In folk music and some blues there is a recognized practice of making the gaps between phrases an irregular length.
This would create chaos in an ensemble because the other musicians wouldn't know what you were going to do. For
solo performers, though, it's an option. It can be heard in performances by singers such as John Lee Hooker and the
early Bob Dylan. You sing a line, wait however many beats you feel like and then sing the next line.
Rhythm on the Guitar:
Strumming
Most guitarists learn to strum without thinking about what they're actually doing. A strummed guitar fulfills two
functions: one is rhythmic, the other harmonic. The harmonic function is to supply a "wash" of sound relating to a
chord, the equivalent of holding a chord on a keyboard. But because the guitar does not have much sustain, the notes
will die unless they are struck again. Repeated striking sustains the presence of the chord. The relationship between
strumming technique and sustain can be vividly heard on the mandolin, where rapid strumming is required to keep
the notes "present". Violinists solve this problem when they draw a bow across the string, continually exciting it to
vibrate.
The rhythmic function has two components: the rhythm with which the chords are produced and the percussive
attack (usually produced by a pick) on the guitar strings. Both aspects are important for solo performers
accompanying themselves on the guitar. Guitarists working with a rhythm section or recording with a variety of
instruments need to realize, though, that they no longer have to carry the whole of the rhythm with their strumming.
Good strumming patterns balance tempo against sustain. At a slow tempo, you hit the strings more frequently
because the chords die away. At faster tempos, you might not need to hit them so often, unless like Jimmy Nolan or
Nile Rodgers your guitar part is at least as significant for its percussive effect as for its harmonic effect.
To experiment with strumming, try first strumming eighths down and up, as in Example 1, and then start to subtract
some of the strums to produce different effects.
Fingerpicking
Fingerpicking is a technique popular in less rhythmic arrangements and styles. It is vulnerable to being drowned out
by a loud mix. It is typically used in light arrangements where the notes will be audible, often in ballads. It is well
suited to solo performance, since it offers the chance for a single guitarist to play a bassline, a harmony and even a
melody, all at once.