I have been studying a lot about rhythm guitar and timing. Playing along with a metronome is probably the most important thing to do as a musician. If you want to be a real musician, you got to understand timing and I’m trying to understand it as much as possible.

With the metronome, I can play whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, 8th notes and 16th notes just fine… however, though… I want to challenge myself even more. Learn more syncopated rhythms. You know, play off beat rhythms. I want to write original rock songs with a lot more syncopation rhythms. I also want to experiment with more ties and more rests too. I would also like to play more complex guitar chords more than just barre chords and basic open chords.

I’ve been inspired to learn more in guitar playing ’cause in the past, I was stuck in a rut. Kept playing the same things over and over so I wanted to improve myself hoping to play a little more professional. Move up to the advanced level of guitar playing and I’ve been working on that.

Studying timing is pretty important if you want to record your own music and even play in a band. Many guitar players ignore this stuff and they hate playing along with a metronome but once you get into it, you’ll love it. When I first started playing guitar, I’ll admit that I never wanted anything to do with the metronome but I finally learned to love it.

Once you understand timing and rhythm, you’ll be able to play any type of music… doesn’t matter what genre. I practice timing and rhythm even without a guitar. Tapping your foot and clapping along with a metronome is fun as well. I love learning rhythm patterns and I like to create patterns of my own as well.

Someday in the future, I would love to jam with a drummer. A real human drummer just so I can test out my skills, ya know? When I look for a drummer, I’m not just going to jam with a random drummer. This drummer have to know what he or she is doing. This drummer must play along with a metronome quite well. If I find a drummer who doesn’t play in time, then forget it. Onto the next one. If I form a band someday, I’m gonna take talent very serious. I would want all band members to be really good ’cause I want to play fuckin’ tight music, ya know? I would want my band to rock really hard.

Yep,  if you want to be taken seriously as a musician, you have to understand timing and have good rhythm. It certainly helped me as a player greatly.

Kev

Ya know, I’ve always wanted to be a one-man band when it comes to original songwriting. I’m working my way up to it. That’s what I got the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 audio interface for ’cause this thing has MIDI connections on it. With this audio interface with MIDI connections, I’ll be able to hook up any kind of MIDI controllers with it and drum machines too.

I’ve always wanted to be a one-man band. Play all instruments myself. I’m not so great at piano/keyboards but I’m trying to learn and practice that too. I do have a piece of shit Casio keyboard that I use to practice with. I won’t use that keyboard for recording but learning & practicing only. I’m not so good at playing keyboards but I would like to be. I would like to focus on learning that all summer. I stopped practicing keyboard again admittedly but I’ll get back to it. I should get back into it tonight.

Playing bass lines on a keyboard shouldn’t be that hard. As long as you know theory, the scales, have a decent ear and things like that, you should be fine.  I do know a lot about music theory now so I should be good.

As for drums, I’ve been studying timing, rhythm and drum notation a lot ’cause I’m gonna have to get good at this stuff if I’m going to do a lot of DAW recording. I want to make a full band rock album someday and would like to do it all myself. Instead of programming drum tracks into a DAW, I think it would be easier to get a drum machine and I will. I’m sure there are plenty of drum machines out there with realistic sounding drums. I’m gonna get a drum machine.

I love studying timing and rhythm. You’re a true musician if you have a good sense of timing and I’m improving in that too. It also helps me become a way better rhythm guitarist too! I used to hate playing music along with a metronome but now I fucking LOVE IT. Playing along with a metronome is not all that hard at all.

I’ve always wanted to make full band rock songs and trying all I can to get there. It just takes time and patience I guess.

Hell for bass lines of my songs, I might even forget about using MIDI and just buy a real bass guitar. I even thought about that too. I’m sure I can find a nice bass guitar for $200 or less.

Being a one-man band would be a lot of fun. My own vision and my own ideas.

Kev