Today there are as many popular styles of guitar playing as there are brands of guitars. And unless you are satisfied with focusing on just a few styles such as metal or acid rock, you’re could be limited as a player if you play only using a guitar pick. And, there are four or five decades of musical styles out there still floating over the airways and iPods that you are missing out on as a player. In truth, finger style playing can actually be as easy or easier than pick style. Ask any professional guitarist or guitar teacher what he or she uses when playing at home for their own enjoyment. Many will say “Fingers.” A good example of a modern rock guitarist that uses his fingers would be Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Stringed instruments, whether guitars, cellos, violins or harps, produce vibrations that we can hear and feel when we pluck the strings. Holding the guitar against your chest and plucking the strings with your fingers is a more organic and natural experience. You feel closer and more intimate with your instrument. Plus, correct finger style hand position is a far more comfortable way to play guitar. However playing with a pick has its advantages too. Sweep picking, harmonics, speed runs and other techniques are only available to the player using a flat pick. Percussive rhythm playing is accomplished easily using a pick. Bluegrass practically demands it as does shred, metal and many classic rock styles. Most qualified guitar instructors are only happy to demonstrate pick technique and proper finger style techniques. A variety of right hand techniques will make you a more versatile guitar player and you will find that entire worlds of playing open up for you.  Let me begin by saying that back in the days of rock’s founding fathers (like Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly) most players were satisfied using just a guitar pick. Finger style playing was thought to be something reserved for classical or flamenco artists like Andres Segovia or Carlos Montoya. And to some degree, this was true. Music stores rarely had a nylon stringed guitar hanging on the wall, and flat-topped steel string guitars were designed for “flat picking.” However, people like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Leo Kottke (to mention just a few) changed things forever. Lots of these folk guitarists also played banjo and so were comfortable using their fingers. Several actually used their metal banjo picks on multiple fingers.
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The Minor Pentatonic Box: for anyone wanting to play guitar solos over blues and rock songs this is usually the first thing any aspiring guitar hero learns. Often it's the only thing we learn: it sounds good over all three of the chords of a common blues progression (the I, IV, and V ...if you aren't familiar with these terms for music theory, teachers at NWG can show you or there is plenty of information online to help) and there are a few players out there that can make just those five notes sound perfect. The problem is, for many, many other players it can sound boring and repetitive, and nothing like other musicians with a more advanced melodic vocabulary; if that's the music you listen to and enjoy. Many of those players have moved beyond "playing over the key" and are "playing over the changes"; in other words, making different melodic choices that sound better over each chord. Playing over changes seem daunting early on; for example, if you've looked at one of those charts that show you every scale you could play over chord X. ("I don't know all those scales." "I can't remember all that." "This just sound like playing scales.") There is an easier way to make a big step forward in your note choice sophistication while just adding one note… OK, three if you're being nit-picky, but just one at a time: add the major third from each chord to the pentatonic scale while following the chord progression. The video {below} made at NW Guitars will demonstrate a bit of how this can be done. Keep practicing! Learn more about CD Woodbury Staying Sharp About Flatwounds Flatwound strings have been around since the invention of the electric bass guitar. Clear back in 1951, the Fender Precision bass came stock with flatwounds. To say they have been a major part of rock ‘n roll would be a monumental understatement! Roundwound strings wouldn’t become the dominant string of choice until the 1980’s. And now we are experiencing a real comeback of this classic sounding string.  The list of artists who use(d) flatwounds strings is a veritable list of whoes-who of rock and roll. Names include Bill Black (Elvis), James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, Carol Kaye, John Paul Jones, Steve Harris (Iron Maiden), and many more. You name the artist in the 50’s, 60’s and much of the 70’s and you can be dang sure he/she were using flatwound strings. Flatwounds have a deeper, mellower sound than roundwounds that have been used across the musical spectrum including reggae, country, blues, jazz, roots rock and many indie bands have jumped on board as well. Many producers love the sound of flatwounds which eliminate the “squeak” (finger noise) when recording, plus they are easier on your frets, not to mention your fingers! And if they don’t have enough “growl” for you, there are now more modern sounding flats like the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwound strings that have a cobalt underwrap and ribbon that return much of the punch of a roundwound string while retaining the feel of flats. Do yourself a favor and try some on one of your basses today! By Michael Bloodgood
Find out more here. More videos... Blink 182, Angels & Airwaves All American Rejects A short sample list of people who use an AC30:
