Ways to use one's instrument or voice precisely to produce a desired musical effect.
5
votes
3answers
389 views
How can I make my palm mutes sound more metal?
Whenever I palm mute some notes, it always sounds really soft and weak -- almost like a "blump" kind of sound. I've been wanting to get the metal and shorter palm mutes (like this). Even if I use more ...
10
votes
4answers
365 views
How to embrace the metronome after years of bad habits?
Background
I have been dabbling in guitar for over 20 years. I have decent dexterity, technique, and musical theory. However, I don't count time and never use a metronome. I always sound like a weak ...
5
votes
2answers
316 views
How do I play the intro riff from Collective Soul's song Heavy?
This question got me all jazzed up about Collective Soul again, so I was spinning through my iTunes library and I hit "Heavy" off Dosage. I have always wondered how to play the beginning riff of that ...
3
votes
2answers
382 views
How can I get a sound similar to Shine by Collective Soul?
I love the riff in that song but no matter how much I fiddle with my amp head and pedals, I just can't seem to duplicate that warm, fuzzy feel. Here's a link if you are unfamiliar with the song.
I ...
11
votes
7answers
845 views
Should the picking hand little finger be resting on the guitar?
I notice I tend to rest the little finger of my picking hand on the body of my guitar, typically on the edge of the sound-hole, for greater accuracy and steadiness of the picking hand.
After extended ...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Where to rest your thumb when playing bass: Pickup vs. Strings vs. Thumbrests
I'm a beginning bass player with a couple months' lessons under my belt. I haven't gotten far along enough yet to solidify a playing style, so I'm still able to change my habits if I want to. I was ...
3
votes
2answers
166 views
Playing The Strokes - Heart in a Cage intro - what's the best technique?
I'm trying to play the intro to The Strokes - Heart in a Cage. Valensi uses quite a bit of drive in it so it's very difficult to get clean notes at that speed. I use two fingers of my left hand to ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What is a ghost note ?
What is a ghost note and how is it different than holding the previous note ?
3
votes
2answers
124 views
How can I mute a string when playing an octave riff?
I'm trying to reproduce this Metallica riff (from the song Day that Never Comes):
|------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------|
...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I develop a good vibrato?
A crucial element for phrasing is vibrato, but while you can notate a great number of things, you can't really notate vibrato. I know it's important. I know B.B. King's butterfly vibrato is a big ...
12
votes
5answers
156 views
How to learn to play guitar with a slide ?
I have always wanted to play guitar with a slide. How should I go about learning this skill ?
I am looking for tips, songs, exercises, etc.
Thanks.
p.s.: The "Slide" tag would have been useful ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Short fat fingers
Any tips for someone with short fat fingers.
I find trying to get my chords, I accidentally cover over other strings.
Any tips?
5
votes
1answer
220 views
Are there exercises similar to the 'Buddha rope' for endurance on bass guitar?
The "Buddha rope" technique described by Bill 'The Buddha' Dickens in his training DVD basically entails putting a rope between strings and then using the increased tension for building muscles in ...
10
votes
2answers
95 views
What is this technique called?
In this video, scroll to around 1:24. Andy McKee puts his right hand on 12th fret (Not sure) and pulls out his left hand from 3rd or 4th fret producing a peculiar sound. What is this technique ...
10
votes
5answers
395 views
Skills needed for classical guitar
I've been playing steel-string acoustic for 25+ years, and I'm becoming more interested in classical guitar playing. While I'm fairly good at fingerstyle, I'm aware that making the leap to ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
How to stop distortion from making minor chords muddy?
I have a Roland/Boss GT3, which I use to get various distortion sounds. I like the sound for the most part, but I find that distorted sounds seem very ... "muddy" I guess would be the best way to ...
5
votes
6answers
473 views
Up-down strumming when playing fingerstyle
I'm trying to learn never dying Nothing Else matters by Metallica and got to the part where I need to strum C, A and D chords:
If I had a pick in my hands, it would go like nothing - ...
