Guitarists - Discuss Broom with 6 Strings

[misogynisticfeminist]

Yea, wondering if there are anyone who play guitar round here? maybe this thread can be talking about that broom with the 6 strings on.

 

[The Bob]

I know there are but I am a musician not a guitarist. Sorry.

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[Artman]

Yeah, I play a little. Mostly electric, but some accustic.

 

[The Bob]

Yeah, I play a little. Mostly electric, but some accustic.

Acoustic (Sorry but I must correct music). :shy:

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[Artman]

Acoustic (Sorry but I must correct music). :shy:

The Bob (2004 ©)

You know something, I used the spellcheck feature and it highlighted that word and I pushed the "correct" button! It didn't correct the word.

I just did some research on my electric guitar and found that it is a vintage collectable. I was thinking about buying a new one, but in light of what I just discovered, I'm not so sure.

It's a Westbury Performer (not sure what year). It's not a bad guitar, but the back of the neck has a high gloss finish and my thumb sticks and makes it hard to move.

What do you guys think, should I just take some sandpaper to the neck and knock down the finish a little? Or is this a bad idea?

 

[The Bob]

You know something, I used the spellcheck feature and it highlighted that word and I pushed the "correct" button! It didn't correct the word.

LoL

What do you guys think, should I just take some sandpaper to the neck and knock down the finish a little? Or is this a bad idea?

I think it is a bad idea. You just need to play it more and it will soon wear in.

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[humanino]

I play guitare piano and saxophone. None of them extraordinarily. But still. I like many different stuff, but I need classical music several times a week.

Totally agree with The Bob. You'll get used to it. Don't spoil it. Work hard.

 

[kcballer21]

I play a little geetah, what types of music do PF members like to play? I'm currently trying to nail down "Zombie Inc" by IN FLAMES.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I have a yamaha electric that I am trying to learn. I can pretty much learn most rock and pop songs if supplied the tabs, maybe not very well, but decently ;) My biggest problem is getting my fingers to move faster and in the correct position. I can always get in the general area, I must be guitar declined.

 

[chroot]

I play guitar also. I play an Ibanez S470 through a Marshall AVT275 combo, and also have a Takamine acoustic.

- Warren

 

[Math Is Hard]

Piano and electric bass here. Guitar is nice, but melodic percussion is my thang!

 

[The Bob]

As everyone is posting what they play I will as well:

Cornet, Piano, Violoncello, Bassoon, Oboe, Saxophone (Alto and Tenor but the others are the same), melodic percussion (Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Tubular Bells etc..) and a bit of Bass Guitar.

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[Jin314159]

I'm a guitarist. Been one for about 4 years now. Check out some of my licks:

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~stevenli/backinblack.mp3
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~stevenli/blackdog.mp3

 

[wasteofo2]

I play guitar, have for about 4 years, maybe I'll get up some clips tomorrow of some songs I've composed.

 

[wasteofo2]

I play guitar also. I play an Ibanez S470 through a Marshall AVT275 combo, and also have a Takamine acoustic.

- Warren

Man, those Ibanez S series guitars are really sweet, but sorry to hear about the amp, you know those AVT's are a ripoff, right? They make it seem like the preamp section's all tube when really there are something like 20 or 24 solid state transistors in the 100 model and only one tube(that's a trait of all the AVT's, the 20 or 24 SS transistors is just something with the 100, yours would need even more than that), and all it really does is add a bit of flavor to the sound. You could have spent around the same amount of money and gotten an all tube DSL 401 combo that would likely be more than loud enough for whatever you needed it for.

Speaking of which, what did you need such a loud amp for, you in a band and playing live shows, or do you just like pissing off your neighbors?

 

[recon]

I play the piano. I'm trying to play the drums (no success yet). I also have a Fender electric guitar that I'm dying to play but I can't because my father wants me on the drums while he plays the guitar.

 

[JohnDubYa]

Jin, if you are into simple guitar riffs, try "Rebel, Rebel" by David Bowie.

 

[Jin314159]

Jin, if you are into simple guitar riffs, try "Rebel, Rebel" by David Bowie.

