Why Your Rhythm Guitar Playing Stinks (and how to fix it)

Let’s be honest: if you’re just strumming wide open chords the whole song, you’re not doing yourself—or your congregation—any favors.

It’s loud. It’s flat. And worst of all… it has nowhere to go.

Here’s how to make your rhythm playing more musical and dynamic.

• Palm mute the verses to create intimacy without sacrifice rhythm.

• Arpeggiate (aka break up the chord into a picking pattern).

• Focus your strumming to just a few strings—don’t blast all six constantly.

• Use low strings like a kick, and high strings like a snare to build a groove.

• Then—and only then—open up on that chorus or bridge with wide strumming for max impact.

Even in big moments, don't abandon musicality. Use raking, partial strumming, and layered textures to stay interesting. Less is more.

👉 I demonstrate all this using one of my favorite classic worship songs (hehe)—and then apply it to a timeless hymn.

Want more content like this?🎹 I’m building a hymnal just for modern worship leaders. Grab a free sample PDF of it at JeredMcKenna.com and join the email list.

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