5
votes
4answers
163 views
Is it possible to strum (with a pick) separated strings?
There is a song I am trying to learn and the problem is that the guitarist plays the first and fourth strings together. I know this is easily possible if you are finger picking, but I am not really a ...
5
votes
4answers
166 views
Muting technique and exercises
I have been practicing muting for some days. However, I am not finding myself very comfortable with it. I use my right hand placed on the strings while the left had lightly placed over the fret. Is ...
4
votes
3answers
213 views
How do you play a barre chord (or a chord with 4+ strings)
I need to play a chord that goes:
$1.5.$2.7.$3.7.$4.7.$5.5
I can play a barre chord with my index finger and hold down all the strings on the fifth fret, but I cant hold down the three sevens. Any ...
4
votes
2answers
241 views
Where can I learn more about tapping on an acoustic guitar?
I want to learn tapping on acoustic guitar; its basics, various techniques and so on. How should I start with it? Reference of some video lessons would be a great help.
6
votes
5answers
123 views
Getting consistent tone from bar chords
Perhaps it's just that I have small hands (e.g. index finger is barely longer than the 12th fret), but I seem to have issues with barring; no matter what I do it seems there is a string that's right ...
4
votes
2answers
66 views
Wrist problems when using the first fret
One perennial problem I've had for as long as I can remember is that any time I play a song that uses the first fret a lot (e.g. the verses for Metallica's "Jump in the Fire" come to mind) I end up ...
6
votes
7answers
479 views
The “right” way to use my pinky.
Ever since I've been playing, I've always fretted a B chord like this:
Using my pinky to cover the D, G, & B string. However, while it works, it's never felt quite right. I've tried to use three ...
6
votes
2answers
111 views
Improving my descending tapping technique
I find that it's very easy for me to get a clean phrase when tapping in an ascending pattern like the following:
$1 7h9h12
Reversing that pattern, however, becomes hard for me:
$1 12p9p7
I ...
8
votes
2answers
428 views
What makes african blues so distinctive?
When you listen to the music by Ali Farka Toure, Rokia Traore, Afel Bocoum and other african blues artists you can recognize it in a second.
What is it what makes the african blues so distinctive?
Is ...
7
votes
3answers
853 views
What are some good slap guitar resources?
I'm fascinated by the technique of most of the guys on CandyRat records, specifically Andy Mckee. Are there any resources out there on slap guitar technique? How can I too become as epic as him at ...
6
votes
5answers
130 views
Bending a Harmonic
At about 2:11 of this video, Kotaro Oshio plays three harmonics - the fifth, fourth, and third fret. On the third-fret harmonic, he does, uh... something to make the pitch bend.
How is this ...
4
votes
1answer
46 views
3
votes
2answers
240 views
Steve Gaines and Ed King… Love their playing, have a hard time emulating it…
Another question that's been puzzling me for a while.
I love Steve Gaines playing but I find it impossible to improvise in his style, especially the style he plays in I Know A Little.
I also love ...
9
votes
6answers
5k views
Fingers Too Short for Barre Chords?
My wife is learning the guitar and is getting pretty good. She gets frustrated though because she can't play barre chords. She claims that her fingers are literally too short to ever be able to play ...
5
votes
5answers
350 views
Is it possible to mute some of my strings?
I'm working on a part of a song where I need to strum the top two strings (B & E) together and very fast. I'm wondering if there is some sort of a damping capo that I can put over the other four ...
6
votes
2answers
246 views
What is tremolo picking?
Are you just picking the same note a bunch of times or are you picking a lot in general and kind of hammering on to hit the notes? What does it have to do with an actual tremolo (whammy bar)?
4
votes
5answers
185 views
The intro to “Soul Man” - the verses in “It's Your Thing” (Isley Brothers) - What is that technique called?
Jeff Beck plays variations of this blues lick - 1:28 into "You Know What I Mean" - It's a basic blues riff (the beginning to Dust My Broom (Elmore James) played with variations up/down the fretboard ...
