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RHYTHM EXERCISES |
Three stages are essential to the memorizing of a rhythm
part or a rhythmic formula. First of all it is necessary to...
...BE AWARE OF RHYTHM
For teaching reasons we will start with the QUARTER,
HALF and WHOLE NOTES (respectively one, two and four times). To
become aware of these three values we will use " Jingle Bells " as a mnemonic support (see figure IX).
QUARTER, HALF AND WHOLE NOTES
CAUTION : The tablature and the standard musical notation stave do not
correspond, for you must play only the
rhythm part of the song but not the notes. This remark remains valid
for all the following exercises.
TRANSFER ON THE INSTRUMENT
You cannot not know this song.
Sing the
song while simultaneously playing its rhythm on the low E string (open string). I.e. that on each
syllable of the song you attack the low E string.
When you think you feel each note duration try to replay the rhythm requested reading it on the stave, trying to be able to
reproduce it without the mnemotechnical support, which leads you at
the last stage...
READING RYTHM
Reproduce the rhythm parts which you have just learned
(with quarter, half and whole notes) by playing the following exercises on the
low E string (see figure X).
Note : if you are afraid of getting lost while reading, you can
count the duration of the values while playing them (1
count for the quarter note, 2 counts for the half note and four counts for
the whole note).
WORK SHEET
Here, it is rather easy, isn't it ? And you can proceed in the same way for the other rhythms values :
- Understanding/feeling of the rhythm thanks to the given example.
- Transfer on the instrument.
- Deciphering of the suggested exercises using the Guitar.
Recall : this study will approach only the rhythms and
measures used in this method.

© Amar GUERFI 1994-98