Twang from the high E string
michae...@yahoo.com
New question: I frequently get a twang off my high E string while
playing chords, particularly on the upstroke of double strumming. Any
suggestions for curing this annoying habit? Should I change my low E
string to medium gauge and leave the upper strings unchanged? Would
that helped dampen the sound?
mc
Nil
> New question: I frequently get a twang off my high E string while
> playing chords, particularly on the upstroke of double strumming.
What's a "twang"?
Charmed Snark
alt.guitar.beginner:
It's like the great big TWAAAAANGgggggg I sometimes get off of my
bass E string, when I hammer it too hard on a chord, on my acoustic.
Only that in his case, its his thin little E twaaanggeeeng instead.
I'm guessing that you use 009s for your strings, making that high E
pretty bendy and susceptable to any heavy handed plucking.
Those lighter strings require a lighter touch and more accuracy to
go with it. A dug in 009 upswing could really over pluck that little
E string. That's one of a few reasons I don't like the 009s. This is
where a girly kind of touch would be beneficial.
I can only think of two possibilities: [1] live with it and improve
upon your accuracy and lightness of strumming (a good idea). And/or
[2] switch to heavier strings, at least until you get better with #
1.
I have taken the #1 approach to my occaisional low E twang problem
on the acoustic. It still sings out at times -- sounds like a
"guitar fart" when it happens. If I was performing, I'd be inclined
to say "scuse-me!"
Snark.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
kitekrazy
Even after your post I would have to ask,
michae...@yahoo.com
> Charmed Snark wrote:
> > alt.guitar.beginner:
>
> >> On 15 Aug 2007, michaelcj...@yahoo.com wrote in
>
> - Show quoted text -
It's an unwanted overpowering note from the high E string that is out
of place within the dynamics of the surrounding chordal notes.
Nil
> It's an unwanted overpowering note from the high E string that is
> out of place within the dynamics of the surrounding chordal notes.
I still don't understand what you mean. Are you just saying that the e
string is louder than the rest? And the it's that way with all notes on
that string?
Stephen Calder
If it's just the open E string that twangs like a sitar, check the nut.
The string may be too loose in the nut. A quick fix -- and a way to test
whether this is the problem -- is to slip a tiny piece of ordinary
typing paper under the string, so that the paper lies in the groove and
gives a tighter fit.
--
Stephen
Ballina, Australia
Pt
> If it's just the open E string that twangs like a sitar, check the nut.
> The string may be too loose in the nut. A quick fix -- and a way to test
> whether this is the problem -- is to slip a tiny piece of ordinary
> typing paper under the string, so that the paper lies in the groove and
> gives a tighter fit.
>
> --
> Stephen
> Ballina, Australia
I agree.
I was going to say the same thing.
Pt
kitekrazy
I'd like to hear it.
Rag Tag <>>ragtag<
news:1187218209.3...@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com:
I'd try a cigarette rolling paper; thinner and easier to "cushion" the
groove, and WAY cooler!
Rag
(and for the record, I didn't think it was too hard to figure what you
meant by "twang.")
Rufus
...me neither.
--
- Rufus
Nil
alt.guitar.beginner:
> (and for the record, I didn't think it was too hard to figure what
> you meant by "twang.")
You're still guessing. He hasn't said what it is.
Sean
If someone said, "I heard a loud boom," would you have similar trouble
imagining what he meant?
Larry Lamb
rather than twangs.
Larry
"Sean" <se...@fake.con> wrote in message
news:9vUwi.110235$xk5.17711@edtnps82...
Larry Lamb
with two fingers and release when it's about 1cm away from it's normal
position (think of releasing the string when shooting a bow). It creates a
really powerful and punchy sound when the string hits the fret board. It
reminds me of the slap bass sound. Is that what you mean by twang?
Larry
<michae...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1187202374.1...@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
Squier
i use 009's on my strat and I have learned to adjust technique
to stop the dreaded high E trebly 'twang' (as you call it).
you have to be accurate to do it but you ease off the picking
pressure on the high e as your pick goes over it. it is really
not that hard once you get used to knowing exactly where your pick
is passing over which string and gain some control over your picking style.
changing string gauges won't help your picking technique - it might
just be a bandaid at best. You have to stop flailing away and really
keep your strumming tighter and you should also be able to strum chords
and go over strings (do not pick them) while strumming the rest of them.
