The Art of the Electric Guitar Sound for Beginners

I thought I would give a quick lesson on how guitarists make the different sounds you hear in songs. This is specific to the electric guitar. I have been studying and learning a lot about guitar “pedals” and effect units lately. There is a definite art to creating your sound. I will try to talk in layman’s terms for any novices reading.

The electric guitar basically has one sound to start with. We musicians refer to it as the “clean” sound. Just the notes you play getting amplified by the “pickups” of the guitar. The pickups are essentially microphones in layman’s terms. Without any effects added, the clean sound is just the pure sound created by the vibrating string of the guitar. Many things can affect the clean sound. The quality of the guitar is the main thing. A high end guitar is better built. It has better wood, better pickups, and a better neck. All of these things affect the clean sound.

Where it gets even more interesting is when you start adding effects to the sound your guitar is producing. There are many types of effects available to guitarists these days. They can be broken down into basically 4 catagories: Overdrive/Distortion, Delays, Modulation, and signal boosters.

Overdrive/Distortion is the basis for rock music. When you add an overdrive effect to the clean guitar sound, it jumbles up the signal coming from the guitar basically. It jumbles it up so much that the clean sound becomes anything but clean. It basically “distorts” the signal into a big mess. When you hear rock music, the “loud” parts are usually created by using some type of overdrive unit. Now there are of course hundreds of types of overdrives. They have varying levels of distortion. When playing some light rock, you would use a lighter overdrive effect. When playing hard rock or metal, you would need something with a high level of distortion.

Delays are my favorite types of pedals. Delay is in layman’s terms echo. So you can play a note and it will echo back at any rate in which you want it to. You can make it echo fast or slow, and echo more or less times. What this allows you to do is play something simple, but the echo’s fill up the dead space in between the notes you are playing, thus making it sound more full. Nobody is better at using delay than the Edge of U2. Delay is the staple of every U2 song. If you want to get creative, you can combine several delay pedals and have differing types of echo’s coming in. The Edge normally uses two to three delays at a time. That’s why U2 songs sound so full, even though he is the only guitarist. The delay can allow you to sound like you are playing 2 guitars.

Modulation is something I am just starting to use more. These include effects like: Tremelo, Phasers, Flangers, Reverb, and Chorus. The most commonly used of these are tremelo and chorus. Tremelo is similar to delay, but slightly different. It has a choppy sound. The sound isn’t REALLY echoing at all. It is basically cutting the note in and out at a fast rate. A good example of tremelo would be “Money” by Pink Floyd. The main guitar part is tremelo all the way. Chorus is the next most commonly used modulation pedal. It adds a almost keyboard kind of sound to the guitar. My favorite chorus song is Prince’s “Purple Rain.” That guitar has a lot of chorus going. Van Halen was also famous for utilizing chorus in their songs.

The other category is signal boosters. The most common is a simple clean boost. All this does is “boost” the signal coming out of the guitar. So it doesn’t actually affect the sound at all, it just makes is louder. This is utilized mainly during live performances when the guitarists needs to stand out for a solo. Wah pedals don’t really fall into this category per se, but they basically make a sound like their name. When you push up and down on the pedal, it makes the signal sound like you are saying the word “Wah, Wah.” This is utilized a lot in modern rock for guitar solos. It can really give that extra edge you need to stand out. The most famous Wah song of all time has got to be “Voodoo Chile” by Jimi Hendrix.

There are many more types of effects available to guitarists today, but these are the basics. Not only does each effect pedal have it’s own “affect” on the sound, but many other factors can affect it. The order in which you put your pedals can have a tremendous impact on how they behave. Say for instance I have only an overdrive pedal and a clean boost. Let’s say I put the overdrive first (so the signal is coming from my guitar into my overdrive, and then on to the boost, then to the amp). So when I play my notes, and then overdrive them, they become jumbled and “rocking.” If I then hit the boost, that boost pedal is gonna simply increase the volume of what I’m playing. It won’t change the actual sound at all, just make it louder. Now, let’s reverse that scenario. Let’s say I come from guitar into the boost, and then on to the overdrive. So, I’m playing an essentially clean sound, and then I “boost” the signal (making it not only louder but “stronger”). Then I send that boosted signal to the overdrive. Well now the overdrive pedal is receiving a stronger signal than it was before. So it has more signal to “jumble.” That is going to make my sound more jumbled and more heavy.

