Tremolo Treatise

Dean Cavill · Post by **Dean Cavill** » 29 Aug 2006 11:06 am

Dear All,

Though I'm just a newbie on PMZ (Pedal Modulated Zither), I have frequently noticed a mystery tonality in the recent productions of PMZ in "New Country" recordings which
I can't quite put a finger on, yet a tonality which I'm quite certain is not
"in the hands" of the player.

If you get a chance to listen to the end bit of Alan Jackson's song "Drive" (in Bmaj),
off his "Drive" album (Duh!), wherein an unaccompanied Paul Franklin slides from an
AB pedal Emaj on fret 7 to the final AB pedal Bmaj on fret 2, you'll hear a VERY FAST fast
and VERY SUBTLE tremolo prior to the final AB pedal rock.
But just prior to the final Bmaj rock, the tremolo effect disappears, leaving the final
chord unaffected.

I'm not sure the tremolo effect, which I assume was used throughout, would have registered in my brain had I not paid attention (on headphones) to the unaccompanied PMZ at the end.

Am I on to something here ?

Do you supposed this was done in the mix ?
If not, with both hands on the wheel, and both feet on the pedals,
how do you suppose Mr. Franklin turned the tremolo effect off at just the right moment ?

Just Curious

------------------
Steelin' for the Dark Side
Carter-U12, a Bar, and some Picks
[This message was edited by Dean Cavill on 29 August 2006 at 12:07 PM.][This message was edited by Dean Cavill on 29 August 2006 at 12:09 PM.]

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 29 Aug 2006 3:44 pm

Maybe he hit the trem with his right foot - it doesn't HAVE to be on a volume pedal.

Maybe he had a trem pedal mounted upside-down on the guitar and hit it with a knee.

Maybe someone else worked the trem.

More likely, it was recorded dry and the trem "sweetened" into the mix later.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 30 Aug 2006 8:10 pm

I'll fake a tremelo with the volume pedal sometimes, very fast and shallow. Sorta like a nervous twitch of the leg.