Spots and slides

[rich5581]

Hi,

Just started a month ago or so.

A few questions -

1. Is there any relevance to the spots on the neck? I know they're at fret 3,5,7,9,12 etc. but I didn't know whether they'd just developed there over the years

2. How do you do 1 1/2 bend? I think I'll snap the string if I try to bend it up that far. I also hear a lot of other playing with wild bends - are these all just fingered? I don't hear any bottle necks used. I'm just trying the hotel california solo...

3. For playing bar chords, is it easier to play the bar on the side of the finger? I know that my bones aren't perfectly flat so getting every string to hold down is very very hard work. Do you just learn over time which bits of your fingers work?

4. I've seen a number of places that people put their left hand thumb on the neck. I thought that the best way was in the centre of the neck although I've seen most well known guitarists with their thumbs curling round the side. I imagine that the only way you can do bends are if your thumb is on the side but is there a general rule as to where your thumb should go?

Lastly...

5. I've got an Ibanez semi acoustic guitar and the pickups rock back and forward (when you press them fairly hard) - is this normal? (I got it 2nd hand from eBay and I'm really happy with it)

[Danny Poole]

1. Is there any relevance to the spots on the neck? I know they're at fret 3,5,7,9,12 etc. but I didn't know whether they'd just developed there over the years

The dots on the neck are different from guitar to guitar. Generally they are on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th. They are used in reference to helping you place bar chords and scales, eg G Major (3rd fret: 1st dot), A Major (5th Fret: 2nd Dot) etc. Once you get familiar with working up the neck of the guitar you'll understand the importance of them. Yet stupidly enough they vary from one guitar to another (the dots). So use them for help yet don't rely on them.

2. How do you do 1 1/2 bend? I think I'll snap the string if I try to bend it up that far. I also hear a lot of other playing with wild bends - are these all just fingered? I don't hear any bottle necks used. I'm just trying the hotel california solo...

Bends are difficult because you have to bend and bring the note into tune with your ear, so they have a good chance of sounding like a dying cow unless you hit the note right. A one step (2fret) bend is difficult and the string will rarely break. A 1 ½ bend is more difficult but you still can do it with good finger strength. As an example “Another Brick In The Wall – Pink Floyd” uses a 2 step bend (2 tones = 4frets). This is difficult and you have to have a light gauge string to do it comfortably, not impossible but doable. The point being if you break a string from bending then at least you know the limits of that string gauge. Experiment, you’ll find they’re more durable than you think (you won’t loose an eye)

3. For playing bar chords, is it easier to play the bar on the side of the finger? I know that my bones aren't perfectly flat so getting every string to hold down is very very hard work. Do you just learn over time which bits of your fingers work?

Yes to all you are spot on, easier to play on the side, experiment and you get use to where to place your finer on the fret board.

4. I've seen a number of places that people put their left hand thumb on the neck. I thought that the best way was in the centre of the neck although I've seen most well known guitarists with their thumbs curling round the side. I imagine that the only way you can do bends are if your thumb is on the side but is there a general rule as to where your thumb should go?

When playing the guitar your thumb will be placed in numerous positions, but as a rule your thumb should sit inline with your 2nd finger just above half way on the back of the neck of the guitar.

5. I've got an Ibanez semi acoustic guitar and the pickups rock back and forward (when you press them fairly hard) - is this normal? (I got it 2nd hand from eBay and I'm really happy with it)

Give me more specs on the guitar (model number, etc) and I’ll see for you.

[rich5581]

Hi and thanks for the reply. It's an ibanez am73 - I think it's a stunning guitar. I just discovered mysongbook.com and guitar pro earlier - absolutely great.

I teach the piano half the week and I wish more of my kids also used the net for learning - I didn't realise there were so many resources for guitarists.

Cheers,

Richard

[rich5581]

Just another couple of questions. I found another site with exercises for practising string skipping (picking) -

http://www.cyberfret.com/classic/string_skipping.htm

Seems very good and difficult. Some of it talks about doing pull offs on the inner strings. How the hell do you do a pull off for example between your 4th finger and 1st on the bottom E? I tried doing it a couple of times and thought I was going to break my wrist.

Oh - by the way, I can now just about manage a 1 1/2 bend on the 2nd and 3rd strings (B, D) but not on the top string. Does the guage of the string make a big difference? I know the guys at the shop said that my guitar needed a larger guage of string. I'm sure with a pair of plyers I can make the string bend by that amount - I still wear glasses just in case ths string breaks, though...

Just to clarify, for picking - do you wrest your palm on the bridge? I've found that supporting my right hand with my little finger works well but I don't want to develop bad habits so early on. I imagine that hand placement is obiviously different depending on whether you're using a pick or just playing with normal fingers.

The other thing - do you have a section explaining the knobs on electric guitars and their practical use? I know they're for volume and tone and a couple of knobs for each pickup so do they act like presets (ie use one pickup for soloing and the other quieter and more mellow 'preset' for just strumbing)

Anyway, I'll stop pestering you now! Hope you're having a good weekend.


Thanks

Richard

[rich5581]

Helloooooo?

[Danny Poole]

Helloooooo?

Hellooooo Rich5581, I take it you are waiting for a response! I have seen your questions and sometimes I get swamped... I have 130 students, this site, play in a band 3 to 4 nights a week, designs websites for business and neglect a girlfriend. Sometimes it can take a week or so before I get to answer questions and somtimes it can be a day (depending on the question). Please be patient!

Does the guage of the string make a big difference?

Yes it does! generally you'll only bend the 1st, 2nd & 3rd strings, the other 3 thicker strings will only be bent for vibrato or for a sluring (out of tune) effect. Don't worry about loosing an eye with the thin string snapping, I have never known a string to spring out when it snaps. They just "plunk" and fall downwards. I would however be interested to hear of any folk tales of people loosing a limb !

Just to clarify, for picking - do you wrest your palm on the bridge?

There are 2 ways to support your hand when picking, fingers on the scratch plate and back of the palm of the hand on the bridge like you suggest. Both are acceptable.

The other thing - do you have a section explaining the knobs on electric guitars and their practical use?

No I don't but this is a good idea, I will look into doing a section on the in the future. Looking at a pic of your guitar, it has 4 knobs, 2 volume (each pickup) and 2 tone pots (each pickup). Front pickup has a warm bassy sound and the back pickup has a thin twangy sound. Both pickups together have a classic Les Paul type sound (combination of bass & twang). Add that with the hollow body and it is a unique sound. To me this is not as versatile as a Strat' or a 3 pickup system but in no way worse.

Remember: a small amp (10-15 watts) will not give any guitar the justice of sound they require. Once your amp gets bigger and more professional the tones of the guitar will start to become present.