How can rhythm guitar help a song to build?

[Nutty1]

I have been pondering for quite a while on the question of how to get a song to "build". 

With a song structure like this: Intro, Verse 1, Chorus 1, Solo, Chorus 2, Verse 2, Chorus 3, Outro I like the song to sound as if the chorus means more later in the song, kind of builds, sounds fuller or more dynamic somehow. I know we can add extra instruments in the later chorus' to help with that but I am assuming that there would not be much headway for increasing the volume of the rhytm guitar in the later chorus' to help build them up.

Would a rhythm guitar player play the same strumming pattern for all 3 chorus' or would they make changes to the chorus strumming patterns for Chorus 2 and/or Chorus 3 in order to help the song build?  Would they play different or altered chords to create more movement or do anything else different?

Your thoughts on this would be much appreciated.???

[Fretless]

I could go on at great length trying to put sounds into words but maybe more succinct would be if I wrote a song to demonstrate, so, hang on and I'll be back in a few days with my explanation and example!

[Blue Dog]

Heres one that does that but the music dont change . But they could have by changing the strumming pattern . and played harder . or the tempo.  Good luck 

 

[Nutty1]

Thank you @Blue Dog This is a great song for me to study. They certainly stepped up the vocals and added extra instruments. It builds really well. A very talented group of musicians.

I am going to watch this a few more times!

Yes, as you say, they did play harder later in the song, and the tempo may have went up a bit too.

Edited July 8, 2018 by Nutty1
Corrected a typo and added more

[Randy120]

Rhythm changes and flourishes. Check out Tom Petty Learning to Fly. About 2/3 of the way through the song there is a distinct rhythm change. The 4 chords are the same, but the first chord is strummed rapidly and the next a single big strum with the next chords using the same pattern. 

[Blue Dog]

3 hours ago, Nutty1 said:

Thank you @Blue Dog This is a great song for me to study. They certainly stepped up the vocals and added extra instruments. It builds really well. A very talented group of musicians.

I am going to watch this a few more times!

Yes, as you say, they did play harder later in the song, and the tempo may have went up a bit too.

I play that song exactly the way he sing it . Normal to soft to hard . sounds great . you can change the tone by playing soft. and then hard . or us a Bass strum and then go to a strum. the song CapM posted the other day does that he played finger picking to the end a then strummed the rest. a song need a hook or riff. some thing that stands out and catches your attention and holds it . like this one.it changes back and froth  

 

 

Edited July 8, 2018 by Blue Dog

[Blue Dog]

Tri ads might be to key to the answer you seek. strumming the chord s then work up o the picking the tri ads of the cord or vise verses start triads  and finish strumming. good luck you will get the answer here i am sure. 

[CapM]

There is no right or wrong answer!  No rules.  You can play the riff two different ways.  Use a different strumming pattern.  On the song I recently posted, it's fingerstyle until the very end when I start strumming.  You can do fills or even just play a single high note.  You can sing notes a little higher in the register.  You can add vocal harmonies.  You can add clapping.  On bass, I like to expand the riff a little bit, too.  The drumming pattern can pick up more intensity (more cymbals and fills).  It really depends on the song and the mood you're looking for!

[Nutty1]

16 hours ago, Randy120 said:

Rhythm changes and flourishes. Check out Tom Petty Learning to Fly. About 2/3 of the way through the song there is a distinct rhythm change. The 4 chords are the same, but the first chord is strummed rapidly and the next a single big strum with the next chords using the same pattern. 

Thank you Randy, I really appreciate this. Thank you also for the explanation of what is happening with the chords, it with help with my ear training. I need to learn to listen to the components of songs in a way that analyses them instead of getting caught up in them and just singing along! ?

[Nutty1]

Wow thank you  @Blue Dog it does change back and forth and the results are really dynamic. Thank you also for the tip about triads.

Yes I am getting lots and lots of great stuff on this thread, I am so glad that I asked the question!

[Nutty1]

Great information @CapM, thank you ever so much. I will definitely be analysing your song as well. I am starting to see that there are a lot of "tools in the box" to acheive build in a song. Now that I am aware I will "listen" more and experiment more with these tools.

[Fretless]

Mandy, I am so sorry that it took me so long to do my video reply and also that the video was recorded without a script; I was just thinking it up as I went along. I hope there is something useful you can glean from it.

[Nutty 1]

Wow!  This is amazing!

Thank you ever so much for doing all of that for me @Fretless. There is a massive amount of information in your video. I am going to have to watch this quite a few times and take notes. You have demonstrated a lot of things that I have never done and did not previously know how or when to apply them. I can not thank you enough! ?????????