Bad vs Good - Electric Guitar

[@Podcastage]

You are putting out some seriously amazing videos Joe! Keep them coming because I need all the education!

[@moejoth]

4:57 sounds like a guitarist that wants you to listen to him playing over the phone

[@danieltravis5082]

That guitar solo example made me lol

[@aceventura5398]

Times when I feel my intro sux I'm going to watch this. Thanks Joe

[@jeromem9843]

Best take of this video for me was try making a solo from humming a tune and turning it into a solo. Taking that knowledge with me wherever I go now.

[@PetraKann]

I agree. The masters of improvisation are able to even skip this humming stage and generate solos straight from instinct or reflex. Many guitarists like Carlos Santana or pianists such as Chick Corea say they play from the heart. They are expressing emotions. The melodies and solos come from there. It’s like a feedback loop. The emotion informs the playing and the playing then affects the emotion of the musician that further affects the playing. Even musicians that are limited by playing notes directly from sheet music can benefit from this emotion-expression feedback loop and add important nuisance to their playing and the final sound. Music is a product of being alive.

[@guitardweeb]

#3 is spot on. I have learned a microphone hears dirt way better than my ears do.

[@dreambeliever3652]

So right about soloing. Had to learn the same thing. Over playing isn’t necessarily better. It’s actually not understanding song structure. Took me time to learn how to keep it simple. Lol

[@liquidsolids9415]

My guitar teacher always said that your guitar solo should "make a musical statement". You demonstrated this concept well. All the examples were great. Thanks, Joe!

[@ollydecay7851]

Well, I heard that first "says nothing" solo in quite a lot of 80s songs. :D

[@jazzrengue]

Joe, you do great videos. Thanks for always reminding us of all these things.😊

[@timlovegrove1097]

Joe: "My attempt to play a solo that does nothing" *Plays every Oasis solo in a single pass*

[@agentcalm]

LOL so true bro

[@hsgator7]

Recording with too much gain is a great tip. Learned this the hard way over the years. Live Gig gain vs. Recording gain is different, too. Less really is more.

[@jflguitar]

The 'too much gain' example almost sounds like a filtered intro haha

[@TheBawss90]

That would be really sick!

[@Tama-nc8pq]

That red Gibson looks gorgeous

[@officialWWM]

I like solos that you can sing...that get stuck in your memory and you can sing along too.

[@NicholasGreenwood]

I'm primarily recording high-gain guitars at home. Rolling off the frequencies below ~150-170 Hz, above 7-8 kHz, and a dip around 4 kHz, is my preferred starting point for EQ moves. Gets me in the ballpark of hearing what I want while also being able to track quickly.

[@larsmusicde]

For heavy guitars Maybe try a dynamic eq. Roll of the bottom end a bit (75-100Hz) and give the area between 150-170Hz a dip with the dynamic eq to control the palm mutes and also keep a bit of the upper lows for more punch and umpf. I tried the Nova TDR, free dynamic eq and it's hell of a difference

[@robbievalentine8239]

I've learned that wherever I think the gain sounds good, dial it back a bit. After double and sometimes quad tracking it ends up sounding better with less gain.

[@NicholasGreenwood]

@@larsmusicde Thank you for the tip. I've got Fabfilter Pro-Q 3; it can do dynamic EQ stuff but I've never really messed with that feature. I'll try it out for palm mutes!

[@YellowWalkman]

Such a useful video. I have so much to learn.

[@AlienorchestraNetoslo]

Great guitar recording video, always something cool... thank you..

[@stuartsimpson3149]

All a great help thank you👍

[@drumsbyjones]

Love this so much!!! Made my day! Keep it up Joe!

[@clemenslangle880]

Thank you sir

[@rocknrollrich1]

Yes yes and yes. You nailed it.

[@AdLaceStudios]

You always have a great delivery Joe!

[@funnelmusic3482]

Wish I could like this more than once.

