FAQ's		Artist Interviews / Tips / Q and A's / Podcasts / Book Reviews

In this lesson, find out how using rests completely changes the sound of a guitar lick!

RESTS are just silent rhythms. Here are the 4 basic types of rests that you will see.

Mute the note before a rest by either laying your left hand over the strings (PICTURE 1) or placing your guitar pick on the string (PICTURE 2)

PICTURE 1	PICTURE 2

Here are examples of how rests and notes can be used together in a measure. Learn these rhythms before you try a guitar lick.:

Quarter w/half rest (HEAR IT!)	Quarter w/quarter rest (HEAR IT!)	Eighth and half notes (HEAR IT!)

Rests add variety and "feel" to a guitar lick and to all facets of your playing. In each guitar lick below, a different type of rest is used.

	1. Play the slide exactly like you did on the slide lesson (from the 1st fret)
	2. Mute the 2nd note of Guitar Lick 1 with your left or right hand
	3. Lick 2 - Mute the bend at the peak of it...like in the 1/2 step bend lesson

• Practice each guitar lick 3 times in a row (keep a steady beat)

• Practice each guitar lick 3 times in a row with the metronome or the practice track

• Print out the WRITE YOUR OWN page

• Write out a bend lick with quarter notes and half notes.

• Create some of your own guitar licks with rests

• Write them using eighth notes/rests, quarter notes/rests, and half notes/rests

• After writing a couple of guitar licks, try creating some on the spot. Count the rhythm out loud as you play.