The two points of interests with this riff are: back-to-back G note played on both D and open G string, and F#-G tension in the last two chords. The latter in particular gives this riff an edgy tension — this is not a happy song. I tried this on electric, though, and all that open…
This is an interesting, attention-grabbing riff. That octave jump and vibrato on the 4th-string G really makes a strong impression. I can hear this one creating a classic rock vibe, but more laid-back beat (reggae?) may also be interesting. Watch out for the Bb-D jump at the end of the turn-around. The block chords…
Subdividing 4/4 into groups of 3, 3, and 2 eight notes can create an interesting rhythmic tension atop otherwise straight forward rhythm. I keep the F# on top as the chord changes to create continuity. This is also a good picking exercise, I play here with alternate picking to emphasize the beats but directional…
I’m sure you can relate. You are noodling on your guitar and come up with a cool new riff. You scramble around for something to record, for if you don’t capture it now you’ll soon forget. Inspirations are fleeting. I first used Quicktime and built-in mic on my Mac, but these days I mostly use…
Nobels ODR-1 is another one of those overdrive pedals with enigmatic reputations. It’s not hard to find debates online about which version is superior or not, whether the current production model is any good, and so on. Rarity does pique the interest of this guitar player, though, so when I read that equally elusive XTS…
I love guitar picks. Over the years I experimented with literally dozens of picks, and my guitar drawer is filled with them. I really need to give away my regular medium and heavy picks — as I don’t use them any more. If you like them, they’re fine, but if that’s all you ever used,…
Xotic’s pedals are well-loved, and for good reasons. They just seem to hit all the right spots, making them practical and applicable to many players’ needs. I myself have been ecstatic about their SP Compressor, so when I was looking for a pedal to serve as my solo boost, I had to check this pedal…
A guitar being a plucked instrument, sustain is something of a concern to many of us. Who wouldn’t want a pedal that’ll give you more sustain without mucking with the rest of the sound? When I looked at this pedal, I had a particular function in mind — solo boost. I wanted a compressor that…
I had always thought that MI Audio Tube Zone was a high-gain distortion pedal. And it is. But then one day I learned that the Gain knob has a special taper, that allows you to finely tune in on its low-gain range. Intrigued — does that mean this pedal is an attempt at do-all? So…