Playing up the neck on the low strings.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 25 May 2003 7:10 pm

I'm currently working on a piece for which I want as un-twangy a tone as possible.I want the steel to sound almost like a flute .

To achieve this, I am playing the piece on the bass strings on the uppermost frets. This yeilds a very different tone than the same notes played on the lower frets on the upper strings.

Anybody else ever do this?

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 25 May 2003 8:19 pm

Mike
I have been doin that for years,,It sounds different.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 May 2003 8:24 pm

Don't do that, Mike. If you do that, you'll sound like a poor imitation of Jody Carver.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 25 May 2003 9:08 pm

You also get a less twangy sound if you pick any string over to the left closer to the bar. Conversely you can brighten up the low strings by picking near the changer.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 25 May 2003 9:14 pm

you'll sound like a poor imitation of Jody Carver.

I should be so lucky....

BDBassett · Post by **BDBassett** » 26 May 2003 6:36 am

I don't know what I might be able to add to your bag-o-tricks Mike but I'll make a suggestion anyway.

For some unremembered reason my old MSA (extended E9 12 string) allows me to lower my 9th string D to C#. I can also raise my 10th string B to C# and when you play those strings in unison it can create a nice fat cello kinda sound. Not that you asked how one might create a cello sound but it could produce something quite different in the higher register.

BD

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 May 2003 7:19 am

Thanks B,D, I don't have a D string on my U-12, but I can get a unison by raising my 8 th to F while lowering my 7th. I'm going to give it a try.

I frequently play unisons on the 1st and 4th strings with the C pedal.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 26 May 2003 9:08 am

It may not suit the arrangement you're working on, but have you tried an ebow? Tonally it would fit in great with a lot of what I've heard you do..

------------------
C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 26 May 2003 10:15 am

This is very true on standard guitars as well. Especially on my bass guitars, plucking close to the bridge and up the neck yields completely different sounds for the same-register note. My steel can almost imitate a flute that can gliss like a trombone! Chording also sounds good with this technique.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 26 May 2003 11:29 am

you'll sound like a poor imitation of Jody Carver.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I should be so lucky....
It only takes a buck and a little bit of luck and anyone can do it..ya gotta be in it to win it...edited to look for a dollar.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 26 May 2003 at 12:30 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 May 2003 1:08 pm

Jody, I'll loan ya the buck. It's the least I can do!

Love ya man,
jc

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 26 May 2003 2:02 pm

Jim
If I had your money,I'd loan everyone a buck.

Oh My,,I didnt think you cared. Careful people will say we're in love.

I spent my last buck on your new CD.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 May 2003 2:02 pm

You paid too much.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 May 2003 2:51 pm

Mark, I use an E-bow all the time. I used it a lot on my recording of Afternoon of a faun, which can he downloaded here.

click here

As it turns out, I intend to use an E-bow on this piece too, but not on the section I'm currently working on.

[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 26 May 2003 at 10:37 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 26 May 2003 3:27 pm

DVA picked it up for me at a back yard sale.

It had an expiration date..so he bought it at a good price $1.00 minus 80% discount

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 26 May 2003 6:02 pm

it's my spouse who found the "bargain" on Jody's LP- it changed my life, and for change back on her dollar

and yes he plays the low strings on it...

Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 27 May 2003 7:01 am

Hey Mike,
Try a wooden bar and make it the same size as the 1' BJS. Sounds stupid but some different effects for sure.

Carl West
Emmons LaGrande lll

Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 27 May 2003 7:02 am

That's a 1 " bar. TYPO said 1', but that'd be different as well.?

Carl