Office Hours | 154

Office Hours | 153

Office Hours | 152

Bassline and Strumming

- I address Darko's question about playing basslines and strumming patterns simultaneously

- Recommended my bass guitar crash course on Patreon

- Highlighted the challenge of maintaining a drum beat while doing both

- Suggested starting with a bassline on the fourth beat and incorporating it at the end of a phrase

- Advised mastering the bassline first

Harmonics

- Emma asked about pinch and natural harmonics

- Demonstrated natural harmonics at the 12th fret and discussed their ease at 12th, 7th, and 5th frets

- Explained artificial harmonics using the 12th fret technique

- Mentioned Chad Atkins' fingerstyle technique and how distortion amplifies harmonics

Jazzy Rumba Backing Track

- Jeff inquired about a "Jazzy Rumba" style backing track

- Described the key features and demonstrated using a previous track

- Stressed recording drums first for rhythm consistency and demonstrated quantizing

- Emphasized the G chord with a root-fifth pattern for a Rumba feel

Rhythm and Singing

- Alj Son struggles with rhythm while singing and playing

- Suggested repetitive practice of the song's first part and breaking down difficult sections

Music Theory

- Pentatonic shapes are great for beginners and versatile

- Explained scales as music's foundation and the basics of triads

- CAGED shapes specific to guitar and suggested learning order

- Recommended octave shapes for memorizing the fingerboard

Applying CAGED System

- Rick struggles with moving the CAGED system to different keys

- Suggested mastering the key of G after C

- Recommended learning chord sets and focusing on keys that suit the lead singer's voice

Melody Making

- Yana seeks advice on melody making after finding a key and chords

- Advised watching my Melody Making series and Music Theory Monday series

G Pentatonic Scale

- Explained the G pentatonic scale using the CAGED system and demonstrated corresponding shapes on the fretboard

Office Hours | 151

Pete Dawkins' Bass Journey: Pete bought a bass to enhance his timing and is working on string muting with adjustments to his bass setup.
Bass Muting Techniques: Muting bass strings using the left hand to press down on strings below the fretted note and the right hand for additional muting.
Guitar Action and String Buzz: Low action can cause string buzz and rattle, particularly on acoustic guitars. High action is preferred by louder players to avoid fret buzz.

Round Wound vs. Flat Wound Strings: Round wound strings produce a distinct sound, while flat wound strings are smoother and more muffled. The choice depends on the desired sound and genre.
Playing in Alternate Tunings (Drop D): Drop D tuning shifts the fretboard up two frets, offering unique sonic possibilities and requiring adjustments in chord shapes and finger positions.
Guitar String Gauges and Tone: I use various string gauges. Heavier gauges are forgiving but harder to play softly, while lighter gauges are easier to bend but need careful tuning.
Gibson ES-125: A Vintage Guitar Gem: The Gibson ES-125, especially the 3/4 size model, is valued for its vintage appeal. The speaker highlights its rarity and affordability compared to current market prices.
Vintage Guitar Prices and Preferences: Prices for vintage guitars like the ES-125 and ES-120 are high, though beat-up models might be more affordable. The speaker notes the significant cost of professional models like the ES-140.
The Quest for a Five-String Bass: I'm looking for a five-string bass for lower-range basslines, preferring models like the Fender Squire or Rick and Baker.
Duo Sonic Memories and Octave Pedals: I have memories of a Fender Duo Sonic with different pickguards and mention using an octave pedal to lower tones on a four-string bass.