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Topic: Question for Paul, Buddy, Winnie etc... |
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 6 Jan 2004 4:10 am |
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And TW , HW, RD...
Pertaining to technique ..
Although sometimes it is much more logical ( and easier) to play a phrase ascending or descending across the neck,( within a few frets of course) do you change the position of some of your phrases to play in the "sweet spot" of the Steel for more tonal definition ?
Perhaps part of the phrase will be played maybe several frets lower ( or higher ) rather than the more logical position of playing the phrase across the fretboard within a window of a few frets.
EX: Instead of playing phrases on strings 10,9 , 8 + 7..up around the 12th fret , would you consider playing those parts of the phrases down around the 8th fret on strings 9, 8 and 7 for a deeper tonal quality of the string ?
Do you understand what I am asking or am I nuts..?
I often transpose phrases taken off the 12th fret on the guitar for strings 6 and 5 etc.. and move them to the 7th fret which offers a "sweeter" tone spot.
I have been doing this on the Steel ( C6th) as well and was wondering if this is common practice or just another bad habit.I'm thinking it's not a bad habit..but I guess I'm about to find out !
Thanks for the music...
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 06 January 2004 at 04:59 AM.] [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 06 January 2004 at 05:00 AM.] |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2004 5:44 am
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| In his latest video (soon to be released) Jay Dee Maness speaks to this issue as he states that often times he will move up to the A and F position for a chord on lower strings rather than play it on higher "thinner" strings at the open position 3 frets back. Not necessarily an answer to the question "sweet spot" but one pertaining to the basic question of where to play. |
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Bill Cutright
From:
Akron, OH
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Posted 6 Jan 2004 5:57 am
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(although I don't even qualify as an "etc"...)
my thought on this is that when a phrase, or lick, can be played in multiple places and there is no apparent, dexterity limitations with that phrase (or, possibly the preceding or subsequent positioning - and my experience has been that, usually, there are...) then, I'd play it in the lowest position possible, to get the extra tone and associated with a longer string length. |
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Franklin
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Posted 6 Jan 2004 6:20 am
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Tony....My answer is yes, sometimes, but not always.
Although a C note might sound richer played on the 5th string, etc. I also consider how the breaking away from the eighth fret position in the middle of a lick to get it affects the fluid movement of the line.
I also have more pedals and knees which helps me play most things in many different fret positions on different strings. Then I learn everything in as many positions as possible with in my pedal setup.
I hope I am answering your question. To sum this up, I believe all players end up playing the instrument in the "sweet spots" that sound best to them. When deciding where to play a phrase or melody there is not any right or wrong solution between players, only a subjective one. Sometimes the thinner string sound is sweeter than the heavier string. Depends on the day.
Paul |
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Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 6 Jan 2004 9:02 am
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Tony,
I agree with Paul's reply. I would just add, I believe one becomes a better player/musician and broadens one's knowledge of the tuning or instrument by playing phrases,licks or entire songs out of the comfort zones or as you say, tonal sweetspots. You know, the old "thinking outside of the box" idea.
Uh-oh,I think I have just stated the obvious. |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 6 Jan 2004 12:17 pm
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AAAWWW, Tommy, Paul--Tony already knows this, he just wanted to talk to the big guys!
Tony, next time, just call me.
But seriously, isn't this a great Forum, where guys like PF, TW, BE, and Tony Prior (?) make themselves available? |
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Winnie Winston
From:
Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Jan 2004 2:03 am
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First... I'm honored to be included in the list!
Because I play a S12 I have a tendency to use the lower strings a lot.
If there is a choice between playing it across the strings or along the strings, I find that I'll usually go for the up and down rather than the back and forth-- it sounds better to me and gets more "steel sound" via slides into it.
That said, it really depends on where you are starting and where you want to end up. I've found myself playing very similar things in different positions because of either how I got there or where I knew I was going.
Hope that makes sense!
JW |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 7 Jan 2004 7:26 am
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Thanks so much for your reply's.
My question was not so much about the proper places to play phrases but rather do you think about tonal characteristics at the same time while executing passages..
The answer an obvious "YES" ..and obviously within reason..
The reason I asked this was two fold..I am working on some phrases for an old Big Band tune ( Li'll Darlin )and was not pleased with the tone of the big fat strings up around the 12 fret..so I moved the phrases down around the 8th..it seemed a little awkward to execute the phrase at first but at the end of the day it "Happened"..It would have been much easier to just play the phrase straight across the neck but it didn't have the "depth"...
On the other side of the coin sometimes we hear musicians just rippin' off licks all day and all night and everyone agrees that they are awesome musicians but somehow the comment " But they sound like CRxx" always follows...I can think of several Jazz Guitar players who to me sound like typwriters playing in all of the appropriate modes rather than others who maybe play less notes but more music..and thinking about the total picture.
Very appreciative for the responses above..
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 07 January 2004 at 12:49 PM.] |
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