Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Keith Richards Style Rhythm Guitar Lesson – LEG016

Description

In this guitar lesson I’m continuing showing different rhythm guitar parts and in this lesson I demonstrate how to play a Keith Richards style rhythm. Keith is about the best rhythm guitar player out there and his contributions to Rolling Stone songs are what define them (well Mick Jagger’s voice too of course). Keith is a nice mixture of Muddy Waters style Chicago blues, mixed with some Carl Perkins rockabilly, with a little country pedal-steel sounding twang. Even though he’s technically the “lead” guitarist for the Stones, it’s his style of playing rhythm that really makes him stand out. In this lesson I’m intentionally using the same jam track that I used in the Blues Rock Rhythm Guitar Lesson to show you what a critical part the rhythm guitar can play in defining the feel of the song. Even though it’s the same jam track, this time the song feel much more laid back and has a country feel to it, very different from the driving rock sound in the former lesson. I hope you’ll love this style of playing as much as I do.

Keith Richards Style Rhythm Lesson

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Comments

  1. StratoBlaster says

    Cool…I was just thinkin’ about suggesting a “keef” style rhythm lesson.  He’s one of my favorite guitarists of all time.  Thanks a lot for this, and all the other lessons.

  2. Brian says

    Totally agree with you, he’s definitely one of the best and fairly easy to dissect.  Glad you’re enjoying the lessons.. many more to come :)  Long live Keef!

  3. DrGolf says

    Thank you Brian.  Brilliant lesson and something that sounds nmore difficult than it is so I can impress the wife!  Really great to learn rhythm and lead at the same time and it is easy to start off with the chords and then jam along with the track and back again.  Don’t get too tricky and leave us behibd - this seems a great pace!

    Only just joined you so which lesson was it that you used the same backing track to?  My fingers are sore!!!!!

    Dr Golf

  4. Brian says

    Hah, yes, glad to hear that you’re able to impress the wife and glad to hear that your fingers are sore, that’ll all wear off of course.  I’m going to continue lessons at about this pace, so no worries - I’m not going to jump into Eddie Van Halen or anything.  In fact, the whole purpose of this site and these lessons is to give away all of the core fundamentals I’ve spent years learning so that you can take them and do what you need to with them. 

    The previous lesson I was referring to was this one, more of a driving rock blues guitar rhythm lesson but it still uses the exact same jam track, so you can see how they sound completely different.

  7. tris says

    This has been a great, great lesson. Brian, my sincerest thanks to you!

    I would really, really like to see a lesson on Scotty Moore.
    Even though you made one for Chet Atkins (who was a great influence on Winfield Scott), Scotty developed a very unique style that would be very interesting to study up close (As much Johnny Marr’s).

    Regards from Mexico City and a very warm thank you!

  8. Fred75 says

    Hi, great lesson Brian, thank you.
    About the tab, I was wondering about the hammer on the A chord. I would write in a different way cause it starts eight note on the bar before that is to say :

    3 and 4 and 1—————-I—-————-9-I-10————-9-I-9-————-9-I-11—————-I—-—————-I—-

    I hope you can understand me cause my english is not really good.

    Kind regards,

    Fred.

  9. kblake59 says

    Just found the site a week ago … LOVE it. Isn’t it funny that looking at the tab it looks complex, but when you see it played it looks a lot easier (well to understand anyway.

  10. purbo says

    Hallo Brian, could you give more lesson about Keith Richards Style Rhythm Guitar technique pls? best regards from yogyakarta, indonesian.
    o ya please also Chuck Barry double-tripple string melody and CCR!!..
    I am old but became young again!! Thanks much Brian!!

  12. dgoltra says

    Brian
    Your site has got me playing again.
    Would love to see some Keith Richards stuff in open G tuning.
    Thanks
    Dave
    Ps keep up the premium lessons. I will buy them

  15. Brian says

    Hey Dr Golf, mine is a 52 reissue.  I love it.  Bought it from a guy off Craig’s List a few years ago.  The only thing to point out on this is the neck pickup is super low-end, and sounds very bassey (is that a word?) - at first I thought maybe something was wrong with it, but later learned that that is how it was designed.. someone told me that is was so you could actually play bass notes on that guitar (not sure i believe that one).  That being said, it does come with a little capacitor that can be soldered into the circuitry to make the neck pickup sound more like a typical neck pickup.  I left mine in it’s original state (didn’t solder anything), because I get all the tone I need from the bridge pickup.  Anyway, it’s a great guitar and a definite classic.  I hope you enjoy it!

  16. DrGolf says

    Hey Brian,

    Thank you for that tip.  I understand that with the set up it comes with you get the bridge pick up, the neck pick up and then the bassy pick up from the selector switch.  In all the Fender books I have read its says, what you mentioned, that people used to use it to play bass before Leo brought out the Precision. With the modern wiring you can get the bridge, the bridge and neck together and the neck on its own which I really fancy.  My Mexican Tele is wired like that and I love the two pick ups together.

    However, the tone you get is so good it makes me think that I should try is first before having the capacitor fitted.

    Thanks for your help.  I’ll let you know how I get on with it.  Don’t forget some more premium lessons.  Your students will buy them.

