The Guitar Corner: A Place Where Fellow Guitarists Can Talk Shop

[Mirror Image]

I bought a new toy:



Basically, the reason I bought is my Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler which I used for loops has officially bit the dust. Unfortunately, I could only record I think 15-seconds of a loop with the Line 6, but it's sound quality was so impressive. This Digitech JamMan offers 24-bit sound quality (+ stereo outs like my Line 6) and 10 minutes of looping time, which is all I need. Looking forward to messing around with it.

[Mirror Image]

Just bought a power supply, which was much needed as I'm starting to hook up many pedals and effect boxes:

[Mirror Image]

Posted a new video:

https://www.youtube.com/v/65F1dnw7S54

And if you couldn't tell by this video that I'm an incredibly gifted public speaker, then I really don't know what to tell you.

[drogulus]

     The Strymon Flint pedal is very old school with '60s/'70s/'80s mini-switches for both the reverb and the trem. Today I played my 5 string bass through it.

[greg]

So, uh, hope your "tour" includes my city. 

That sound is a lot of shimmer. Seems like it would be great if playing chords or playing slowly, but can't imagine it working if playing leads. Which I'd imagine is the goal?

[Mirror Image]

So, uh, hope your "tour" includes my city. 

That sound is a lot of shimmer. Seems like it would be great if playing chords or playing slowly, but can't imagine it working if playing leads. Which I'd imagine is the goal?

Haha! Actually, playing melodies and leads, it sounds very good, but I don't play a lot of 'hot licks' nor do I have any interest in running scales up and down the fretboard. Essentially, my own personal playing style is slow-moving, dreamy, and ethereal. I couldn't imagine any other kind of sound than the one I currently have, but, of course, there's always room to tweak everything and refine it. That seems to be my main goal at the moment. When I play acoustic guitar, on the other hand, I don't focus so much on effects with the exception of some reverb (and perhaps some chorus) and try to get a good clean sound without any trailing effect. Right now, I'm working on a piece that kind of has a medieval atmosphere to it (or at least this is what the chord progression suggests to me). For this piece, I'm using an Alvarez Artist Pro acoustic guitar which will serve as the harmonic foundation of the piece while I overdub electric guitar parts on top. It'll probably be a 5 minute piece. When I get it up to performance, I'll have to record it or make some kind of video with it. I'm not really sure yet, but I'm pretty excited by this piece, which has actually been floating around in my head for 15 years or so, but I could never work up a proper idea for it until now.

[greg]

Sounds neat, will look forward to listening.

In this past some of your clips included some cool lead licks, so figured you'd do more of that, but sometimes people take some time to get into their "sound" and then stick with that.

My goal is slightly different, as I want to create a new universe with each album, though there will be similarities, of course, due to my musical biases.

[Mirror Image]

Sounds neat, will look forward to listening.

In this past some of your clips included some cool lead licks, so figured you'd do more of that, but sometimes people take some time to get into their "sound" and then stick with that.

My goal is slightly different, as I want to create a new universe with each album, though there will be similarities, of course, due to my musical biases.

Yeah, that's true. I have done some 'licks' before and I shouldn't have made it sound like I won't ever do any again as, depending on the music, one can't completely avoid them, especially in improvisation, but I would, at least, like to get away from them and think as differently as I can about the guitar and what it can do. I would really like to hear your music, Greg. You're someone who has a million times better technique than I do and can certainly play better than me, so it's always good to hear someone who can actually play their instrument, which I know you can incredibly well.

[greg]

Yeah, that's true. I have done some 'licks' before and I shouldn't have made it sound like I won't ever do any again as, depending on the music, one can't completely avoid them, especially in improvisation, but I would, at least, like to get away from them and think as differently as I can about the guitar and what it can do. I would really like to hear your music, Greg. You're someone who has a million times better technique than I do and can certainly play better than me, so it's always good to hear someone who can actually play their instrument, which I know you can incredibly well.

Thanks, man. After the move I will start getting stuff set up again and will be working on my new album. I'm aiming to finish by the end of the year, but we'll see. Probably will update on fb when progress is made, and maybe do a guitar playthrough video or something.

But man... should have released guitar music many years ago... oh well, now that I'm focused more on it (and also know how to avoid writer's block), that's all that matters. 

