Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

Hi there.


I fiddle with a guitar every now and then. I have an accoustic with tough strings that are really high up, so you have to press on them pretty hard to make noise.

When you miss a fret slightly, and end up pressing a little too close or too far behind a fret, it makes a different noise, which is basically the sound of the string vibrating on the fret itself (the metal piece) instead of off of it (i.e. like it should sound).

This is a bit of a dull sound.

However, it's not so bad once you get used to it. It's not the beautiful "clean" sound of a guitar, but it sounds okay.

So I'm curious, has anyone ever purposely played in this manner: essentially using distortion on an accoustic guitar, in a recorded song somewhere?

--Dave.

P.S. I don't entirely know what the hell I'm talking about, so I hope you guys do. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

i know i've heard a song like that but i dont recall the name.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

If you want to lower the action, just file down the bridge with some sandpaper. It's a pretty easy procedure.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

This is called "high action" and is generally a very undesirable trait in a guitar. As you know, it makes it harder to play and it produces an undesirable buzzing sound when played improperly. I can't think of anyone who has used this to their advantage offhand, but you do have me curious now.

It is very common to play muted chords and/or strings, but I do not think this is what you are asking.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

i do stuff like that when i play by myself to try and make different sounds etc... but i couldtn say i've heard it in any songs.

although i wouldnt doubt someone out there has put it in somewhere.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

Funny you should mention this, Jerry Garcia is one guitarist who used to play with a very high action and extra heavy strings. Although this is much harder to play, it produces a richer sound because of the increased tension placed on the strings. My takamine had a rather high action when I bought it and I ended up having adjusted down, but I am no Jerry Garcia.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

who the hell is jerry garcia?

<font color="white">p.s. this is exactly why i said "generally...undesirable" [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]</font>

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

[ QUOTE ]
i do stuff like that when i play by myself to try and make different sounds etc... but i couldtn say i've heard it in any songs.

although i wouldnt doubt someone out there has put it in somewhere.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another thing that you can do is pluck a string, then just touch it gently with the top side of your finger nail, near the outter end of the string (away from the sound board).

also, if you pluck a string up higher (towards the keys?) than you normally would, it makes a different sound.

What do you guys mean by "high action", exactly?

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

Just some guy who looked like you, nevermind...

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

[ QUOTE ]
What do you guys mean by "high action", exactly?

[/ QUOTE ]

The action on a guitar is the height of the strings above the fretboard.

High action = you have to push strings harder to create notes = harder to play.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What do you guys mean by "high action", exactly?

[/ QUOTE ]

The action on a guitar is the height of the strings above the fretboard.

High action = you have to push strings harder to create notes = harder to play.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cool... and the bridge is that thing that elevates them above the fretboard, I take it?

Thanks.

(btw now I know what a fretboard is).

Now, is there a different term for the note that you would play on the 3rd fret of the first string, and the piece of metal between the frets?

Edit: And yeah, my guitar is a real friggin pain to play. I can't really play, as I've never had lessons, and I just picked it up in the past few weeks after a while of playing dust, but I'm having fun screwwing around with it between p-ker sessions. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

[ QUOTE ]
Cool... and the bridge is that thing that elevates them above the fretboard, I take it?

[/ QUOTE ]

essentially, yes.


[ QUOTE ]
Now, is there a different term for the note that you would play on the 3rd fret of the first string, and the piece of metal between the frets?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes - the former is a "G" and the latter is a "fret"

(that piece of metal is the fret)


[ QUOTE ]
Edit: And yeah, my guitar is a real friggin pain to play. I can't really play, as I've never had lessons, and I just picked it up in the past few weeks after a while of playing dust, but I'm having fun screwwing around with it between p-ker sessions. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

lighter gauge strings help too.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

action: the distance between the strings and the fret board

the larger the space, the higher the action (literally, you have to move the string more)

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

just play a lot, go to olga.net to find tab's for songs you like and try them out.

i taught myself guitar too, im no technical master, but you can definately do it.

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

I was just listening to Umphrey's McGee on my way home, and I think they may actually use this technique on the intro to "Uncommon" or it may just be muted chords - can anyone confirm?

Re: Guitar playing: on the frets themselves
 

Try this, lightly touch a string (don't press down onto fret board) over fret 5, 7, or 12 (there are others too) and pick the string.

It's called "harmonics". (I think, it's been awhile)