A few beginner questions.
Question:
> People do it ot their bass guitars all the time.
Yeah.. uh Jaco!
Response:
> > 5. I may repost this question as it’s seperate title just because it is > so unusual. Has anyone ever tried making a fretless guitar? What type > of sonic properties should I be expecting if I did this? Will it sound > boingy as a sitar, or would it be the ultimate legato instrument?
I have on I had the luthier made this neck for me. It’s not a cheapo without the frets, its built fvor the purpose. I strung it with plain jazz strings 017 gauge. Its great sounding.I ve managed to learn how to really play it these 8 months Ive had it.I can have it play just like a sax with a bit of distortion.I must say it’s really difficult to play..I made this since I can play violin, so I was a little forward. Chords can be almost impossible sometimes.Many gtrists say it sounds deat just because they get it and try yto make the same things they do with other gtrs.This is a completely different instrument, you have to learn to play it. Hope this helps. For info on these guitar or pics or help on playing these thingies, let me know.
Response:
> [] > > [] > Hello, > [] > > [] > I have been a keyboardist for years but sometimes get sick of the > [] > technicty madness and I was thinking about taking up guitar, [...] > [] > > [] > 1. I get and feel alot of hand pain after playing especially in the > [] > joint section of my pinky, man it feels weird, what’s that about? > Interesting. I got all multi-instrumental in the early 90s and got tendonitis for my > efforts. I discovered that keyboards in particular were responsible, but the drumming > didn’t help. Guitar and bass is the only think I can play without hand/arm pain.
Hmm, wow I use my own fingering on keys (according to a recent polish session I had with a colllege music instructor) and after some really hard days after 8-10 hours of heavy steel construction man just holding a chord on the G is TUFF! as to where on keys just literally throw a hand down and play. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> [] > 2. Should I seek out lessons, to maybe fix bad habits or just keep > [] > playing and playing? > No, definitely seek out lessons. Note, however, that not all guitar teachers are going to > be aware of player ergonomics. Many teachers are there just to teach you chords, riffs, > etc. Many players don’t even think about their own player positions (I don’t–I guess it > came naturally). > Les sez > [..,] > [] Okay, piano is nothing like guitar. > Yeah. For one thing, you can make a note on a piano with one finger. Basic guitar > technique requires the use of at least one finger on both hands to make a noise. > I still think keys are harder to play though, considering what some guys are compin’ with > the left hand. I just can’t do that well.
Not only do I agree with you here but I have read several sutdies that the Guitar is harder to start easier to master, and the keys are easier to start and harder to master. Of course who can really "master" anything. But it has been my own experience that this is why I choose keys, well that and the incredible sound of the Oberheim synth of eraly 80’s fame. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> [] > 4. One thing I would miss about synths is obviously all the sonic > [] > control. Wild sounds etc. Is there a DSP, FX, box that is essentially a > [] > signal synth? i.e. Any signal routed through it take on the parameters > [] > set forth by the unit? > [] > [] There are what are called "guitar synths". Only people who used to play > [] with King Crimson or Gentle Giant should be allowed to own them, by law. > [] There are a plethora of boxen and racken which will allow you to do > [] unnatural, synthlike things to your guitar sound. See the "No synthesizers" > [] tag in the original gatefold cover of Queen’s "Night at the Opera" vinyl. > Yeah, and I think today, you can do even more wicked guitar stuff without the use of > synths. Well, the lines are a little blurred–many of todays premier multi-effects boxes > have synth like components in them, such as the filters and envelope generators (thanks to > Andrew for cluein’ me in to that last fast, in relation to the Fireworx box).
Yeah, that’s more along the lines of what I was thinking about, a processor that does all kinds of things to "ANY" audio signal. That way I can focus on learning one thing solid. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Chris > —
Response:
> Hello, > I have been a keyboardist for years but sometimes get sick of the > technicty madness and I was thinking about taking up guitar, I can play > a little but my technique to me sounds a bit well…weird, I’ve noticed > most of the chords I play and always seem to reach for are using only > the last 4 strings? What are some good ways to break this cycle? > Here are some more questions, I know they may seem a bit unfocused > but I am just really curious about these things. > 1. I get and feel alot of hand pain after playing especially in the > joint section of my pinky, man it feels weird, what’s that about?
