| Author |
Topic: And the right hand goes....where? |
Mike Spieth
From:
Santa Fe, New Mexico
|
Posted 7 Apr 2015 6:14 pm |
|
A beginner's question which I don't remember being addressed in the lessons I'm following: what section of the strings should the picks be playing on? My gut feeling (and my untrained ear) say that the richest tone is found one octave up from the bar, halfway to the bridge. I guess each player might have their own opinions, but are there any soft rules in this area?
edit: Electric steel, but acoustic advice is interesting too. |
|
|
|
Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2015 6:31 pm
|
|
Pick where you want the tone to be... picking at the octave has its own tone, as does close to the bridge, and anywhere in between. It's easier to pick near the bridge, since the strings don't move as much when you pick them. Picking in different places is one of the tools of the trade... use it!
_________________
New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329 |
|
|
|
John D. Carter
From:
Canton, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2015 6:44 pm
|
|
| What he said! |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 7 Apr 2015 7:14 pm
|
|
Yeah, try picking in different locations along the strings. If you like a certain tone, go for it! In general, I stay away from the pickup unless I'm going for a thin tone. I'm reminded of my lessons with Jeff Newman and Buddy Emmons 35 years ago... when Jeff saw me picking close to the pickup he said "Get away from that pickup!"
One more point... you will hear more variation in tone and more response to your picking technique if your guitar has a single coil pickup IMO. Less variation in tone and response to your picking technique with a humbucker.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
|
|
|
Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
|
Posted 7 Apr 2015 11:11 pm
|
|
2 techniques I guess.
Choose whatever location you want to use for that song. Eg. A warmer tone further from pickup and a crisper thinner sound closer to the pickup as in a contrast between verse and solo sections.
Or
Play away from the pickup and use your Tone pot to adjust the tonal sound of the instrument.
I use the second method mostly.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
|
|
|
