5 Things We Wish We’d Known When Starting Out With Guitar [Volume 1] - That Pedal Show
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2024
- We share a handful of ideas and practical tips that may help accelerate your playing and tonal progress - some of the things we wish we’d known when starting out!
Life too short for long TH-cam videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
Welcome to the show. Dan and I were discussing the kind of episodes we could do as the Covid-19 lockdown continues. Maybe it’s the increased alone time; maybe it’s the extra brain activity as we contemplate what’s next… but whatever it is, we’re all thinking a bit more; indulging in a little cerebral leg-stretching around how we might change, evolve and improve as guitarists. And as humans for that matter.
Anyhoo, we started to talk about some of the realisations that would have been oh-so helpful had they come along just a bit sooner in our playing lives. The list was long and deep, so we decided to choose five at random and get going. No doubt there will be more - we’d love to hear yours in the comments!
A note on minor and major pentatonic scales, just in case you need it…
To work out the minor and major pentatonic scales, first play the major scale in the key of your choice. The notes are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7, 8: In G or example, that’s G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, C
From there…
Minor pentatonic intervals: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7 (1) (we call the b3 and b7 the minor 3 and minor 7)
Major pentatonic intervals: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 (1)
We’re deliberately not giving you the actual notes because working out and understanding the intervals is what it’s ALL about.
Enjoy the episode!
Interesting bits and go-to sections…
• Split-screen non-sadness: 0:00
• What are we doing today? 1:45
1. Time Is Everything (Except The Notes) 2:30
Discussion of Thing 1: 7:08
2. Don’t Break Out Of Your Boxes, Just Learn More Boxes: 13:22
Discussion of Thing 2: 25:50
3. A Low Action May Not Be Helping You: 30:08
Discussion of Thing 3: 33:40
4. You Don’t Have To Hit The Guitar Hard All The Time: 38:00
Discussion of Thing 4: 46:15
5. Be Open Minded About What You Listen To And Play: 49:50
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![Your First Guitar Solo & Beyond [Dan's Vlog ft. Andy Timmons, Joey Landreth & Adam Neely]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1acAne9HQIs/mqdefault.jpg)
![Pimp Your Vintage Guitar? [Dan’s ‘65 Fender Tele or Custom Shop?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EwBXaq72jQI/mqdefault.jpg)
“Don’t have one box, have lots of boxes”. The same motto I use for pedals.
Works for us!
Same moto I use for ... (NSFW) 😏
Knight Guitar’s Same with girlfriends
Agree 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🔥
John Heath same with STD‘s
LOVE the comment about playing to AC/DC records. Story time:
When my instructor first started introducing scales, modes, and playing blues/rock licks, there was basically no mention of timing, rhythm, or anything particularly musical. Quite frankly, I didn't enjoy it and nearly gave up. Then I put the new (at the time) AC/DC album "Black Ice" into my brother's stereo CD player, and instead of the Angus solo blaring through the speakers, I turned up my amp just a bit and started to play a groove that I thought was cool, but not quite spot on with the record.
Fast forward about a week or two, and my father comes barging into my room with his head rocking to some AC/DC, but he is shocked when he sees me playing guitar over the blaring stereo with my amp absolutely DIMED. I turn it down quickly and prepared myself to be berated for my "loud" behavior. He asked me, ".... that was you?" I nod my head and reply, "Just practicing and having some fun. Sorry it was too loud." He laughed and said, "I literally thought that was my man Angus playing that solo!"
Whether he was just being encouraging when I really sucked is besides the point. That moment proved how influential other musicians can be, and how I can greatly improve my playing by simply jamming along and feel the groove.
Thanks Dan and Mick!
The "learn more boxes" thing just completely changed my mindset. When I was studying music in Australia (Dan, you'll know the teacher, and the reputation that went along with them), I was told I can't keep playing pentatonic based solos. I've never been able to break out, but learnt other boxes without realising, I had that hang up for 20 years. You guys just lifted that guilt. Thank you!!!!
