KW Guitar Society Tip #10 – What sound are you making?

What sound are you making?  Sounds like a simple question at first and then it becomes increasingly complex.

I mean do you strive to make the most beautiful sound possible with every note, with every strum?  Or do you kinda pick away thinking of your sound as an after thought?

And this may be a shocker, but your effect pedals and amps are only tools because our sound comes from our hands.

From the very start of your guitar playing life, were you guided into the thought that every time you play a note, are you really listening to what you are playing?

Gosh….. lots of questions this week, but they sure make us think and eventually point us into the right directions.

Over the years I have found out there isn’t one answer to making a beautiful sound on our instruments.  But if there happened to be one great idea,  it would be paying attention to every moment.

That is ,how am I striking that note?

1. Is it loud enough?

2. Is it too loud?

3. Is it scratchy?  Am I using a lousy guitar pick on a $3,000.00 Les Paul?

4. Is it even, or do some of my notes suddenly play louder then others, resulting in an unbalance.

5. Do I choke the notes or pick so hard that they buzz first and ring second?

Notice I haven’t been giving any answers?  Because creating a good sound is entirely individualistic and the intention starts at the very first guitar lesson or the very first time you pick up the guitar!

Each student plays Ode To Joy differently based on their personalities.  Here is the music and tab.  As an exercise, play one of the greatest melodies ever written with focused attention on your sound first………. then play the note.

Stay Tuned

Stephen Zurakowsky