5 Tips for Using Distortion - How To Play Ambient Guitar #16 (J. Rockett Audio Holdsworth Overdrive)

[@SocialistFish]

I love how you don't knock other music types/guitar tones. For as much as music brings people together, it also tends to be grounds for division.... especially in regards to how the guitars are setup. We're all creating something we're passionate about, let's just do our thing and help our respective scene progress.

[@chordsoforion]

Right on!!!!

[@MrDonc78]

you're like the Bob Ross of guitar tutorials. I love it! lol great stuff as always!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks!!!

[@vectorstain]

Don't forget the adding of overdrive/distortion AFTER the verbs for some great sad and broken tones.

[@chordsoforion]

Tip number 6!!! :-)

[@SprunkCovers]

Shoegaze rule Number #1

[@HitmanJenkins1]

This is what Explosions In The Sky do if I recall.

[@theothertonydutch]

Reverb => Fuzz => Reverb/Delay => Compressor.

[@scottymac3634]

These tips are actually valid for many types of music. The one about rolling the tone control way down was an ear opener for me. If you’re getting grainy distortion, and you don’t want that, it’s the solution. Many thanks.

[@callumalston5755]

As someone who doesn't massively come from an ambient background, I'm an indie man at heart, I"'be collected things played by my idols and honestly with the right combinations you can make some really otherworldly effects, the re 20 into a memory man is a sound I'll always love

[@shadowspectrum]

I realize this videos almost 4 years old, but a good rule of thumb I heard from a producer is to set your effects on your track--any compression, eq, reverb, delays, etc.--to where they sound good to you. And then dial them back about 20% as we tend to for some reason initially over do it, and that you'll be happier with the slightly more restrained results after repeated listens.

[@chordsoforion]

Sounds like good advice to me!

[@LauraSquirrel]

Good idea

[@goldenultra]

Genius.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

RIP Allan Holdsworth (8/6/1946 - 4/15/2017)

[@chordsoforion]

Agreed.

[@rogeriocouto]

Hey! I just want to say that your video helped me polish up a lead tone that I was pursuing for weaks. Thanks!

[@Gutowski1944]

Thank you for another inspiring tutorial. Great tones My main influence for volume swells with gain and verb always was Alex Lifeson especially in xanadu and some of the Caress stuff. Also love Jeff Beck's Where Were You piece.

[@goldenultra]

The art of tone, I am a believer, I subscribe.

[@CascadianExotics]

Using less gain, and midrange....I play in an Atmospheric Black Metal project, and we use so much less gain in the studio than you think you're hearing on album. Especially for Black Metal! We do not scoop the mids either. Both live and studio we back off our gain, dial in some mids, and tone down our effects for ease of being able to set up and do our job. It's always funny when we play shows and sound guys bitch about every other band on the bill but us...backing off the gain and using mids will make sound engineers everywhere collectively thank you!

[@chordsoforion]

An excellent real life example and good "distortion wisdom"! Thanks for sharing!!

[@DaveThomson]

got a link to music. I like ABM

[@colingrossbier1798]

That actually makes a lot of sense because there are a lot of intricate chords in black metal and if you use too much gain it will make the notes/chords sound like crap

[@johnleventon9575]

I have never liked overdrive or distortion in my ambient tracks. However, you have demonstrated that used properly and sparingly it can sound awesome. I am going to try it. Thank you for all your videos. They are extremely helpful.

[@chordsoforion]

Balance is everything, isn't it? :) Thanks so much for letting me know you are liking the videos!!

[@colelewis9940]

Another thing to note with scooped mids, is shoegaze bands for example, or post rock. What happens there is you'll have the guitarist playing chords pretty hard but if you have too much mids in that context the guitar becomes less the "wall of sound" and becomes something else.

[@TomPark1986]

I have the MXR evh overdrive. The gain is at 9 o clock, the mids are all the way up and the highs are rolled all the way down. Great pedal.

[@chordsoforion]

Nice!!

[@sniffnoobman2039]

That is so beautiful sir I've longed to make those sounds during worship at church! With this knowledge perhaps I can. Thanks for your help and I may even be older than u (64)

[@chordsoforion]

I hope you can incorporate some of the techniques into your playing and make it work for your worship music!! And I am only 29 - NOT! :-)

[@rouschno1]

RIP Allan. Thanks man!! I used to have the Yamaha DG100 2×12 combination. Loved your stream you did for New Years 2021!! Man I regret getting rid of that amp

[@isolateddemon9438]

SIR YOUR WORDS ARE WISE AND INSPIRING.😀

[@Gusrikh1]

Very well presented.. very candid....