Also, can I suggestion some other "things I wish I'd known"
Switch between playing with your fingers and your pick
Use a heavy pick, but experiment with different shapes - this was a huge game changer for me when I found the Jazz III
Sing along with your solos (even if you can't sing, you'll focus on the rhythm)
Rhythm is more important than the notes
Don't listen to yourself when you're playing live, listen to the band
Write on an acoustic guitar, then take it to the electric
Practise going up an arpeggio and back down the scale and vice verse (another huge game changer)
An octave is up 2 frets and down 2 strings (except when you land on the B string)
Practice playing a solo on a single string
Repeat an idea to build tension, repeat it until it's uncomfortable
Transcribe horn solos
Don't start playing right at the beginning of your solo, wait for the 4 chord in a blues to build tension
Flirt with playing a semi-tone up in a blues when you're on the 1 chord
Stand up when you practise
Practise in front of a mirror to judge your technique
Try bends with different fingers (eg bending with my middle finger gives a different effect to my 3rd)
Learn some right hand classical guitar techniques.
Keep a guitar out and available all the time.
Great episode guys, you lifted my curse!!!!
You lost me at "Flirt with playing a semitone up" but you got me back big time with "Keep your guitar available!". :-)
Great suggestions.
Hello men ..I have learned so much from watching you both over the years.. today you have freed my mind....thank you so very much for your channel.. on a serious note.. I lost my 19 year old Daughter two years ago.. and honestly between Dan and Mick and Josh Smith.. You have kept me sane .. thank you for the entertainment....education and the laughs....Declan :)....I am Currently building a pedal board that runs off drill batteries....so all good :) :)
Declan, thank you for the kind words. That you can find any kindness at all after such a loss must be testament to your courage sir. Thank you for being with us - we are humbled that it helps in some way!
🙏🏻
Point 5 was my father's best advice, " son, if you want to be a professional musician, you can't afford to be a musical elitist." At the time, all I listened to or played was hard rock and heavy metal, and I thought at 18 that was the only music worth listening to! What a difference 40 years of playing made to that attitude!!
12:40 One other thing that’s crazy handy to know when it comes to timing is, that we measure time by our heartbeat. That’s why time seems to speed up when you’re excited, and slow down when you’re bored. So when you’re in the studio or practice space, you have one sense of time, yet when you’re on stage, you start playing crazy fast all of a sudden. If you’re aware of this fact, you can start playing agonisingly slow when you feel your heart rate/breath rate speed up to compensate for it. This also works for speeches. Speak so slow that it feels awkward when in front of a group, so they can at least follow what you’re saying.
Had to laugh at Dan when he said, "well that must be rubbish, because Mum listens to it" comment, hilarious! Recently on a visit to my wife's family in Finland (first trip since covid restrictions have been lifted) to introduce her parents to their new grandson, I had a look through my wife's mum's old vinyl collection and there were some real gems in there. I had my son in my arms listening to some stuff and I could help but laugh at the thought of him rocking out to Grandma's Deep Purple "Live in Japan" LP 😀. Its hard to believe but that is the older generation now.......
That was like a great chat down at the pub with two old mates. Just missing the pints. Don’t go changing.
Ah, pints. Well, it is Friday. Cheers John!
Got my pint sitting next to me! Our local does takeaway!
Mick: "I wish I'd known the correct typeface used in the 60's on Fender knobs"
That is true. Soooooo much about Strats I still wish I knew!
@@ThatPedalShow I've learned so much from you guys it's insane.
Any idiot could sound good if all it took was practice! Buying pedals is where real talent comes in;)
Hahahaha!!!!
Soo true! If you suck, get a Klon!
I wondered where that was going but turns out it was a very enlightened observation..probably from years of purchasing commitment 🤔
@@ITheFight I heard that if you buy 3 Klons, you automatically get a Grammy. 🤣🤣🤣
Dan's right about the action. The sustain is pretty obvious, but what is most surprising is the tonal difference in the midrange. The chords sounded fuller and chunkier. Great demonstration!
I agree with Dan's 1st tip. I've had a Boss Dr-880 and the Bass Player and the Drummer "Always" show-up to Practice, never complain or get tired. Best musical investment, I have ever made. My ProTip: Don't compare yourself to Guthrie Govan ( it's depressing ). Great info guys.
