To the classical players who wish to improvise or play rock, etc. I would offer the thought of right hand rhythm first. This is really important. Darol Anger has a terrific video recently released which covers this quite well. It's called "Chop and Groove", and features Darol on violin, Casey Driessen on five string, and Ruchad Eggelston on cello. Ruchad is one of a kind.
1 2007-10-03 23:52:09
Re: Pfft, all the cool people play VIOLIN! (20 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
2 2007-10-03 23:41:55
Re: Any fiddlers in the house? (1 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Howdy Elkabong
When I was ten years old I loved El-Kabong! He smashed his guitar all the time.
You have great taste in music-we share very similar style. I play fiddle, mandolin, guitar. I have a clarinet under the bed too. Grapelli of course is the goal in terms of tone, flavor, and technical ability. Vassar Clements was another great. I am playing Minor Swing, Sweet Georgia Brown, Swing 42. Lonesome Fiddle Blues from Vassar. Resources for me are The "Fiddler's Fake Book", Tone Poems (Grisman), and Jack Tuttle's Fiddle solos, Craig Duncan's fiddling method, among others. Of course I play Bill Monroe material on mandolin.
Do you know a source for Stephane Grappelli sheet music?
David Blair
Tahoe, Ca.
3 2007-10-03 23:12:46
Re: Helppp!! Electric-Acoustic getting feedback (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
If there is a volume control of the guitar it's best to keep it at low setting and get more volume at the amplifier. Feedback is caused by a loop of a particular frequency and can be controlled to some degree by lowering the boost of that tone. High, shrill tone? Treble control. Low, building hum? Bass. Most guitars need a reduction of the bass, "roll off". This can best be accomplished with a DI box or an inline buffer that offers a 10-20db reduction of the signal. Piezo type pickups a notorious for this. Your acoustic amp likely has buffer built in and the other is designed for magnetic/coil pickups. Magnetic pickups sometimes work better plugged into a mic or line input when using an acoustic amp. Soundhole covers can help. Of course don't face the amp with lots of volume...
If you made recordings of the feedback, and played really loud DJ music at the same time you could leave them on all night while you sleep elsewhere, and really annoy the neighbors!
4 2007-10-03 22:57:12
Re: ACOUSTIC TROUBLE (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Replacing or repair of braces in top is a good option. This is best done by an experienced builder, as it will effect very much the tone, volume, and sustain. Pretty much everything you love about an expensive guitar. Straight grained, hand split, seasoned spruce, with a bright tap tone is the best wood for these braces, applied with hot hide glue. If extensive repair is the best option they will probably want to remove the back. Look for an authorized Martin guitar service center.
5 2007-10-03 22:45:35
Re: Guitar buzz (4 replies, posted in Acoustic)
If the impact of the fall was enough to break a string that presents any possibility really. Interesting that a string broke. I would imagine that a crack in the headstock or the nut may show with closer examination. A broken trussrod would be the worst case scenario. One cause of the buzz could simply be a loose tuner, or tuner button. I would remove the strings, and tap firmly with fingertip checking for loose parts or cracks in the wood. The nut may simply need to be re-glued. The double action trussrod is a metal rod with an "L" shape at the guitar body and a threaded nut most commonly placed under a cover plate on the head stock. Adjustment of the tension is best made in a warm, humidified environment with GRADUAL increments over extended an period of time. Tightening of the tension will render the fingerboard flatter, effectively lowering the action. Loosening will adjust what's known as "relief", and is a subject of individual preference. If the rod is broken the fingerboard must removed to replace it. The part can be made at any machine shop or your local guitar parts in Istanbul? Best to use a hot animal hide glue for any aspect of this repair.
Good Luck!
6 2007-10-03 09:01:56
Re: Tips on soloing anyone? (7 replies, posted in Electric)
I would encourage you to learn scales. I know, really boring...but awesome results! This is a method from Berklee school of music, and will allow to play whatever you hear.
My method is to learn scales up and down, as well as connecting octaves to use the full range of the fret board. After finding all of the notes in key of G, for instance start then to practice these while playing with a metronome set at minimum speed. Then begin patterns of alternating the intervals up, back down, up more, etc. When this is accomplished while counting OUT LOUD the goal is to mix up as many combinations of interval patterns, time signatures, skipping beats, crossing strings, and picking up in a different octave at the right place.
This should practiced methodically in all twelve keys. And in the seven modes.
Another very important point is to discipline your right hand technique with up and down or patterns associated with triplets, for instance. I attempt to keep my hand closed, not resting fingers on the pick guard for better speed.
Practice also chord scales, and different patterns like 1-4-5, 6-2-5-1, etc, also play the corresponding scale and mode of that chord from that place on the fret board between the chords.
Whew! Kind of long winded. Wanna play jazz?