Playing in the dark

Elton Smith · Post by **Elton Smith** » 11 Jul 2010 8:01 pm

How do yall play in the dark.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 11 Jul 2010 8:07 pm

POORLY!

Playing an all black Bakelite Ric with no fret markers it's difficult........to say the least.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 11 Jul 2010 9:12 pm

Elton Smith wrote:How do yall play in the dark.

By ear?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 11 Jul 2010 10:20 pm

I bitch a lot until they turn up the lights. If I know ahead of time, I make sure I play my Carter instead of my Williams. The fret lines on the Willy are silver or grey as opposed to white, and very difficult to see in the dark. I also carry a light that I can clip on to something as has flexible shafts to adjust. But usually, I just bitch and moan until someone listens. A few tears help out too.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 12 Jul 2010 7:03 am

I'll take a different twist here

You will never regret learning to play in the dark. Blindfold yourself / play with a towel over the fretboard. It can be done and your ear / hand coordination will improve noticeably.

Plus, it won't be such a big deal when you have a gig in a dimly lit place.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 12 Jul 2010 11:45 am

I played in a band called the Mushroom Band, We were kept in the dark and fed on bull****

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 12 Jul 2010 12:15 pm

I played a few shows with an experimental band at a Planetarium while they did their light show. It went from total darkness to dim and back to total darkness several times during the concert. We all used clip-on LED lights that saved the day by making it possible to play in these conditions. I can't imagine how it could be done without some light even if the level is low.

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 12 Jul 2010 12:22 pm

Hi, Elton.
I've been using a clip-on book light from the Mighty Bright company. I use the dual gooseneck version. I just clip it on to the top of the right front leg of my guitar. I aim one light down the fretboard around the 22nd fret and aim the other light at my rack. It works great when the stage lights cut to black and I'm as blind as a bat for the next intro kickoff.

http://www.mightybright.com/Book_Lights ... tList.aspx

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 12 Jul 2010 7:52 pm

A few hours ago, I rec'd a nice email from one of our fellow Forumites. He told a story of how as a youngster, he underwent eye surgery and had to wear bandages about his head for several weeks or more while waiting to heal.

He mentioned that he still practices in the DARK after some 45 years of playing geetar.

Just made me recall how I have spent countless hours of VISUALIZING a 'new song' in the dark while waiting to fall asleep or while I was driving one of those REALLY BIG RIGS down the highways and by-ways of Oregon, Washington and/or California, etc.

This is slightly off center to the original post but I tho't there might be some value in if for some of you newer people.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 12 Jul 2010 8:23 pm

I have a fairly small LED red lamp that I use. The frets are white on my fret board so they show quite well. I just have to trust my picking fingers to find their way around.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 12 Jul 2010 8:36 pm

Well, I played my Jackson Blackjack Custom in the dark in my house one night and the only lights were comin' from the den and hallway, so I could see what I was playin' even though it was dark.

Brett

Marc Friedland · Post by **Marc Friedland** » 13 Jul 2010 7:46 am

I thought this topic was about a Bruce Springsteen song ----

If I'm caught unaware, the darkness can be a problem because I'm not used to it. If I know it's a venue with particularly poor lighting, I'll come prepared with my own small plug-in desk lamp, which helps enough.

Marc

www.PedalSteelGuitarMusic.com

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 13 Jul 2010 8:00 am

The places I play now have enough light. But if it is a new venue, I take along a Lil Light. These are used on a lot on mixer boards. They have a goose neck, come in different lengths and have a dimmer control on them, plus it has a shield over half of the bulb, so the light doesn' shine towards the audience. I have a piece of industrial (not the regular stuff) sticky back velcro about 3 inches long stuck to the end of my guitar, which is formica, so the tape will not harm the finish. The other half of the velcro is stuck to the bottom of the Lil Light base. The gooseneck allows the light to come out over the right hand and light up the fretboard. The dimmer control lets me adjust as to how much light I need. I have an eye condition called central cirrus and can't see very well in dim light, so it is an even bigger problem for me.

Elton Smith · Post by **Elton Smith** » 14 Jul 2010 12:14 pm

Thanks guys,advise well taken.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 14 Jul 2010 12:55 pm

ZZZZZZ

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 14 Jul 2010 5:55 pm

http://www.panthervision.com/3-led-powe ... -item.html

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · Post by **Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)** » 14 Jul 2010 11:14 pm

For dark or very low lighted gigs, I always carried a couple of "Little Lites" that attached to the front legs of my guitar and were goose-necked so they could be adjusted easily (probably the very same kind that George was describing in his post above). Mine also had a dimmer, but on mine the base had a wing nut clip that allowed me to attach them to the legs of my steel just below the end plates. I really loved them and they sure made it easy to play in dim or dark situations.

The photo above isn't that great, but it's the best I have that shows the Little Lites attached to my guitar in a gig situation. In this photo, the lamps were set to the brightest setting.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 15 Jul 2010 4:53 pm

It seems that there's a demand out there for a perspex fingerboard with a light underneath to illuminate the fret positions. I've been thinking of building one for some time.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 15 Jul 2010 6:48 pm

I can barely remember playing in the dark as a very young man, but I always got up and went home before the Sun came up.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 15 Jul 2010 9:14 pm

I'm afraid of the dark.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 16 Jul 2010 2:14 pm

I'm afraid of the pedals. When I can't see them they move around down there so that I push the wrong ones. I'm sure they're conspiring against me. $:\$ $:\$

Elton Smith · Post by **Elton Smith** » 16 Jul 2010 7:05 pm

Alan thats a great idea,a lited fretboard.The leds are great but you don't won't to kill the audience atmosphere.I'll bet some guitar makers will pick this up.Thanks Elbo

Elton Smith · Post by **Elton Smith** » 16 Jul 2010 7:11 pm

Let's make one!

Jeff Colson · Post by **Jeff Colson** » 16 Jul 2010 7:14 pm

I'll go along with Larry's take on this. There is a lot of patterns and licks that I practice with my eyes closed. I'ts great for your playing and confidence. This came from Paul Franklin one night I was talking to him at the station Inn. What a great tip. Besides when you watch clips of Buddy,Paul and all the great players they can play while they are looking at someone or around the room !

Jeff

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 17 Jul 2010 1:35 am

I'm with you Larry Bell. Years ago, I kept my steel set up next to my bed and when I thought about a new lick, I'd leap out of bed and try it out, lights out of course. I did this after reading a very old article by the big "E" about the benefits of learning in the dark. Same applies to the megga expensive tuners available. Paul Franklin mentioned about getting your E's and B's in with a tuner, then just use your ears on the rest. Same thing applied to my early Martial arts days..some training was done with a blindfold on, to "feel" your opponent, then react accordingly.

Micky Byrne U.K.

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Playing in the dark

Playing in the dark

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