually as part of a
rhythm section. In
rock music and many of its sub-genres, a typical
rhythm section minimally comprises rhythm and
bass guitars, a
drum kit and frequently a
keyboard instrument, but may include a variety of other instruments, such as additional
percussion,
MIDI instruments,
drum machines,
turntables (for playing "
samples" and "
scratching") and equipment for playback of pre-recorded rhythmic accompaniment.
A guitarist playing rhythm" plays a sequence of
chords or
arpeggios which embody the
chord progression or "changes" that support the melody lines performed by the other instruments or voices. In contrast, the role of the
lead guitar is to provide
melody, countermelody and solos.
In rock music, the most common way to construct chord progressions is to play "
triads", each comprising a root, third and fifth note of a given
scale, or four-note chords, which include the sixth, seventh or ninth note of the scale. In some cases, the chord progression is implied with a simplified sequence of two or three notes, sometimes called a "
riff", that is repeated throughout the composition. In
heavy metal (or just "metal") music, this is typically expanded to more complex sequences comprising a combination of chords, single notes and
palm muting. The rhythm guitar part in compositions performed by more technically oriented bands often include riffs employing complex lead guitar techniques. In some genres, especially metal, the audio signal from the rhythm guitar's output is often subsequently heavily distorted by overdriving the guitar's
amplifier to create a thicker, "crunchier" sound for the palm-muted rhythms.
In bands with two or more guitarists, the guitarists may exchange or even duplicate roles for different songs or different
sections within a song. In those with a single guitarist, the guitarist may play lead and rhythm at different times or simultaneously, by overlaying the rhythm sequence with a lead line. A recent innovation is the use of a "
looping pedal" to record a chord sequence or riff over which the lead line can then be played, simulating the sound achieved by having two guitarists.
Equipment
Rhythm guitarists usually aim to generate a stronger rhythmic and chordal sound, in contrast to the lead guitarists' goal of producing a sustained, high-pitched melody line that can be heard over top of the band. As a result, rhythm and lead players may use different guitars and amplifiers. Rhythm guitarists may employ an electric
acoustic guitar or a
humbucker-equipped electric guitar for a richer and fatter output. Also, rhythm guitarists may use strings of a larger gauge than those used by lead guitarists. However, while these may be practices, they are not necessarily the rule and is subject to the style of the song and the preference of the individual guitarist.
While rhythm guitarists in metal bands use distortion effects, they tend to use less of the modulation effects such as
flangers used by lead guitar players. Whereas the lead guitarist in a metal band is trying to make their solo tone more prominent, and thus uses a range of colorful effects, the rhythm guitarist is typically trying to provide a thick, solid supporting sound that blends in with the overall sound of the group. In alternative rock and post punk bands, though, where the band is trying to create an ambient soundscape rather than an aggressive
Motörhead-style "wall of sound", the rhythm guitarist may use flanging and delay effects to create a shimmering background.
See also
Category:Guitar performance techniquesCategory:Popular musicCategory:Accompanimentca:Guitarra rítmicacs:Rytmická kytarada:Rytmeguitarde:Rhythmusgitarristes:Guitarra rítmicafr:Guitare rythmiqueit:Chitarra ritmicands-nl:Slaggitaarja:リズムギターpl:Gitara rytmicznapt:Guitarra rítmicaru:Ритм-гитараsimple:Rhythm guitarfi:Rytmikitarasv:Kompgitarr