You should also learn how to mute out single strings so you can do
full barre or open chord strumming but (for example) only mute out
the high E string if you do not want that note to ring out (or like I
said before get to know exactly where your pick is and when you go over
the high E use slightly less pressure or attack before travelling onwards
to other strings (upstroke) or ease off your pick attack
of that final note on the high E string (on the downstroke).
It sometimes helps if you take your open chords or full barre chords
and break up the chords - strum the first 3 notes and stop your pick.
then strum the last three notes and stop your pick. You will learn
to pick more carefully and consisely and exact and also learn to vary
your pick pressure and attack hitting the various strings/notes within
a chord rather that just flailing away and strumming all the strings
the same way.
Anyways - improve your picking and this is the real cure.
Changing gauges is just masking a playing deficiency in the case of
unwanted high E string.
Of course if you must - and you like 009 gauge - then you might
help out a little by adjusting your pickup height and slant the
pup lower away from the high strings to better equalize the volume
of low wounds to high plain strings. If you are playing acoustic
or classical and not electric then ignore this advice (obviously)
but the other advice about picking technique remains true no matter
what guitar you are playing.
my 2 cents.
Charmed Snark
alt.guitar.beginner:
>> <michae...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the responses to the previous question about bass
>> walks.
>>
>> New question: I frequently get a twang off my high E string
>> while playing chords, particularly on the upstroke of double
>> strumming. Any suggestions for curing this annoying habit?
>> Should I change my low E string to medium gauge and leave the
>> upper strings unchanged? Would that helped dampen the sound?
>>
>> mc
...
> Anyways - improve your picking and this is the real cure.
> Changing gauges is just masking a playing deficiency in the case
> of unwanted high E string.
...
> my 2 cents.
I have no disagreement with this, except that my 0.02 worth was
simply to allow the OP to perfect the technique with less twang in
the mean time. For most of us here, that are well beyond our teens,
it takes a lot of time to perfect technique. ;-)
Twang-- ya just gotta stop that thang.
Squier
i'm not well beyond my teens - it is really just a matter of
what you want to prioritize during practice time.
There ain't no easy way out.
actually you can also use that twang to advantage.
so the OP has something good actually that he is trying to avoid but should
remember how he is getting that sound for future use.
this way if he needs that little sparkle or twang coming
off the high E then he already knows this technique.
Rufus
Agreed on all of the above, they all work to an extent for me too. But
mostly what works for me is to either to palm-mute the 1st string or to
up-stroke chords that I want notes off the high E voiced in so I hear
that tone first...I find I have a bit more aural feedback on how harsh I
am and that way, and it helps me adjust how deep/strong I strum.
I prefer .009s, too.
--
- Rufus
kitekrazy
>
> Rag
> (and for the record, I didn't think it was too hard to figure what you
> meant by "twang.")
Twang is often a desired sound for Country Music with a Telecaster.
Nil
> If someone said, "I heard a loud boom," would you have similar
> trouble imagining what he meant?
Yes. I've never heard a guitar make a "loud boom", and if someone said
that theirs was doing it, I'd CERTAINLY ask for clarification.
Sean
Have you also never heard a guitar make a twang? I twang all the time,
on purpose.
Nil
> Have you also never heard a guitar make a twang? I twang all the
> time, on purpose.
Sure! But the whole guitar usually twangs, or none of it does, and when
it does It's not usually a problem. I have a feeling this guy is not
talking about the same thing the rest of us are. But until he returns
to clarify, it's all a bunch of wild-assed guesses.
Stephen Calder
You don't think he meant an undesirable twang, kind of like the sound a
sitar makes. Have you heard of Occam's razor?
--
Stephen
Ballina, Australia
Rufus
...does kicking your reverb tank count? That makes a loud boom, and I
used to do that with my guitar sometimes. In fact, a Dan Electro
stomp-'verb box even features it:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Danelectro-Spring-King-Spring-Reverb?sku=151904
--
- Rufus
michae...@yahoo.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks for all the comments. I agree that it's a strumming technique
issue that I just need to work on. My girlie strum isn't girlie
enough it seems.
mc