After many years of playing guitar I figured out that only two things are needed for people to like your playing: in tune and on time.  Low skill players who do those well are enjoyable to listen to, high skill players who throw one or two of those to the wind end up being very irritating.

I taught the "motor" strum technique this to ALL of my students when I was teaching guitar players, and it REALLY does help in many ways!

I'm so glad you're giving rhythm guitar the spotlight it deserves, Tim. Every guitar player should be in a trio at some point to realize it isn't just about the soloing. Holding down the fort in the trenches is where songs are built. Van Halen's rhythm playing was stellar, his pocket was scary accurate.

I was a drummer for decades but I never heard of a guitarist playing “inside” the kit. Absolute genius and totally makes sense. You never fail to inform, educate and entertain. Lord Reith, the founder of the BBC, amongst other things, would approve.

Stay inside of the drums. That's an eye opening concept.

I am teaching the exact same stuff to my pupils and I noticed, that like you, we are never completely honest with the "motor" that has to keep running (which it should and you can do a lot of stuff with it) but if you look at your motor ar 3:34 you will notice that the movement adapts to the rhythm, doesn't stay "steady" ... I tend to think that this is unconscious and added once you have "mastered" the motor :- )

Yeah, and those are the guitarists drummers love to play with.
Bass players love drummers.
Drummers love  guitar players.

Guitar wisdom is great and the playing is neat, but the real attraction for me in this video is the happiness.

Call it taste or feel or "serving the song." Tim, you are a Jedi master. As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Jeez what a friggin wealth of info this was for a budding guitarist. Thank you, Tim. Hope you're doing great this weekend.

I’ve always loved how you play rhythm Tim! It’s in the pocket but feels natural and not rigid, great stuff mate

Robert Smith and Th Edge were masters of 80’s rhythms.  Peter Buck and Johnny Marr are also in the pocket.  If you want a master class, heck them out and do a deep dive.

"Let's see if I've earned the solo"
That's the mindset behind a great solo.
Awesome stuff.  Love it.

Rhythm tone inside of/locked with the drums...What a great tip! Thanks Tim, I'm implementing this immediately.

The love you have for music is pure and adventurous. You rock, bro.

So much lessons on lead playing all over YouTube but hardly do you get a good and solid rhythm lesson like this.

I keep myself low in my IEM mix, not exactly tucked in but just slightly above the mix. It helps me stay locked in.

Ok Tim, I was clapping when you played the lead part that you earned—wow!  What a great lesson. Thank you.

You got me floating, round, and round!

@2:44 "play with reckless abandon" made my mind immediately go to EVH's early rhythm playing. Love your channel Tim!!!!