That first segment on timing and swing was so interesting, especially your shared enthusiasm on the topic and differences in your approach and how that relates to your personality. One of the reasons I resonate with guitar so much is I feel you can express so much of that personality with the base tools that the instrument provides you with
Love the format for this! Well done. It's a good way to handle the situation. That said, I can't wait to see you guys together again!
You guys are that little sprinkle of hope and joy during these Covid-19 times. Thanks for keeping it up.
it's awesome how many people have spoken about Little tommy Bukovac from Cleveland since he has been doing his show. Home Skoolin rules...He is such a great player and true renaissance man...The Buk...
This is one of the best TPS ever IMO. Mick, you ARE a guitar teacher, and Dan, you gave us many nuggets here. Thanks guys! Stay safe from N Texas.
Ah, thanks Lou!
If you guys haven’t already, I’d love to see a video where you guys discuss your background a bit more. I really enjoy the show! You’re both great players and great personalities. Keep up the great work!
Thank you Trevor!
Guys...I'm 10 minutes into this and I'm already inspired. Love your content, please keep doing what you do! We'll all be there following you.
the more I watch the more I think this could be one of your best videos. Thank you so much for your honesty and genuine emotion as it relates to "the journey" that so many of us are traveling.
Good thing Dan’s still
on the right. If that ever changes THE CORONAVIRUS WINS!!!
The virus always wins, it's just a matter of whether we can survive it.
Two things:
1) I purposely switched to a short scale guitar for several years to force myself to have a more delicate touch. It was my observation when playing Les Pauls that when I dig in it would push the string(s) out of tune. I guess a lot of the heavier gain players who play short scale guitars use super thin pics. I recently am now 100% all about Telecasters and will never go back to a short scale, but what I learned makes a HUGE impact on my playing. I can now play "softly" most of the time, and then when I hit a note or phrase hard it really feels right dynamically. Same with chords.
2) I loved the #2 "Find more boxes" segment. As always you do a great job in explaining something that is complicated and abstract.
First learn all the root note positions like you said. In G learn where all the G notes are on the neck. Then learn where all the 5ths are, in this case D. Then learn the minor/major third positions. Use those triads as the "home box" areas.
In a Blues progression what you describe is good advice for an introduction to this philosophy; Minor scale over the I chord, Major over the IV chord and Minor of over the V chord. That is a good jumping off point.
So here is what you were playing I believe; over a G major Blues progression. Please correct me if I am wrong! These are all pentatonic
G minor over the G
C major over the C
D minor over the D
You can change it all up too, of course! Try this over a G7 Blues progression:
G mixolydian (major with b7) over the G
G minor over the C
G minor Blues over the D in the turnaround & then
G mixyolodian over the G
Of course not all notes will work. The key is to use the key chord tones of each chord as a base and the others as passing tones. Same G7 progression:
G mixolydian (major with b7) over the G
- Focus on the 3rd, (B by bending up to it from the A note), the 7th (F) and also the G (I) and D (IV) notes. The rest of the notes are for passing notes to bridge phrases to the other chord tones.
G minor pent over the C
- This is usually also a C7 chord. So you have G, A#, C, D, & F as the G minor pent notes that have to mix with the key C7 chord tones; C, E, G & A#. If for the purpose of learning you mix them together and you get G, A#, C, D, E & F. So the only "weak" note from the G minor over the C is the D; which is still very useful.
G minor Blues over the D in the turnaround
-just to add the flat 4 if you want to walk down to the C & then
G mixyolodian over the G
Finally... I really like the way you guys are using the lockdown to expand and tinker further with the TPS universe. Videos like this really and some breadth and depth to the way you convey your love of guitar and music. Thanks!
Nile Rodgers (of Chic) produced Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' album, and played guitar on the album. The man is a phenomenal guitarist, very sneaky with his stripped down, jazz-influenced chord progressions, and an amazing producer.
Don't try to learn the stuff that everyone else plays, learn the stuff you love.
If you believed TH-cam demos you'd think that to be a proper guitarist you'd have to be a master of blues noodling. It's absolutely fine not to know a single lick if that makes you happy.
The TPS episode with Ed OBrian reinforced this 100% for me :-)
@@Daryl_Sweet totally
Completely agree! I also found the Ed O’Brian episode inspirational on this front (even as someone who does connect with the blues noodling stuff!)