I can play that. =)

 

[Dilbert]

hey, i have a Fender Stratocaster.

im not sure if i can say that i play any other instrument, i have picked out the intro for stairway to heaven on the piano by just listening. Just played it over and over again in my head since i already knew it for guitar.

Also have a Yamaha, accustic. I also play bass pretty well, but drums isn't my strongest side.

 

[Dissident Dan]

I have a Squier (cheap subsidiary of Fender) strat with 2 humbuckers and a Vox amp. I am pretty crappy, but I do a decent Enter Sandman (minus the solo).

 

[urhere2]

I've got a couple of guitars. Fender hardtail strat and lonestar strat, Gibson Les Paul, Ibanes js-100 (for sale) and js-1000, Peavey Destiny custom, Washburn bass and a couple of cheapies in pieces.

 

[jimmy p]

I bought a bass guitar recently (less than a week ago), and I've already worked out most the bassline to "Otherside" by the RHCP. Now if I could play it like Flea...

I feel so simple with my 4 strings.

 

[Artman]

I bought a bass guitar recently (less than a week ago), and I've already worked out most the bassline to "Otherside" by the RHCP. Now if I could play it like Flea...

I feel so simple with my 4 strings.

There was a man at a party who wanted to talk to people on their level, so he asked them their IQ before having a conversation.

The first person he talked with had an IQ of 150, so he said, "So, are you interested in Astro Physics?"

The next person he talked with had an IQ of 100, so he said, "How do you like the plays of Shakespere?"

The next person he spoke with had an IQ of 56, so he said, "What kind of bass strings do you use?"

Just kidding, jimmy p. Actually, I play bass too.

I decided to hit the back of my guitar neck with a piece of extra fine sandpaper. It worked! it took the gloss off, and hasn't really hurt the appearance of the finish that much. The action is the best it has ever been for me. I was finally able to slide to notes without my hand getting stuck.

 

[The Bob]

I decided to hit the back of my guitar neck with a piece of extra fine sandpaper. It worked! it took the gloss off, and hasn't really hurt the appearance of the finish that much. The action is the best it has ever been for me. I was finally able to slide to notes without my hand getting stuck.

It was up to you. Glad you can slide and the appearance is fine.

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[Artman]

It was up to you. Glad you can slide and the appearance is fine.

The Bob (2004 ©)

Yeah, even though several people here advised against it, I had found some people on the internet who had done it, so I decided to take the hit and try it. It saved me buying another guitar (that sticking was driving me nuts). It really is a pretty instrument, and sounds really good. Now the action is exactly what I wanted too.

 

[The Bob]

Yeah, even though several people here advised against it, I had found some people on the internet who had done it, so I decided to take the hit and try it. It saved me buying another guitar (that sticking was driving me nuts). It really is a pretty instrument, and sounds really good. Now the action is exactly what I wanted too.

What is most important is that you like it. I don't know much about guitars though.

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[Gale]

i'm a guitar player too. i took a couple music classes in school just for some credits and it turned out that I've a real knack for it all. i picked up piano phenominally fast, and I'm a very decent guitart player. i write a lot of music myself, i can only play a few familiar songs. i like classic rock and oldies mostly. i have a lyon eletric guitar that's very nice but i never play. i love my acoustic guitars. my pride and joy is my washburn. its sounds great and the paint job matched my wild hair from my 16th birthday, so that was really cool when i got it. i also have an old epi that's like a cheese slicer and I'm the only one i know who can play it for more than 5 minutes. and i just got an old classical guitar, which i think is great.

i write a lot of music. I'm thinking about getting some recording and writing software for my birthday. my dad was actually telling me the other day that i should forget about my science and math careers and stick with my music. he's an engineer too! my he says I'm too much an atrist to be stuck behind a computer or in a lab. eh awell..

 

[The Bob]

i write a lot of music. I'm thinking about getting some recording and writing software for my birthday. my dad was actually telling me the other day that i should forget about my science and math careers and stick with my music. he's an engineer too! my he says I'm too much an atrist to be stuck behind a computer or in a lab. eh awell..