I don’t know. If it’s not "tired" pain, I’d be finding more out from somebody who knows these things. > 2. Should I seek out lessons, to maybe fix bad habits or just keep > playing and playing?
That’s up to you. I prefer stumbling around blindly, but that’s a personal preference. If you’ve taken piano lessons, guitar’s just like piano. Except that piano doesn’t have frets, and guitar only has tuning keys, you can’t strum a piano ( well, not comfortably ), and guitars are more portable… Okay, piano is nothing like guitar. But you probably know chords and scales and stuff. > 3. I was listening to a ballad on a Steve Vai record and there is a > upscale climb that is unbeleivable! Super Fast yet unlike many rockers > you can hear every note of the climb, each note sounds PICKED!
It probably is. > Yikes, I > know Vai is one of the all time best but how would I even know I am > practicing properly towards achieving that type of performance goal?
Yup, you want lessons. You may not be capable of that level of manual dexterity. I’m not, for sure. > 4. One thing I would miss about synths is obviously all the sonic > control. Wild sounds etc. Is there a DSP, FX, box that is essentially a > signal synth? i.e. Any signal routed through it take on the parameters > set forth by the unit?
There are what are called "guitar synths". Only people who used to play with King Crimson or Gentle Giant should be allowed to own them, by law. There are a plethora of boxen and racken which will allow you to do unnatural, synthlike things to your guitar sound. See the "No synthesizers" tag in the original gatefold cover of Queen’s "Night at the Opera" vinyl. > 5. I may repost this question as it’s seperate title just because it is > so unusual. Has anyone ever tried making a fretless guitar? What type > of sonic properties should I be expecting if I did this? Will it sound > boingy as a sitar, or would it be the ultimate legato instrument?
Zappa used one now and again. It sounds pretty bad, in my opinion. Who knows? Maybe it’ll work for you. Get a cheapo and remove the frets. > I know I’m all ove the place here but hey, gotta start somewhere. > Thanks, > Marcus
– —- Les Cargill http://home.worldnet.att.net/~lcargill
Response:
> it? > There are what are called "guitar synths". Only people who used to play > with King Crimson or Gentle Giant should be allowed to own them, by law. > There are a plethora of boxen and racken which will allow you to do > unnatural, synthlike things to your guitar sound. See the "No > synthesizers" > tag in the original gatefold cover of Queen’s "Night at the Opera" > vinyl.
You will not beleive this I was listening to "Night at the Opera" when I opened you responcse, to cool….Yep, I’m a huge fan of Queen, I understand May’s guitar is homemade, Awesome, he had one of the most incredibly original tones I’ve ever heard out of a guitar. > 5. I may repost this question as it’s seperate title just because it is > so unusual. Has anyone ever tried making a fretless guitar? What type > of sonic properties should I be expecting if I did this? Will it sound > boingy as a sitar, or would it be the ultimate legato instrument? > Zappa used one now and again. It sounds pretty bad, in my opinion. Who > knows? Maybe it’ll work for you. Get a cheapo and remove the frets.
