Reading, Rhythm and Rockin' for Guitarists
  
 Reading music is important for all guitarists and it becomes much more
 easy when you know how to read and play the rhythmic aspect of music.
  
 Probably the first thing to attempt and master are the many eighth note
 and sixteenth note rhythms that are used in rock. One of the most
 tricky things is the way that strumming or picking directions change 
 with tempos, and also how the same rhythm may appear different in 
 written notation.
  
 You need to be able to count these rhythms, and a good way to learn is to 
 pencil in the count in shorthand over a bar as I'll show you. 
  
 Counting a bar full of sixteenths;
 "one e and a two e and a three e and a four e and a"   - out loud
   1  e +   a 2   e +   a 3     e +   a 4    e +   a    - written

 Picking and strumming directions; "up"   written u
                                   "down" written n
  
 Practice the examples strumming any chord or just mute your strings with 
 the left hand. Count out loud and strum or pick the rhythm at the same time 
 (don't count what's in brackets). You should tap your foot the four times 
 for a 4/4 bar. Start slowly.
                                                 Picking or strumming 
   n    n    n    n      n       n            1) slow to moderate tempos
   n    n    n    n      n       u            2) quick tempos   
  _____________________________________________
 |                    |                        |
 | 1    2    3    4   |  1   (2) + (3)  (4)    |
 |____________________|________________________|
                                             
   n    n    n    n          n       n        1) slow to moderate tempos
   n    n    n    n          n       v        2) quick tempos   
  _____________________________________________
 |                    |                        |
 | 1    2    3    4   | (1)  2  (3)  +  (4)    |
 |____________________|________________________|

  This two bar pattern is the typical bossa nova drums rimshot
  _____________________________________________
 | n       u       n  |        n       u       |
 | 1   (2) +  (3)  4  |  (1)   2   (3) + (4)   |
 |____________________|________________________|

  One sixteenth note bar (at half the tempo) 
  is  equal to two eighth note bars.
  ____________________________________________
 |                                           |
 | 1   (2) + (3)  4     (1)   2   (3) + (4)  |
 |                                           |
 | 1       a (2)  +     (3)   +   (4) e      |  
 |___________________________________________|