Guitars are percussion instruments that you strum. Like drums, we hit them to make a sound. Even a light touch has an “attack”: the way the finger or pick hits the string. The attack is the beginning of what we might call the “envelope” of the sound. If you’ve ever looked at audio waveforms on […]
Strum secrets 1: power vs finesse
Getting a good sound when you strum a guitar is all about how you hit it. The more your arm swings when strumming, the more force you apply. Strumming with a straight wrist and forearm creates the most power, but without some finer control it can sound brash and stiff. Relax the wrist and forearm, […]
Light As A Finger: fret hand control and balance.
A lot of guitar students have some confusion about the proper “shape” of the hand. Hold your fretting hand out in front of you, palm up, and let the hand relax. Your fingers are likely to curl, pointing back up the arm, and your wrist will be basically straight. Now bend the hand upward at […]
SOUND IS IN YOUR HANDS
Guitar players love gear because we love new sounds. A new guitar is a wonderful thing, often a great inspiration, and new toys are endless fun. (I have several new additions to my pedalboard and howling, chirping, and whooshing sounds are becoming a regular part of my live sound after years of just plugging straight […]