Good one. I am all up for being a musician and dropping science and maths to a hobby level but the career prospect, even for the very best people, is still very slim. I know people from around the UK who are the very, very best in their category but still do normal work and their music. I don't want to put you down but have, like I have, a backup plan incase it doesn't work.

The Bob (2004 ©)

 

[jono]

I've been playing for 10 years or so, I use:

PRS Singlecut
Gibson LP
Bunch of guitars in bits
Laney TT-20
Marshall DSL-50
Bunch of amps in bits
Absurd number of effects. No, really, absurd.

I also hand build effects. Anyone who has a dream about a custom built fuzz and/or switch/looper boxes, send me a PM. I'm selling for cost of parts at the moment until I can get some reviews :)

 

[jimmy p]

Bunch of guitars in bits

Do they sound any good?

 

[hitssquad]

Cinnamon to lubricate sticky fingers

It's a Westbury Performer (not sure what year). It's not a bad guitar, but the back of the neck has a high gloss finish and my thumb sticks and makes it hard to move.

Sometimes my finger sticks a little on the trackpad on my laptop. To remedy this, I lubricate my finger by dipping it in a bag of powdered cinnamon. My laptop gets slightly cinnamon colored, but it works great. You can get cheap cinnamon in the bulk foods sections of natural foods stores.

 

[hitssquad]

Hand built guitar FX and the Racer X forums

I also hand build effects. Anyone who has a dream about a custom built fuzz and/or switch/looper boxes, send me a PM. I'm selling for cost of parts at the moment until I can get some reviews :)

You should post that offer on the http://www.racerxband.com/board/. I think you will get a ton of responses and when people use your FX they will post feedback on the Racer X forums.

 

[Moonbear]

I took 4 or 5 years of lessons as a kid, and have little to show for it. I hated practicing (I don't think my instructor's approach suited my needs...it was too theoretical, which helped when I took music appreciation in college, but didn't keep me interested in practicing). Now I'd really like to pick it up again, but can't seem to convince my parents to unbury my guitar from their piles of crap in their garage let alone ship it to me (not even sure what condition it would be in at this point). I was good at sight-reading though (had to be, since I never practiced I was always playing stuff for the first time at my lessons). But then there was this one folk song I was supposed to learn that I actually practiced (I had gotten quite a lecture from my mom about the cost of lessons and not practicing)...the tempo was supposed to be allegro, but I don't think quite as fast as I actually played it when I went for my lesson. Ha ha. I had it completely memorized, and my fingers just flew over the notes. It was fun until I was told to slow down a little...drat! It was sort of folk song meets repressed rock musician. All I really wanted was to get to play songs I actually recognized, not dopey folk songs (of course now I have more appreciation for folk songs than I did then).

 

[wasteofo2]

I bought a bass guitar recently (less than a week ago), and I've already worked out most the bassline to "Otherside" by the RHCP. Now if I could play it like Flea...

I feel so simple with my 4 strings.

You have a choice as a bassist, you can be a simple little thing that just plays in the background, or you could try to take your 4 strings and do something far too few people do in music and actually be a creative element in a band (if you're in a band). I suggest you listen to a lot of Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Black Sabbath (NIB solo especially) for some inspiration on how to make those 4 strings into something more than just backup for guitar.

 

[Moonbear]

i'm a guitar player too. i took a couple music classes in school just for some credits and it turned out that I've a real knack for it all. i picked up piano phenominally fast, and I'm a very decent guitart player. i write a lot of music myself, i can only play a few familiar songs. i like classic rock and oldies mostly. i have a lyon eletric guitar that's very nice but i never play. i love my acoustic guitars. my pride and joy is my washburn. its sounds great and the paint job matched my wild hair from my 16th birthday, so that was really cool when i got it. i also have an old epi that's like a cheese slicer and I'm the only one i know who can play it for more than 5 minutes. and i just got an old classical guitar, which i think is great.

i write a lot of music. I'm thinking about getting some recording and writing software for my birthday. my dad was actually telling me the other day that i should forget about my science and math careers and stick with my music. he's an engineer too! my he says I'm too much an atrist to be stuck behind a computer or in a lab. eh awell..