Absolutely this!
Billy Gibbons reiterates a point made by one of his heroes often "learn to play what you wanna hear"
Totally agree.
Play what you like and what moves you regardless if it's what everyone else plays or what no one else plays.
IT WORKED WELL GUYS. Pinky on the root for major made my day. THX
This is the stuff we are all here for. Thanks for the perspective and for pushing through to make this great content. You guys are making the best of a rotten situation. Cheers!
My go-to for working on timing: tremolo pedals. (And sincerest props to you both for staying healthy and keeping it all going.)
New Tee Shirt “Procrastinate Now”
"True bypass Procrastinating"
Or next week.
Sounds like a name for a delay pedal.
“Procrastinate Later”
The discussion about timing, and metronomes, reminded me about playing to a tremolo pedal to get my timing solid. And that reminded me, where the hell is that thing?
I have more kit missing about the farm than some professional musicians take out on tour.
Thank u guys. Best college college class ever for me was history of American music. We sat and listened to “Alabama” by john Coltrane. I cried and was amazed!! It changed my life. I didn’t listen to rock for years after that. Except if you consider zappa rock ;). Only bad it did at the time was to show me how how behind I was for all the years I played. New love for music but I didn’t pick up guitar for years after that. The expression of tenor sax and cello was amazing and never thought I would come close. Anyway luckily I rediscovered my love of hard rock and started again. Thank you again guys for the great shows. Come to Texas!! ;). Oh you probably know your jazz. But Yusef lateef live at peps is always mind blowing to me. I always ask my guitar virtuoso friends to do a high gain version of “sister Maine”. Anyways. Later
Great episode. Fantastic to see you communicating like that and adapting to what's going on. Looking forward to seeing more stuff like this!
I discovered that my heavy-handedness on my guitar was the result of practicing without an amp...hitting the strings hard to get some volume heard. If playing through a very responsive tube amp, it will do the heavy lifting!
@Toxic Potato I think you are disagreeing to something you read into my post and I think we are actually more in agreement than you realize. Attack is definitely important for all instruments, but without an amp, people tend to hit, pluck, whatever their strings harder than necessary because they are trying to hear themselves. As you were...
Bach > Mozart > Beethoven was the classical equivalent of moving from 'stuff as many notes in as you can/really technical metal' to 90s loud/quiet guitar music where all the emotion came back. We are moving in the same giant circle as every era of musicians has. I love that you guys recognised the importance of an open mind in learning music as part of this list. Thanks for another great show.
Action was night and day in headphones, mind blown!
This set up is exactly what I expected to see for a bit, well more close to the best case split apart answer I could think of to solve issues like this. why late night tv can't be done this well blows my mind. thank you for the tips and food for thought, great job everyone at TPS in making this work
I have learned a lot from TPS over the years. One great tip that I've used was from Dan's vlog when he was talking about playing/soloing just on one string.
Maybe you could do an episode on how to acquire gear without 'er indoors noticing?
I play along with BB King Live at the Regal... everything John Mayer, SRV, KWS... not that I can play what they play but playing along side them in a way is super helpful
Starting with the small finger. Wow that’s an awesome tip. You guys rule!
Love listening to you guys talking all things guitar. Keep it up.
Just wanted to say my T-shirt arrived today, and blimey whomever said about how well it was packed on VCQ wasn't kidding. A glorious opening experience.
Thanks Von! That’s Katherine. Detail is her middle name. Actually it’s Louise, but it should be Detail.
@@ThatPedalShow Please give her an extra big hug next time you do. It's the best t-shirt packaging I've ever had, and I have been shopping online since it was possible.
+1 to this for the two sets of 'Dan set' strings that came in the post yesterday. Packaged with real care. The true sign of a business being run by people who love what they do is the little details like that.
VonBlade I wear my pedal show tshirt every time a new vid comes out. Lol. Even more so during lockdown. Haha
'Captain McShreddy Shreddy-pants' needs to be a TPS Tee Shirt
stick the word "and" after captain and you have a sarcastic comment on an Andertons video
John Scofield is the absolute master of pushing and pulling, does it to the point where you think he's going to fall off the cliff, and then BANG he's back on.
