Guitar Techniques Part 2
Hi everyone.
This week, we continue with our list of Frethub’s “Top 40 Tips”. These tips, along with the previous 20 in last week’s blog, will help you in an array of musical situations, regardless of your level of playing. You’ll find advice to aid practice, useful hints on live performance and even some recommendations of affordable gear to use that will help you refine those guitar techniques and continue your musical journey.
We hope you find these tips useful. Have a great week and thanks, once again, thanks for continuing to learn guitar online with Frethub.
All the best,
Bobby and Nick
FretHub’s Top 40 Tips (Part 2)
21) When you’ve finished your gig, rehearsal or jam session, as a courtesy to your audience and fellow band members, always unplug the cable from the amp before unplugging it from the guitar. Nobody likes the noise of a cable plugged into an amp without a guitar on the end of it.
22) Rehearsal Etiquette: The cacophony of 3 or more musicians ‘noodling’ aimlessly while people are trying to communicate in a rehearsal environment can be very counterproductive. Try to avoid doing this when your bandmates are discussing ideas. They’ll certainly thank you for it.
23) Use the whole guitar! Experiment with your instrument’s volume knob, tone knob and pickup selector switch. You’ll be amazed at the range of tones you can achieve without changing the settings on your amp.
24) Without changing the settings on your amp, you can achieve a great dynamic range by experimenting with your pick attack. Try playing a phrase by picking lightly and again by picking heavily. Now try using your pick and fingers combined. You can get some very expressive results.
25) When using a Wah Wah effect, many people simply rock back and forth rhythmically on the pedal. However, it’s possible to experiment with more subtle approaches by opening the filter halfway or slowly sweeping the pedal forward or even backwards over the course of a lick or run.
26) For a subtle delay effect that will make your lead lines stand out and add sustain, try setting the delay time to around 310 milliseconds, the effect level at 20% and adjust the Feedback to however many repeats you want. Between 3 and 5 repeats is a nice, subtle setting.
27) The Whammy Bar or Tremolo arm is good for creating wild, dive bomb effects, but you can also use it to add a subtle, chorus like vibrato to chords and lead lines. Experiment with very small, rhythmic movements of the bar.
28) When practicing improvisation, try creating your own backing tracks to solo over. This will simultaneously improve both your rhythm and lead playing and needn’t require advanced production skills. Simply recording your rhythm guitar part on its own will provide you with a track to play along to.
29) Buying your first electric guitar? Good news. 20 years ago, beginners found it difficult to buy a good budget instrument. These days, however, it’s almost impossible to get hold of a bad electric guitar. Anything by Squire or Yamaha, new or used, would be a great investment to get you started, although there are many other good manufacturers on the market.
30) The AmpliTube iPhone/iPad app by IK Multimendia, complete with the iRig guitar/bass interface is a very affordable and portable way to practice. Not only that, but it sounds great! If you’re looking for original gift ideas, the iRig would make a great present.
31) Q: Do you need more than one guitar? A: If you’re playing regular gigs, it’s always handy to carry a spare, in case you break a string mid-song. However, guitars aren’t cheap, so it’s only advisable to invest in a second instrument when you can afford to.
32) Maintain positive attitude towards practice. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It can take years to master an instrument. You WILL get there with regular practice. Having patience in the short term and perseverance in the long term is the key.
33) Q: How frequently should I change my strings? A: It depends on numerous factors, such as how often you perform in public. Also, if your hands sweat excessively when playing, you will wear out strings quicker than somebody with drier hands. It’s advisable not to go on stage with old, rusty strings, since there’s a good chance they will break.
34) Try to play with as many different musicians as possible. Performing with others will give you a great insight into your own playing and you will develop in ways that may take longer if you only play alone.
35) Reading interviews with your favourite musicians will inspire you and offer valuable tips.
36) If you want to start playing live regularly, but don’t yet have a band, go to a few local Open Mic or Jam Nights. You don’t even have to get up and play at first, but as soon as you do, you’ll soon make friends and contacts.
37) Always warm up before a performance. Find a quiet space for private practice. If you don’t have time to play the whole set, concentrate on the parts that you feel need the most attention.
38) Think you know your way around the neck? Here’s a test: Set a metronome to 60bpm, then try locating every C note all over the neck. Now try finding every G note, then every D note, then every A note. Try finding all 12 notes in all positions, all over the neck. You’ll start to see a pattern emerging. This is explained in more detail in our essential “Learning The Neck”module.
39) Despite the age-old phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, the fact is, you are never too old to start learning to play a musical instrument. In fact, many people believe music keeps us young!
40) Ultimately, learning to play any instrument should be a fun journey. Don’t be discouraged by how much there is to learn. We never really stop learning, but that’s what makes music infinitely rewarding. Be patient, work hard, but most of all, enjoy yourself!
Okay, that’s 40 great tips. Now, go get ‘em, kiddo!