[@fafnir75]

I love devouring you videos, great stuff, would it be possible that you could do a video on your Morley and your reason for that specific Volume pedal. Keep up the good work & positivity, your an inspiration.

[@chordsoforion]

I have been considering a volume pedal specific video. Will add this request as an impetus to get off my butt and do it!! :-)

[@fafnir75]

Great news can´t wait :)

[@fotografiatraspuestaproduc6319]

You don’t play like holdsworth but you are as good person as he. Thanks for your work!! A big huge from Chile.

[@Lorneplumber]

Tried this over the weekend and it worked a treat. Thank you very much

[@chordsoforion]

Great! And thanks so much for commenting!!

[@braddietzmusic2429]

This is some very thoughtful advice and time well-spent here on KZbin. No small thing. The thing is that people are going to read the description and think it doesn't apply to them because they don't play ambient, etc... But good advice on time and context that applies equally to all contexts. Thanks.

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks for the good words! I agree that the title may limit the number of folks, but I have a found that when I don't make it clear enough that these videos are in the context of ambient guitar playing, I get people complaining about delay and reverb. I did adjust the title somewhat, so maybe that will help broaden the appeal without misleading anyone. Thanks again for the great feedback!!!

[@braddietzmusic2429]

+Chords Of Orion Yes, people will complain about anything and everything. I don't intend to do that. Thanks.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

+Chords Of Orion A number of these things can be figured out by years of consistent playing hopefully with consistent groups where you can really dial-in and focus, and also experiment with your sound. I've been lucky enough to have some of that. But you've provided some very good "best practices" types of advice that is about as close to a shortcut as I've seen in a while. This is really about maximizing your gear and learning how to make each component play well with the others in a musical and contextually appropriate way, and ultimately to provide a platform for maximum expression

[@thetaokan]

Also, it's interesting to use dist -> reverb -> wah, so you can "wah out" the reverb :-)

[@chordsoforion]

Yes, that could be cool!

[@dstrats]

Damn it man! Now I gotta find a compressor for my drive channel. Lol 1st off, amazing reverb and delay sounds. It was so full, I felt as if the notes where bathed in amazing ambient beauty. So envy bruv! So appreciated this vid/episode. I too love (and so miss) Allen Holdsworth. I found out about him in my teens back in 94'. His music so inspired me. But I was 100% blues at that time. I had no idea how to do the fusion thing. Now I can but, no one wants to play that anymore. I digress though, so enjoy your views and demos. My tone "master" was Eric Johnson. Like Holdsworth for you, EJ's feel and tone, showed me the ways of ambient, lush cleans, and warm, violin (turning down tone knob on guitar), sustaining overdrive/distortion. Thank again for this very educational vid and sound samples. You have great feel and tone yourself my man. All the best.

[@chordsoforion]

Hey! Glad you liked the video and thanks for commenting. As far as Eric Johnson goes, his tone and technique is certainly up there in my book too!

[@THESTIG-cc7fq]

Hi l have not played or owned a guitar in years but l still get great pleasure watching these videos, l really love all this Ambient sound stuff.l am a big fan also of Holdsworth got to see him once in Manchester @ Band on the Wall venue.Your tone control off sound thicken`s up the sound, goes to a Holdsworth flute/medieval like tone.I could listen to that sound for hours, when l played guitar I never thought of backing off volume or tone on my guitar.All these videos makes me crave another guitar, so watch this space l might one day post a video of my return to guitar...Ambient style.

[@chordsoforion]

There's always room for a fellow ambient guitarist!! :-) Thanks for letting me know you are liking the videos!!!!

[@dougsignorovitch1493]

Bill, Great video. Thanks for the info. 👍

[@jeremychamplin1078]

Love your unique perspective!

[@TheHokkaidogaijin]

Great video Bill, I have been waiting for this one... Thumbs Up! 👍

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks much!!

[@ronshaw80]

Another great video. I have learned so many great tips from you!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks for letting me know you are getting value from the channel!!

