Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Instrument?

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Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Instrument?

Daniel Robinson View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 07:38 AM
Apr 22 2008, 07:38 AM	Instructor Posts: 560 Joined: 22-March 08 From: Normal, Illinois	I wanted to chime in here and talk about something that is important to me as a player and as an instructor. Playing guitar to me is more then just fretting and picking notes. With that being said are you getting the most out of your guitar while playing. I find when teaching people that one of the biggest mistakes i see people making is no dynamics in their tone or playing. Subtle or drastic variations in pick attack and where your picking the notes (closer to the bridge ..closer to the neck etc.) Can have a huge impact on the emotional content your trying to convey. I challenge you to experiment with a simple solo lick (any one will do) and try to play it in as many different ways as you can. Change the accents within the phrase. Try it legato, try it staccato, try it all alternate picking etc. Try moving your picking location to different locations at different places try altering the angle of your pick. Experiment with different vibrato styles. There are near infinite possibilties of how a phrase can be played. Another thing is play with the knobs on your guitar, i know alot of people whose only adjustment is pickup selection switch. But you have those knobs there for a reason experiement with what you can do with those tone knobs. Turn the volume knob up and down and see what different tones you can get out of your guitar. All of these things will help you find your own style and sound. When it comes to style there is no "Wrong way". As a player i am constantly working on these subtle things. I will play a new phrase i came up with in all different ways trying to get the most out of it. You may feel a certain way when you compose a lick and it comes out the way your feeling but the next time you play it you may not feel that emotion and it has subtle changes. Take notice of how it has changed it can really make a difference in understanding how you alone approach music as a whole. Another thing you can experiment with his the angle of your fingers on the string and how heavy or how lightly you touch them. For instance if i want to play a passage that has an ethereal quality to it i will use a very light touch with the very tips of my fingers it creates a sound that seems to have no real pulse but takes on a surreal dream like quality. On the other hand lets say i want to create a sound thats very matter of fact, i will use more of the pads of my fingers have a heavier touch and pick much more aggressively. All of these things will help you to start to unlock the style that is unique to you. Don't be afraid to experiement with all different techniques to make them your own. Daniel You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Check out my video lessons!

Marcus Lavendell View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 07:50 AM
Apr 22 2008, 07:50 AM	Instructor Posts: 2.537 Joined: 27-May 07 From: Gothenburg, Sweden	Excellent post Daniel! All the things you mentioned are very important stuff imo. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- I use Elixir® Strings Check out my video lessons and instructor board!

SamJ View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 08:02 AM
Apr 22 2008, 08:02 AM	GMC:er Posts: 352 Joined: 24-December 07	Cool, thanks for the advice Daniel. I'll try some of this stuff out. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

DeepRoots View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 08:16 AM
Apr 22 2008, 08:16 AM	Get to da Chopper! Posts: 2.700 Joined: 18-March 07 From: South Wales, UK	Nice advice! Although i do experiment with dynamics alot (paul gilbert fan, what can i say ) i rarely change pickup selection, when i know i should be- and honeslty playing with the volume and tone knobs has ever seemed that important to me. I'll take your advice on board You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

