Musicians, Music and Musings...

[ginnie]

If you're a musician or just into music, lets see pics of your gear, your thoughts on music and musicianship and insights into what inspire you musically....

(I Don't want to keep fucking up the WTF thread )

 

[bri]

Music is my sanctuary. I love to listen to all kinds. I play flute and clarinet and played mallets for a few years in high school. I just got my glittery purple guitar a few months back and am trying to learn to play it. I'll never be an Eric Clapton. My fingers are too short. I really struggle to play a C. I just hope to become good enough to help me in my aspirations of becoming a songwriter someday.

 

[jakobeast]

I have a lot of pictures to go through.

 

[Ymono37]

Here's the Les Paul I have:

Here's me with my Garrison acoustic:

Here's my Tele:

 

[Ymono37]

Also - one of the bands I'm in Big Ned and Electra 225 will be playing Friday, July 30, 6:00pm at the Taste of Roselle.



Come on out. It will be... fun?

 

[jakobeast]

[quote name="Ymono37"]Also - one of the bands I'm in Big Ned and Electra 225 will be playing Friday, July 30, 6:00pm at the Taste of Roselle.



Come on out. It will be... fun?[/quote]



You forgot the major selling point. I will be rocking the cowbell.

 

[ginnie]

[quote name="bri"]Music is my sanctuary. I love to listen to all kinds. I play flute and clarinet and played mallets for a few years in high school. I just got my glittery purple guitar a few months back and am trying to learn to play it. I'll never be an Eric Clapton. My fingers are too short. I really struggle to play a C. I just hope to become good enough to help me in my aspirations of becoming a songwriter someday.[/quote]



Keep working on the C chord.

In fact, I rarely play a C chord properly. When I was 13 I severely injured my left arm in an accident - it left me with a basically unuseable index finger, I can't bend my thumb, and I have numbness down the side of two other fingers plus tendon damage in my hand and arm. If I was smart, when I was sixteen and started playing guitar I would have learned left handed. Its too late to change now.

As a result of my injuries, I've had to play some chords a little differently.

My "adjusted" C chord is like this:

_________

- - - - - -

- - o - - -

- o - - o -



Essentially I'm playing the third fret on the second string instead of the first and I use my little finger instead of my unuseable index finger.

I've found that because of the "limitations" of my hand and fingers I've developed my own style that I quite like and is comfortable with - I'm not a virtuoso but I can jam basically anybody.





Regarding songwriting - experiment with your chords - try leaving notes out or playing only parts of them - you'll find that you expand your repertoire immensely. Most songs in the Rock'n Roll catalogue over the last fifty years have been written using just a few chords - if you learn your major/minor chords , your E and A shape plus some others you can write almost anything you want. I'm talking about THIRTY chords in total - that's not a lot.



Ha ha - I've always had problems navigating the bass because of my fingers. Using only three fingers on bass has its challenges because of the huge frets. It was always so frustrating on more challenging bass patterns knowing the notes, knowing how to play them but being unable to. It took me 35 years to figure out that there is such a thing as a SHORT SCALE bass. Since I bought one this year my bass playing has improved tremendously! I can play stuff I never could before, and play longer without my tendon getting sore.

 

[ginnie]

[quote name="Ymono37"]Also - one of the bands I'm in Big Ned and Electra 225 will be playing Friday, July 30, 6:00pm at the Taste of Roselle.



Come on out. It will be... fun?[/quote]



Nice, a Les Paul AND a Tele....

I'd love to get an SG and maybe a Gretsch Hollowbody.

 

[Ymono37]

[quote name="ginnie"]Nice, a Les Paul AND a Tele....

I'd love to get an SG and maybe a Gretsch Hollowbody.[/quote]

I had an epi SG for a while as well but I traded it for an old Peavey Amp... still happy with the trade. The guitar wasn't bad, just needed another back-up amp. The ones I've show up there are my higher end guitars (if you can call it that). I have a handful of less expensive ones, too.



-Squier '59 (which I've been slowly cosmetically modding)

-Peavey Predator (American made from mid-90's - sounds better than a real Strat most days)

-Squier Bullet Strat (was going to make this a project guitar, but I loved the stock pick-up too much when I plugged it in)

-Danelectro



I know what you mean about style though. I tried to learn the correct "p-i-m-a" method for finger-picking and ended up developing my own style because I didn't care for the way the pima method felt... it makes classical pieces come out sounding a little bluesy sometimes.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Fender American Standard P Bass

Hofner

Also have a crappy acoustic that sounds pretty good.



And in my house we got a baby grand Yamaha.



Hammond Concorde Organ, got it off ebay for 200$. Its currently out of service though.

Wurlitzer Organ, got it at the Salvation Army for 30$. Thats at school though.

 

[ginnie]

Those organs have a much better organic sound and feel than the new syths. Only thing is they're so friggin' big to carry around!



I'm very envious of your Fender. Nothing I've played matches the feel and sound of the American models. They are worth every penny above the price of the Squires and Mexican (are they still made in Mexico, or Korea?) models.



