Posted by Andrew Wasson
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Welcome to... "Micro-Lesson 251"
This Micro Lesson runs through a folk fingerpicking riff in the key of "G Major."
This riff is made up of three primary chord positions, including; a third position "G" triad and two open position chords of "C and G."
The first and second measures cover a fingerpicked idea through a small 4th string root "G Major" triad in the 3rd position. This "G Major" triad applies a few different tones used off of the 2nd guitar string. The "G" chord is modified from the triad to a 6th chord and back. It is a simple concept, but one that highlights a nice melodic touch through the harmony.
In measure three the "C Major" chord appears and applies an arpeggiated concept across the chord outline with an added grace-note hammer-on upon the 3rd string. Watch the execution of that hammer-on. It must be performed very quickly, so as to not justify the grace-note's use in time.
In measure four, the "G Major" chord appears once again to resolve the fingerstyle melody line. This time the "G" chord appears in the open position with an added 3rd string "A" upon the third beat of the measure. This introduces the sound of a "Gadd2" chord. While this chord only appears for a brief moment, it certainly colors the sound of the measure and offers a unique sound to our fingerstyle guitar part.
Use standard folk fingerpicking approach or Classical Guitar technique to perform the part. Enjoy!
Most guitar pickups look pretty similar: two little rectangles under the strings of your guitar that somehow take the sounds of your strings and send them to an amp.
But how do these little machines work, and why does one sound different from another?
How does a pickup work?
Pickups are a magnet, or sometimes many magnets, which are wrapped in as many as 7,000 turns of a fine wire and covered with plastic or metal. Placed in the body of the guitar facing up towards the strings, the magnet emits a magnetic field which the wire sits in, as well as the guitar strings. When the guitar strings are played, their vibration creates a change in the magnetic field, which is sensed by the wire and turned into an electrical signal. This signal is sent by way of the tone and volume filters to the instrument's output. The energy from the vibrating strings creates a disruption of the pickup's magnet's magnetic field and results in the electric guitar's sound.
In addition to the type of pickup, another huge variable to consider with the sound of a pickup is how close the pickup is to the string. A pickup with considerable distance from its strings will have a totally different output than a pickup with strings millimeters away from it.
Single-coil pickups were the first pickups ever manufactured, found originally in the "Frying Pan" guitar developed by George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker. The single coil was popularized by Fender – first in their Esquire guitar with one single coil, then the Telecaster with two, and finally the Stratocaster with three single-coil pickups.
Single-coil pickups are known for their characteristically bright, clear sound. The Telecaster sound, in particular, is desirable for its twinkly tone with almost twangy highs and punchy mids. The Stratocaster sound offers a tone that is not as bright, and as such, is considerably rounder. The Stratocaster sound is also more versatile due to its five-way selector switch. Its sound has become iconic, made famous by guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn for its snappier, punchy tone.
The drawback of typical single-coil pickups is that they can be noisier then other pickup types. Even then, for many guitarists, the bright, crisp definition offered by the single-coil sound is irreplaceable.
The humbucker pickup was designed by Seth Lover at Gibson and changed the electric guitar sound forever. As the name suggests, these pickups were created to "buck" the humming noise created by electric guitars at high volumes or with large amounts of overdrive applied to them. Humbuckers accomplish this using two single-coil pickups wired in opposite directions, each creating opposite polarity and canceling out each other's white noise when run together. On top of that, these double-coil pickups created a much stronger electrical signal with a big, warm, powerful sound unlike anything previously produced by a single coil.
This was monumental in the world of electric guitars. The humbucker sound began to dominate rock and metal upon its creation. Guitarists could crank their gain and get a huge, powerful signal, thanks to humbucker technology. This sound became synonymous with Gibson, with humbuckers found in all SGs, Les Pauls, and Explorers.
P-90 pickups give a sound that can be described as a hybrid of the single coil and the humbucker. It offers much of the crisp definition of the single coil, but high notes will sound fatter and less brittle. It also isn't as dark and heavy as the humbucker, offering more brightness than its double-coil counterpart. This is because P-90 pickups are single-coil pickups, but they're wider than regular single coils, giving the pickup more string area for it to hear and creating a sound that's not as cutting or flat. The hybrid sound of the P-90 is sought after for its high output and powerful mid-range, great for overdriving or leaving clean for a smooth, almost creamy sound.
P-90 pickups aren't going to do the job that humbuckers or single coils will, but their middle-of-the-road functionality offers a sound that can be extremely practical and can certainly be called an underrated gem in the world of pickups.
Active pickups are popular today with many guitarists playing heavier styles of music. Active pickups describe a pickup that is supplied with extra power from an external source, typically a battery housed in the guitar. This added energy boosts the pickup signal and provides a sound that is loaded with power, driving the amp to a capacity not previously possible. The drawback, of course, is that the battery needs to be replaced when it dies, but for any guitarist looking for maximum output, an active pickup is the obvious choice.
