R&B Rhythm Guitar Fills | Guitargate

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Instructors
Jamie
Lyle
Guthrie
Jack
Michael
R&B Rhythm Guitar Fills

In this comprehensive masterclass, Jack Ruch dives deep into the nuances of rhythm guitar fills inspired by classic R&B and rock legends like Jimi Hendrix. He begins by laying down a chord progression to serve as a foundation for the lesson, showcasing a blend of C major, D minor seven, F major, and G major chords. Jack emphasizes the importance of rhythm guitar fills in enhancing musical pieces, explaining how they can be woven into songs to complement vocal lines or other instruments. This section of the masterclass is practical and hands-on, with Jack recording a rhythm track live as he explains his process.

Jack then transitions into the theoretical underpinnings of creating effective guitar fills. He delves into the concept of double stops and triads, demonstrating how understanding these elements can unlock a guitarist's ability to add texture and complexity to their playing. Throughout, Jack provides clear, step-by-step guidance on playing in different keys, utilizing the C major scale as a primary example to illustrate how to build chords and create harmonious fills. He encourages experimentation and listening to classic tracks to grasp how rhythm guitar fills function within a song's structure.

The masterclass concludes with Jack offering practical advice on practicing and applying the discussed concepts to real-world playing situations. He suggests harmonizing scales in thirds, fourths, and sixths to discover various double stop configurations and emphasizes the importance of listening to and playing along with records to see how rhythm guitar fills fit into different musical contexts. Jack provides a list of recommended songs to study, highlighting tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, and Curtis Mayfield, among others, to explore the application of rhythm guitar fills. This masterclass is an invaluable resource for guitarists looking to enhance their rhythm playing skills and incorporate R&B-inspired fills into their repertoire.

Transcript Summary

  • Introduction and Setup (00:00:00 - 00:02:30)
    • Greeted audience and acknowledged viewers
    • Discussed the intention to create a rhythm track for the lesson
    • Chose the key of C major for the chord progression
  • Rhythm Guitar Fills Inspiration (00:02:30 - 00:04:00)
    • Discussed the influence of classic R&B and Hendrix on rhythm guitar fills
    • Emphasized the relevance of these techniques in contemporary music
    • Outlined a chord progression to practice over
  • Recording the Backing Track (00:04:00 - 00:24:00)
    • Recorded a basic chord progression loop
    • Addressed technical issues with loop creation
    • Demonstrated the backing track for the lesson
  • Introduction to Double Stops and Triads (00:24:00 - 00:50:00)
    • Explained the concept of double stops and their importance
    • Discussed triad shapes and how they're formed from scales
    • Provided examples of double stops in C major scale
  • Applying Double Stops Over Chord Progressions (00:50:00 - 01:20:00)
    • Demonstrated how to apply double stops over the recorded chord progression
    • Explored different interval double stops: thirds, fourths, and sixths
    • Played examples and discussed how to blend them for rhythm fills
  • Practical Application and Song Recommendations (01:20:00 - 01:30:00)
    • Encouraged practicing with backing tracks and real songs
    • Recommended listening to Jimi Hendrix, Curtis Mayfield, and others for inspiration
    • Advised playing along with records to understand fill placement
  • Conclusion and Future Plans (01:30:00 - 01:32:00)
    • Summarized the lesson's takeaways
    • Discussed plans for the next lesson and mentioned a spring break break
    • Thanked viewers and signed off

Perhaps you remember seeing the video above titled “THIS MAN is my favorite guitar player in the world right now.”

Well nothing has changed. Jack Ruch is quite simply THE player I’m aspiring to become, and he embodies EVERYTHING that I try and teach on Guitargate.

From his buttery lines and perfect voice leading - to his beyond tasteful chord tone soloing - Jack is quite simply astounding.  And he absolutely KILLS live. A total professional & Nashville staple, Jack will be teaching you all of the things that he uses in real life, each and every night. You know: TRIADS, CHORD TONES, & MELODIES!

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