    Dr Golf

  18. DrGolf says

    Hey Brian,
    Well, changes!  The music shop I was buying my ‘52 reissue Tele from decided to renege on the deal and didn’t want to do an exchange with my Mexican Tele (Pristine and bought new from them)- didn’t even want to negotiate!  Very odd!  BUT they suggested I tried another shop.  The other shop didn’t have a ‘52 reissue but had a pre owned American Deluxe Tele in Butterscotch and they were very happy to do a deal and I saved £400, not dollars, pounds.  It looks just like yours, has the extra switch on the middle pick up and sounds incredible. The neck is a bit fatter than my previous model but I’ve got used to that in two hours! SO, I’m very happy and surprised to have a bit of luck for a change.  Had two years of serious ill health and looking forward to two life threatening surgical procedures this year so things are looking up. What a guitar, absolutely beautiful.  Will be practising hard and looking forward to some more premium lessons.  All the best,
    Dr Golf

  19. Brian says

    Thanks MrsMorrison, glad you’re liking them!

    Dr Golf, sounds like you ended up with a much better deal with the American Deluxe Telecaster.  I love that butterscotch color too - classic.  Sometimes, life has a way of dealing you a good hand, and from the sounds of it.. you’ve needed that!  Out of curiosity, is it a Rosewood or Maple neck?

  20. DrGolf says

    Hi Brian,

    Its a maple neck!  I love them.  It is very chunky with beautifully dressed frets and the S switch adds a cool humbucker like tone! In the shop I found the neck a bit sticky and big but two hours later it felt like I’d been playing it for years. The grain of the would shows through clearly and it is really lovely.  I will try to put a picture on my profile but have had problems doing that in the past.

    It is a 2007 but apart from some tiny marks on the scratch plate you would think it was new.  I like to keep my guitars pristine, as you seem to do, no “road worn” for me.  My 30 year old Ibanez Artist still looks as it did when it came out of the shop.  It would be nice to compare the sound with your Gibson.  One day when you come to England we’ll try them out!!! LOL All the best, Dr Golf

  21. Don01 says

    i agree with everyone else, a very nice relaxed lesson, makes a pleasant change from the more uptight guys who drift away into tech jargon and theory and leave the rest of us behind,they forget that the idea for most of us is to enjoy the lesson , learn something, play something, thus improving our skills and leave us wanting to come back for more this gives us inspiration,we know its difficult, but the lesson is only as good as the teacher, and man your good………….keep rockin ………….best regards………Don01

  22. GaryDC says

    Yeah very nice sounding tele. I had in my possession a genuine 1963 Epiphone Wiltshire. I noticed it had a ‘boxy’ sound almost as if the tome control was too far back. We found 2 caps had been soldered in. We took them out & now it’s back to it’s very bright original sound. Can understand why it was done though. They are very bright sounding mini humbuckers.

  26. jboy says

    Brian

    you are a very good teacher….if I could make a suggestion …..this lesson is very powerful because it is in essence , “just ” a I ,v iv v progression with the proper embellishments…..this small piece of theory puts it into context for knuckle heads like me . With this knowledge , lots of doors open up …thanks

  27. Chali says

    I have been playing like this for years but fretted all 6 strings & the way you showed the 4 or 5 string fret sounds completly different & couldn’t figure why my chords didn’t didn’t sound exactly the same.                Thanks for such a simple stupid thing I couldn’t figure out for myself. Great lesson for people locked into their own way of playing.

  28. DougC says

    Hi Brian,
    Just joined your site based on a recomendation and it is great - love your teaching style - some of the so called other ‘guitar tutors’ out there could learn a lot from you! I have one question about the Keith Richards lick lesson - can you tell me where the notes that you use to play the little ‘turnround’ at the end come from - are they from the E major pentatonic (ie based on the 5 chord)?
    Thanks
    Doug

  30. ralph.L says

    Hi Brian
    First of all -love your attitude, seems to me you really want us to learn.
    Lots of lessons out there on the net. Most of them want to express their own skill. You want us to be skilled.
    Now my quest: You ´have a really nice sound on your amp. in the Keith Richard lesson.
    I have a simple Fender Mustang I, (here it comes) - do you know how to get “your” sound on my amp??

    If possible
    Erlind

  31. Brian says

    @erlind - it’s really basic actually.  A little overdrive (I use a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver pedal for that) - some reverb on the amp, guitar volume at about 75% - that’s about it really.  You should be able to get close with your Fender Mustang.  I think the mistake most people make is putting too much overdrive in the mix.  Just back off that, and you should be good 🙂

  33. Bri-UKLefty says

    Nice one Brian, and I agree with the other comments about you make them tunes become playable; can you do the same with Gimme Shelter.

    Cheers Brian

  36. mustangrouge says

    Hello Brian !
    Thank you for your lesson, I am just starting and I hope to be able to play like you some day. I like the sound and your rhythm. It is hard to follow and read the tab, but with time I will persevere.
    Best regards !
    Ron
    Montreal, CANADA

  37. alvin sears says

    great lesson Brian. I find it easier for me to keep the bar on all 5 strings. it sounds fine. is there any reason not to do this?  thanks again

  41. Thomas L says

    Just found this lesson…nice. Strange how one can make something so different with just a simple chord progression. I’m really starting to appreciate what the “Stones” have done over the years. I like the early stuff ( showing my age here). Just starting taking lessons again after a hiatus of about 20 years. Been playing a long time, on and off, but did not really get fully into guitar playing just a few months ago as I just retired. Keep up the great work Brian as I have learned quite a bit in just a short time on this site !

  48. JULIAN C says

    Watched a program on Keith Richards and went through your Keith Richards lessons that included great Chuck Berry licks… Richards Country Style Rock…
    Perhaps a little more Kieth Richards – can never go wrong with this style.
    Have a great day Brian

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