Step away from the pick...

[Billster]

So I'm recording tracks last night, and I have two melody sections that will both use an overdrive guitar tone (big surprise ) I was using two different amp settings, one a little cleaner, one a little more drive, but I wanted some more distinction between the parts. So...

 

I played the cleaner tone with fingers, pulling and easing into the strings, and that contrasted nicely with the sharper attack of the pick on the heavier overdrive tone of the second section.

 

Here endeth the lesson

[Dr. Ellwood]

A good point actually, and that idea goes along way towards texture in your playing. I don't record but I do use fingers instead of the pick to soften passages within a song. I use this allot to get a more dynamic difference in perceived volume changes in gig situations. A great tip and tool for coaxing the most out of your equipment and it doesn't cost anything.

[LPCustom]

I just thought everyone did that. That's the problem with assumptions. They don't often seem to be right...

 

Great tip, Billster.

[caprae]

When will you be posting the results?

[Big Red 67]

Or just really lighten up on the picking. It cleans up the amp to pick light and in the studio you can just boost it a little if it is not loud enough.

[Bbach1]

I think there are a lot of us that don't use picks all that much. I don't much like picks on any chord progressions. For lead and rockabilly, well, yes, but mostly because I have not developed my fingerstyle play enough.

I like watching guys like Derek Trucks and Kevin Eubanks. I don't think I've ever seen a pick in their hands.

[Big Red 67]

Originally posted by Bbach1:

I think there are a lot of us that don't use picks all that much. I don't much like picks on any chord progressions. For lead and rockabilly, well, yes, but mostly because I have not developed my fingerstyle play enough.

I like watching guys like Derek Trucks and Kevin Eubanks. I don't think I've ever seen a pick in their hands.

This is something I love to see to. I still like digging into the strings with a pick. I pull the strings out of tune some times. It is a sound that I like. I need to devolop my fingerstyle for sure though.