Review: Signals Rhythm Guitar Course
Guitar Noises #31: April 27, 2022
It’s time for another premium course review. I’ve looked at hundreds of online guitar lessons over the years. If I like something, I’ll write about it. There are no affiliate links or kickbacks here.
There is good news for beginners.
If you don’t know how to dance you can learn. If you can’t sing you can be taught. Most things in life can be learned if you just start at the beginning and stick with it.
It’s like this with guitar too. Anyone can learn guitar. But there are some real challenges that everyone will have to face at the start.
Today we’ll address a topic that frustrates a lot of beginner guitar players: rhythm. No one just picks up the guitar and starts playing. Rhythm has to be learned and you have to practice rhythm by doing lots of drills and exercises. Being able to keep time on guitar is an absolute must. Anyone who skips nailing down good rhythm is going to have to come back and learn it someday. It’s unavoidable.
It’s a bit like dancing. Very few people are born with moves like Jagger, but with regular practice it is a learn-able skill.
Rhythm training requires a lot of patience and a willingness to see the process through. Good timing rarely comes about by itself. Since growth occurs at a different pace for everyone how do we avoid getting distracted and trying something else? What rhythm lessons are likely to bring the best results?
Very rarely will you find a one size fits all solution for guitar lessons. This week I want to share a course that I believe will help most players from beginners to pro-level players. Whether you are new to guitar, or have played for a while and occasionally struggle with timing, this is a course that covers just about everything you need to know about rhythm.
Signals Rhythm Guitar Course is produced by Jake Lizzio of Signals Music Studio. It’s a premium guitar course for sale based on the “honor system.” Rather than setting a price you are free to “pay what you want” and you won’t even get nagged to make a donation. So while you could technically get it for free, this is an invaluable course that is easily worth hundreds of dollars.
This is not a crash course or a boot camp for strumming. Signals Rhythm Course covers everything a professional musician needs to know about rhythm, timing, vocalization, metric structure and more. It consists of 52 videos and more than 40 PDFs of information, instruction and exercises. It is well worth the price of a college course, or many months of in-person lessons with a private instructor.
Jake clearly put his heart and soul into the course and doesn’t cut any corners:
I personally think that one of the biggest differences between the amateur musician and the and the professional is mastering rhythm. If you have mastered rhythm then everything is easier. Playing live is easier, writing interesting music is easier, playing in the studio is easier. - Jake Lizzio
Signals Rhythm Course is suitable for players of any level, from beginner to advanced. The course starts with simple drills and moves to more difficult rhythms without making any giant leaps. As a self study course you set your own pace and mark levels as complete when you are comfortable with more difficult exercises. Even accomplished players are going to find exercises that help fine tune their abilities.
This is a giant course that goes over everything you could possibly want to know about keeping good time and playing good rhythm guitar. Topics covered include:
strumming
counting
reading
writing
foot tapping
technique
theory
If you’re a beginner and don’t have much rhythm, this is the course you want. If you’re past the beginner stages but are feeling stuck with a handful of go-to strumming patterns this is also for you. Many of these exercises are useful for skilled musicians as well. I found the explanations to be laid out in a clear manner that clarified my understanding of how rhythm works.
Jake’s drills and exercises will prove especially useful for guitar teachers. If you’ve ever tried to help someone who fumbles around trying to develop their rhythm these drills and exercises are some of the most effective I’ve seen.
Signals Rhythm Training is a comprehensive course on an essential topic that will be an eye opener to anyone who has spent years trying to teach themself guitar. Jake Lizzio’s course has the cure for your rhythm blues.
This is a valuable course and I highly recommend it. So what should you pay for a course that lets you choose a price?
I’d suggest paying at least $30. Given the scope and depth of the course that’s probably still underpaying. The teaching and the materials are both excellent. You may also want to set aside a little money for other courses Jake has made. Jake’s recent course on Music Theory and Songwriting sells for $270. If you spend months, or even years, mastering everything in the Signals Rhythm Guitar Course you may be interested in paying serious money for whatever Jake Lizzio comes up with next.
Check out the course and let me know what you think.