[@findJLF]

Simple but beautiful looking guitar! Really good vid. Thanks.

[@jonasdnkjr5774]

i also use the holdsworth guitar and pedal, and the only pedal i use to spice it up is the ibanez ts9 i might get a compressor too :)

[@chordsoforion]

Cool!

[@AD-ij2wj]

You’re the best !

[@andrewjaman4697]

Hi Bill - I chuckled when you spoke of how you might be dating yourself with your distortion preferences. I myself am a little older, and I have the same exact preferences for mids and rolled-off tone knob! I also almost exclusively play the neck pickup. :)

[@chordsoforion]

Cool!

[@LauraSquirrel]

When I play more ambient styles I find that using the neck pickup 90% of the time works best. But, flipping to the bridge pickup is nice for some variation here and there.

[@andrewjaman4697]

@@LauraSquirrel - Terry Kath (R.I.P) of Chicago did this a third of the way through his solo on 25 or 6 to 4. Pretty cool how he did it. There was a time when I did club dates, I didn't have effects at all other than amp's overdrive. So I had to make the best of tone knobs, pickup selectors etc. In hindsight, I'm glad I had this experience.

[@andrewjaman4697]

Actually, he might have just rolled in tone. Same general effect...

[@spasiba24]

master of ambient!

[@wadecarefully]

"Master of ambiance, of baritone strings! Stacks of effects and swelling of things! Master! Master!"

[@forresterconnor651]

Trying to achieve the sounds of emo/rock band Microwave. My favorite band Wilco also has some great ambient overdrive experimental tones

[@LevitatorMusic]

scooped mids has its place....yeah, buried in the mix where no one can hear it lol. J/k.

[@chordsoforion]

It does make mixing harder for sure...

[@DaveThomson]

Unless your Metallica circa 1985-1988

[@LauraSquirrel]

I stopped scooping mids after playing for a while. Once I learned more about tone quality, I discovered that I was sabotaging my sound by doing that.

[@HitmanJenkins1]

Scooped mids is good for pure walls of noise similar to Flying Saucer Attack, but I'd certainly wouldn't use them for everything lol.

[@drkam6]

This is a great video indeed!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks for letting me know you liked the vid!

[@drkam6]

I'm a big Holdsworth fan as well, and had pretty much the same gear goal like you. I play some ambient as well, using guitar synthesizers. Many times I aim for sustain mostly. I'm on Soundcloud with a Holdsworth-like piece and also using the Roland GR-500. I will continue watching your great videos, they're quite inspirational!

[@MikhailMedvedev]

thanks for the vid.. fell that I wanna do someoverdrive tweeking soon)

[@rouschno1]

BTW, if you haven't, check out Sand by AH

[@Johnny.nikolaisen]

Nice video. Im not an ambient type og player (yet) 😀 But the sound and distotion issues you talk about, is very helpful. cheers from Denmark

[@chordsoforion]

I am glad you found the video helpful!!!

[@daviderickson807]

You reference Holdsworth, but your tone and playing here remind me all the world of Robert Fripp (also very cool!)

[@chordsoforion]

Fripp is one of my heroes too!

[@daviderickson807]

I've found a way to get *really* close to Holdworth's tone, both clean and dirty. All of it is in the box, using mostly free VST plugins. The LePou Legion amp sim (which is a clone of a Dual Rectifier), using the Catharsis IRs. The gain is actually fairly high on the amp sim, but I roll off the guitar volume to compensate (using a Kiesel Vader 6 guitar). I use the LeCto (Bogner Ecstasy sim) for the cleans. It does a pretty good job. The real trick is to use a VST plugin called the Delay8, which is purpose-built to simulate the 8-tap modulated delay that Holdsworth used on just about everything. It works like a champ! The trick is to use it on the lead tone as well, but turn off the modulation, and dial back on the longer delay times a bit. It gives it a nice spread and thickens up the tone quite a bit.

[@geoffwhitemusic]

I’m in love with my MXR 78, but it’s pretty hissy.

[@pattimichellesheaffer103]

You're my spirit animal, dude. Can you say anything about noise showing up at pedal extreme settings on some pedals, especially your "go-to" pedals (Strymon and Ego)? When I use my Strymon with repeats pretty high, I get misc. high frequencies in the background, even with the strings damped. (Conklin GT-7 Groovetool with Audere 4-channel preamp in a grounded, copper-lined body cavity) Can you say anything about pedel-induced noises? They're usually but show up at some settings and maybe folks wonder if they have a "bad pedal."