I know I probably bored/confused most of you, but the point is that modern music is laced with these types of effects. They make the guitarists job easier to some degree, but they also open up a whole new world of possiblilities to create unique sounds.


Here is a video of Dallas Schoo (the guitar tech for the Edge) explaining some of the effects and how they affect the sound.

Baseball

I love two seasons of the year in Alabama. I’m torn between my love for the fall, and my love for the spring. I don’t care too much for the dog days of summer, or the bitter cold of winter. Fall is wonderful because it brings an end to the pressing heat of summer. Fall is also great because I love football. I equate the first high school football game in late August as the start of Fall. I always spend the last Friday night in August at a game. It makes me happy. But Spring is even better in a lot of ways. I equate the beginning of Spring with the start of baseball season. That is what this post is really about. Spring has begun. It may stay cold for several more weeks, but to me Spring has begun because baseball has begun.

Tonight Auburn had their first baseball game of the year. I was able to go with my Dad and enjoy a good ballgame under beautiful skies. I have been going to Auburn baseball games for as long as I can remember. Some of my best memories as a child were going to see games with my Dad. I’m so grateful that we shared those times together. I distinctly remember going to Hoover each year for the annual SEC baseball tournament. Dad and I would sit there for hours, watching game after game. I loved every minute of it.

I have always loved baseball. I played it as a child, and even while in High School. My father shared with me the complexities of the game at a young age. At 12 years old, I knew more about the game than most adults. I remember coming home from school as a child, and while my friends would watch cartoons, I would watch the Cubs on WGN each afternoon. I fell in love with the Cubs: Ryan Sandburg was a hero of mine, and I loved the late great Harry Carey. I was not the biggest/strongest/most talented player at any point of my baseball playing days. However, I used my passion for the game, and my knowledge of the game to succeed. Nobody tried harder than I did, nobody cared as much as I did. I got those qualities from my Father.

Meanwhile my Mother (The Redhead), was there offering her motherly support as well. She was always at my games, keeping the official scorebook, bringing drinks for the team, supporting me all the way. When I was 12, I played on the All-Star team for Opelika. We were a good team, but we lost in the subdivision tournament to Auburn. They were the better team. Several of those kids went on to play professional baseball. We fought hard, but came up short. I remember coming home after losing the championship and just crashing on my bed. My Dad came into my room and told me he was proud of me, and my Mom came in and offered a hug and kiss. I’m thankful for my parents love and support.

I still continue to go to Auburn baseball games as much as I can. Sometimes I get a friend to go with me, sometimes Dad can go. Many times I go by myself. I find it a great way to relax and free my mind. It is a way to put everything going on in my life behind me for a few hours. Most people have their own way to “get away.” For some people it is running or exercise, for others it’s their music, and some turn to self-medications. For me, it’s baseball. I get consumed in the game. Nothing else matters during those few hours. I love the smell of the grass, the sounds of other fans, and the relaxed pace of the game. I watch intently and analyze the game. I watch the coaches give their signs to the catcher for the next pitch. Usually within a few innings I can “break the code” and tell you what pitch has been called. I watch the pitcher before the pitch. I look for a tip. Much like a poker player has a “tell,” pitchers can tip off what pitch they are about throw sometimes. It may be the way he fiddles with the ball in his glove. Maybe he lifts up his right elbow a bit while gripping the ball when he’s about to throw a curveball. Perhaps he crouches a bit more when about to throw a fastball. One time I sat right beside the Auburn dugout, and I noticed the opposing pitcher had a “tell.” While gripping the ball in this glove before the pitch, he would lift up his right elbow just a bit if he was going to throw a curve ball. I noticed it after about 2 batters. I watched one more batter just to be sure. I could barely contain my excitement. Has nobody else noticed this? The Auburn coaches that are paid to notice these things haven’t said a word?!? I couldn’t stand it. After the inning ended, the coach at the time walked back toward the dugout. I leaned over the railing and got his attention. “Coach, he’s tipping off his curveball. “When he lifts his right elbow a bit before the pitch, it’s a curveball!” He smiled at me and said, “ok, thanks.” He shook his head. Dismissing my analysis. That is until the next inning. Undoubtedly my words stuck in his mind, and he noticed it while the pitcher was warming up for the inning. I saw him race back to the dugout and inform the batters. “Right elbow up, it’s a curveball” he said. Auburn hit 3 homeruns that inning and won the game. I sat there on the front row waiting for him to come thank me. Nothing. He took credit for my find! Oh well… he ended up getting fired at the end of the year anyway.