He also does that playing across the bar lines thing.
We both LOVE him, in capitals.
Also, I've learned I have a long way to go compared to you two (Mick and Dan), but I always feel inspired, not discouraged. You guys are the best!
With regard to playing hard/soft; I actually had to learn the value of hitting the strings on my Tele. It was the most expensive guitar I’d ever bought and I wasn’t enjoying it at all. I thought I had to treat it “properly” in case I broke it. I mentioned this to a mate of mine who is actually a guitarist. He asked me to play it while he listened, to see if he could pick up on anything to do with set-up. Almost immediately, he said “Ah. I think I can see your problem. Give it here.” So I did, whereupon he ripped out some breathtaking country and country rock licks. It sounded majestic. As he gave it back, he said, “Sometimes - not always - you’ve just got to spank the f****r”. Big lesson.
Ah, now that is interesting. Mick here. Being afraid of your guitar! Yeah, totally know that feeling. It’s exactly why I love relics and really don’t like super posh guitars! Nice one.
Excellent show today. Loved it. BTW, the guitarist on 'Jolene' was Chip Young. Yep, I'd not heard of him either. My bad.
Great to see you guys still putting up vids during the CV, thanks so much. I muck around with the hight of the pick ups, it makes a huge difference too.
Gentlemen, absolutely one of your best videos! I only wish you would have done this a couple of years back when I was starting to learn guitar again after a 25 year hiatus. Thank you, and thank you for being there for us all.
About the timing thing: I see myself as a beginner. And lately I've been playing along to songs. But not with the guitars of the song, but with the lead vocals. Huge revelation!
Nice! We are ALL beginners David. Always. :0)
Buy a metronome. Whether it’s an old fashioned mechanical one or an electronic one with a beep, they’re inexpensive and an absolute eye-opener if you play on your own. I wish I’d got one with my first guitar.
Accompanying the song, spot on👍😎
5:23 - Getting strong vibes of "Der Kommissar"!
One of the best episodes ever .. and not even any pedals. Superb. Thanks. 👍
Great to see you guys up close. Great thoughts too.
I just wish there was internet when I was starting out! I remember reading the "The guitar handbook" by Ralph Denyer like it was the bible... Learned so much from that book
That book IS the bible!
I still have mine from 82!
The Strat sounded so great when you were banging on it. I think I might have to hit the guitar a bit more. I've always preferred high action and thick strings already. Cheers.
One of my favorite stories from music school (I was a brass player majoring in Music Ed back 15-20 years ago, guitar was always second back then) was one night around finals my first semester. My stoner roommate and his stoner friend were procrastinating their finals projects, so we all started taking turns playing CD's for each other. I was really into jazz, classical, and metal, and they were into jazz/hip-hop/jam band stuff. That night I heard The Roots for the first time, and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and I'm sure others that I can't remember (as it was literally 20 years ago). But to your last point, it's fun hanging around musicians with other interests, and if you know each other, you'd be surprised what other stuff they'll bring to you once they know your tastes.
I thank the guitar gods for TH-cam videos where the guitar is removed. I don’t know where they got access to the individual mastertracks, but it’s basically like playing in a band. Helped my time some
It absolutely did work and it was just what I needed today. So far this lock down I have bought a pink strat and a gigrig G2, and written and recorded over 10 'albeit very silly and sketchy' songs, just to practice writing and finishing things, and hearing you guys wrestling with some of the same problems has been really great. Also, a thought for the issue of trying to enjoy playing whilst recording which has been game changing for me has been putting the record, stop etc functions on a midi footswitch really helped. Being able to start and stop, or over dub etc. without my hands leaving the guitar really helped me staying in the moment, just a thought. Much love and rock as always
I've bought a compressor, an Analogman fuzz, a Strymon Volante, and a Hiwatt amp. Solidarity on the silly and sketchy songs - I just do a minute of some new thing, get it down, try to learn it. One day I'll string some of them together.
Great work man, I thought I spent a lot over lockdown! Sound's like you've got your money's worth already?