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, man. After the move I will start getting stuff set up again and will be working on my new album. I'm aiming to finish by the end of the year, but we'll see. Probably will update on fb when progress is made, and maybe do a guitar playthrough video or something.

But man... should have released guitar music many years ago... oh well, now that I'm focused more on it (and also know how to avoid writer's block), that's all that matters. 

Well, you definitely should post more music. I'm all ears.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Haha! Actually, playing melodies and leads, it sounds very good, but I don't play a lot of 'hot licks' nor do I have any interest in running scales up and down the fretboard. Essentially, my own personal playing style is slow-moving, dreamy, and ethereal. I couldn't imagine any other kind of sound than the one I currently have, but, of course, there's always room to tweak everything and refine it. That seems to be my main goal at the moment. When I play acoustic guitar, on the other hand, I don't focus so much on effects with the exception of some reverb (and perhaps some chorus) and try to get a good clean sound without any trailing effect. Right now, I'm working on a piece that kind of has a medieval atmosphere to it (or at least this is what the chord progression suggests to me). For this piece, I'm using an Alvarez Artist Pro acoustic guitar which will serve as the harmonic foundation of the piece while I overdub electric guitar parts on top. It'll probably be a 5 minute piece. When I get it up to performance, I'll have to record it or make some kind of video with it. I'm not really sure yet, but I'm pretty excited by this piece, which has actually been floating around in my head for 15 years or so, but I could never work up a proper idea for it until now.

Interesting. What hardware/software do you use for doing overdubs? I haven't done any of that sort of stuff since my old Tascam 4-track died.

[Mirror Image]

Interesting. What hardware/software do you use for doing overdubs? I haven't done any of that sort of stuff since my old Tascam 4-track died.

I record the piece into the Boss Loopstation and from there I can layer different parts on top of the rhythm, but this kind of thing is usually live and on the spot. In terms of actual recording, I have a Tascam 8-Track Portastudio, which I haven't used and is put up right now.

[Elgarian Redux]

It all sounds extremely impressive and ambitious - far beyond anything I aim at, either musically or technically. If I can bash out a decent pop song or two, that's pretty much all I can hope for.

I did once try something more complicated. Many years ago I used to run to the top of a local "mountain" (ok, a hill). It took about an hour from bottom to top, and was at the limit of what I could physically do. The spectacular view from the top was hidden until I actually reached the top - in a state of utter exhaustion, barely capable of appreciating it. So I wanted to try to express this musically - the hesitant, tentative first few steps, the growing confidence as I warmed up, the steadily increasing determination, the OMG why am I doing this? feeling, the sheer will power keeping me going feeling, and so on, to the top. This was the result, played and recorded in the kitchen, like all my stuff. If you think it sounds like pots and pans, that's partly because of their sympathetic resonance, and partly sheer incompetence on my part.

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/running-up-clougha

But it's not typical of what I do. This is more my usual sort of thing, a sort of updating of the old Thomas the Rhymer story (fade-in start - do not adjust your volume):

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/travelling-west

[Mirror Image]

It all sounds extremely impressive and ambitious - far beyond anything I aim at, either musically or technically. If I can bash out a decent pop song or two, that's pretty much all I can hope for.

I did once try something more complicated. Many years ago I used to run to the top of a local "mountain" (ok, a hill). It took about an hour from bottom to top, and was at the limit of what I could physically do. The spectacular view from the top was hidden until I actually reached the top - in a state of utter exhaustion, barely capable of appreciating it. So I wanted to try to express this musically - the hesitant, tentative first few steps, the growing confidence as I warmed up, the steadily increasing determination, the OMG why am I doing this? feeling, the sheer will power keeping me going feeling, and so on, to the top. This was the result, played and recorded in the kitchen, like all my stuff. If you think it sounds like pots and pans, that's partly because of their sympathetic resonance, and partly sheer incompetence on my part.