18
votes
5answers
234 views
What are some of the components of a good guitar solo?
Putting aside the emotional value of listening to a great guitar solo, what are some of the criteria that can be applied to make an educated judgement as to the quality of a solo within the context of ...
5
votes
5answers
409 views
How do I get pinch harmonics during solos?
Could someone tell me how to get the pinch harmonics sound during solos? Specifically on the "Wanted Dead or Alive" solo by Bon Jovi?
Is it an amp setting? Is it something I do with my left or right ...
10
votes
3answers
584 views
What is the (Practical) theory behind applying chords for a Song?
I love playing Guitar. I can play the lead for any song by listening to it. But often in our prayer meeting people sing different songs in different keys. I can track the major they sing, but I am ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Right hand accuracy
I've realized, that I have a big problem with right hand accuracy, when using a pick, especially, when I play arpeggios and have to skip a string or a couple of stings. Sometimes, I hit the wrong ...
7
votes
4answers
902 views
What is “Phrasing” in the context of playing a Solo?
What is meant when a listener says"His phrasing was spot on"- specifically when talking about solo's but sometimes when referring to a pianist "comping". What does it mean when referring to a ...
4
votes
2answers
175 views
What is the difference between “Solo” and “Improvisation”?
How would someone describe the differences that make up the two?
5
votes
2answers
158 views
Bach's Bourree BWV 996 timing issue
I'm currently learning Bach's Bourree, although I'm into second part of it, I have troubles getting the timing correct. Usually it follows a 3 bar flow (except few places, where it really speeds up), ...
6
votes
5answers
88 views
What are some of the things that influence a players “Tone”?
Listen to Larry Carlton, Jeff Beck,Steve Morse, Grant Green, Freddie/BB/ King, Hound Dog Taylor, Luther Allison, Dave Gregory ect.. - love'm or hate'm they all have very distinctive tones, Why? It's ...
6
votes
4answers
368 views
Is this an acceptable fingering of a G Chord?
I'm trying out the CAGED method, and whenever I use the G Form, either my pinky can't keep enough pressure on the High E string, or my ring finger lies so flat that it mutes the A string.
By curling ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
What should a guitarist learn first: Rhythm or Lead?
It is a slightly subjective question, however, there is, I'm sure, a common consensus as to what lends itself better to a beginner so as not to get frustrated with the instrument. I'm curious as to ...
7
votes
5answers
102 views
Why is the guitar traditionally held by a strap, and not in the lap?
Ya know, like the late Jeff Healy used to play. Are there technical reasons for holding the guitar in front of you, and reaching up and around to fret the strings?
Has anyone any experience with ...
4
votes
3answers
211 views
Do left-handed guitarists view the same patterns as right-handed?
Do left-handed players see the same scale formations, chords, patterns as right-handed, or is it just as simple as seeing the mirror-opposite? What about the ones that play left-handed and string the ...
3
votes
3answers
109 views
How do I improve my lead technique
I can play a small amount of pentatonic-based lead guitar but being mostly self-taught, my technique is quite poor. As I take my finger off the fret, sometimes the open string will sound. How do I ...
7
votes
3answers
369 views
What sweeping (for bass guitar) techniques are out there?
I've recently started looking at the sweep technique on guitar.
How would one go about replicating that on bass?
Please keep in mind that I do not use a plectrum, and wouldn't want to sacrifice ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
What are the objective differences between the guitar and the piano?
The guitar and the piano are two of the most popular instruments which allow multiple notes to be played simultaneously.
The acoustic quality of the two instruments are, of course, different, but ...
11
votes
6answers
945 views
What are some techniques to control feedback in a musical setting?
I was always intrigued with the way Ted Nugent/Adrian Belew/Jeff Beck/Jimi Hendrix/SRV were able to control feedback and make it musical - are there guitar/amp settings and techniques that can make ...