Now that you know everything about pickups, learn how to upgrade yours!
Max Monahan is a bassist and a writer living in Los Angeles. He spends his time working for an audio licensing website and shredding sweet bass riffs.
This Micro Lesson works through a Pop-Rock 'picked arpeggiated' riff from the key of, "D MInor."
This riff begins off of the diatonic V-chord using the open open 5th string, "A." Off of the top of the first measures, "Am7," chord we slide up into the 8th fret, "G," from an upper 2nd string, "F." The second measure pushes into an open 4th string, "D," that adds a quick double-stop using the notes of, "C & F." These tones together form a chord type of "Dm7."
In measure three, the sounds of the, "D Minor," color continue and operate around a, "D Minor," triad in the 1st position. This idea also adds an open, "E," 1st string before quickly returning to the, "D and A," tones of the, "D Minor," triad.
These tones bring us into the last measure where we have a turnaround that applies the VII-chord of this key, (C Major). This, "C," chord is used in a first inversion position with the triad above and the third chord tone in the bass. This produces an, "C/E," chord (inverted slash-chord type). Be particularly careful with the timing of this piece, since there is syncopation involved with how this melody is applied across the measures.
The chords are not super complex, but they are applying some different fingering patterns. Once the progression is memorized, use a metronome to build speed. Enjoy!
This week's GuitarBlog covers an exercise that involves working through simple song structure formulas, (focusing upon the ABAB section format).
The techniques required for composing songs are gleaned from many years of: study, transcribing, and "a lot of time spent" testing out your own personal songwriting direction.
The ideas that are broken down in this video are helpful for developing an initial understanding of simple songwriting formulas. Especially, if your writing direction is of the style of, Folk or Country music.
Spend time working on the example ideas presented in this video. Begin by writing a basic verse and chorus melody. Then, organize the appropriate chords that can be performed in behind it. Jam the chords with your friends and be sure to record your ideas. Over time, your songwriting skills will only continue to get better and better. Enjoy!
Posted by Andrew Wasson
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Courtesy of Matthew Wendler
Have
you ever considered changing out your pickups? Bassists and guitarists
have plenty of options – and sometimes it may seem like too many. Buying
a new pickup and soldering it into your guitar is just half the battle,
after all. It takes a bit of know-how to put the right equipment in
your instrument for the sound you need.
Finding the right pickup for your instrument isn't terribly daunting
once you do a bit of research, and soldering it in can be easy with the
right materials and some practice. The being said, there are a few
things you first need to understand about the two basic types of pickups
before switching one out.
Passive pickups
Passive pickups are primarily composed of a magnet wrapped in wiring
that conducts electrical signals from your strings. The more wire
wrapped around the magnet, the more powerful and potentially louder the
pickup is. Passive pickups are what you may call "regular" pickups – they come
standard on almost all electric guitars and basses. They are noted for
being simple and organic in sound.
Active pickups
Active pickups are essentially passive pickups which are connected to
a preamp built into your instrument. The preamp usually needs to run on
a battery. Although active pickups are typically lower in output than
many passive pickups, the preamp gives them higher power levels. The low
output combined with the power of the preamp means that active pickups
are able to handle higher levels of volume and gain from an amplifier
without distorting it. For this reason, they're suitable for many
bassists. However, active pickups are easily capable of breaking up an
amp, and they're noted for retaining their clear sound under distortion. Do your best to try out both active and passive to see which is right for your instrument.
How to change out your pickups
If you've ever heard that changing out pickups is a bit of a hassle,
you were correctly informed. Anyone who tells you that it's easy was
either lying or somewhat skilled with a soldering gun. It doesn't take
much skill to solder a pickup, but it's definitely something that you
should work on a bit before you try to make an improvement on your
precious instrument. I used this detailed article on the Sonicbids blog by Aaron Staniulis to improve my sloppy soldering technique.
Step 1: Get a wiring diagram
A wiring diagram is essential in changing pickups. If you can't find
one, you should probably let a professional take care of the soldering.
Any wiring diagram you may need is likely on your guitar manufacturer's
website. Additionally, most after-market pickup brands have guides on
their sites. Seymour Duncan's is a particularly good example. All guitars have different procedures for pickup exchange, some more
complicated than others. The diagram will show you exactly what you need
to remove, and how to replace it again. Now, onto the pickups
themselves.
Step 2: Gather your tools
Photo by Matthew Wendler
The photos you're viewing are of an Ibanez RG570 from 1997 with a
rather heinous paint job. I removed my passive bridge pickup, then
soldered it back in for demonstration's sake.