[@Selenali1234]

Great video as usual! Thanks for breaking down important aspects in a way that was easy to understand.

[@CoolLava]

Being an acoustic player for 45 yrs I am considering getting an electric guitar. Great video.

[@MrJetplanemusic]

I always try to make a solo like a well written paragraph . With sentences that make a point at the end.

[@sarunasneimontas894]

Great video! Thanks Joe!

[@lar57jsy]

Sometimes agreeing or not agreeing is irrelevant...because the BIG bonus is you get us thinking! :D Thanks Joe!

[@SimonMac]

Always great info - thanks for the video and tips!

[@EdivarSRosa]

Ótima Aula! Obrigado professor!

[@57RickH]

Great info! I too am not a great guitar player but can come up with something melodic and (hopefully) memorable that serves the rest of the song well.

[@benperry490]

Not usually on a different page with you Joe but I have to say many of your bad guitar examples are usable like a lo-fi part in a complete song like the cocked wah sound or old-timey mic sound I think your hi-gain isn't that -hi-gain, the one I agree with is the solo example I love a great melodic solo compared to shredding notes to show off I can even say that the solo to an old rock classic like Stranglehold is very melodic but most people wouldn't think so. I bet if you thicken that solo part you liked up just a little add some very slight delay it would sound killer...but I do suffer from tinnitus..LOL

[@slimyelow]

Guitar solo = KISS (keep it stupid simple)

[@AMRartmyrock]

Always nice to remember a soloed guitar track is often not pleasant at all. It's terrible to see how many plugins are made to be played alone ; sounds awesome by itself and you enjoy yoru tone, but it disapears in a mix context. Nice job Joe!

[@nickanton7983]

Hey Joe! I really love your videos. Do you have any advice for preserving hearing? I'm 25 and I think I've already lost some of the high end in my right ear. Is it as simple as just keeping the volume down?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Yeah turn it down, and be aware of how loud you listen to music on headphones. And if you do things like mow the grass, use hearing protection. Those engines are loud. I use Bluetooth headphones with noise cancellation for that.

[@robbievalentine8239]

Get yourself some quality ear protection like earasures for when you're in a loud environment but still want to hear things clearly. I keep.mine in my pocket all the time, and put them in whenever I feel it's a little too.loud for me

[@sandollor]

Yeah, turning down, wearing hearing protection when around loud sounds, and don't join the military unless you want tinnitus.

[@totallyg1112]

Excellent video! Liked!

[@amelianceskymusic]

Thanks! BTW Could you compare the sound without speeches or pauses, please? Something like AB testing.

[@robbievalentine8239]

This is an ear training video. U should be able to hear the difference in the tracks despite the talking in between.

[@amelianceskymusic]

@@robbievalentine8239 Not really. I think he explains what sound is better and I should catch the difference to use it in my task. If I'd like to train my ear I will choose another way.

[@sandollor]

@@robbievalentine8239 Ear training video? This is a sound comparison video so the suggestion would be super helpful; unlike your comment. Good day, sir.

[@GetSongsDone]

LOVE THIS!

[@shanealec]

I find my guitar tones take a dive if I've played and listened for too long, suddenly my ears are just too compressed to hear the true sound of the guitar...BTW great video sir 👍

[@Jowls2024]

I find the same with perfumes and colognes.

[@shanealec]

@@Jowls2024 lol accurate

[@gregcampbell9616]

Hey Joe So sorry to see the water in the studio I'm having trouble with mice Grrrrr Great examples of guitar tones. Have you thought about Bass tones would luv to see what you come up with. Thanks again you open my eyes everytime I see a new Vid spot on.

[@tgstk2]

awesome ! thanks!

[@qfz2112]

I'm curious what it would sound like if you layered the "icepick" tone on top of the "mud" tone...

[@cliveburgess4128]

mud pick!

[@RickHilberts]

The sound from the first clip (straight into the soundboard).. makes me think of JJ Cale.