I work with someone who had that tough decision to make when he was doing a post-doc. His band was doing very well playing in NYC clubs, and he had a really tough decision whether to stay in science or stay in music. He chose science (the fool!), but puts on a great performance at scientific meetings! He and a few others have a recurring act at the social for one of our meetings. They parody lyrics with themes relevant to the scientists in the audience, and do a very good job of it. He has his own original songs too, but doesn't perform those for audiences too often. It turns out that having good stage presence is also a great skill for a scientific career.

 

[Zeteg]

Ooh ooh! I play guitar but I suck =\

 

[Gale]

I work with someone who had that tough decision to make when he was doing a post-doc. His band was doing very well playing in NYC clubs, and he had a really tough decision whether to stay in science or stay in music. He chose science (the fool!), but puts on a great performance at scientific meetings! He and a few others have a recurring act at the social for one of our meetings. They parody lyrics with themes relevant to the scientists in the audience, and do a very good job of it. He has his own original songs too, but doesn't perform those for audiences too often. It turns out that having good stage presence is also a great skill for a scientific career.

i'd be pleanty happy doing that the rest of my life. And then i wouldn't have to think up new subjects for my lyrics all the time... i'd just write whatever i'd happen to be working on at the time. Thats how i write my music now... but songs about my evenings at taco bell aren't really too interesting.. funny.. but not exactly captivating...

anyways, i can't read tab... anyone have recomendations on how i ought learn? I've looked at stuff on the internet... but i dunno... how necessary is it that i learn tab? i play by ear excellently, that's how I've got by so far, that and just watching others play, plus i read piano music and transpose it to my guitar. Its worked for me. But would tab help me improve my abilities??

 

[hitssquad]

What is really important to learn to be a guitarist

anyways, i can't read tab... anyone have recomendations on how i ought learn? I've looked at stuff on the internet... but i dunno... how necessary is it that i learn tab?

Almost the only reason for the existence of tab is to be able to communicate to the players of multi-srting instruments which strings to play the notes on. If you can figure out on your own which strings to use, it isn't necessary at all.

would tab help me improve my abilities??

If you can already play sheet music on a guitar (an insanely difficult feat due to the six strings) you probably wouldn't gain anything by "learning" tab. Tab is much easier than reading music. Most guitarists use tab as a cheat sheet since they can't read music at all. A typical non-music-reading guitarist who wants to play piano music on his guitar would probably transcribe the piano music one note at a time to guitar tablature and then play the tablature after listening to a professional recording of the same music (to get the rythms correct).

Where tab can really help, though, is a situation where you are trying to copy another guitarist note-for-note off of a record and the playing is too complicated or fast to figure out. Most professional tablature transcriptionists use special playback machines to allow them to dissect high-speed guitar solos. Guitar transcriptionist Steve Vai says he used to use a half-speed tape player. I have done a fair amount of guitar transcribing myself and I prefer to be able to play back and repeat tiny snippets of music stopped immediately to silence so the music snippet has a chance to echo in my head without being washed out of my working memory by music preceding or following the target music snippet.

Anyway, the most important thing for any musician to learn is to play by ear (which you said you are already doing). Your own collection of music recordings is your best friend when it comes to learning how to become a great player. I don't know of any famous modern musicians who did not learn to play by copying the riffs and licks on their favorite records.

 

[jimmy p]

You have a choice as a bassist, you can be a simple little thing that just plays in the background, or you could try to take your 4 strings and do something far too few people do in music and actually be a creative element in a band (if you're in a band). I suggest you listen to a lot of Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Black Sabbath (NIB solo especially) for some inspiration on how to make those 4 strings into something more than just backup for guitar.

That is EXACTLY what I want to do. I want to be just as much in the forefront as the other guitarists. Life Duff McKagan or Steve Harris.

 

[Andy]

Just call me Slash!