Long before learning notes etc is to learn how to hold the guitar. One thing I used to tell students was to play with a strap, and not support the weight of the guitar with your left (or right) hand - this completely frees up your dexterity and puts less stress on your wrist (you're holding at least a couple of kilos there..).
Also play with the guitar on a shorter strap to help with the above - you can start to lower it as you progress...
I have to admit I was lucky growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in my house. Second youngest out of 8 kids and music being played on the radio from the time we woke up to when we went to bed. I am the only musician in the family but my family are really music orientated people. The multitude of music genres that I was exposed to means I have always appreciated every type of music, even if I didn’t particularly like the genre, there was always something in there that you could appreciate as a musician. I do draw the line in some cases as I think some songs/styles just aren’t music but that’s personal and I will keep to myself. But completely agree with this point because, if you can’t hear talent or appreciate the talent because it’s not your thing you aren’t a real musician.
Thanks guys for another great video! For me, point #5 resonates so clearly. I often find myself listening to new music, new artists and then wondering why I hadn’t stumbled into it sooner. In a similar point to your discussion I’ve learned so much from picking non guitar parts in songs and learning them for guitar. I think it links your ear better to your brain and fingers and gets you closer to the “don’t think, just play” motto
The part of the video that addressed the action height really intrigued me. Now I am no expert or one to be consulted regarding electric guitar mechanics.
However I can’t help but wonder about the difference in distance between the strings and the pickups with regard to pickup height.
Dan, did you raise the pups by .5 mm as well or did they stay out?
Ok, I get it, you have me convinced. Time to get a looper pedal that has drum loops in it.
Jeremiah Stanley try the new Boss Rc10r!
I recommend a NUX Drum & Loop pedal if you're looking to save. I've used the JTC drum and Loop Pro and found that a really good pedal. They also make a mini version of it I think 👍
Lots of options. I picked up a second hand Boss RC3. 10 drum presets. So easy even a carpenter like me can use it. Good luck.
@@StringsOfCrossroads I have the Digitech Trio PLus but have been thinking about the RC10, you have it and like it? Does the cymbal crash at the end of each loop bother you?
Wow! I think you have exploded the internet with such revelations! Learn new boxes and raise your action!! Oh my hat! Love it and would agree wholeheartedly!
7:55- me everytime I play too. We spend so long practicing on our own that when you get with other people it's really difficult to not freak out.
Appreciate the caution. Whilst those in power have changed some of the restrictions not much has actually changed apart from so much loss for so many families.
Playing with other musicians is tantamount, particulary ones who can run circles around you. I started playing shows at a really young age so that was never an issue for me, interestingly my journey now is towards songs. So I suppose my advice to my younger self would be: listen to the singer, learn as much as you can about melody and lyricism, transcribe vocal melodies and the other instruments. In other words, learn what it is that makes a song. For me I dove in complex and instrumental music early on and avoided the depth of melody for a long time. You need a marriage of both for sure
I CONSTANTLY FOR 25+ years play along with CDs/MP3s. CONSTANTLY. I’m sharing that as an educational approach with other people on TH-cam to help them as it has helped me.
I actually can't believe the difference the action made! I always play with the lowest action I can - You may have made me rethink this! Especially as it was such a tiny bit higher. INCREDIBLE
One thing I wished I knew was how much old Marshalls, Voxs and Hiwatt would be worth today versus the early 1980s.
Robert Price and crusty old strats and jazzmasters
And Apple stocks
Huh, its Friday already!?!
Thank you to share this. Can't wait for Volume 2!
One of the most valuable lessons i learned from my Uni teacher was, always play with confidence! no matter the dynamic or how many notes, always play with confidence! it will sound much better just from that!
When I watch you I feel like a 49 years old guitar beginner 😂 ! ✌️
We’re all beginners. I spent most of the last 20 years thinking I wasn’t. Mick here. And it killed my playing. Now I’m open to the fact, and I’ve started improving more than maybe I ever have. We’re all beginners!
I'm pretty sure that Dolly Parton herself played the guitar track on Jolene.
This is such an amazingly helpful video for angling my practice, and just to know others have some of the same struggles and obstacles as I do but can sound great - thank you!