[@scottparker7739]

I'm sorry that listening to my guitars compelled you to do this video... 😂😆

[@2011Rollsroyce]

Joe how do you control plug-in parameters with your Presonus desk, I'm looking at buying the Presonus S64 desk.

[@EdKidgell]

Good info!

[@baileygotbeats]

Thanks 🙏🏽

[@nrivero50]

Please make moree!!

[@ElOtroJuanjo]

Love the video! Would like to know more about direct guitar going into the Interface and using virtual amps in the future. I have doubts about levels, and the pickup balance on the guitar.

[@yackohoopy]

I saw a video by John Petrucci where he says to add some vibrato...a LOT of vibrato to guitar leads on notes that hang to make them more interesting to the listener. I’ve shortened the lifespan of my strings using that, but it does, in fact, work...and work well.

[@phillipnorman7423]

Joe,the link to your music site isn't working. Wanna make a purchase to say thanks for all the vids.

[@drumken]

Well, I can dig the first solo too 😅

[@OrangeMicMusic]

Yep... that's why it's important to ask the person who did the recording to provide DI tracks for guitars and bass.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Nah. Just have them get it right.

[@OrangeMicMusic]

​@@HomeStudioCorner Of course you're right, Joe, that's everyone's dream...and I'm fighting hard with musicians to make them understand this. But, I also commented on the "Flat Mixes" video, so it's no point to write in 2 places : these issues in the 2 videos are kind of linked - this applies only to situations where you as an engineer can influence the production/recording process. If you can't, and you're just hired to mix and the artist is reluctant over this (using extra synths and percussion), then the DI's are a life saver. Unless you refuse to work on that specific project, and then it's case closed :)

[@MichaTulik]

0:56 Nile Rodgers would strongly disaggre 😅

[@timjeichoi4477]

Any idea how to record them Using mics or direct?

[@SagarGodavaria]

Great!! I'll make sure what you said to make a solo. Thanks:)

[@stihlchris5200]

How did you get that guitar tone that was both warm but also really bright? I find that a lot of times when I record guitar I’m getting the first example of a really dull sound. How can I fix that without just trying to use EQ to boost the highs?

[@th3soundmachinz]

How do you turn off the quantization of audio in Studio One. I don't want some audio to be stretched to the BPM of the project. How do you turn it on and off??

[@michaeldouglas2634]

I would love to do a guitar solo for you. Second one was way better. Great advice as usual.

[@beaukaramoy]

Hey Joe, I was wondering; on both my guitars (one of which is a fender telecaster) my G strings sounds very detuned whenever I play a barre chord on the 1-4 frets. Do you know what this is about? I When I play the string open it is in tune.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You're probably pressing down too hard on the strings.

[@magnus7439]

Do you notice the same thing on the G string if you for instance play an E chord in the first position? If yes could be a symptom that the nut is not correctly cut; it seldom is for the G-string in my experience. If you don't feel comfortable diagnosing and fixing it on your own it shouldn't be too expensive to take the guitars to a luthier who can do the job for you.

[@beaukaramoy]

Thank you so much!

[@robertmclellan1605]

Is it intonated?

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

It took me a good few years to progress from that stage of playing where you're "trying to solo", and "shredding" 1/8 and 1/16 robotic locked notes over a metronome and wondering why I couldn't hit a lush vibrato with a 2 step bend (.007 strings). Eventually progress to jam tracks in key signatures then someday it all clicks and the chords, arrps, 3 octive scales, and modes all just "line up" when your improving. I couldn't play over autumn leaves but i'm proficient enough to fake EVH and def leppard solos and widdldy wah widly widly wah!

[@phil0x2e]

Please do one of these for bass :)

[@BrianWalis-Producer]

Joe, I think I'm watching too many of your videos lol. I was waiting for what this had to do with studio one and realized this wasn't on the Presonus page.. great video though! This really helped put things into perspective and I plan on sharing this with folk that I mix for so we can nail tones before I have to reamp them!

