One of the biggest mysteries, and hence to me one of the most exciting bits about playing an instrument is finding “that sound”. As usual, I’m going to mostly keep this guitar related, but all instruments, drums, pianos, whatever, have their own symphony of potential sounds, and one sound definitely doesn’t fit all.
“That sound” could be your signature sound, or you could be trying to copy somebody else’s. It doesn’t really matter, the important thing lots of people just don’t get is that EVERYTHING to do with your guitar setup, affects your sound. From the wood your guitar is made from, the pickups, strings, cables, pedals, amplifiers to your playing technique, style and the calluses on your fingers. EVERYTHING has an effect, and finding your sound is an important part of being inspired to play. Of course the knowledge that everything affects your sound is also pretty bewildering, so until you get your bearings, it pays to consider the simple stuff.
I’m trying to impart this little nugget as a precursor to a set of blogs I’m planning to write about some of the gear choices I’ve encountered and chosen to use, (and indeed, not use). I’d like to think they might help you to not make the same mistakes I have, but to be honest, I think everybody probably needs to make their own mistakes about this kind of stuff. You’re on your path, I’m on mine, but informed opinion is better than expensive guesswork so, where does one start? I hear you <<both>> cry….
Well the unglamorous answer to that has already been mentioned. It’s strings. They’re relatively inexpensive and easily changed. Basically heavier gauge strings give you a bigger, fuller sound, but can be slightly harder to fret or bend. Lighter strings for faster playing. Super hint for ukulele players : try swapping your standard “G” string for a low “G”, I swear that one thing could change your life ;-) Plectrums are another great starting point, what type to use, or indeed, not. I’m not trying to kid you that posh ukuleles, shiny guitars and amplifiers have arguably a bigger, or more immediate effect on your sound, but they do have a bigger, more immediate effect on your wallet.
The first step then in embracing the mystery and adventure of discovering how far you can go with music is actually…..listening. Think about your playing and about what might be missing. Be critical, but not overly harsh. You might need to ask somebody how to achieve “that sound” or do a deep dive on youtube….. I’d like to refer you back to one of the first blogs I wrote last year in November….”Top 3 Tips For Beginner Guitarists”.... which you might also consider a reasonable place to start thinking about some of this stuff in the right kind of way… However you go about it though, taking the time to try and get the best sound out of the instrument you’ve chosen is never a waste of time.
Do you have any similar tips to share, or a particular piece of gear you find particularly inspiring? Share it with us!
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