Love the Hofner! I wanted to get one for my birthday a few months ago but couldn't afford it ($860) so I settled on the Epi ($245).



One piece of advice for anyone buying a guitar - I would never, ever buy a guitar that I haven't played unless the bargain was too good to resist. For instance, I wouldn't buy a Fender Precision online for $1100 if my local music shop charged $1200. Every guitar is different! On the other hand, if Ebay had a 1970 Les Paul Custom for $300 I'd take it sight unseen!



Good example - my local Long & McQuade had two Epiphone short scale basses - but they both felt different and sounded different. Of course, I bought the better one. Maybe this doesn't happen a lot with higher quality guitars although once I played a Strat instore that felt like crap.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

[quote name="ginnie"]Those organs have a much better organic sound and feel than the new syths. Only thing is they're so friggin' big to carry around!



I'm very envious of your Fender. Nothing I've played matches the feel and sound of the American models. They are worth every penny above the price of the Squires and Mexican (are they still made in Mexico, or Korea?) models.



Love the Hofner! I wanted to get one for my birthday a few months ago but couldn't afford it ($860) so I settled on the Epi ($245).



One piece of advice for anyone buying a guitar - I would never, ever buy a guitar that I haven't played unless the bargain was too good to resist. For instance, I wouldn't buy a Fender Precision online for $1100 if my local music shop charged $1200. Every guitar is different! On the other hand, if Ebay had a 1970 Les Paul Custom for $300 I'd take it sight unseen!



Good example - my local Long & McQuade had two Epiphone short scale basses - but they both felt different and sounded different. Of course, I bought the better one. Maybe this doesn't happen a lot with higher quality guitars although once I played a Strat instore that felt like crap.[/quote]



Yea I used to have a 200$ Squier which actually sounded pretty good. But my American P Bass fucking owns it. The differences are trivial, the the feel and sound it gets is great. It brings the funk, and for a white kid I try my best to let it shine. And I had this conversation with my guitar teacher about how guitars from 400$-3,000$ many times are not very different at all. Its all about the player, and if your gonna shell out 3k for a guitar you might as well save up and have someone build you a guitar to end all guitars for triplet the price. Thats my dream at least.



I also play out of this. It gets the job done and had a good price.

 

[ginnie]

Yea I used to have a 200$ Squier which actually sounded pretty good. But my American P Bass fucking owns it. The differences are trivial, the the feel and sound it gets is great.

I agree 100%







This has to do me. An old 1974 Traynor:

Luckily, when I go out jamming there's usually something better to play through.

 

[jakobeast]

And here we go.



My Tama 6 piece with a piccolo snare.

The first guitar I ever bought. I was about 16 or so. Ibanez RG550. Amazing tones, although it has been neglected as of late and could probably use a good set up and maybe some new electronics.

My Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Got it cheap(around 400 bucks), and has really become my default.

BC Rich Warlock. At the time, all I had was the Ibanez, and I wanted a fixed bridge guitar. Guitar Center was having one of their rare semi annual every week sale and I snagged it for a little over 100 bucks. It is a great knock around guitar, and really is a decent cheap-o.

Dean N-X. I Gibson Explorer knock off, but wow, what a great guitar for me. It weighs a lot, and I like my guitars heavy. I feel it really makes the tone and sound rich and full. I can also really get some good harmonics out of it. Squeels, if you will.

A Lotus bass. Yeah, I have no idea. Some dude left it at my house back in 2000, and I have had it ever since. It still make bass notes, but it is in need of some repair. But I don't think it's worth it.

Harmony. That's all I know about this thing. It was abandoned and left in a vacant house, I was pleasantly surprised when I plugged it in. A sturdy guitar, it is a neck through and feels comfy.

My folks old electric piano. I don't know how to play it, save for a few shitty chords, but it has come in handy.

My Takamine 12 string acoustic. The wife got this for me as a Christmas gift. Nice sound.

Ymono37's Peavey amp.

My Peavey half stack. I am a simple man, and I like the simple sounds I get from this. I have a Ibanez weeping demon wah, a chorus pedal, and a eq. Simple.

Sorry for the shitty quality of these pics. Apparently, the camera didn't like my toys.

 

[Ymono37]

Jakobeast - when did you get a pedal-board?



Also, we should probably "practice" sometime soon.



Also, tacos.



For the rest of the class, here's some vids of my other band, Big Ned and Electra 225 -



Blues is My Business:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU2tapYDLmQ[/youtube]



Hope in a Hopeless World:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWceJ8yiIMc&feature=related[/youtube]



Some Kind of Wonderful:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UJsrtWzDXw&feature=related[/youtube]

 

[jakobeast]

I bought the pedal board a couple months back.



Yes we should.



Burritos.

 

[Guest]

Figured I'd ask the musicians here:



I've been playing the guitar for about a year and a half, and would consider myself at the intermediate level. I can play power chords (big deal) I'm able to play regular chords and transition quite well, I'm getting better at picking and such but still have a ways to go. Currently I'm using an electric Fender and I'm playing on an okay AMP (all equipment belongs to my Uncle but he doesn't play anymore). I'm probably going to be purchasing an amp soon, but I'd also like to get into some eFX stuff. For my level of play, what would be the best type of pedal to get?