Sometimes I make myself just relax and enjoy the game without over analyzing it. Tonight was one of those nights. I don’t watch for signs, I don’t watch the pitcher for “tells,” I just sit back and relax and watch the game like any other fan. Enjoying God’s wonderful creation. A beautiful game, under beautiful weather. Spring is here my friends. And if you are looking for me, I’ll either be at work or at Plainsman Park.

Mystery

I hated this song until about 5 seconds ago when I finally figured out the melody. Booya

Mystery

Verse 1:
I am a mystery
Lost in my history
Are the things that inspire me
To be everything I wanna be

You’re like a fairy tale
Read to a little girl
An open book for all the world
To see how to live so well

Chorus:
But I am a mystery,
I am a mystery.
Hiding so no one will see
The things deep inside of me
Yeah, I am a mystery,
I am a mystery
Sometimes I can’t believe
Anyone could unravel me
I am a mystery

Verse 2:
I’m like a passing train
Screaming the same refrain
Can’t leave these tracks I’ve laid
Got nobody else to blame

You’re like an airplane
Flying high above the rain
Untouched by these earthly stains
Unwavered by hurt and pain

Chorus:
But I am a mystery,
I am a mystery.
Hiding so no one will see
The things deep inside of me
Yeah, I am a mystery,
I am a mystery
Sometimes I can’t believe
Anyone could unravel me
I am a mystery

Bridge:
Sometimes I wonder who I am
I wanna be a better man
Don’t know what it takes, don’t understand
Don’t wanna make the same mistakes again

Don’t wanna take this path I see
Don’t want to be imcomplete
I wanna live a life’s that free
I wanna be who I’m supposed to be

Chorus:
But I am a mystery,
I am a mystery.
Hiding so no one will see
The things deep inside of me
Yeah, I am a mystery,
I am a mystery
Sometimes I can’t believe
Anyone could unravel me
I am a mystery

Free

This is in honor of the upcoming Valentine's Day. The most loved/hated day of the year.

Took me a few days to get this one right. It is hard to write a song like this when you are single... I sort of had to "pretend" to have a woman..LOL... It has an Amos Lee/James Taylor type sound. I'm happy with it.

Verse 1:
When she walks with me
When she talks with me
I’m free, I’m free

When she holds my hand
Says she understands
I’m free, I’m free

Pre-Chorus:
I don’t know how to explain
The way she lifts me up again and again

Chorus:
She’s the reason why
I understand this life
And I don’t know if I
Could carry on without her smile
I just wanna hold her till the night ends
And when the sun comes up, we’ll do it all again

Verse 2:
When she’s standing there
Doesn’t have a care
I’m free, I’m free

When she laughs with me
Everyone can see
I’m free, I’m free

Pre-Chorus
I don’t know how to explain
The way she lifts me up again and again

Chorus
She’s the reason why
I understand this life
And I don’t know if I
Could carry on without her smile
I just wanna hold her till the night ends
And when the sun comes up, we’ll do it all again

Bridge:
I don’t know how
She’s always there without a doubt
Ready to take me
To the place and time I need to be

Chorus:
She’s the reason why
I understand this life
And I don’t know if I
Could carry on without her smile
I just wanna hold her till the night ends
And when the sun comes up, we’ll do it all again

Dixie Darlin

Intentionally being a redneck here...

I aint got no money
Aint got no fancy car
But I got a picture of her in my wallet
And place reserved in my heart
For my Dixie darlin
Yeah I’m doin alright
Well my Dixie darlin
Is what gets me through the night

Well I aint got no job
Aint got no college degree
But I got my sweet honey
And that’s good enough for me
She’s my Dixie darlin
Yeah I’m doin alright
Well my Dixie darlin
Is what gets me through the night

I don’t live in nice house
Don’t got no swimming pool
Aint much for book learnin
And momma thinks I’m a fool
But I got my Dixie darlin
Yeah, I’m doin alright
My Dixie darlin
Is what gets me through the night