Hmmm I’ll check it out. THanks, Les You ROck! Marcus
Response:
If you want a fretless guitar – check out a French company called "Vigier" – they make a fretless 6 string with a metal fretboard – it’s called a "Surfretter" (gee – I wonder why ?). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> it? > There are what are called "guitar synths". Only people who used to play > with King Crimson or Gentle Giant should be allowed to own them, by law. > There are a plethora of boxen and racken which will allow you to do > unnatural, synthlike things to your guitar sound. See the "No > synthesizers" > tag in the original gatefold cover of Queen’s "Night at the Opera" > vinyl. >You will not beleive this I was listening to "Night at the Opera" when I >opened you responcse, to cool….Yep, I’m a huge fan of Queen, I understand >May’s guitar is homemade, Awesome, he had one of the most incredibly >original tones I’ve ever heard out of a guitar. > > 5. I may repost this question as it’s seperate title just because it is > > so unusual. Has anyone ever tried making a fretless guitar? What type > > of sonic properties should I be expecting if I did this? Will it sound > > boingy as a sitar, or would it be the ultimate legato instrument? > Zappa used one now and again. It sounds pretty bad, in my opinion. Who > knows? Maybe it’ll work for you. Get a cheapo and remove the frets. >Hmmm I’ll check it out. >THanks, Les >You ROck! >Marcus
Response:
> Pat Metheny used a nylon string fretless on the last PMG album, and on > tour. It sounded really cool at the show I caught, IMO. > I’ve still got an old Hondo sitting in the corner that got ravaged years > ago, we dubbed it the "Less Paul". I ended up stringing it as a baritone > guitar, using bass strings for the low ones. It messed with my intonation on > fretless bass, so I stopped using it. It was great for slide strung regular > guitar style, but it was just too muted to work well for anything else. > –Charlie E
Yep leave it to Pat to come up with the cool ideas, thanks, CHarlie, sounds like you got a few of your own. Marcus
Response:
If you want to check it out before investing a lot, it’s easy to make a fretless. Get a cheapo, pull out the frets (you need some pliers that will rest flat on the fretboard ’cause you don’t want to damage the fretboard). Fill in the grooves with wood putty then sand with fine sandpaper taped to a block of wood. I’m not really happy with mine. Besides being a b*tch to play, the tone is really dull. Maybe that could be helped by using a single coil pickup right up against the bridge &/or an equalizer; I’ll probably give those things a try sometime. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > If you want a fretless guitar – check out a French company called "Vigier" – > they make a fretless 6 string with a metal fretboard – it’s called a > "Surfretter" (gee – I wonder why ?). >> it? >> There are what are called "guitar synths". Only people who used to play >> with King Crimson or Gentle Giant should be allowed to own them, by law. >> There are a plethora of boxen and racken which will allow you to do >> unnatural, synthlike things to your guitar sound. See the "No >> synthesizers" >> tag in the original gatefold cover of Queen’s "Night at the Opera" >> vinyl. >You will not beleive this I was listening to "Night at the Opera" when I >opened you responcse, to cool….Yep, I’m a huge fan of Queen, I understand >May’s guitar is homemade, Awesome, he had one of the most incredibly >original tones I’ve ever heard out of a guitar. >> > 5. I may repost this question as it’s seperate title just because it is >> > so unusual. Has anyone ever tried making a fretless guitar? What type >> > of sonic properties should I be expecting if I did this? Will it sound >> > boingy as a sitar, or would it be the ultimate legato instrument? >> Zappa used one now and again. It sounds pretty bad, in my opinion. Who >> knows? Maybe it’ll work for you. Get a cheapo and remove the frets. >Hmmm I’ll check it out. >THanks, Les >You ROck! >Marcus
Response:
> <Marcus wrote> I may repost this question as it’s seperate title just > because it is > so unusual. Has anyone ever tried making a fretless guitar? What type > of sonic properties should I be expecting if I did this? Will it sound > boingy as a sitar, or would it be the ultimate legato instrument? > Zappa used one now and again. It sounds pretty bad, in my opinion. Who > knows? Maybe it’ll work for you. Get a cheapo and remove the frets.
Pat Metheny used a nylon string fretless on the last PMG album, and on tour. It sounded really cool at the show I caught, IMO. I’ve still got an old Hondo sitting in the corner that got ravaged years ago, we dubbed it the "Less Paul". I ended up stringing it as a baritone guitar, using bass strings for the low ones. It messed with my intonation on fretless bass, so I stopped using it. It was great for slide strung regular guitar style, but it was just too muted to work well for anything else. –Charlie E
Response:
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