[@BlueTransAm83]

I just figured out. Guitar bottoms to need to just get out of the way. Yea a tad more high mid then jamming. But once bass and drums. Just getting a tad better at getting stuff split. Next, better automation! Or any automation.

[@dulla8469]

im always wondering how loud my di preamp should be, cause i dont have an amp and i just use plugins like neural dsp and amplitube and stuff, so im always wondering what level should my di signal of the guitar be, i usually have it to aim around 0db on a VU meter which i know is usually the sweet spot for plugins

[@montroski9652]

Is the solo part reckoner?

[@DirtJunkie1620]

I feel attacked! Were you at last night's gig?😆😆

[@dreamercross]

How should the lows, mids and highs be set?

[@kevinlittrell3407]

I grimaced on command went the bright tone starter playing

[@tobins6800]

Crappy solo recorded is a reminder to do something better. The too dark tone could actually be useful in a part of the mix, same with the too bright. Too dark brings to mind being smothered. The too bright would work for a transition point, kind of distant sounding, right before you kick it into high gear.

[@patriotleadslinger5733]

A strong lead part is way more memorable than just freestyle notes and scales. When recording, make sure you are able to play it the same way for doubling the track... precision matters.

[@patriotleadslinger5733]

@Noartist Yeah? Where’s your shredding video, I’d love to check it out?

[@patriotleadslinger5733]

@Noartist Bummer, I was hoping you were a fellow musician and could trade vids.😎Cheers!

[@patriotleadslinger5733]

@Noartist I’ve been playing since 13, cut my teeth on Testament, Death, Sepultura, Megadeth, Slayer... the good stuff. No money in gigging anymore, now I record other musicians. The pay is way better and I make my own hours! Riddle me this though, how do you get 36 subscribers with no videos? Not “just messing with ya” just genuinely curious.

[@patriotleadslinger5733]

@Noartist Well, the only way is to take a risk, make the investment, dive in and swim. Cheers!

[@nachorodriguez1170]

pleaseee one like this for basssss

[@kenc522]

Solos should take the song somewhere. I stumbled over the humming technique after many years of improv noodling.

[@elwoodroadsmusic9639]

Guitar out of tune hmmm. Looking back at where I started from I can put my hand up to this one. It was the excitement of getting it down quick. The other one was i would tune the guitar to itself but not to the correct frequency. So later in the mix I'd add keyboards and it didn't match. Or autotune the vocals..oooofff. Rookie mistakes lol but ones quickly learnt fortunately

[@Mongoosh]

I used to play grind core bands so i prefer the bad :P

[@danielj_music]

How to get rid of that top end sizzle that isn't really part of the tone?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

low-pass filter, EQ, tone knob on guitar

[@brettmarlar4154]

1. Yes an amp is a big part of a guitar tone, but the most important part, besides the player, is the speaker cab. Largely due to that is where the sound comes out. One would be surprised how a princeton amp can sound through a 4 × 10 or a 4× 12. 2. Yes too much gain is a mix killer in many situations. Especially when more than one guitar is present, because that only multiplies the amount of gain, and turns everything to mud. Most of the heaviest albums ever recorded were done so with gains set around 70% max. Now for the part I couldn't help but take a bit personally. The reason why I took it personally is because you took my opening motif, or a pretty close facsimile of it, and played it completely flat with no technique to exaggerate it as coming off as boring. For someone not poking fun, it looks very much like you're taking the piss, here. Now when you critiqued my mix, you brought up Edward Van Halen; I adore Edwards playing and he was truly a songwriting genius. That being said, he was not known for writing instrumental pieces of music. He wrote with a singer in mind. A much more fair comparison would be to someone like The Allman Brothers, Rush, Steve Vaix Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, you know, people known for writing instrumental music. (Not that I'm thinking that I'm anywhere on their level, because I'm not.) The mindset going into writing this way is completely different than from a singer songwriter point of veiw. Also for the record, I was planning out my lead line as I built up all of the backing parts. Signing it (to the best of my crappy ability) as I went. So if there is any issue with reproducing it live will only be due to the physical issues that I've developed in my hands since this piece was written. Any further improvisation will be because the moment called for it. This is not a bug in the tune it's an intentional feature, as I come from more of a Progressive rock/Jazz background. I love a good melody as much as everyone, but that doesn't mean that complex melodies can't be good. They're just challenging, what's so wrong with challenging the audience, and subverting their expectations? That is where rock music has become benign, everybody playing it safe and not talking any risks. Also I hear a lot about people "overplaying". This argument is just as weak as saying something is "overproduced" . This is such an ambiguous and subjective thing to say. Where is the line where someone is "overplaying"? Where is the line where someone is "underplaying"? It is okay to say that you "just don't get it", you understand what's happening musically, but it doesn't speak to you. If that's the case, I can accept that, and be fine with it. Otherwise it sounds like you're comparing the needs of a Chihuahua to that of a Husky . Though they may both be dogs, but they serve two completely different purposes.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Brett, don’t take any of this personally. I have 170,000 subscribers. I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of critiques. This video is about common mistakes I’ve heard from hundreds of people over the years.

