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Posted by: SeeJay May 11 2014, 05:28 AM

So, you teach guitar. Very admirable.

But I am interested (and this is a question I think I might ask all the instructors here), what do you think defines your playing? You can go as in depth with an answer as you want, or just just go shallow (I won't hate it), but as an experienced and professional guitar player, what do you think make you. . .sound like YOU?

Posted by: Todd Simpson May 11 2014, 05:51 AM

Hmm. Well, long story short, I try to balance precision with chaos. Bits of crazy bends juxtaposed against precise alternate picking passages. Pinch Harmonics/Whammy bar insanity, paired with evenly spaced structured runs. I find the most focus in the "Tension and Relase" paradigm of solo construction that I'm on about all the time. Setting it up and paying it off in given phrase.

Needless to say I consider myself a "lead" player more than anything else. I can write songs and I do, but I don't consider myself a "Songwriter". Just a lead player

Posted by: Ben Higgins May 11 2014, 08:27 AM

That's an interesting question.. I wonder why you asked me of all people here ?

My perception will probably be different to the listener. I would love to be able to hear what other people hear.

From my view, I know that I haven't got the best picking technique, sweeping technique, tapping etc.. blah blah blah... there's guys on YT who can technically run rings around me. But I think what I can do is bring it all together in a way that raises it higher than the technique itself. In short, I'd say my forte is composition. How I put stuff together. Everything has to fit in some way, whether it is right on the beat or in free time. I think about the overall impact of the music as a whole, not just the lead guitar. I think about the mood it creates. The intensity, tension.

Tone and vibrato are important to me too. Added to choosing good melodies this is far more important than any one technique. I believe that I possibly place higher importance on these factors than maybe some others do ??

I don't know.. I'm biased. I'll never be able to hear myself as a pure listener.

So, to recap.. it's not what I play but how I put stuff together. To my mind, at least.

Posted by: Todd Simpson May 13 2014, 02:37 AM

egad!!! I just noticed that this in fact in the BEN HIGGINS thread. I saw it under new posts and responded. Didn't mean to take over someone else dance card!!! But now that were here I do hope the other guys pitch in as well if that's cool Great response btw!!
However, I would beg to differ on your technique!! YOUR A MONSTER of a guitar player dude, your technique is top freaking notch.

Todd

Posted by: bleez Jul 17 2014, 01:27 PM

hey Ben,
I was just curious about how you are getting on with the 7 string, if you found it strange to play and what sort of stuff are you playing on it?
also, what tuning and gauge of strings are you using ?

I was thinking about dipping my toe in the 7 string pond myself in the near future probably the same model you got, although there's not many white ones around at the moment, so probably get a black one.... to match my soul

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jul 17 2014, 07:14 PM

Hey Duder, go for it is my advice - just damn well do it

I love the 7.. it's my go-to guitar all the time now. That's why I bought it really. I wanted something that provides bridge/neck pickup sounds and enables me to play lower tuned riffs but without having to tune down and sacrifice the highest notes. So it does the lot !

Using 9-52 by Rotosound !

My model is the Ibanez RG7421 as you probably already figured out ! I was lucky to find the white one !

Posted by: bleez Jul 17 2014, 09:38 PM

Indeed you were! no-one seems to have the white one, not online UK places anyways, probably because white guitars seem to look that little bit cooler
Im probably gonna just buy one, I cant think of a single reason not to! the RG7421 seems crazy good value, even the stock pickups, from what Ive heard you play, sound impressive.

Dumb question time what shape are power chords on the low B and low E? for example if you play low B 3rd fret and low E 5th fret is that a power chord shape or are they more exotic or is it more common to drop tune them?

Posted by: Mith Jul 18 2014, 02:12 AM

It will be the same, as everywhere else. The diffrence you thinking of the major third (I think its call a major third anyway) interval would be between the G and B.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 18 2014, 07:14 AM

Well said!! Yup!! It's the same!! You are A "Fifth" down when you go to the B on the low 7th string so the shapes are just like on the E. Power chords are all the same.

Also, 7 strings are great for running your scales down a bit farther and for having a bit more string to reach for when doing a solo or a rythm bit. Not to mention the low B sounds killer palm muted I've played 7 and 8 string guitars and I still prefer a 7. It's a much more expressive instrument. Once you put the 8th string on, you have to compromise string tension (e.g. you need more tension/longer scale length to get the 8th string tight enough not to just flop around) and this results in tightness in the higher strings that restricts vibrato and bending. IMHO.

But if you are looking for a 7. The Ibby 7420 is a fine choice If you can find a used MIJ 7620 that would be spiff too but they are getting more and more rare since they haven't made them in forever and few are left in one piece.

Posted by: Mith Jul 18 2014, 09:02 AM

You could try something like this if you want a 8
This one is done by Perry Ormsby a local luither here in the land of Oz

http://www.ormsbyguitars.com/galleries/multi%208/index_4.htm

Posted by: bleez Jul 18 2014, 12:41 PM

that looks like a very cool idea

Posted by: bleez Jan 15 2015, 09:30 AM

hey Ben, can you remember what you used for that bad ass 70s synth sound you have in the backing track on your Ritchie Blackmore lesson?
it sounds brilliant

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 15 2015, 10:42 AM

Hey Duder, it was just a stock organ sound from my VST that came with Cubase.

Posted by: bleez Jan 15 2015, 02:04 PM

do you play it with keys or was it a guitar effect? Im totally wanting to try and mess about with something like that.

I started working on that lesson this week, you really nailed the style its sooo good

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 15 2015, 02:31 PM

I just used the MIDI editor and drew it it with the pointer.. I can't play keyboards or piano at all !

It was just the stock group of synth VST... and my version of Cubase is from 2006 !! So you should have something like that in your DAW - at least I hope so !

Posted by: bleez Mar 5 2016, 01:42 PM

yo benzo
duder, have you thought about making a lesson ( or something similar ) out of Blues for Lucifer?
or even just punting the backing track if you dont fancy doing the lesson.
the playthrough video is damn good for seeing a lot of what you play but I thought it would make for a great lesson

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 5 2016, 02:28 PM

Hey Scott, I do love that track. The thing with BFL is that a lot of it is ad-libbed. Most of it, in fact. So it's ridiculously hard to replicate it again and figure out what I was doing.. it also made it hard to try and play over it for the video which is why it features a lot of cuts!!

Posted by: bleez Mar 5 2016, 03:14 PM

thats actually quite impressive coz it sounds completely thought out and meticulously planned. Its a great track, deceptively 'nice' sounding in places but every now and then a phrase just dips its toe into the dark ( where all the good stuff resides )

no worries though , I'll learn it note for note and show you how you played it