As a late starter, I’m 5 years into my guitar obsession and have got stuck in a rut, I think this has been the most productive hour of that journey - everything struck a chord and I’m going to be moving forwards again. Thank you!
Dolly wrote that guitar part. Had a fight with porter Wagoner coz he was teaching the session players the part wrong
That playing over the chords (minor, major, minor) is a "lightbulb" moment for me. Mick, what's your approach over a minor blues progression?
If it’s straight minor you probably want to stay away from those major thirds! My approach would the be same as always.... venture the usual licks and bend in and out of what sounds offf. Hahaha! BUT. Have a play along to the The Sunshine Of Your Love solo by Clappo - original version. It’s not minor, OMG does he go in and out of major and minor flavours. Makes my head spin when I play it!
@@ThatPedalShow so do you use the minor pent shapes over the relevant chords (Am over 1, Dm over 4 etc...)?
Returning today at 22:45 I realized I could listen to you play that supposed exercise to learn more boxes and eventually link,.... that I could listen for hours.
I've said before, Thank You Both, for building into my musician's life and helping me to advance. Wonderful health, happiness and successes to you and yours in your futures!
well done chaps. Good job under difficult conditions. I particularly liked number 5 as it improves you so much by musician listening and playing to music that is a little more alien to you.
"Don't break out of the box" "Stay in the box, boxes are good" sounds like new Tee Shirt slogans....brilliant video Mick & Dan.....
Haha yeah, or ”Stay in your box” - Covid19... sums up year 2020..
The one I wish you had included was "Learn by ear". Personally I still can't really do this & it's been 20 years. To many tabs in those early years, having a tuner before I knew how to tune, those are great tools but bad crutches.
Let’s do that in round 2!
Ditto, that together with timing are my biggest flaws and have held me back significantly. It's so frustrating that I can't step away from my bad habits because it's so much easier to cheat. Yet I know the benifits would be huge. It's like when I forced myself to spend a few weeks typing terribly and slowly because I decided to learn touch typing after a decade of two finger hammering. It's such a game changer. I just need to put myself through that pain and probably for a bit longer than a few weeks.
This was a terrific episode, full of great and useful ideas for improving people's playing particularly the one's about timing and not hitting the guitar too hard, superb stuff chaps, looking forward to the next segment :)
The part about guitar action stunned me. I’m surprised how much difference it made. Great video as usual guys !
Captain McShreddy Shreddy Pants. Isn’t he Bassy McBeer Belly’s cousin.
"Everybody was Kung Fu fighting..." now I need to know about THAT story...
Not everybody...
I’ve found the same thing about string action. It’s also a feel thing: with a little higher action I think I can feel the energy of the string a bit better. And that makes me more confident that the note I’m playing will sustain as long as I intend it to sustain, for example. It may be about changes less than a millimetre.
The "horrible" major third was probably the bit I liked most in that section :D
Clapton fan no doubt!
When I first started on guitar I had no idea that there were things like pedals to alter your sound. I just thought people like Slash had guitars and amplifiers sounded like that naturally. I never saw a distortion pedal until I got in my first band and the other guitar player had one.
I also didn't know there were books and magazines for guitar music until I was in a drug store one day and I saw the September 1989 issue of Guitar School (I think I still have it somewhere). Mind blown! Until then I was rewinding tapes to pick out guitar parts. These two revelations happened around the same time. What an idiot!
Slash does have a guitar and amp that sounds like that... Unless he's using a wah
String action low vs slightly higher: chalk 'n' day? Really? I was thinking more like night 'n' cheese! LOL!
Thanks for making the effort guys - most appreciated
Good lord, I'm commenting twice. Higher action = mind blown!! Huge difference, totally audible on headphones. I'm getting the adjustment wrenches out now.
You Don’t have to hit the guitar hard. That is so true. Two of the heaviest sounding players ever: Toni Iommi and Kim Thayil, both have a very light touch to their playing.
Toxic Potato not really.
Toxic Potato it’s not meant to be some infallible ranking. Just an example of two heavy sounding players that have a light attack.
I’m at that point with the boxes Mick! After 30 years of playing I’ve finally started properly learning the boxes, and am doing exactly what you’ve suggested. Great minds! Also reassuring that what I’m doing is an ok and sensible approach.
