Help - How to make 2 guitars sound good

[Diiskrej]

I have a question about having two guitar players. My last band was a three piece so I have no exp. with this. When you have to players both playing dirty how to you make it so you can hear both guitars clearly, especially the lead over the rhythm?

[Tedster]

Welcome Diiskrej...

 

Good question...

 

First thing, don't be afraid to experiment with both volume and tone. Each guitar player might not really like what they find the solution to be individually. The idea, though, is to make the BAND sound good.

 

Dynamics. Bring the band volume down a little during the verse...while the singer is singing, and then boost the lead guitar more full tilt ONLY during the solo.

 

Generally, one guy will have to play a bit cleaner at a lower volume. I personally really hate it when you have a kicking band, and one guy's taking a solo...and all you can hear is:

 

Rhythm guy: CHUNKA CHUNKA CHUNKA

 

Lead guy : scrrsshhhhrrooooowsshhhhhhhhh...

 

I mean, you can tell that whoever's taking the solo is playing SOMETHING, but you can't hear what it is.

 

Remember, the bass guy will also provide a lot of "CHUNKA", and at a lower freqency, so you the lead will stand out more.

 

If you want to convince yourselves that this is true, make a recording of your band, with rhythm and lead guitars on separate tracks. Now, mix the tracks in a way that the lead stands out. What do you have to do to get the lead to stand out? Boost it a bit and cut the rhythm track a little. You're going to have to do the same thing onstage.

[worthyjoe]

 

Originally posted by Diiskrej I have a question about having two guitar players. My last band was a three piece so I have no exp. with this. When you have to players both playing dirty how to you make it so you can hear both guitars clearly, especially the lead over the rhythm?

 

 

I played rythm in a 2 guitar band before and I set my EQ so that there weren't a lot of highs cutting through. I made sure I was support while the other guy had the very biting sound that cut through. That's one way. I guess another way might be for the lead guy to reserve a lead channel (depending on his amp) or an EQ/boost pedal with more mids. They say mids cut through a mix better.. for solos, etc.

[Diiskrej]

Thanks guys ill have to try that out.

[madjack]

All good advice.

The two guitarists should have somewhat different tone, one sharper, one mellower, or as my other guitarist and I described it; his leads sounded somewhat brassy, while my leads sounded more like a string section.

Also, the two guitarists shouldn't be playing the same thing. If one is playing open chords, the other should be playing a different inversion higher up the neck.

[HuskerDude]

TURN DOWN YOUR GAIN.

 

Nothing says "mush" like two guys with everything on 11. Take it down to where you think it sounds ideal, then turn it down a little bit more. The other guitar will most likely more than compensate for it. That way, you don't have to screw with EQ pedals and 25 different settings to make you both kinda halfway discernable. Just roll off the gain and all of a sudden you'll actually be able to hear the whole band like you never have before.

[MrKnobs]

 

Originally posted by madjack Also, the two guitarists shouldn't be playing the same thing.

 

 

The number one thing is the arrangement.

 

Play parts like a picket fence instead of a wall - with spaces in them that you can hear other instruments through. Maybe someone plays clean and the other plays crunchy. Maybe someone plays chug and the other plays arpeggios. Maybe someone lays out during the verse and builds in to the prechorus and chorus.

 

Leave space.

 

Terry D.

[Diiskrej]

The biggest problem I have is hearing solo's over the rhythm. So ill try turning down the rhythm's treble and turning up the leads. Then Ill turn down the rhythm's gain and see how that works out.

[MrKnobs]

 

Originally posted by Diiskrej The biggest problem I have is hearing solo's over the rhythm. So ill try turning down the rhythm's treble and turning up the leads. Then Ill turn down the rhythm's gain and see how that works out.

 

 

Solos are usually heard though their mids. Cleaning up the rhythm and palm muting work wonders in letting the solos be heard.

 

Panning is also useful.

 

Terry D.

[aerorockjax]

I found it quite effective using a clean boost in the effects loop or placed after dirt pedals going into a clean amp. Some have used eq pedals similarly to good effect which allows you to boost mids and without as much vol boost to cut through. The other guitarist iin my old band who also was lead singer rarely took solos. When he did take a solo i would help him cut through by bringing my vol back and play much lighter since he had no boost pedal. Of course, if you got a great soundman who know all your songs then no boost pedals are needed.

 

You certainly want to have good amount of mids anyway and having variation of tone bewteen the 2 guitarists creates a fuller/better mix. Lowering the gain a little and increasing volume respectively can improve mix alot and actually make guitar tones sound better in live settings. Also avoid having massive amounts of bass in the guitar tones as it will contribute to muddy mix.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Another thing that works, particularily if both play/switch leads, is for one to play single coils and the other to play 'buckers...two different sonic neighborhoods.