5 Ugly Truths About Being A Guitarist

If you are like me, then you began playing the guitar and had a very clear image of what 'playing the guitar' should have looked like. Very few actually achieve that initial image. You might have thought that you would make it big and play music with your heroes, or making a million dollars with nothing but your axe and sweet licks. Those ideas might be spectacular visions of grandeur, the truth is a little ugly...


About That Fame


Well, you might have guessed that it would be very difficult to make a name for yourself playing the guitar. The guitar is a wonderful instrument that many enjoy, but there is the problem, many enjoy playing the guitar. There is a crowd of people that are doing the same thing that you are. That is why there is such a large community of guitarist. Forums, Blogs, Stores, and other things exist because there are so many of us. This fact alone makes it difficult to stand out. It is difficult to play faster, smoother, harder, more technical or some other superlative more than everyone else. Just shear numbers would dictate that there is someone else that has been specializing in that one thing more than you. Not to discourage you from trying to progress, in fact, this reason is my personal motivation to keep pushing myself. Having said that, the thought that being the top of your particular ''field'' won't be enough to propel you to stardom


About That Fortune


Another common assumption is that learning and playing the guitar with just burry you in all the money. The logic here is a little funny here. Making money is a bad reason to pick up the guitar. I've spent countless dollars on my habit hobby. I have made a little bit of money hear and there, but fortune is not the word that I'd use to describe the amount. I'm sure I've spent way more than I've made and I doubt that will ever change. There are tons of working musicians that make a living with their craft. That's not completely out of reach for the average guitarist that devote enough time and energy toward it. Supplemental income is achievable, a living can be manageable, but breaking six figures is going to take a lot more than just talent. You'll have to constantly market yourself and network to make connection that will further your career.


Your Heroes Kind Of Suck


I mean, I don't know you heroes but I'm working with generalities here, so work with me. Let's assume that your hero has achieved that fame and fortune that we discussed earlier. This means that, in addition to the talent, they have a work ethic that has propelled them to were they are. They also have a personality and temperament that is complete different then what you image. It's easy to assume that you know the people that you look up to, but many times you can disappointed. I'm not saying that these people are all type-a jerks, but they are conditioned to a very demanding and time-consuming schedule. Depending on who you hero is, this is achievable goal, but you'll never know if that person will live up to your expectations. Also, depending on who your particular hero is, you might want to get on that, because they might die. That's why all my heroes are already dead. That way I don't have to try...


Other People Don't Love Your Playing


Yes, people enjoy the guitar, but growing up in my house, people did not always like listen to the same songs over and over (other wise know as practice). Most impressive guitar playing is enjoyed by other guitarist that know how hard it is to make those particular sounds. The common person will equate strumming chords and typically challenging arpeggios to one another. That's because they have to basis to compare the two. To them, they are both difficult. You could have Eric Clapton setting in you living room playing the guitar and, after a while, you'll ask him to stop. Even if you are very talented, sometimes the noise is just unwanted. Don't be the guy at the party to pick up the guitar and start playing Wonder Wall. for the love of Pete don't play Wonder Wall...


So Easy To Waste Money


I own so many things. Many of them relate to the guitar. I own several guitars... and amps... and pedals... cases... chords... books... *sigh* I've bought so many things. I like buying things. I also like buying guitar things. That cost money. Lots of money. Do I need to say more? Yes? Ok. A starting rig will run you a few hundred dollars, As you progress you will probably spend thousands of dollars if you continue to play. Acoustic or Electric, your rigs will get a little more complicated and refined (is that a contradiction?). You can also spend money on things that don't need. Extras are so temping. I've bought several 'boutique picks' because that's a thing now. They aren't necessarily better. My point is, just like many hobbies, you will spend countless dollars on your self... you self-centered narcissist.


Conclusion


I don't even know anymore. I've never given so much thought to why guitar playing might suck. It doesn't suck, in fact, it is absolutely rocks. I love playing guitar and I'll stop playing when I lose control of all of my limbs... Yes, I will start playing with my feet if I lose my hand in a harvesting accident.