audiopaal View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 08:30 AM
Apr 22 2008, 08:30 AM	Competitions Coordinator - Up the Irons Posts: 5.462 Joined: 17-February 08 From: Stavanger, Norway	Excellent post, very true! I know I could be better at trying variations of my riffs, solos as well as play with the knobs on my guitars... I even got a little inspired by your post, thanks You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Daniel Robinson View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 08:44 AM
Apr 22 2008, 08:44 AM	Instructor Posts: 560 Joined: 22-March 08 From: Normal, Illinois	QUOTE (DeepRoots @ Apr 22 2008, 03:16 AM) Nice advice! Although i do experiment with dynamics alot (paul gilbert fan, what can i say ) i rarely change pickup selection, when i know i should be- and honeslty playing with the volume and tone knobs has ever seemed that important to me. I'll take your advice on board Playing with the tone knob is obvious..it can change the tone. I do on occasion mess with it to get a specific tone. I do however use the volume knob quite often. One of the biggest things you can expect with the volume knob adjustments is it tends to remove alot of the "honkyness" out of the guitar sound. I play with alot of gain for the most part but alot of times i want to have alot of gain but not as much harshness so i will back the volume knob down about halfway. It allows me to maintain the "base" tone that i want but it takes away that honkyness i was talking about. Try it at different levels and see what it does on your guitar. I would expect all guitars to be different in what it accomplishes it will also depend one if you have passive or active pickups. If you mess with the volume knob on a guitar with active pickups the variation will be more subtle. Passive pickups will have a much bigger change. It will also be even more drastic on a guitar with single coils vs humbuckers. If you want an example of what the volume knob can do for your sound just check out Andy Timmons, he often has high gain but turns his guitar volume down about half way. He keeps his sound nice and creamy by doing this but still has that gain punch. Daniel You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Daniel Robinson: Apr 22 2008, 08:46 AM -------------------- Check out my video lessons!

Siggum View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 08:52 AM
Apr 22 2008, 08:52 AM	GMC:er Posts: 1.228 Joined: 3-January 08 From: Denmark	Great post Daniel, and very usefull for all players( all skill levels) You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- It dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing

Ivan Milenkovic View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 09:34 AM
Apr 22 2008, 09:34 AM	Instructor Posts: 25.396 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Excellent advices Daniel! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE - Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)

Kristofer Dahl View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 11:31 AM
Apr 22 2008, 11:31 AM	GMC Founder Posts: 18.753 Joined: 15-August 05 From: Stockholm, Sweden	Very interesting and informative post Daniel - thanks! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lesssons

Trond Vold View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 11:41 AM
Apr 22 2008, 11:41 AM	Instructor Posts: 3.497 Joined: 16-February 08 From: Norge!	Daniel, your posts should be put in a stickied section You got some of the most informative and useful posts You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Guitars: Schecter Stiletto Classic, Jackson SLSMG, Ibanez RG-380 Japan, Gibson Les Paul Studio Amp: Marshall JMP-1 -> Rocktron Velocity 100 -> Marshall JCM-900 Lead 4x12 FX and stomps: T.C Electronics G-Sharp, Korg SDD-1200, Emma Transmorgrifier, BYOC Tribooster, GGG Green Ringer, Dinosaur Overdrive, Voodoo Lab SuperFuzz, Sovtek Bassballs, Line6 Tap Tremolo, EHX Screaming Bird. ___________________________________________________ My Lessons! My Instructor Board! My Myspace!

Bogdan Radovic View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 02:20 PM
Apr 22 2008, 02:20 PM	Bass & Beginner Instructor Posts: 15.614 Joined: 30-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Great post Daniel ! Some really important stuff there ! Thanks ! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now!

Fran View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 03:30 PM
Apr 22 2008, 03:30 PM	Learning Rock Star - Wiki Coordinator Posts: 8.451 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Spain	Good advice Daniel, thanks! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Guitars: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Ibanez RG2570MZ, Epiphone SG G-400 Amp: Vox AC4TVH head + V112TV cab Effects: Vox Satchurator, Vox Time Machine, Dunlop CryBaby, Boss MT-2, Boss CE-5, Boss TU-2, Boss ME-70 Recording: Line-6 POD X3 + FBV-Express, Pandora PX5D GMC wants YOU to take part in our Guitar-Wikipedia! Have a good time reading great articles and writing your own with us in our GUITAR WIKI! Share your playing and get Pro-advice from our Instructors: Join REC

Jad Diab View Member Profile	Apr 22 2008, 03:33 PM
Apr 22 2008, 03:33 PM	Instructor (former GMCer Zizi Top) Posts: 792 Joined: 29-December 07 From: Paris France	excellent topic You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- I endorse Sp custom pickups Check out some of my work : Youtube GMC lessons Myspace

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