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Post subject: Playing Clean
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:30 pm
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When i play guitar it seems like I play better dirty than clean. I mostly play pentatonics buton clean they don't pack a punch. How can I improve playing clean? And how do you yourself play clean?

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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:18 am
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I improve my clean playing with acoustics (nylon and steel) but mostly on steel acoustic...


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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:21 am
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leonardusnn wrote:
I improve my clean playing with acoustics (nylon and steel) but mostly on steel acoustic...


+1

I use a steel string acoustic a lot when playing around the house.

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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:22 am
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The good news is that playing with distortion hides a lot of mistakes. The bad news is that playing with distortion hides a lot of mistakes. I guess the best way to learn to play better clean is just to play clean more often.

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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:56 am
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I used to saturate my playing in Gain, and now I hate that. I normally play with slight OD, and that's forced me to be more precise in my playing!


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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:10 am
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I play as clean as possible, but with just enough gain to get a nice sound. This is just a slight amount of gain. Playing without distortion tells me how well I'm playing the notes. My style of playing is blues, which is very compatible with clean, but "with a little dirt on it".


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:35 am
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Force yourself to play clean, even if it doesn't sound as "good". You'll have to sound bad before you sound good. When you feel your sound is solid clean then flick on the gain and you'll be blown away on how much better you sound!
p.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:58 am
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Taking steps back from playing dirty helps. I used to enjoy playing with a lot of distortion but halted after realizing it tends to stunt ones growth as a guitarist. Now I use only a little "dirt" depending on the flavor of the song.

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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:04 am
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RudyH wrote:
I play as clean as possible, but with just enough gain to get a nice sound. This is just a slight amount of gain. Playing without distortion tells me how well I'm playing the notes. My style of playing is blues, which is very compatible with clean, but "with a little dirt on it".


This is where I am today, too. I use a little tube crunch and some reverb, otherwise, the signal is pretty clean. I do use some compression, also. The compressor can be a crutch to even out your playing so I shut mine down every once in awhile to see where I'm at.


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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:33 am
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phuot wrote:
Force yourself to play clean, even if it doesn't sound as "good". You'll have to sound bad before you sound good. When you feel your sound is solid clean then flick on the gain and you'll be blown away on how much better you sound!
p.

Or you might find that your sound has more clearity with less gain,
now that you have been playing clean more often.

It is your ear that will ultimately guide your fingers in the end.
If your ear can distinguish it...
then your hand will now be able to reach for it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:20 pm
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I play ampless a lot f the time. It really gets my playing better, and it really lets you know what your guitar should sound like. Although i love playing with a little gain( i play blues), sometimes i dare venture into the world of metal. I can play rhythm metal, but i am not to good on lead.

Try playing w/out your amp and watch your playing get better. (Do it often.) I sound just as good with clean as with dirt.


-The Screamin' J

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:53 pm
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If you need to sound better clean, then that's how you need to practice. Like someone else mentioned, gain can cover up a lot of bad playing and mistakes. If you're playing clean, there's not much that you can hide from, and getting a good, solid, clear playing style with a clean tone will make your higher gain playing less "garbled" and sound tons better.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:53 pm
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I agree with everyone who said that distortion covers a lot of mistakes. Try practicing clean with no effects to see what you (and your guitar) really sound like.

Also, I hope this thread causes some appreciation for the skill level of guitarists who mostly play clean (like many jazz players). They rely on note choice, phrasing, good taste, and finesse to sound good.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:50 am
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Fave ad is a Gibson (sorry) on which has a guy on stage with one of their big flat tops. Text reads,

"No distortion to cover your $@!."

Yup.

Personal opinion. Play some early Ventures, some classical on electric, some Shadows and Duane Eddy...some jazz, some show tunes. Surf. Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban on Mambo Sinuendo. Then play more.

Precision and cleanliness from a good guitar and amp is pure joy. Liberation from the distortion addiction.

That said, some psychedelia is perfect saturated in distortion. Go figure.


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