Harnessing the Power of Feedback
Feedback may not be something FOH engineers want to deal with, but it’s a well of creative potential for guitarists. It’s not a new concept – guitarists have been tapping that well since the amp was invented, but it’s still a great way to transcend boundaries, evoke new textures, create atmospheres, and find new tone – without any new tools.
Advanced Guitar Effects for the Experimental Guitarist
It’s not like the guitar is ever boring. But sometimes you just want to branch out and see what else you can accomplish. This is true if you’re in a noise band or hyper-experimental act, but it’s also true if you’re in a straight-ahead rock band looking to add a few crazy moments to your show or record. So, let’s look at a few advanced effects you can try for that experimental vibe.
5 Effects Every Guitarist Should Try
We all know pedals are almost as much a part of a guitarist’s essentials as the guitar itself – even more so than amp cabinets, probably. And there are some pedals every guitarist should have in their arsenal as a default. Stuff like a tuner, overdrive, and chorus. But there’s also a world of creativity out there, and there are a few pedals we think every guitarist should try at least once. Here are the top five.
The Top 5 Things Every Live Guitarist Should Know
Assuming you already know how to play and you’re either just getting started gigging or you’ve been out a while – there are a few key things you might want to know in order to get your best results on stage. Here are our top five.
Playing Bass in a Power Trio: How to Fill the Sound
Rush. ZZ Top. Nirvana. Green Day. Grand Funk Railroad. The list of awesome power trios goes on and on. It’s not rare, but somehow it’s always a little surprising how big a sound three people can get. Obviously, no instrument in this lineup is superfluous, so the bass has a big job to do. As a power trio bassist, you need to provide a strong foundation, fill out the sound from underneath, and maybe even provide some extra rhythmic coverage when the guitar goes off on solo tangents. In other words, you have to do the same job you always would, plus a little more. We’ll dive into that a little more here.
Staying Current with Your Studio Productions
If you’re producing music you intend to do well in “the industry” – like radio hits or songs that get lots of licensing opportunities, there’s one thing you’re going to come across early and often – the notion of sounding “current.”
Making the Most Out of Paid Studio Time
Studio time is a precious commodity, even in today’s “everybody has a studio” world. Getting to work in a professional studio is fun, but it’s costly, and you don’t want to waste money by wasting time. So here are a few ways to maximize that time and money.
Recording an Unplugged Album
There’s no shortage of reasons to strip down songs and make minimalistic versions. Whether it’s to adjust for a solo or duo gig, make home recording easier, or just offer something different to fans, putting out an unplugged album is a time-tested strategy. So, here are a few strategies for planning and executing your unplugged album.
The Art of the Note Bend
The ubiquitous note bend gives guitar players a layer that most instruments don’t have. You certainly can’t bend anything on a piano (unless you’re willing to risk losing a hand when a string breaks). It’s a simple enough technique, but there’s an art to pulling it off. For experienced guitarists, it may be automatic, but we thought we’d give a few quick tips for those still learning this time-honored trick.
Bass Tone 101
It’s no secret that bass is the most important instrument in the band (except for most of the others!). Kidding aside, a killer tone can transform a set or a record from ordinary into classic, and for bassists (like any guitar player), achieving a unique tone is as much of an art as playing itself. So, it makes sense to dig into your bass tone in detail, if you haven’t already. Here’s a little on doing just that.
Recording Electric Guitar in 2023
From Berry to Hendrix to Van Halen to Johnny 5, electric guitars are irrevocably embedded in our cultural identity, and contrary to what some think, they’re not going anywhere. The only difference now is there are so many more ways to use them and record them well. So, let’s revisit capturing electric guitars in the current times.
Guitar Tone 101
The art of playing guitar is a subtle, long term-pursuit. You can learn it quickly, but mastering it takes a lifetime. The same can be said about getting a great guitar tone, but in reality, it’s not as big a task as playing. It just takes a few knowledge points, some patience, and the will to experiment.