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/running-up-clougha

But it's not typical of what I do. This is more my usual sort of thing, a sort of updating of the old Thomas the Rhymer story (fade-in start - do not adjust your volume):

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/travelling-west

Very cool, Elgarian. I've listened to a few of your recordings and I don't know, but I'm getting a strong Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull vibe from the pieces I heard you play. Your voice has a certain Anderson-like timbre to it. As for the instrumental, if recorded in a proper studio, it could very well be something on a Jethro Tull album like Songs from the Wood or Minstrel in the Gallery.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

It all sounds extremely impressive and ambitious - far beyond anything I aim at, either musically or technically. If I can bash out a decent pop song or two, that's pretty much all I can hope for.

I did once try something more complicated. Many years ago I used to run to the top of a local "mountain" (ok, a hill). It took about an hour from bottom to top, and was at the limit of what I could physically do. The spectacular view from the top was hidden until I actually reached the top - in a state of utter exhaustion, barely capable of appreciating it. So I wanted to try to express this musically - the hesitant, tentative first few steps, the growing confidence as I warmed up, the steadily increasing determination, the OMG why am I doing this? feeling, the sheer will power keeping me going feeling, and so on, to the top. This was the result, played and recorded in the kitchen, like all my stuff. If you think it sounds like pots and pans, that's partly because of their sympathetic resonance, and partly sheer incompetence on my part.

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/running-up-clougha

But it's not typical of what I do. This is more my usual sort of thing, a sort of updating of the old Thomas the Rhymer story (fade-in start - do not adjust your volume):

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/travelling-west

Good stuff. But now that I've listed to it I will hear all of your posts in my head in that reedy Neil Young-ish voice of yours. Previously you sounded like John Gielgud to my minds ear.

[Elgarian Redux]

Very cool, Elgarian. I've listened to a few of your recordings and I don't know, but I'm getting a strong Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull vibe from the pieces I heard you play. Your voice has a certain Anderson-like timbre to it. As for the instrumental, if recorded in a proper studio, it could very well be something on a Jethro Tull album like Songs from the Wood or Minstrel in the Gallery.

That sounds really flattering, and yet ... I'm sorry to say that I have never knowingly heard anything by Jethro Tull in my whole life, and the name Ian Anderson is wholly new to me!

[Elgarian Redux]

Previously you sounded like John Gielgud to my minds ear.

You can now imagine me laughing out loud. Just as John Gielgud might have done.

[Mirror Image]

That sounds really flattering, and yet ... I'm sorry to say that I have never knowingly heard anything by Jethro Tull in my whole life, and the name Ian Anderson is wholly new to me!

Check this out when you have time:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaDdPfiu04

[Elgarian Redux]

Check this out when you have time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaDdPfiu04

Hmm. I don't know. Does that sound like my stuff?
If there were influences on what I do, I'd think of Mike Oldfield, Steeleye Span, Bob Dylan, Elvis ... (the first two having a prog-folk-rock link). But I'm laughing now because
(a) the list is absurd; and
(b) in talking of 'influence', I'm taking my stuff way too seriously.

[Elgarian Redux]

I was thinking about the things that kick off the impulse to play. Quite often, it's just for the pleasure of holding the instrument, stroking the strings, and hearing the sounds. (I think that's a pleasure that became more marked when I acquired a few guitars, rather than just one.) Quite often I find myself just playing simple chords and twiddling around - sometimes it becomes a tune; sometimes it doesn't.

A real stimulus is weather. If it's sunny, there's no better place to be than outdoors, playing a guitar. There's an element of nostalgia in this: a memory of sunny summers in the sixties, with a group of friends sitting on the grass outside a pub, passing a guitar from one to another. But nostalgia aside, playing outdoors does have something special about it. There's no reverb, so you hear just the guitar - not 'guitar-plus-room'.

Playing to the sea is good too. We've often stayed at a remote cottage in Scotland, right on the sea shore, so there's a lot of gentle natural background sound: the shushing of a quiet sea, the spooky elemental noise of stags rutting on the hills. To bring the sound of a guitar into that environment is really strange, and I have haunting memories of such occasions:

https://soundcloud.com/user-251833972/footprints

What is it about a wooden box with wire stretched across it, I wonder? Taylor Guitars produce a magazine called 'Wood and Steel', and there's something in that juxtaposition: the metallic and the organic coming together. It feels unlikely, and yet it produces such music. Maybe that's linked to the Scottish experience - like the contrast between the unyielding granite of the mountains and the ever-changing sea and heather.