[@skaterocker666]

I think Allan used a really high gain setting but with a very light touch. Correct me if i'm wrong though

[@chordsoforion]

I used to hang out on the forum that was hosted on Allen's web site and learned a lot about his lead settings. He actually did not like super high gain settings, as he thought there was too much "hair" or fizz to the tone. So in his Yamaha DG80 and then in his Magicstomp settings he would go for the "Lead 1" (Marshall JCM800) with gain around 6-7, treble at 2-3, high and low mids at 9-10 and bass at 0-1. Of course, there was a lot more to it than that, such as pre-eq, compressor, post-eq and the time effects.

[@alisquare2272]

Thanks a lot for your great videos. You must have been getting this a lot, so I'm just going to try my luck, how can I send you few of my sings to you? I have a post rock project and I wanted to know your opinion about my guitar tone.

[@chordsoforion]

Are you on Facebook? If so, send me a private message at facebook.com/chordsoforion.

[@VitaEx]

Absolutely loving your channel thankyou quick question is fuzz handled in a similar manner ? I don't see a fuzz video hero do you have any opinions on fuzz? Also not sure if it's something your into but I just picked up a cool delay pedal the kilobyte It has a momentary switch that automatically sets feedback to infinity while pressed check it out Anyways thanks for all the vids and great info untested to how how you feel about fuzz Keep rocking man :)

[@chordsoforion]

I like fuzzes. I have the EHX Cock Fight, which combines a wah circuit with a fuzz. Really cool. Here's an ambient guitar meditation I did with it a while ago (in case you haven't seen it): kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl6UnJttpceFaLM

[@chordsoforion]

I guess I didn't answer the question did I? Yes - I handle fuzzes in a similar manner, remembering that they tend to be not as versatile with chords.

[@VitaEx]

Chords Of Orion awsome I will check that out right now :D

[@rolando0572]

great class..how much delay time did you use ?

[@chordsoforion]

Not precisely sure, but I would guess somewhere between 800 and 1000 ms. It's the Strymon DIG, so there is a "dotted eighth" component to the delay. Thanks!!!!

[@MrMongo321]

Great vid!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks!!!!!

[@davidgoltra9950]

Maybe the terms overdrive and distortion are not reflective of reality with respect to ambient guitar. I use them typically in that context to enhance touch sensitivity of my instrument, create a richer tonal response in terms of harmonics and overtones and change the overall character of my tone. Its so cool that adjusting pickup volume, amplifier settings, amount of drive, compression and volume etc. can open up a universe of tonal possiblilities.

[@MrMongo321]

yes, very interesting David, and I still have much to learn about the possibilities of tonal sounds regarding simple things such as the volume on the amp and guitar...

[@davidgoltra9950]

Great lesson. Mostly stuff I kinda knew intuitively from playing but articulated very nicely. Just got the J Rocket Silver archer and love it. Its got a really nice clean but rich and non muddy sweet spot. With a tiny bit of compression it really sings. Btw does anyone make a volume/expression pedal. I'm creating a new small board and would like to find something that I could occasionally plug into my Deco or Dig .thanks

[@chordsoforion]

Glad you like the vid! I would like to try out the Silver Archer someday, as I do really like the Holdsworth OD. Really well made... As far as a combination volume/expression pedal goes, I had in the back of my mind "Dunlop". Did a quick search and sure enough! www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DunlopVolumeX

[@RoverSonjasonn]

For a compact board, it's worth looking into chinese models, they went big into building small pedals. Hotone make a combined wah/expression/volume pedal that is very compact and comes at a $90 price tag. I owned it, but didn't like the sudden volume taper on it - then again, I had to return it due because the pot was scratchy and the wah range was also completely out of whack, so it just might have been an issue with that one particular pedal. Watch the demos before buying it for ambiental stuff where you really want a suitable taper on the volume sweep. Then again, you could use it exclusively as an expression pedal, and use a Mooer Leveline for the volume pedal. I hear it has a good taper, and it is TINY. You might still save pedalboard space (but not money) with two small pedals over getting a full size volume/expression pedal. Bonus is, that way you can try expressing and swelling at the same time. :P

[@RoverSonjasonn]

Or, if you're really starved for space and are willing to work your ankle, you can combine the Mooer tiny volume pedal with the saturnworks expression button that you operate by twisting a big rubber button with your foot. On the link below, check out the Micro TRS option. Can't think of any more compact solution for having expression and volume on the same board. saturnworkspedals.com/product/expression-pedal/

[@chordsoforion]

RoverSonjasonn Great suggestions to look into. Thanks for posting them!!

