Lost your password?

Though they didn’t find the same kind of mountainous success in America, Status Quo was one of the most influential bands in Europe during the 1970s. With two guitars holding down the frontline, Status Quo was the quintessence of hard-hitting, rhythmic rock. This was largely thanks to Rick Parfitt, the rhythm player of the group.

In his course, Rockin’ Rhythm Guitar Guidebook, Ray Nijenhuis delves into the techniques behind rock rhythm guitar playing. He does this with an emphasis on Parfitt’s distinctive method for executing this style.

Here are 6 free rock rhythm guitar lessons from the course. For the full course, check out Ray Nijenhuis’ Rockin’ Rhythm Guitar Guidebook on TrueFire!

Slapback Echo Shuffle 1


Download the tab & notation for this rock rhythm guitar lesson

Rick Parfitt is famous for his very specific way of playing a shuffle. As I’m sure you all know, a shuffle is basically a three note pattern, called a triplet, of which you don’t play the one in the middle. Rick though, plays all three beats of the triplet. Well, he doesn’t really play all three of them. He hits the string on the first note of the triplet, then slaps the string on second and then plays the string on the third note of the triplet.

Tuning: Low B


Download the tab & notation for this rock rhythm guitar lesson

Parfitt used a low B-tuning for songs like “4500 Times” and “Backwater”. It’s essentially standard tuning, but the 5th string is a whole tone up to B and the 6th string is tuned down a fourth to B.

Hold Me Back: Performance


Download the tab & notation for this rock rhythm guitar lesson

Playing rhythm guitar without actually playing chords may sound a bit off-topic here, but that’s what this song is all about.

Hold Me Back: Breakdown


Download the tab & notation for this rock rhythm guitar lesson

The main riff is a repetitive single note triplet all over the neck, based on Parfitt’s rhythm part in hold you back. We’re combining this with all kinds of cool twists and tricks.

4500 Accidents Drone: Performance


Download the tab & notation for this rock rhythm guitar lesson

This one is inspired by Status Quo’s “4500 Times”, “Backwater”, and “Accident Prone”.

4500 Accidents Drone: Breakdown


Download the tab & notation for this rock rhythm guitar lesson

We’re using a relatively simple melody within a custom low B tuning. It’s all about grooving and droning.

Digging these free rock rhythm guitar lessons from Ray Nijenhuis? Check out his full course, Rockin’ Rhythm Guitar Guidebook.