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Post by pjld86 on Nov 1, 2014 19:33:39 GMT
Hello!
I've been asked to play electric (!!) guitar for a few things & have borrowed a Fender telecaster and Blues Junior amp to have a go!
Not really played electric before, except for a few months in my teens when a Les Paul was going cheap - but never really got to grips with it!
I'm amazed at the difference in feel and technique required, and was wondering if anyone has any advice on making a success of electric guitar, for someone who has spent years and years playing acoustics almost exclusively!
Thanks!! Any advice/hints/tips comments very gratefully welcomed!!
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Post by grayn on Nov 2, 2014 7:16:41 GMT
Good question.
You'd be surprised at how much of your acoustic guitar skills/knowledge can be used on an electric.
But yes, they are very different beasts.
Obviously the electric has lighter strings and amazing amounts of sustain, even on clean setting.
Remember it's very much a team of guitar and amp.
And using that team to your advantage is a skill in itself.
Take time to set the amp's controls, to get a sound that really appeals to you, with all 3 of the tele's pickup choices. And I mean, take your time. Don't just take a few seconds knob twiddling, whilst strumming a chord.
The balance of tone, volume and reverb controls will make all the difference to you.
And a tele and blues junior is a nice combo.
When playing, you can often play less and concentrate more on vibrato and /or muting to add beauty to your sound.
Open chords and lead lines can follow each other, very nicely.
Really simple things like playing the last 2 notes of a lead line, with a simple harmony, can really lift a peice.
There are some really excellent videos, free on youtube, to give you hints and tips and even full artist's style profiles.
Good luck.
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Post by chris501 on Nov 2, 2014 15:54:56 GMT
Nice combination of guitar and amp, can't go far wrong with that. From experience it's difficult for acoustic players to get out of the habit of strumming on an electric, especially if they're singing too. The art of doing less, or even nothing takes a while. The singer in my band wasn't really what you'd call a guitarist, but he could bang out a few chords to accompany himself. However, he played exactly the same way if you handed him an electric and it would be far too busy. To be fair, he played in time but the idea of hitting a chord once and letting it ring seemed impossible! You've probably already discovered how your vice like acoustic grip will easily pull the strings out of tune.
Also, with the Blues Junior, if you push the gain up and then adjust volume with the volume knob you can get a grittier sound which will clean up really nicely if you back the volume off on the guitar. You should be able to roll the volume back to about 5 or 6 without really losing any volume, just cleaning the sound up and losing the overdriven edge. Playing gently will have a similar effect, then you can push the volume back up and hit it and it'll bark.
I'm getting myself all worked up here.........
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Post by colan on Nov 4, 2014 14:32:11 GMT
An electrical output , whether from a solid body, semi or a wired acoustic will give you access to......... ..............all manner of stunning and hypnotic effects; Guitar Rig, Roland synths, etc. etc. Mate, you can sound like any combination of guitar and amp. You can dial in the guitar sound of just about any well-known player. Your guitar can become an oboe, a cello, a bank of violas, a choir of castratos ( I kid you not ), charging daleks, whales in love......oh man, you've opened the floodgates !  And you know what ? You can come back to being an acoustic guitarist. Enjoy your trip. |
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Post by 007 on Nov 5, 2014 17:18:10 GMT
It worked for Robert Zinnerman at the Manchester Trade Hall in 1906 or whenever. Keef was front row with the groupies  |
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Post by clydeslide on Nov 17, 2014 20:33:57 GMT
You say you've been specifically asked to play a few things. What exactly? Might help with some guidance...