[@doktabob328]

Allan was the Master. If you like his tones, check out Scott Henderson.

[@gregg_msk]

Hey! Thanks for your channel) I just want to clarify one thing regarding the use of volume knob. I think that if you have a compressor as the first unit in the chain, then you don't have to touch volume on your guitar because it changes how a level detector on your compressor acts, and you might loose your sustain as a result. What do you think about this?

[@chordsoforion]

It depends on the sound you are looking for and your guitar. Lowering the volume control may indeed end up in a little less sustain, however, depending on the compressor setting, you will still benefit from compression. In addition, playing with the volume also changes the sound of the pickup. For example, one of my guitars has high gain pickups. I don't normally prefer the tone of these pickups, however, when I reduce the output by lowering the volume control, they clean up and get the tonal range that I prefer.

[@gregg_msk]

I got your point, thanks!

[@gaiusdrusus]

strymon riverside vs j rockett overdrive : does strymon cover what the j rockett does plus or go with j rockett cause allan holdsworth is the principes guitar and has spoken?

[@vizzo7]

can you show us the settings you used for the video?

[@chordsoforion]

Sorry, but I did not write down the exact pedal settings. Not a big deal though. Just follow my suggestions for overall tones and you will get close with your gear.

[@kropkor]

You're like Michael from VSauce but in an ambient guitar context :)

[@kavenstpierre]

Hi! What is the elevenrack use in your chain? Thanks a lot!

[@chordsoforion]

The Avid Eleven Rack is a rack mount amp modeling unit that has been around for a number of years.

[@michaelsnyder1492]

What chord are you playing at 3:24?

[@chordsoforion]

It's not a full triad, just an A with a B on top - an interval of a 9th.

[@ichsanmaulana8732]

how about a fulldrive 2? is it good for ambient?

[@chordsoforion]

i think it would be a great option!!

[@markferguson3745]

Ambient= swimming in Hall and Plate; Rock= as much Spring as is advisable; or dry.

[@bradking1536]

Have you tried the juice extractor? Hope you are well God loves you deeply shalom 🤗🐼♥️✝️💐 Philippians 4:8

[@likeanuuk6612]

i dont really understand tip number 2. wouldnt most people think not to use distortion at all in ambient music? not using alot of gain sounds kinda....no brainer to me

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

Using a bit of overdrive or distortion adds that nice sustained "violin" tone. Robert Fripp is a master of that sound.

[@lucaszembrzuski]

Im relatively new do overdrive pedals, because i was using line6 pod's, and now im looking for some nice warm solo overdrive for my Fender Champ X2, is there something that is very close to Rockett Allan Holdsworth Overdrive, but cheaper? I was looking at BB preamp, Tube Screamer Mini etc.. but nothing sounds like this Rockett one.. It does not need to have a boost section because i already have a Marshall compressor.

[@chordsoforion]

I don't have a specific suggestion, however, look for a distortion that is more of an overdrive and has flexible tone controls, definitely separate treble and bass, and if there is a middle control, all the better. The secret to Holdsworth's distorted lead (which this drive seeks to create) is lots of mids and limited bass and treble.

[@carloguarrera8568]

The Yamaha DG Stomp really sucks! its sound is horrible.

[@ripplewine6112]

less talk more rock

[@podgemurray4377]

this guy stoned af, just sayin

[@chordsoforion]

Don't worry. I forgive you for jumping to an ignorant conclusion, not knowing that half of my face was paralyzed for 6 months due to Bell's Palsy, and that I still have residual effects around my eye and mouth.

[@podgemurray4377]

@@chordsoforion wowee. Chill out man

[@dontuateytu2557]

Just a suggestion.You would get a lot more followers if you didn't sound like you were talking to 5th graders.Relax and talk to adults.