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"dying out" notes?


NotDead

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Posted

How do guitarists do that thing where they make a not die out sooner than the note would, but fairly naturally?

It's liek a little tap thing?

Leadbelly uses it on "in the pines", and john lee hooker uses it alot, how do you do it?

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Posted

Could you post an audio or video example? Based on your description, I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about.

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Posted

I would have to guess just raising their fingers slightly off the frets or palm muting?

 

 

I think he's talking about the other way around, sustaining a note. Most likly done with vibrato, either that or a lot of compression.

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Posted

I think he's talking about the other way around, sustaining a note. Most likly done with vibrato, either that or a lot of compression.

 

 

Go with vibrato ... Leadbelly and John Lee Hooker probably didn't use compression on their pedal boards.

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Posted

To my ears, the particular example you posted at 0:16, sounds more like a volume drop out error in the actual recording than a guitaristic produced effect.

And it certainly doesn't sound to me like the note ended "naturally" as in your original description.

There are three ways I can think of to end a note sooner than it normally would end.

1. Lift the finger(s) up that you are fretting the note(s) with.

2. Mute the note(s) with your picking hand.

3. Mute the note(s) you are playing with other fingers of your picking hand.


On electric guitar you could also end a note by turning down your volume knob, pedal, or amp, engaging an effect pedal with the output turned down, unplugging something in the signal chain, turning the AC power off, or having a noise gate with the threshold set high, but I don't think that is what you are talking about. :lol:

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Posted

Are you sure? I've heard this "effect" of sorts, elsewhere, and I don't think it's a malfunctioning PA system.

It's more natural than a mute, I dunno...

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Posted

I think it sounds like a recording "blip" too, but I do understand the sound you're talking about.

It's all in the left hand. Ever play a harmonic? Like at the 12th fret? It's basically the same, you lift you finger up as soon as you pick the note (maybe even slightly before). BTW- this is something that I think most of these guys would've considered mistakes at the time.

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Posted
Okay.

I don't think it's a mistake, it's part of the blues.

But thanks.

I think both you and the poster above are right.It was a mistake and it is part of the blues.On this particular track I bet that it wasnt even discussed,and if it was it was like this,, Lomax"Huddie, could we get another take, you botched a note in the first few bars" Leadbelly" I already did the song,now lets do another or lets get a beer"Anyway, I think you have to look at it as a botched note, on purpose or not.Play whatever note for a duration and than pretend to go for the next one, but rush it and choke up to close to the fret ,or even hit the fret, and let your finger roll off the string a bit limp, but keep it touching the string to mute it fully.

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