Killer Tone Continued

As I mentioned, much of my sound is created from my playing technique. Part of that technique is the method I use to mute strings. This is explained in Stage Four of The Complete Basic Course.

As a side note here, there was a discussion on the forum about why I waited until Stage Four to discuss string muting. I chose to include it as an intermediate technique but it is something that beginners can begin studying. For this reason, I recommend that you quickly view every DVD before seriously studying the course. This will help you to understand the complete layout of the program. You'll gain insight into playing techniques even before you have the ability to perform these techniques. If you're working on Stage Two, for example, and having a problem with unwanted strings sounding, you may choose to learn the string muting technique at that point in the course.

Other aspects of playing technique that affect sound are picking style and finger pressure. My finger pressure is very light. Relaxed hands affect tone and speed.

Other Things That Affect Tone

• String gauge (I use light strings)
  
  
• Pick gauge (I use heavy)
  
  
• Weight of the instrument (My guitars are heavy)
  
  
• Type of bridge
  
  
• Fret size (I use large frets)
  
  
• Pickup (Distortion model Razor is on the Carvin)
  
  
• Tone and volume controls

Speaker Cabinets
When I play live I prefer a closed back speaker cabinet (infinite baffle) as opposed to an open back, combo type of amp (finite baffle). If you're using a combo amp you can drastically affect your sound by plugging into a closed back 4 X 12 cabinet and disconnecting the open back speaker.

The last thing that separates my sound from your ears occurs in the audio editing process. The final thing that I do when editing the DVDs is to make adjustments to the audio tracks. Normally, I don't do much to the guitar track but if it doesn't sound right I'll adjust the frequency settings (EQ) and possibly compress the track. It's also possible to add effects during the mix.

Hopefully, you now understand how frustrating it is when people ask for my amplifier tone settings. These settings are meaningless without taking into account all of these other factors.

Copying Your Favorite Guitar Sound
So how can you adjust your sound to be similar to that of your favorite guitarist? The first step is to duplicate their equipment as closely as possible. For example, there's a big difference between the sound of a Strat and a Les Paul. Humbucking pickups sound considerably different from single coil pickups. There's a huge difference between a Fender amplifier and a Marshall amplifier. So, you do need to get the equipment right.

After that, record the sound that you want to emulate then record your sound. Make notes about the exact settings that you used to attain that sound. Experiment. Try different settings and effects. Always record the original sound you're copying then your sound. Keep track of all changes and review the recordings. You'll hear when you're getting close and when you're moving away from the tone.

Review all of the recordings, choose the best sound, dial that sound back in by reviewing your notes, and continue to experiment. You must record the settings even though it's a hassle or you'll never be able to "dial up" that sound again.

All of this experimentation assumes that your playing technique is similar to the guitarist that you're trying to emulate. You'll never sound like Eddie unless you have mastered his playing technique.

A Question from the Forum
Tim Ray asked this question pertaining to sound:
"I've heard multiple explanations for common terms such as bottom end, fat sound, high end, mids, and dB. Effect terms include descriptions like time, speed, depth, and presence. Could you explain some of this terminology?"

Here's a chart of the audio frequency spectrum

Large Chart

Audio Terminology
Bottom end - lower third of the audio spectrum (see chart). Think bass.

Mid or mid range - the middle third of the audio spectrum. Think human voice. It's also the nasal part of the guitar's frequency range. Some guitarists like a little boost here. I prefer to cut the mid range.

High end - the top third part of the frequency spectrum. Think treble, cymbals, and flute.

Fatten a sound - to make a sound full or thick. Chorus, reverb, and digital delay all contribute to a full, thick, fat sound. A Telecaster through a clean amplifier is a "thin" sound. A distorted Les Paul through a Marshall stack is a "thick" or fat sound.

Reverb, digital delay, and chorus add thickness by repeating the sound. A snare drum with reverb sounds fat; without reverb it sounds thin.

Dry signal - the sound with no effects

dB - is an abrevation for decibel which is a volume level measurment. A more accurate but complex definition is "the primary unit of sound measurement; used to quantify both sound pressure level and sound power level. In acoustics, it's equal to ten times the logarithm of the ratio of one sound and a lower-intensity reference sound." You got that?

Guitar Sound Continued