 

[Muon12]

If it has strings, I'll play it.

 

[Muon12]

I haven't learned how to play the banjola yet, though. Gotta get started with that one...

 

[wasteofo2]

That is EXACTLY what I want to do. I want to be just as much in the forefront as the other guitarists. Life Duff McKagan or Steve Harris.

Dude, Duff? I've never once heard a GNR track where I can recall the bass standing out at all, they're one of those bands that I feel just had bass becasue of the tradition. Are there any GNR songs that maybe I don't know about or haven't given a good listen to where Duff does anything special?

 

[jimmy p]

Dude, Duff? I've never once heard a GNR track where I can recall the bass standing out at all, they're one of those bands that I feel just had bass becasue of the tradition. Are there any GNR songs that maybe I don't know about or haven't given a good listen to where Duff does anything special?

maybe it just stands out for me, I usually listen to basslines of songs over the rest of the song, and the GNR basslines seem to stand out. Maybe a song like "Civil War" would be a good one to listen to.


OOH! got my new bass amp the other day. A lot bigger than I thought. But then, I think it is 130W so it is excused, though I don't know where I'm going to stick it in my room. I'm so pleased!

 

[Artman]

I suggest you listen to a lot of Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Black Sabbath (NIB solo especially) for some inspiration on how to make those 4 strings into something more than just backup for guitar.

These are good suggestions. They are noticeable, yet they don't overpower the song. I would also suggest Rush and Sting or The Police.

 

[Muon12]

If you're looking for some bass inspiration, don't forget Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Les Claypool of Primus. Both of these guys have at one point or another, redefined the bass guitar as a very capable and sometimes powerful lead instrument. Plus, some Jazz/slap bass never hurts either. You can learn a lot about balancing rhythm and tone while you play if you listen to that style. Play on...

 

[Artman]

I got some new guitar gear.

A few months ago, I got a Squier M-70 guitar. This is not your normal Squier. It has a solid mahogony body, a set neck, bound body and neck, sealed tuners, tunamatic bridge, and Duncan Design humbuckers. Great sounding guitar for very little money.

I got a really good deal on a new Behringer AC112 amp. It's a hybrid with a tube in the preamp, 99 preset, adjustable, digital effects and SS power amp. 60 watts with a 12" Jenson speaker. It sounds really sweet. Again, great sound for very little money.

I've started playing in public about 20 times a year, so I needed some decent equipment (I used to have a Gorilla amp )

 

[Janitor]

The good 'uns know when and how to bend those strings. I don't even try. I am lucky if I can get my fingers to the right fret in time.

I am enjoying a CD called 'Very Early Joan' [Baez] that I was given for the holidays. As far as I know, she is doing all the guitar playing on those taped live performances, and it sounds great. She would have been something like 20 years old at the time, I figure. Um, that's what they call 'talent.' On two of the songs she is doing a parody of some rock 'n roll-er type who must have been getting songs on the charts at the time, and those songs are especially fun to listen to. I would say it was maybe Lou Christie or Frankie Valli that she was doing.

 

[Janitor]

... Great sounding guitar for very little money...

Would you mind if I asked you to quantify that for us?

 

[Astronuc]

Had a bass guitar (low quality Gibson ripoff) - needed new pickups. A roomate had Rickenbacher that I played occasionally.

Didn't perform except on rare occasions, but not pro.

Favorite bass tune is the solo by Jon Camp of Rennaisance on there Live from Carnegie Hall. The track is Ashes Are Burning. Camp plays a Rickenbacher with a pick, and strums and picks the base like some people play a guitar. He does some really smooth chords. To play like Camp really requires greater than normal strength and endurance - the forearms can get really stiff (and can burn) for the novice.

I heard Ashes Are Burning during a live performance in Houston at the Houston Symphony, which was good, but not as good as the performance at Carnegie.

Also, if you want to hear an incredible voice, Annie Haslam sang lead for Rennaisance. Annie has a 5 octave range.

Does anyone have an opinion on or preference for basses by Gibson, Rickenbacher, Fender, or whatever?