Rhythm guitar is a
technique and
role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the
rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the
harmony, i.e. the
chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together. Therefore, the basic technique of rhythm guitar is to hold down a
series of chords with the
fretting hand while
strumming rhythmically with the other hand. More developed rhythm techniques include
arpeggios, damping,
riffs,
chord solos, and complex
strums.