Playing *exclusively* single note leads

[kyoukai]

Hi everyone, so I realized that I joined this forum in June and I haven't done anything until now. Sorry bout that.

Anyway, I have been feeling very limited lately. I have two pedals - a EQD Hoof and a Rat. I love the way the Hoof sounds - it sounds nice and warm - but that's only with single note leads. Once I get to chords, it becomes too inarticulate. The Rat just sounds...bad. At least to me.

I have a Blues Junior. I don't particularly like the amp...I wish I had kept my old Vox. The only tone I like out of it is with the Hoof, and I can't play any chords with it.

Are there any players who have made a career playing mostly single note leads/bass like rhythm structures? Robert Fripp comes to mind...anyone else?

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

Buy a new amp?

 

[kyoukai]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

You know what, before anyone starts accusing me of being a troll, I'll just suck it up. Chords it is.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

How are you setting the controls on your amp and pedals? Sometimes, an overdrive pedal into an overdriven valve amp sounds greater than the sum of its parts. Sometimes, the result is a trainwreck.

Equally importantly, you have not stated what guitar you have. All of your gear could be contributing to whatever you dislike about your current sound.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

B.B King comes to mind. To answer your question you need to re EQ your amp for a sound that pleases you for both chords and lead lines.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

Every metal solo is single note leads... they wouldn't know a doublestop or chord melody if it was tickling their fannies.

 

[kyoukai]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

Hi guys,

sorry about the curt troll comment. It's just that, at TGP, I've been hounded and flamed because of how outlandish this idea is.

If it means anything, I actually enjoy rewriting/rearranging songs so that I can play single notes/power chords. Like a sax, or other linear instrument.

To answer any setting questions, no matter how I try to EQ or distort my sound, it sounds too inarticulate for complex chords. It's a fuzz going into a small tube amp, after all. So there's that.

Also, I guess I should be more specific: I like music, not physical pain. My Rat and the BJ by itself both sound really icepicky - it hurts my ears. My Hoof, OTOH, offers nice thick top end with slightly flabby but not too bad bottom end.

Furthermore, I can't buy ANY new gear for the next while, since my funds are going to be going into my education.

I play a Fender Telecaster.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

Maybe the messed up sound of trying chords may lend itself to a unique sound you can call your own. Work with and relish it.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Playing *exclusively* single note leads

Well Fuzz in of it self is not a clear type of distortion. You either want clearer pups or back off the Fuzz or any other drive pedal you might have.