Rhythm guitar
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Rhythm guitar is a kind of guitar playing that provides accompaniment for a singer or other instruments.
Its purpose is to provide pulse or rhythm for the song, and to provide harmony that supports the other instruments (or voice). The rhythm guitar is the complement to the lead guitar, which plays melody; for example during solos, or "lead breaks", or during short "fills". A rhythm guitarist supplies the layer of rhythm on top of which the melody is either played using another instrument or sung by a human. Many skilled rhythm guitarists slip in and out of the role of playing rhythm and playing lead, if the song calls for it. So, there is not a hard line between being a rhythm guitarist and a lead guitarist. A guitarist can be both—it just depends on the parts that he or she plays in each song.
In a band, the rhythm guitarist works in conjunction with the drummer, who also provides rhythm, and the bass guitarist, who provides rhythm and harmony.
A rhythm guitar cannot be purchased because it does not exist as a separate musical instrument. However, there is a tendency for rhythm guitarists to use heavier strings than lead guitarists. That said, because rhythm and lead players are trying to get different sounds out of their instruments, the rhythm guitarist will frequently use a different guitar than the lead player. Many styles employ an acoustic rhythm guitar and electric lead guitar, especially rock and country.
There are a great many specific styles of rhythm guitar: Big Band, as exemplified by Freddie Greene of the Count Basie Orchestra; Western swing as played by Eldon Shamblin of the Bob Wills Orchestra, or rock and roll music, as exemplified by Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Chuck Berry often played both lead and rhythm tracks, John Lennon of The Beatles, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend of The Who, James Hetfield of Metallica, Gem Archer of Oasis, Malcolm Young of AC/DC, and Izzy Stradlin of Guns N' Roses.
In Rock and Roll, the rhythm guitarist is typically expected to play a simple sequence of chords, called a chord progression, around which the song is constructed. Often this chordal accompaniment is simplified to a cluster of two or three notes, sometimes called a "riff", that is repeated. In metal, this is typically extended to more complex sequences consisting of a combination of chords, single notes and palm muted parts, while the more technical bands often play riffs which are highly reminiscent of lead guitar technique. In technical death metal bands such as Cryptopsy, Suffocation, or Necrophagist, the rhythm guitar parts can be even more so than the leads. In jazz or swing styles, the rhythm guitarist is also expected to integrate a moving bass or counter-melody in his or her playing.