Members JCJ Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 I really want to achieve a nice clean sound when playing electric. I mean that when i play a note, i just want to hear that single note, and note the sorraunding strings or notes played before. It sounds easy, but is really hard to get it!. Any tips?? I thought that maybe, pressing the strings real hard to the fretboard would get a nice ringing sustaining sound, but i get tired after a while. Is tone really in the fingers???
Members Machine Gun Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 Yeah, in terms of what you're looking for, it is in the fingers. What you need to do to accomplish this would be to practice your single note playing(scales/patterns etc) with a metronome. Start off very slowly, concentrating on playing each note as clearly as possible. When you are able to do that, nudge the metronome up to increase your speed.
Members Knottyhed Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 I really want to achieve a nice clean sound when playing electric. I mean that when i play a note, i just want to hear that single note, and note the sorraunding strings or notes played before. It sounds easy, but is really hard to get it!. Any tips??I thought that maybe, pressing the strings real hard to the fretboard would get a nice ringing sustaining sound, but i get tired after a while. Is tone really in the fingers??? YOu need to develop a number of things. -Clean accurate fretting with the left hand-Clean accurate picking with the right hand-Muting technique. The first 2 are self explanatory, but muting basically means you need to stop the strings above and below the one you are playing from ringing out. Most people (me included) use the side of the palm to mute the strings above the one being picked. The underside of the fingers of the left hand should be used to mute the strings below the one being picked. Don't worry it sounds harder than it is... basically the left hand will probably take care of muting automatically, the right hand palm muting is just a matter of learning to place your palm on the strings above as you pick (about an inch forward of the bridge). NB: you don't need to press really hard, just press hard enough to get a clean tone from the string. The last thing you want to do is get in the habit of 'death gripping' the guitar neck and pushing the strings really hard. If you push too hard you run the risk of pushing the strings out of tune, and the tension will ultimate affect your playing negatively. You should always try and play relaxed as possible.
Members wrathfuldeity Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 ^^ what they said, an additional three things. 1. Also it is how you attack the strings with your left hand technique. If you use the tips of your fingers verses the pads for solo notes and precise fretting positions for chords. 2. How you use the pick or pick attack (and what kind of pick) or fingers of your right hand. 3. The left and right hand coordination between the two. After awhile you'll be able to attack lightly and still be clean. Play scales slowly and precisely...speed will come.
Members JCJ Posted July 24, 2007 Author Members Posted July 24, 2007 Thanks for the advise guys! i will practise those things I've been playing guitar for a while, but now i'm trying to focus on having a really nice sound, rather than a speed of hell playing. Right know i'm more blues oriented also, so speed doesnt reallyt matter, phrasing and good defined sound is what i want. I also have been practising my fingerpicking, in the electric. It's and cheapo Tele copy, but it gets some really nice sounds for blues. Is very fun trying to get a nice "mellower" sound of the bridge pickup (coz' its so bright and piercing) by playing with my fingers, then doing a hard twist in my playing and start slapin' those strings to get twangy sounds. I think sometimes limiting yourself to fewer options helps you get more versatile.
Members 1001gear Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 Watch guys like Robben Ford, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson. Tone is in the pluckin' fingers.
Members gennation Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 One of the best, and hardly thought of, ways to mute is... Mute everything, THEN unmute the notes you want to sound. While most people get the note they want to sound THEN mute the unwants strings, they find the need to change their hand almost completely from how it's comfortable holding the wanted notes. By starting with everything muted you start with your hand more in the position/formation of how you are going to sound and mute string simultaneously. Try it a few times, you'll see it works quicker for getting rid of unwant "ringing" and sloppyness.
Members mikepl12 Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 I mean that when i play a note, i just want to hear that single note, and note the sorraunding strings or notes played before. It sounds easy, but is really hard to get it!. Any tips? If I am right You are talking about unwanted notes sustaining when changing the strings (moving in vertical position). One way is actually to mute the strings, but it's not very great for acoustic playing, in my humble opinion. The other is to pay attention to put the finger down on fret JUST before You pick the note (it appears to be the same time), and when changing strings, at the same time You put the new finger down, You should take off the previous finger, so that the new note rings alone. You should also change Your strings quite frequently. People say each month but I usually do every 3 months and I'm fine (I have 5 guitars so it's quite expensive to buy new strings over and over). Good luck, please tell me if You need further instructions, Michael
Members Dubb Posted July 24, 2007 Members Posted July 24, 2007 One of the best, and hardly thought of, ways to mute is...Mute everything, THEN unmute the notes you want to sound.Now this is a really good approach to muting. I second this.
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