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jaymzHal
Silver Member
United Kingdom
297 Posts |
 Posted - 01/19/2009 : 12:43:10
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Even though this is a forum devoted to our favourite effects pedals, I was reading a good book by David Mead on Blues Guitar and I discovered something that I think we can all benefit from that involves changing your tone without effects.
He says how, if you look at how we strum and pluck the strings, most guitarists barely vary how hard they play each note. This is good for some things but not always. If you graded how hard you play each note (10 being the hardest, 1 being the softest) most guitarists tend to play all the notes between 4 and 6. I've been trying to make my soloing sound more lyrical and vocal, and this really helps, and sometimes in the oddest ways. I practice through a 15 watt Fender pro Junior, and as a master volume 1 channel amp it has to be pretty loud to sound good, and was a bit lifeless at low volumes. However, I've found that if I really dig in at volumes I'd normally find a little lacking in character, I can squeeze out some excellent tone. Also, since I'm doing all the work, there is nothing to hide behind, no volume, no delay, no distortion, so I can really pick up on what I'm playing without any distractions - plus any mistakes sound that much worse if you pluck them hard, so it's good training to keep your bends on target and your fingering precise!
So my advice to you all is "Dig in!" 
Any thoughts/similar experiences? |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 12:55:04
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| you can do the same thing with and guitar just where you are picking. try picking close to the bridge then try picking buy the neck |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 20:30:13
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Dynamics is the heart of blues.
I try NOT to rip fast scales & concentrate on the language of notes & soulful feeling I'm trying to convey the story. |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 04:34:08
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I'd say I pick a 6-8 most of the time, lighter for fast rhythm work. I find that I frequently just noodle in fingerstyle. That tends to make me pluck and snap the strings very hard.. I find I can be pretty expressive in that way, and notes seem to really jump from the amp (if the string doesn't contact the polepiece  ).
I also find this applies as well to every genre.. from acoustic to extreme metal. Space and Time are to be propitiated, not conquered. |
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 04:45:51
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| Gibsons are great at rolling off the volume on the guitar to say 5 or 6, but roof your amp. pick in all kind of ways, from the end of the fret board all the way to to the bridge, purposefully alternating where you pick the string and how hard you pick. you can duplicate a dreamy soft wah by slowly panning between the fretboard and the bridge with some smooth atmospheric stuff... not too many remember to do these little things to add a lot of character. bloody hard to hear this in a packed pub, but sweet if you are practicing in your own house. Throw a few delay pedals in your loop when you do this. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 07:45:47
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Your getting good info in those posts jay..... especially verivorax's reccomendation to use the fingers once in a while,you do lose a bit of volume but can end up doing stuff and going places musically you would find extremely hard with a plec.... |
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pedals 4 pv
Platinum Member
Canada
1351 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 09:31:10
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I usually try to play Merle Travis style. Flatpick for the four bass strings and second and ring fingers for the B and High E strings. This took me a long time to learn, but for bluegrass music it is the best technique. I really enjoy playing bluegrass, but since I bought that Strat it's power chords at full volume, many pedals engaged, whammy in hand.  |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 15:05:47
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I usually prefer to play with as few pedals as possible, just to get the dynamics/nuances by picking attack better heard. There are a few great pedals that keep the dynamics well, BD-2 and Bad Monkey comes to my mind.
There is nothing as beautiful as driving a tube amp into saturation by the force of the picking attack, hit hard and it distorts, soft and the tone is clean.
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jaymzHal
Silver Member
United Kingdom
297 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 21:19:11
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quote:
Originally posted by starr36
Gibsons are great at rolling off the volume on the guitar to say 5 or 6, but roof your amp. pick in all kind of ways, from the end of the fret board all the way to to the bridge, purposefully alternating where you pick the string and how hard you pick. you can duplicate a dreamy soft wah by slowly panning between the fretboard and the bridge with some smooth atmospheric stuff... not too many remember to do these little things to add a lot of character. bloody hard to hear this in a packed pub, but sweet if you are practicing in your own house. Throw a few delay pedals in your loop when you do this.
Really good suggestion starr36, I've never thought to pan back and forth, I generally find that I vary my picking area depending on pickup and if I want pinched harmonics etc, but that's a very good suggestion. All good points though guys, I agree Franzoni! I tend to use my fingers a lot for the treble strings and really pop them almost like slap bass or something, it can really give you a lot more variation than just strumming every chord. If you have Eric Johnsons art of guitar dvd, he's an absolute master of this.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Huckz8jJWyA&feature=related
here's a clip, gotta love that mullet. |
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Heart and Soul
Silver Member
USA
369 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 22:25:11
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| the only thing about the blues you need to understand is pain...at least that's what i tell myself seeing as i'm devoid of any trace of real skill ... |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2009 : 00:25:02
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Change tonality on a piece by utilizing your modes properly.
For instance, if you're tired of running the same old pentatonic minor scale for your blues, incorporate passing-tones & add some Dorian, Phrygian, Mixolydian into your repertoire. |
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Heart and Soul
Silver Member
USA
369 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2009 : 07:08:04
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| you're killing me... |
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How Hard?