Written by Sean F Way back in the '50s when rock and roll first started with Elvis and Carl Perkins the guitar of choice for the new rockers was Gretsch. Duane Eddy, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley and of course Chet Atkins were just a few of the guitarists of note playing Gretsch. Then came the British invasion and we saw George Harrison on the Ed Sullivan show playing a Gretsch Country Gentleman. The folk rock movement gave us Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Still, Neil Young and Richie Furay all playing Gretsch guitars, the Byrds with David Crosby and his Gretsch and later Crosby, Stills and Nash with Stephen Stills playing a big White Falcon. Gretsch has certainly been the main stay guitar of rockabilly players most notably Brian Setzer. What you may not know is that may harder rock bands use Gretsch. Even Pete Townsend of the Who recorded the entire Who's Next album using a Gretsch and when you listen to AC/DC the entire rhythm sound (the big chord stuff) is Malcom Young playing his Gretsch. We identify Gretsch with the early rock classic sounds from the '50s, 60's and 70's but today Gretsch is used, owned and endorsed by many contempory guitar players like Jack White, both the Edge and Bono of U2, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, David Gilmore, Tom Petty, Richard Fortus of Guns and Roses and numerous alternative and rock guitarists wanting the "great Gretsch sound." Here is an article I've been meaning to write for some time. Many beginner players and even some people that have been playing for years get confused as to what a truss rod actually does. Many people think that the purpose is to adjust the action (string height). This is really not accurate. It does EFFECT the action but it is NOT there to adjust the action. Which are two very different things. Let me tell you a story. We had a customer a while back that bought a guitar from some where other than NWG. He wanted to adjust the action him self since most big box houses and mail order place don't have the ability or inclination to set the guitar up to play correctly. We, on the other hand, give a free setup with all purchases of guitars for a reason. There is a correct way and an incorrect way to set a guitar up to play it's best. This person kept coming back and complaining about buzzing and when he turned the rod the wrong way it would mess with the action. He said the guitar was defective. (Spoiler Alert: It was not.) Eventually he decided to let us do it for him and walked away happy. So what was going on? A truss rod effects the curvature of the neck. It is there to correct a back bow or a forward bow to create a buzz free playable experience. In this picture you can see a an extreme example of a back bow. Notice what it does to the strings.  A back bow will make the action feel shallow but that's because its changing the curve of the neck. Now here is a forward bow example. Again take a look at how it effects the strings. Take note to what it does to the tension of the strings.  Now here, is a corrected truss rod with high action caused by a tall nut and bridge.  This is a nice straight playable neck but with the action being high as a result of the nut and bridge being incorrectly cut. Lastly here is a corrected guitar set with a lower action but making sure the trust rod is straight with lowered strings. There is a science to this. There is actually suppose to be a slight curve to the neck. How much? I have no idea. That's something we have our tech Shawn take care of. One thing you can't see from pictures is the intonation which ensures that as you play up the neck, the guitar doesn't go out of tune. All of these adjustment effect each other. Mess with one thing and it throws off another. In addition there is the nut and saddle height and nut slot size that needs to be based on the string gauge you are using.  All examples are very extreme examples. On a real guitar, these adjustments are minuscule and are mostly felt. They require special tools to do the job correctly. It is difficult for the untrained eye to see whether or not you need a setup. This is probably why so many people have misconceptions. So should you do this yourself? You can, but probably shouldn't. Yes, you could learn if you took the time. It takes training and a lot of experience to be able to make the proper adjustments. Just like learning any new hobbie or skill it takes dedication and experience. What's more, an inspection by Shawn is FREE. If it doesn't need the work he won't charge you. This is the reason I go to a pro like Shawn DeMots at Six Strings Service inside Northwest Guitars. Even being the manager I still have him do all my guitar work. He's gone through extensive training and has years of experience to back it up. Once in a while I'll turn a knob or crank a screw but anything beyond that, I just give it to Shawn because every time I get my guitar back it is clean, it has fresh strings, the action feels perfect and it even sounds better from the pickup adjustments he does. I can definitely afford to spend $70 once or twice a year to make sure my $500+ instrument is playing and sounding great. Otherwise what is the point of spending hundreds of dollars to get a nice guitar if it plays poorly due to neglect. Here is a great video I found on Youtube that gives you a visual of the truss rod. Written by Sean Fallon #NWGuitarsWANews
Choosing the Right Acoustic Guitar Nylon or Steel?
Nylon or Steel Strings? The type of music you want to learn and play makes a difference. Guitars designed for nylon strings are usually used to play classical, flamenco and some types of folk music. These instruments are commonly referred to as “classical” or “nylon string” guitars. Nylon string instruments are not as loud as steel string acoustics and they are almost exclusively played with the fingers of the right hand (for right handed players) rather than with a pick. They produce a wonderful warm and intimate sound. In recent years the sound qualities of the classical guitar have been finding their way into pop and jazz. This has given rise to a newer kind of classical guitar called a “hybrid” or “crossover” guitar. This instrument features electronics, nylon strings and a neck and fingerboard that more closely resembles that of a steel string guitar like a narrower nut width and sometimes a slightly curved fingerboard.