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The Ugly Truth About Your Boost Pedal

If you asked someone to name the pedal on their board, chances are that you'll hear a lot about distortion, overdrive, filters, reverb, delay, and maybe even a fancy programming or looping pedal. Chances are, that person won't wax poetic about their boost pedal. Sure, there are a lot of pedals out there that promise a "clean boost", but what is that really? Isn't that just turning up the volume on you guitar? Maybe you want something to drive the front end of you amp a little harder, but isn't that why we have overdrives? So say you don't want your signal clip before it goes to your amp. You want the sound that your amp makes when pushed past it's clip. Fair enough. Do you need a special pedal to do that? ...eh

So you want a straight path your amp. Chances are your no a bid "pedal" guy. So why not set your amp up to overdrive (turning up your level and lowing your master)? Maybe because your amp is too simple to have a level and master. So you're one of "those guys". Your amp came from Sear and Roebuck's back when it was a mail-order and it only have two knobs and one broke off. But this is the best amp and the only thing that you truly love. You just want to torture the tubes enough to make it scream. Your the type of guy that needs a boost pedal. Right? ...eh

So you have to have a boost pedal. You want some ridiculous box with one know that only turns up the volume on your signal. The simpler that better, right? that is your motto. After all, that amp of your has only got one knob and it's the best. Your amp is a relic and your ideas about "boost" pedal is a little screwy, but hang in there, I'll explain.

You boost pedal is basically the same thing as an overdrive, except that they've removed the clipping circuit and your are just left with a boosted signal. Great right? Maybe not. Everyone loves a good TS-9 tube screamer, and everyone is familiar with the big fat "mid-hump" that you get when you kick one on. (if you're not then you must be very board, why are you reading this?) So the pedal effect the shape, tone, color of your tone. In the same way, all these boost boxes do the same thing. Maybe its not as noticeable, or maybe you just like the way it changes things, Think all those wonder sounds are made by your amp being pushed? Maybe they are, or maybe its that pedal you just hit.

So you must boost, but your boost pedal is just a neutered dirt box that you can't control as much as said dirt box because they took the "tone knob off the thing! Don't worry. I wouldn't leave you hanging. I have an answer for you. You might not like it, but its the truth. Behold, your new boost pedal!

 Yes. The lowly Boss GE-7 Equalizer. Vile and reproachable as it is. Boss the brand of pedal that everyone started with and now no one will admit to using. I too have started limiting the number of boss pedals on my board. The humble GE-7 without as much as a 3PDT switch is the king of all boosts. The pedal does what it claims. It can cut or boost your frequencies, but it has a feature that not all EQ do. The level slide is actually the star of the show here. Now I know what you are saying, "I've used this pedal and its too noisy to boost." Ok, I hear you, but I raise you this: I once got my self into modding pedals. opening these things up and fiddling with their insides. There is a lot of potential in this box, but wait it get better. I was once half way into a mod, meaning I had removed all of the pieces of the pedal that were to be replaced, then just for kicks, I powered it on and played through it. It sounded identical to another GE-7 that had already been through the mod and it was missing bits of its insides. I'm not a electrical engineer (if you couldn't tell) but to this day I can't remember which one has the mod and which one is running around with less than a full deck of cards. And they are both dead silent. So for no more than you'd pay for a boutique boost and a little be of stomp-box-operation you can have a flat boost, treble boost, bass (fat) boost, mid boost, mid scoop or low-fi pedal. In short, friends don't let friends buy boost pedal.

What Order Do Effect Pedals Go In?

I've asked myself this question so many times, and over the years I'm become inclined to set up a pedal board in certain ways to create particular sounds. There are some general rules to follow or completely ignore, whatever your case may be.

1. Volume.

Volume pedals are very handy tool in a guitarist's bag. It allows you to adjust your volume on the fly, mute your signal for tuning or guitar changes, boost you signal (provided that you running less than full volume) and create swell effects. Personally I like my volume pedals first. Why? Because it create to same effect as the volume knob on your guitar. If your volume runs into you overdrive/distortion then you can manipulate to distortion by changing your volume (ie you'll have a cleaner sound with lower volumes). If this is not the effect you desire then I suggest running the volume after the distortion. This will allow you to change the volume of your signal without changing the distortion level.

