Lighter touch

[JB_From_Hell]

The other day, I watched an interview with JD Simo (monster player/singer if you're unaware). He was talking about the benefits of playing with a lighter touch. A few minutes ago, I heard Jack Pearson saying the same thing. I know, others have said this before, but these two must've said it the right way.

I grew up on metal and SRV, so my touch is not exactly light. As an experiment, I went out and got a 9-40 set, gonna set the action lower, and try some thinner picks. We'll see if this 'letting the amp do the work' bit has any merit.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Lighter touch

I play with a very light touch...seems to work for me...

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Lighter touch

A light touch on the strings IS NOT the same as a light set of strings.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Lighter touch

A light touch on the strings IS NOT the same as a light set of strings.

I’m aware. I usually use 11-52, so the super light strings are a reminder to play easier. The same with lowering my action, using a thinner pick, and letting my amp do the work.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Lighter touch

Funny thing is I remember seeing somewhere where Hetfield said he plays with a pretty light touch.

 

[dave74]

Re: Lighter touch

A light touch on chords also relieves many of those troublesome "intonation" issues lol.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Lighter touch

I find playing with lighter touch also aids with clarity of faster passages. It also aids with right hand accuracy and in some cases, tone. It's amazing how much you can improve just by eliminating excess force upon the strings.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Lighter touch

My main guitar has a scalloped neck, so if I played any harder, everything would be out of tune.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Lighter touch

Aside from not pushing the strings sharp, I don't think it sounds any better. But since guitar is such a fine motor instrument, playing relaxed, with control, and with small movements allows you to play better.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Lighter touch

I agree, I don't think it sounds better. But hey, its less work, and I am all for that!

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Lighter touch

I've been finding myself going a bit lighter lately as well...but mostly to help stop tensing up when playing faster runs. But since I play mainly metal I like to dig in too...which is almost the opposite to my bass playing, where I certainly play with a light touch and 'let the amp do the work'. Completely opened up my bass playing.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Re: Lighter touch

Playing lighter works for me in the sense that it's more relaxing and I feel more in control not forced. In my mind the tone is better too.

Jack Pearson: When you go to Nashville the first question you should ask is; Where is Jack Pearson playing. Not only is Jack an incredible guitar player (one of the best) he's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Lighter touch

So far, it’s fun bending the rubber band strings. I learned this really cool faux-pedal steel lick where you bend the G toward the floor, grab the B at the height of the bend, then bend that back up, with both strings ringing during the second bend. It’s challenging with 11s, but cake with the 9s. Can’t say I’m super happy with how the guitar sounds overall, though.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Lighter touch

I use 9’s and play with a purple Tortex pick. I don’t play that light but I don’t squeeze the heck out of the neck. I pick forcefully, but I don’t over do it.

I prefer the sound of light strings. You get more snap. Heavier strings sound clunky to me.

Hendrix used 9’s. Page and Gibbons use 8’s!

You only need heavier strings if you tune lower like SRV did.


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[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Lighter touch

I use 9’s and play with a purple Tortex pick. I don’t play that light but I don’t squeeze the heck out of the neck. I pick forcefully, but I don’t over do it.

I prefer the sound of light strings. You get more snap. Heavier strings sound clunky to me.

Hendrix used 9’s. Page and Gibbons use 8’s!

You only need heavier strings if you tune lower like SRV did.

Billy Gibbons plays through a ton of rack gear and his guitar tech uses an oscilloscope to EQ each guitar to sound identical.

To you playing your guitar, thin strings sound good. To me playing my guitar, they sound thin and weak, and feel like a toy. Like I said before, being able to bend strings across the board with one finger and no effort is fun, but this guitar that I used to be able to really work now feels like I'm handing a Faberge egg.

I'm not saying thicker strings are for everyone. I am saying these thinner ones are definitely not for me.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Lighter touch

To you playing your guitar, thin strings sound good. To me playing my guitar, they sound thin and weak, and feel like a toy.

It’s all in your touch. I don’t get a thin, weak tone. My tone is similar to Page’s.

Part of the trick is to practice playing unplugged. Get it to sound forceful and smooth that way and it translates to the amplified tone.


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[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Lighter touch

It’s all in your touch. I don’t get a thin, weak tone. My tone is similar to Page’s.

I agree it's all in your touch. It just so happens, I prefer touching strings with a bit more tension

The only reason YOU may need heavier strings is for tuning down. The only reason I need them is because they sound and feel better to me.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Lighter touch

I had a similar experience when I realized that maybe the reason why the sound coming out of the speaker was so compressed all of the time was because I was pounding the guitar like i was asking it for my money.

Want to have your mind blown?

Play over your neck pick, pick gently. Let your wrist do the work, it’s really barely a thwap and not at all an “attack” as it is named.

This is how I’ve gotten closer to the sound in my head. I had no idea that for soloing the bridge area was so goddamn nasal.


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[ICTGoober]

Re: Lighter touch

The king of light touches was Holdsworth. Watch some videos.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Lighter touch

Play over your neck pick, pick gently. Let your wrist do the work, it’s really barely a thwap and not at all an “attack” as it is named.

Funny, I was taught that picking was to be done with only your fingers and that adding your wrist into the mix lessened control and accuracy.