Different acoustic guitar body styles and shapes produce different kinds of sounds. One of the most popular steel string guitar styles is the large dreadnought size. It produces a rich, loud, full-bodied voice that favors the lower end (bass) frequencies. Another popular size is the OM. OM stands for “orchestra model.” This style features a smaller body which can be more comfortable to hold than larger sizes and produces a more refined, balanced and a bit quieter sound. There are many other sizes including the popular auditorium size, which yields a sound that’s between the dreadnought and OM tones, and the smaller parlor guitar named so because it was originally designed to be played in the front parlor. Some beginners are attracted to nylon string guitars because the strings are softer than metal and they’re concerned about sore fingertips. This shouldn’t be a consideration as a properly set up (adjusted) steel string guitar with the right gauge strings can be just about as easy to play. In addition, nylon string guitars usually have a wider fingerboard which may be challenging for some players. Talk to the experts at Northwest Guitars. They can answer all your questions and help you select the instrument that’s perfect for you. Be sure to like and comment. If you enjoyed it, share with your friends! 8 ways to sound better right now – for free! by Shawn Demots Though there is a lot of great gear on the market, you don’t always need to spend serious bucks on the latest boutique gear to improve your tone. Here are eight easy ways to sound better instantly without emptying your wallet.
2. Hit the strings harder. A lot of musicians play quite a bit softer than they really need to. Obviously you don’t need to whack the bejeezus out of the thing but a little force is good, especially if you’re playing energetic music. If you notice a lot of string rattle and hum, you might need stiffer strings and higher action. 3. Check your right hand technique. It’s natural to focus on your left hand since it’s doing the more complicated stuff. Nevertheless, your right hand is where your tone comes from. Try picking at different spots closer and further away from the bridge. Try every pick you have, playing the same riff each time. Hit the strings with the pick as near to parallel to the strings as possible for a fat tone, angle the pick for a thinner tone. Finally, try creating pinch harmonics by holding the pick so it’s just barely sticking out from your fingers. The idea is for the string to hit the flesh of your thumb right after striking the pick.
5. Enjoy the silence. Try to eliminate every bit of background noise possible. Turn off your computer, TV, stereo, washer, dryer, fish tank, etc. Muzzle your spouses, roommates, children, and pets. Make a sacred space for you and your guitar to become one. 6. Move your amp or guitar. Try moving your amp into a corner, setting it on a chair, tilting it back, or pushing it up against the wall. Does your speaker cab rest on casters? Take ‘em off and annoy your neighbors with the massive low-end thump! Acoustic players, try changing the place where you play. You might find that your bathroom has an awesome slapback echo. 7. Use a delay pedal to work on your timing. I find practicing with a metronome to be torturously dull, so I like to use a delay pedal instead. Set it up for a single repeat and turn it up loud. Trying playing something that is straight eighth notes like the Cars or the Ramones. Bass players can pick just about any AC/DC song ever created. You’ll find you naturally lock in with the delay you’ve set. Notice that if you speed up or slow down even slightly, every note sounds messy. Relax and concentrate on the feeling you get when you’re in sync with the delayed notes. 8. Plug and unplug all of your cables a few times. Musical instrument signals are fragile things. We’re talking about millivolts here; they make a hearing aid battery look like a hydroelectric dam. Once a month or so plug and unplug all of your cables a few times to clean the crud off of the contacts. You can use electrical contact cleaner if you have some, but simply plugging and unplugging could be the key to a brighter and clearer sound. Top 6 reasons to get new strings: 6. They have become rusty and lose elasticity. They end up feeling less smooth. 5. Kinks or flat spots in strings can also cause the string to play differently, they may even start to buzz. 4. They become weighted down with sludge over time making them sound out of tune. 3. You get the whole guitar inspected and cleaned while the strings are getting changed. (Only at NWG) 2. Your guitar’s tone slowly becomes dull. Starts to sound muddy, even more prevalent with distortion. 1. Your guitar strings are discolored and are gross to touch. Plain strings should be silver are now black from dirt, grease and rust. It's gross!
FAQ: Is okay to keep the guitar in a slightly damp atmosphere? If the guitar is kept out of it's case in a damp room the strings will soon get spots of rust, they are likely to need to be changed sooner rather than later. Buy a dehumidifier if necessary. How do I know I know they are dirty? If they feel rough when you run your finger up the length of the string then they could be on their way out. What is the cost of strings and labor? Strings are normally between $6-$15 depending on quality and features. Our labor is between $20-$30 depending on if you are a student of NWG and the type of guitar being restrung (students get discounts on everything). Can I do it myself? Yes! However it is not as easy as it looks. If done incorrectly the strings will slip out of tune or take a long time to settle into position. Depending on our techs schedule, most of the time you buy a re-string he will show you how to do it as long as you ask. Author Sean FallonManager, digital media, social media, photographer, webdesign, videographer, video editor, sales, uke teacher. |