2. Wha

I know that this is not typically the wha pedal would fall, but Its where I put it. A wha will manipulate certain frequencies in your signal, mostly the lower-mids to the upper-mids. Your main concern with wha pedals is the voicing and pronunciation of the effect. I've played enough in bedrooms and stages to know that there are huge differences in how the sound is received. I've sat in a bedroom and thought that my digitech rp100 muti-effect pedal sounds great, but when I used it live it sounded like I was playing out of a tin can. ( by the way, never mess with multi-effects. just say no kids. Learn from my mistakes) What you will notice between have your wah before and after your dirt boxes is the presence of the effect. For the most part, the OD and Distortion will want to change your signal frequencies just like the knobs on your amp. The "tone" knob of your Overdrive with play with how your wah opperates. (given that it is on while your using your wha) A wha before the dirt will be less noticeable (more organic sounding). While a wha post dirt will take your whole signal for a ride. This may be what you want. I like a mellow wha, but sometimes you need to be out in front of the sound and make that effect stand out.

3. Dirt

There are many different ways to get your dirty signal, but if your using a stomp box, this is where I put it. Having your Volume and Wha before these pedal gives you more control over the entire sound. I like control. Maybe thats why I have so many choices when it comes to my Dirt Boxes. I have a lot to say about OD/Distortion but you can catch most of it if your follow that link there.

4. EQ  (and other signal processors)

Again, this isn't exactly would you should do, but this is how I like it. Remember how I said I like to control my tone? Well, this is a little part of that. I use my EQ as more of a boost. I set it up to give me a little mid-hump action and maybe a overall volume boost. Some people like to set their EQ and forget it, just let it do its thing for your tone. That's fine, but everything is trying to change your frequencies. If you run a Compressor or Noise Gate of some sort, here is where I would put them as well. Be aware that your Compressor and Volume pedal are not going to play well with each other. Basically, they are doing the exact opposite of each other. If you want comp on your signal and swells. then you have to run your volume after the comp.

5. Delay

I had a Boss DD-3 that absolutely hated be overwhelmed by a distortion. Other than that particular Combo, delay is best left near the end of the chain. I'm not a big delay user. I will use it from time to time to fatten up my sound, but for the most part I like a nice straight sound.

6. Filters

I don't mess with delay much, and I use filters less. In theory, filters behave better at the end of the chain. That way they can have their way with your sound and change it as they see fit. If you are a fan of these then have at it.


So there you have it. I encourage anyone interested in effect to play with them as much as your can. There really is no wrong way to set your rig up and I may be doing it all wrong as far as you are concerned. If you disagree with any of this then leave me a comment below. If you want to see what else I have to say about all things musical then subscribe. Let me know someone reads this mess!

This Might Get Loud

I know that a documentary isn't a piece of musical gear, but a film consisting of Jimmy Page (led zeppelin), The Edge (U2), Jack White (The White Stripes and whatever he did after the white stripes) should be of any guitarist interests in one way or another.

I know how you value my opinion so highly, so your dyeing to find out my thought on this film. Well, don't worry, I will tell you. Jimmy Page is no doubt one of the more legendary guitar players. The Edge is built up as a "sound architect". He uses a lot of pedals and sound gear. Thats interesting, but what's behind all that gear processing and changing his sound. Jack White is my main interest. He's turned the contemporary idea of what makes a great musician. on its head.

The film begins with Jack White at a dilapidated porch. There is a board, nails, and a coke bottle. Jack builds an instrument and plugs it into an amp, then plays a tune with a slide. This is amazing. The entire film is worth the watch for this scene. The film gives a look into the players philosophies on music. The looks at the gear these guys use is enough to make most players mouth's water.

I recommend this film to anyone who has a interest in the guitar or any of the band/musicians in the film. It gets a little dry at times but there are spots that are real gems.