In the photo above, you can see everything you'll need. Most importantly, a nice, flat surface covered with something soft. I used a towel. You'll also need an Allen screwdriver for large screws and a set of precision screwdrivers for smaller, difficult-to-reach screws. A multimeter is also handy so that you can check the electrical current in the pickups. Most importantly, you'll need a soldering iron, along with solder.
Step 3: Remove your strings and the pickup
Photo by Matthew Wendler
Removing the strings is simple enough, and for me, removing the
pickup was, too. I simply needed to unscrew the pickups with a precision
screwdriver to get it out. Other guitar brands have different
procedures. (For instance, you must remove the entire pick guard on a
Stratocaster because the pickups are built into it.) Once I unscrewed
the pickup, I flipped the guitar over to access the rest of the
electronics.
Step 3: Remove the old pickup's wiring
Photo by Matthew Wendler
To remove the pickup, you're going to need to break the wire at the
point where it's soldered to the guitar without harming the guitar
itself, and without removing the wrong pickups. This is where the wiring
diagram is essential; I used it to identify the wires I needed to
remove. I found a fingernail trimmer to be the best tool for this job. My pickup had three wires bundled together. They were connected at
two points to the guitar and also at a grounding wire. Most guitars are
built with a similar setup, though the grounding wire's location can
vary.
Step 3: Remove your old pickup and replace it
Photo by Matthew Wendler
Once you've removed the pickup, you can slide the new pickup's wire
through the body and solder it where appropriate. I needed to solder the
red and white wires to specific points on the board near my thumb. I
also had to solder the grounding wire to the grounding point. To
reiterate, the only way to be sure you're correctly soldering the first
time is to follow the correct wiring diagram.
Once the wires are soldered in place, all you need to do is to screw
your pickup back in again and test out your guitar. If all went well,
you should be playing again with a new sound. If you don't like the new
sound, there's nothing to worry about – just use the same procedure to
replace the original pickups. Learning to swap out your pickups is a great step towards crafting a
signature sound, which can be vital to distinguishing yourself as a
musician.
Matthew Wendler is a blogger and
multi-instrumentalist from New Jersey. He specializes in guitar, bass
guitar, and bagpipes, and is passionate about writing both
professionally and for enjoyment.
This Micro-Lesson works through a fun to play Minor Pentatonic Lick in the key of "D Minor."
The lick applies a lot of bends and hammer-on /pull-off concepts. Plus, it works across several areas of the fingerboard from the 6th position to the 10th.
In the first measure, we begin from our 2nd string with a sustained 8th fret full-step bend. This tone is held while an 8th fret 1st string is blended along to it. Pull-offs are applied between "G and F" notes bringing in the second measure.
In measure two, pull-offs and slides help propel the line up into a new position. Our third measure introduces the 10th position and heightens the peak of the line with a 13th fret 1st string bend which resolves into the tonic of our key, (the note of "D").
The entire line wraps in measure four with a full-step bend from a high, "C," note (up on the 2nd string 13th fret) bending into the tonic of "D."
This lick works great for several styles of music. You'll find this type of lick idea performed in: Rock, Blues, Metal, Soul, Funk and Rhythm and Blues. Take your time when practicing the bends and make sure they match the correct tones of the note they are bending into. Remember, "Bending a note, to a wrong note, is still a wrong note." Enjoy!
Posted by Andrew Wasson
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Courtesy of Don Miggs
When Rudy from Rudy’s Guitar Shop (NYC) handed Don Miggs an old Fender guitar from their warehouse, Don began immediately playing things he'd never heard come from his fingers...
Don: "When I asked Rudy the history, he proceeded to produce documentation and photos of Jimi Hendrix, pre-fame, in the Isley Brothers and also a shot of him in full “Hendrix” mode from 1968, playing THIS guitar."
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A piece of history. I’ve tried to research if there are any Jimi recordings but could find none. However, listen to anything from surf music to Sonic Youth and it is prominently featured. One of my all time faves, Elvis Costello, is also a big Jazzmaster user.
INTERESTING FEATURES The pickup circuit features the roller thumbwheel and switch, which selects between two different pickup circuits, or the “lead” and “rhythm,” giving the player added flexibility to color a performance live. I have barely cleaned the guitar, figuring any of Jimi’s DNA can only enhance the playing of the instrument! Rumor is the case is not original and that Jimi didn’t actually have one, carrying the axe around unprotected!
OTHER NOTES Museums and collectors have asked to pay a king’s ransom for this guitar but I don’t want to see it on a wall. It deserves to be played as often as possible – and I do. Listen to any post-2012 recording I’ve done and this guitar is on there somewhere (most notably the new miggs single “Ordinary”- which is lodged in the Top 40 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts!). Come to my studio and I’ll let you hold it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Don Miggs is a singer/songwriter/producer and fronts the band miggs (Elm City/Capitol Records). His love affair with vintage instruments and gear only presents a problem when he’s awake.
