High Volume Playing tips wanted

[FlyingV]

Hola,

I am loving my Randall RT50/2 & RM4 and Modules. I would like some tips on playing really loud, which this amp is lol. I seem to get a lot of noise I don't want when say changing chords or position on the fret board. I am sure it is my lack of practice more than anything. I am not playing clean technique wise. Any tips you may want to pass along from when you may have been at this point would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[kc2eeb]

The first technique you need to learn is muting the strings with the palm/fingers of the picking hand. Then, you can also mute with your fretting hand. You should be able to stand in front of the amp and keep the strings from vibrating with the volume way up! I'm not talking about hum or hiss, I mean actual notes. All that being said, some great solos had great string/fret noise! Think the solo in the Beatles "Nowhere Man." Pat L.

 

[audioholic]

What kind of noise?

fret and note changing? just tighten up your techniqe to go to the next chord or note smoothly and without hitting other strings

feedback, and back feedback? try standing away from your amp a little, change pickups...

 

[FlyingV]

yes fret and note changing noise. almost like I am getting "pull off" sounds but dont want to be. I know I need to practing more, that would help the most. I also need to get a good noise gate I think. I am going to try the ISP Decimator or G String as I have read a lot of comments at various forums where it seems a lot of players really like that product and say it works well. I know I really need to work on the palm/playing hand muting big time too, thats for sure.

Thanks for your advice ya'll

 

[audioholic]

yeah

perfecting your technique will really help. Though some guitar pickups are really senstive. Like my PRS guitar seems to amplify everything, were as my Les Paul was much less picky and seemed to pick up only what you wanted at times.

 

[GtrGeorge!]

..I think I know where your coming from. I teach guitar to alot of students and here is some advice for playing loud...
1) playing technique: there is no substitute for putting in the time. Also, practice the EXACT technique that is failing you. Dont play the chords you have down...play the switching that produces the noise. That is the thing that NEEDS practicing.
2) Noise gates arent the answer. They are a mixed blessing, at best. You cant buy your way out of sloppy technique. I dont mean to be harsh...but work 2 less hours at the day job and invest that time in practice, not a noise gate.
3) Pickups and amp settings
There is a reason why pros set things up a certain way...in many cases it lessens the noise. A super high gain pickup may seem like the shizzle at first...but after a few gigs you may realize it exaggerates the noise,hiss and garbage. A lower gain pickups may be better for your situation. Less treble, may also help.
4)Booster pedals: Seems likea good idea, but if it boosts your noise as much as your notes...maybe reconsider. Besides, its one less thing to go wrong in the middle of your set.
Overall: Kudos to you that you want to improve. Thats really good. Not everyone cares as much as you do. If you can record your rehearsals when trying new techniques, amp settings etc...so you can carefully evaluate whts working and whats not.
It works, if you work it...so work it!
GtrGeorge (guitarist in Alcatraz Swim Team in NY)

 

[El_Thwatez]

How long have you been playing? Ideally you want your technique to be consistently tight whether you're playing loud or quiet, it shouldnt make a difference! You'll just find when you're playing quietly that you sound a hell of alot tighter.

 

[GtrGeorge!]

hey how is it going flying V?
Are you still having trouble at high volumes?
GtrGeorge

 

[Dirtdog]

If you don't want the strings to ring out you could put a girls scruchi thing at the nut so that the open strings dont ring out like the dudes from Protest the Hero do. Since I like open strings in my chording I don't do this technique but I figured I'd throw it out there.

 

[grunge782]

The ISP's are great, but you need to dial it in correctly so that it's only blocking out feedback and hum. The have the ability to still allow for proper sustain but ONLY if you set them correctly.
The key really is to first eliminate other sources of noise and then LISTEN to yourself play to see exactly what specific times you hear noise from playing. Is it during chords, single line solos, skipping between strings and so on? The biggest thing is making your right hand palm mute correctly on the strings that aren't being played. I also use my pinky sometimes to mute the higher strings if I am playing a lead line around the a and d string.