Last night I improvised along to Quest Love’s live DJ session of Janet Jackson-such brilliant pop, and to my detriment as a teen, just couldn’t allow myself to open up to. But I find that kind of music is so satisfying to try and figure out and sends me down truly inspiring rabbit holes. Thanks as always for your work.
Sometimes I get a joke days after they were told me. Likewise it sometimes takes someone to point out something that’s been staring me in the face for years. Cheers for this..
Mick and Dan I've been back to the video several times since 3 this afternoon, with guitar in hand. The little nuggets of advice here have been driving me to keep plucking away. Dan with the pentatonic/minor scale fingering and Mick with the box advice. I've gotten the diminished arpeggio(?) down to a tee and the g blues exercise is great. I know it's been said before but I think people would really get a lot out of some lessons/tips/chords/voicings from yous. I love all your shows, some, more than others but this weeks has really struck me with confidence. This morning I was doing the typical backing track play over on the couch and now I've gotten a few more tricks in the bag to work over.
Thanks, so much,
Gary 👍
Gary, that’s awesome. Makes me genuinely made up that you’re getting something from this. Thank you for sharing that!
Gents,
I am consistently amazed how you manage to strike a major chord with me (no pun intended) with each and every vid. These five topics reminded me of my short comings as a self-taught player. Unfortunately, I have become advanced in only concentrated areas of my playing while remaining a relative beginner in the balance. Poor timing and stagnant “box” playing have held me back for years. When I hit the guitar too hard, I struggle to keep notes in tune. Thanks for the wake-up call. Time to get to work!
Great show. I think every guitarist looking back to the beginning wishes that they knew things then that they later learned. That is not only so with guitar playing but also, if you’ll forgive me for waxing philosophic for a mo’, life itself.
As for higher action, yeah, I was a “low action is better” guy for a long time and only learned the truth of the thing by accident, the way a lot of good things are learned. Higher action does lots of good things for the sound. The obvious thing, which you guys mentioned, is that the strings aren’t flopping about against the frets above where we are playing so much.
However, there is another benefit to higher action. First, we must understand that the string becomes magnetized when it is in proximity to the magnet in the pickup. In order to get the maximum from that now magnetized string, nothing must interfere with its vibration above the pickup, including the pickup itself.
Moving the string ever so much farther away from the pickup lessens the pickup’s magnetic pull on the magnetized string and, accordingly, permits the string to vibrate with less or little magnetic pull. Thus, the sting’s vibrational pattern becomes more readily and clearly sensed by the pickup’s magnetic field and the pickup can send a greater quantity (no, not louder, but richer) of both the fundamental and harmonics to the amp. Lowering the pickup is one way to help this along, but raising the strings does it as well. This is true for humbuckers but even more so for single coils which typically magnetically pull the string much harder. The greater the magnetic pull on the string, the more the sound is being masked and diminished.
Jeff Beck, whose tone has always been of the best said that he sets his Strat pickups nearly flush to the pickguard and sets his action fairly high. Think he’s on to something?
I figured out a way to “measure” the magnetic pull of any pickup to determine if it is too close to the string. I take a paper clip and lay it on top of the string where the pickup is. If I feel a strong resistance when I lift it off the string, then that is how much the pickup is pulling that string. No, it’s not scientific, but it is a useful aid to help me determine whether I need to lower the pickup or raise the string a bit.
Cheers.
Honestly you guys, I just can't get over the dynamics that you two have with each other. I love just about everything you do on TPS. I just raised the action on my fav Tele and it's staying raised thank you Dan. The part about music you wouldn't normally listen to I discovered in the last 12 months or so (I'm 69 and have lived in Aus for the last 38 years) and played guitar since I was a kid in Shepherds Bush. As a kid I saw Hendrix live at Woburn Abbey and music just keeps being made and is probably the most important part of my life. I just listened to Dolly Parton and the acoustic guitar and wow, Now I'm a DP fan. Your channel is one of the easiest to watch, educational and inspiring. I love your passion for what you do. Thanks. Love from Graham in Aus.
Thanks Graham! Wow. Jimi at Woburn. Far out! Thanks for the kind words and we’re stoked that you get something out of this!