Playing in the dark
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- Elton Smith
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- Joined: 4 Jul 2010 10:08 pm
- Location: Texas, USA
Playing in the dark
How do yall play in the dark.
- Ray Montee
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In ONE WORD........................
POORLY!
Playing an all black Bakelite Ric with no fret markers it's difficult........to say the least.
Playing an all black Bakelite Ric with no fret markers it's difficult........to say the least.
Re: Playing in the dark
By ear?Elton Smith wrote:How do yall play in the dark.
- Richard Sinkler
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I bitch a lot until they turn up the lights. If I know ahead of time, I make sure I play my Carter instead of my Williams. The fret lines on the Willy are silver or grey as opposed to white, and very difficult to see in the dark. I also carry a light that I can clip on to something as has flexible shafts to adjust. But usually, I just bitch and moan until someone listens. A few tears help out too.
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 53 years and still counting.
- Larry Bell
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I'll take a different twist here
You will never regret learning to play in the dark. Blindfold yourself / play with a towel over the fretboard. It can be done and your ear / hand coordination will improve noticeably.
Plus, it won't be such a big deal when you have a gig in a dimly lit place.
You will never regret learning to play in the dark. Blindfold yourself / play with a towel over the fretboard. It can be done and your ear / hand coordination will improve noticeably.
Plus, it won't be such a big deal when you have a gig in a dimly lit place.
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12
- John Roche
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- Gary Cosden
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I played a few shows with an experimental band at a Planetarium while they did their light show. It went from total darkness to dim and back to total darkness several times during the concert. We all used clip-on LED lights that saved the day by making it possible to play in these conditions. I can't imagine how it could be done without some light even if the level is low.
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Hi, Elton.
I've been using a clip-on book light from the Mighty Bright company. I use the dual gooseneck version. I just clip it on to the top of the right front leg of my guitar. I aim one light down the fretboard around the 22nd fret and aim the other light at my rack. It works great when the stage lights cut to black and I'm as blind as a bat for the next intro kickoff.
http://www.mightybright.com/Book_Lights ... tList.aspx
I've been using a clip-on book light from the Mighty Bright company. I use the dual gooseneck version. I just clip it on to the top of the right front leg of my guitar. I aim one light down the fretboard around the 22nd fret and aim the other light at my rack. It works great when the stage lights cut to black and I'm as blind as a bat for the next intro kickoff.
http://www.mightybright.com/Book_Lights ... tList.aspx
- Ray Montee
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How DARK, can dark really be?
A few hours ago, I rec'd a nice email from one of our fellow Forumites. He told a story of how as a youngster, he underwent eye surgery and had to wear bandages about his head for several weeks or more while waiting to heal.
He mentioned that he still practices in the DARK after some 45 years of playing geetar.
Just made me recall how I have spent countless hours of VISUALIZING a 'new song' in the dark while waiting to fall asleep or while I was driving one of those REALLY BIG RIGS down the highways and by-ways of Oregon, Washington and/or California, etc.
This is slightly off center to the original post but I tho't there might be some value in if for some of you newer people.
He mentioned that he still practices in the DARK after some 45 years of playing geetar.
Just made me recall how I have spent countless hours of VISUALIZING a 'new song' in the dark while waiting to fall asleep or while I was driving one of those REALLY BIG RIGS down the highways and by-ways of Oregon, Washington and/or California, etc.
This is slightly off center to the original post but I tho't there might be some value in if for some of you newer people.
- Les Anderson
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- Marc Friedland
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I thought this topic was about a Bruce Springsteen song ----
If I'm caught unaware, the darkness can be a problem because I'm not used to it. If I know it's a venue with particularly poor lighting, I'll come prepared with my own small plug-in desk lamp, which helps enough.
Marc
www.PedalSteelGuitarMusic.com
If I'm caught unaware, the darkness can be a problem because I'm not used to it. If I know it's a venue with particularly poor lighting, I'll come prepared with my own small plug-in desk lamp, which helps enough.
Marc
www.PedalSteelGuitarMusic.com
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How Do you play in the dark?
The places I play now have enough light. But if it is a new venue, I take along a Lil Light. These are used on a lot on mixer boards. They have a goose neck, come in different lengths and have a dimmer control on them, plus it has a shield over half of the bulb, so the light doesn' shine towards the audience. I have a piece of industrial (not the regular stuff) sticky back velcro about 3 inches long stuck to the end of my guitar, which is formica, so the tape will not harm the finish. The other half of the velcro is stuck to the bottom of the Lil Light base. The gooseneck allows the light to come out over the right hand and light up the fretboard. The dimmer control lets me adjust as to how much light I need. I have an eye condition called central cirrus and can't see very well in dim light, so it is an even bigger problem for me.
- Elton Smith
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Dark
Thanks guys,advise well taken.
- Tony Glassman
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- Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)
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For dark or very low lighted gigs, I always carried a couple of "Little Lites" that attached to the front legs of my guitar and were goose-necked so they could be adjusted easily (probably the very same kind that George was describing in his post above). Mine also had a dimmer, but on mine the base had a wing nut clip that allowed me to attach them to the legs of my steel just below the end plates. I really loved them and they sure made it easy to play in dim or dark situations.
The photo above isn't that great, but it's the best I have that shows the Little Lites attached to my guitar in a gig situation. In this photo, the lamps were set to the brightest setting.
The photo above isn't that great, but it's the best I have that shows the Little Lites attached to my guitar in a gig situation. In this photo, the lamps were set to the brightest setting.
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
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Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)
- Alan Brookes
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- Rick Campbell
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- Alan Brookes
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- Elton Smith
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Dark
Alan thats a great idea,a lited fretboard.The leds are great but you don't won't to kill the audience atmosphere.I'll bet some guitar makers will pick this up.Thanks Elbo
- Jeff Colson
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I'll go along with Larry's take on this. There is a lot of patterns and licks that I practice with my eyes closed. I'ts great for your playing and confidence. This came from Paul Franklin one night I was talking to him at the station Inn. What a great tip. Besides when you watch clips of Buddy,Paul and all the great players they can play while they are looking at someone or around the room !
Jeff
Jeff
- Micky Byrne
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- Location: United Kingdom (deceased)
I'm with you Larry Bell. Years ago, I kept my steel set up next to my bed and when I thought about a new lick, I'd leap out of bed and try it out, lights out of course. I did this after reading a very old article by the big "E" about the benefits of learning in the dark. Same applies to the megga expensive tuners available. Paul Franklin mentioned about getting your E's and B's in with a tuner, then just use your ears on the rest. Same thing applied to my early Martial arts days..some training was done with a blindfold on, to "feel" your opponent, then react accordingly.
Micky Byrne U.K.
Micky Byrne U.K.