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Post by pjld86 on Nov 23, 2014 18:49:24 GMT
Some recordings for Christmas of Christmas songs - a mixture of carols and other Christmas songs - and then in the band at church too - so a kind of contemporary clean(ish) sound, on the whole - textures rather than rhythm or lead. I'm starting to get more to grips with it - and I think a lot of it has to do with economy of playing, clarity and accuracy, and effective use of pedals. It's fun, and nice to have another string to my bow (/guitar) and I'm enjoying the fact that it is taking me out of my usual playing patterns, and challenging me creatively. Again, still any advise or insight welcome, as this road is long and well travelled I'm sure!  |
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Post by clydeslide on Nov 24, 2014 9:41:37 GMT
In that case start listening to soul music The way electric guitar players fit into those kind of soul big bands it to emphasise certain notes and sections with small fills, truncated chord shapes at a higher register etc. It works very well as an electric player trying to fit in with a lot of acoustic instruments as it doesn't take over which is very easy to do if you try and play a constant chord pattern. Here are two very good examples, one where the guitar is playing lead lines and just fitting in, one where the guitar is still the main sound but leaves space in the recording: I should also mention Kyle Cook of Matchbox Twenty and Alex Rosamilia of Gaslight Anthem. Two modern players who are absolutely brilliant at this kind of thing. |
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Post by stringdriventhing on Nov 24, 2014 15:01:23 GMT
I can't play electric to save my life, although I'm thinking about getting one. I think my problem is the light strings. Everything I play sounds out of tune because I press too hard and bend the strings slightly. I reckon if I string up a 'leccy guitar with 11s or even 12s then I'll sound ok.
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Post by grayn on Nov 24, 2014 18:42:35 GMT
I can't play electric to save my life, although I'm thinking about getting one. I think my problem is the light strings. Everything I play sounds out of tune because I press too hard and bend the strings slightly. I reckon if I string up a 'leccy guitar with 11s or even 12s then I'll sound ok. Plenty of folks play electric with heavy strings. As most guitars are set up for 9s or 10s, if you want it with with 12s, get the tech in the shop you buy it from, to set the guitar up, with your desired string guage. It's likely a little truss rod adjustment will be needed. And you'll get more tone from those monster strings. I reckon a shorter scale fender (Mustang) with 12s would be mega. Good luck. |
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Post by vikingblues on Nov 24, 2014 19:25:21 GMT
I can't play electric to save my life, although I'm thinking about getting one. I think my problem is the light strings. Everything I play sounds out of tune because I press too hard and bend the strings slightly. I reckon if I string up a 'leccy guitar with 11s or even 12s then I'll sound ok. That disparity is what can also make it tricky going the other direction on that road. Go from years of being used to light strings on the electric to the acoustic instruments and the strings seem so tough and inflexible by comparison. Made it quite a battle for me anyway a year or so ago. Mark |
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Post by stringdriventhing on Nov 24, 2014 21:05:08 GMT
I can't play electric to save my life, although I'm thinking about getting one. I think my problem is the light strings. Everything I play sounds out of tune because I press too hard and bend the strings slightly. I reckon if I string up a 'leccy guitar with 11s or even 12s then I'll sound ok. Plenty of folks play electric with heavy strings. As most guitars are set up for 9s or 10s, if you want it with with 12s, get the tech in the shop you buy it from, to set the guitar up, with your desired string guage. It's likely a little truss rod adjustment will be needed. And you'll get more tone from those monster strings. I reckon a shorter scale fender (Mustang) with 12s would be mega. Good luck. Got me heart set on a Jazzmaster |
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Post by grayn on Nov 25, 2014 18:07:39 GMT
Plenty of folks play electric with heavy strings. As most guitars are set up for 9s or 10s, if you want it with with 12s, get the tech in the shop you buy it from, to set the guitar up, with your desired string guage. It's likely a little truss rod adjustment will be needed. And you'll get more tone from those monster strings. I reckon a shorter scale fender (Mustang) with 12s would be mega. Good luck. Got me heart set on a Jazzmaster Lovely. Got any particular JM in mind? |
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Post by stringdriventhing on Nov 25, 2014 18:29:21 GMT
Got me heart set on a Jazzmaster Lovely. Got any particular JM in mind? Well, I'd obviously like an old US Fender, or even a new one, but cash-wise that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. I've been looking at the upper range Squier ones and they sound pretty good. I'm itching to try out the Squier J Mascis signature model, just 'cos I love J Mascis. Trouble is any electric I try in a shop sounds horribly out of tune because of the light strings and the way I play. www.fender.com/squier/series/artist/squier-j-mascis-jazzmaster-rosewood-fingerboard-vintage-white/ |
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Post by grayn on Nov 28, 2014 7:51:03 GMT
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Jo whoever he is.