I like to play rock music, anything from Blink 182, Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Nada Surf, Weezer, Pixies. I'm not looking for any metal or psychadelic type of sound, as that's not my bag.



Any suggestions would be great.

 

[Ymono37]

[quote name=TJD]Figured I'd ask the musicians here:



I've been playing the guitar for about a year and a half, and would consider myself at the intermediate level. I can play power chords (big deal) I'm able to play regular chords and transition quite well, I'm getting better at picking and such but still have a ways to go. Currently I'm using an electric Fender and I'm playing on an okay AMP (all equipment belongs to my Uncle but he doesn't play anymore). I'm probably going to be purchasing an amp soon, but I'd also like to get into some eFX stuff. For my level of play, what would be the best type of pedal to get?



I like to play rock music, anything from Blink 182, Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Nada Surf, Weezer, Pixies. I'm not looking for any metal or psychadelic type of sound, as that's not my bag.



Any suggestions would be great.[/quote]



I'll tell you what my dad always told me as I was growing up and learning... there are two pedals/effect any guitarist should have (for any style of playing) - a distortion pedal and a chorus pedal and for the stuff you listed above, these would do.



Now what you get is all dependent on what you want to spend. I've always been a fan of BOSS and Digitech pedals but there are plenty of other company's out there that make just as good for about the same price or cheaper. Although if you look around, BOSS' basic electric pedal is can be found pretty cheap (cheaper if you look for used).



However, as an beginner to intermediate player your best bet (in my humble opinion) might just be one of Zoom's multi-effect floor processors. You can usually pick up a pedal that will give multiple sounds for around $100 - $120...



Ultimately though... it should really be based on whatever sounds good to you. Go to your local guitar shop, plug in front of the effects (bring your own guitar, most shops won't care) and play around with the different pedals.



Also - look at pedals online at places like Musician's Friend... and then head over to Youtube. Lots of guys have videos demo'ing the pedals so you can hear how they sound.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="Ymono37"]
[quote name=TJD]Figured I'd ask the musicians here:



I've been playing the guitar for about a year and a half, and would consider myself at the intermediate level. I can play power chords (big deal) I'm able to play regular chords and transition quite well, I'm getting better at picking and such but still have a ways to go. Currently I'm using an electric Fender and I'm playing on an okay AMP (all equipment belongs to my Uncle but he doesn't play anymore). I'm probably going to be purchasing an amp soon, but I'd also like to get into some eFX stuff. For my level of play, what would be the best type of pedal to get?



I like to play rock music, anything from Blink 182, Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Nada Surf, Weezer, Pixies. I'm not looking for any metal or psychadelic type of sound, as that's not my bag.



Any suggestions would be great.[/quote]



I'll tell you what my dad always told me as I was growing up and learning... there are two pedals/effect any guitarist should have (for any style of playing) - a distortion pedal and a chorus pedal and for the stuff you listed above, these would do.



Now what you get is all dependent on what you want to spend. I've always been a fan of BOSS and Digitech pedals but there are plenty of other company's out there that make just as good for about the same price or cheaper. Although if you look around, BOSS' basic electric pedal is can be found pretty cheap (cheaper if you look for used).



However, as an beginner to intermediate player your best bet (in my humble opinion) might just be one of Zoom's multi-effect floor processors. You can usually pick up a pedal that will give multiple sounds for around $100 - $120...



Ultimately though... it should really be based on whatever sounds good to you. Go to your local guitar shop, plug in front of the effects (bring your own guitar, most shops won't care) and play around with the different pedals.



Also - look at pedals online at places like Musician's Friend... and then head over to Youtube. Lots of guys have videos demo'ing the pedals so you can hear how they sound.[/quote]



Thanks alot mono, I'll definitely give those a try.

 

[ginnie]

[quote name="TJD"]Figured I'd ask the musicians here:



I've been playing the guitar for about a year and a half, and would consider myself at the intermediate level. I can play power chords (big deal) I'm able to play regular chords and transition quite well, I'm getting better at picking and such but still have a ways to go. Currently I'm using an electric Fender and I'm playing on an okay AMP (all equipment belongs to my Uncle but he doesn't play anymore). I'm probably going to be purchasing an amp soon, but I'd also like to get into some eFX stuff. For my level of play, what would be the best type of pedal to get?



I like to play rock music, anything from Blink 182, Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Nada Surf, Weezer, Pixies. I'm not looking for any metal or psychadelic type of sound, as that's not my bag.



Any suggestions would be great.[/quote]



I'd suggest just one pedal - a distortion. In fact, discard the pedal and play a small amp on volume 11 to get your distortion...

Later on maybe a wah-wah but its a tricky pedal to use right - you have to know when NOT to use it...



I do not suggest that you get one of those effect devices that have like 100 different effects. Most of them sound really artificial and for the next few years you should keep it simple and learn your stuff. Most of your work will in your strumming hand - that will define your style and sound more than anything else.