[@brettmarlar4154]

@@HomeStudioCorner Not sure what your sub count has to do with this conversation. I AM one of your subscribers, with that said, it sounds like an attempt at an appeal to authority fallacy. The thing I took personally was that you took a piece of my melody and played it a way that was robotic, and without any expressive technique. Of course in that context, it would sound bad. My other point I was trying to make, is when did being a virtuoso become a bad thing? Sure you don't have to be a virtuoso to write good music, nobody is saying otherwise. But if someone who, like myself, who has dedicated more than 3/4 of their lives to mastering their instrument and the many techniques that it offers, and continues to strive for greatness, isn't something to be shunned, or ridiculed, or torn down. I don't don't see myself as a virtuoso, despite having people describe me as such, but I don't look down on those who can't play like me. I try to help them get better, if that's their aim. If they're happy with where they are and are making the music that they hear in their head, then who am I to say that it's bad? At the end of the day, I respect you as a singer, as a songwriter, and as an engineer, but your subscriber count or zip code are meaningless to me where it comes to instrumental composition.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Brett, I wasn’t using your melody. You’re making it about you. It’s not.

[@brettmarlar4154]

@@HomeStudioCorner For what it's worth, I hope you and your family weren't affected by the tornados that went through there last night. I will also concede that any likeness to my song could have been purely accidental. But I think if you go back and listen to my song again, and compare it to your example, you might find just how similar they are and see how I could cone to my conclusion.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Thanks Brett. We managed to avoid the storms.

[@girhen]

Joe: "You should be able to hum a good solo." Me: Tries to hum Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" solos Something something, more of a guideline. Metal need not apply?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

🤣 obviously I don’t listen to much metal

[@IHSisable]

like how you not always show how to do thing right, but just how tot do things wrong - because you learn more from that side - if you know that there is "only"one right way, but thousands things to do the opposite

[@RetroPlus]

2:34 Try telling that to Jack White

[@elsyver]

2:12 made me want to "party in the USA"

[@JustPhil]

hey Joe ... that solo wasnt that bad... if you would have enhanced it rhythmically it would have been sort of cool i think! :)

[@coreyroberts47]

I saw kerry king in the corner looking pissed on the last part

[@anthonysmissions]

Date: 29th March in New Zealand... News reporting about Nashville Tennessee Flooding and Tornadoes...... I pray and hope you and your friends & family are safe Joe..... Prayers are with you all there... God Bless

[@JGAbstract]

My two cents as a frequent KZbinr... People love timestamps.

[@alexwr]

The bright example was better than the ice pick... But it still felt way too bright...

[@IamINERT]

Just edit them after you record it. simple

[@drakefineberg632]

Says he won’t tell us the gear. As if I can’t see the Princeton.....

[@koffieverslaafde627]

Too much gain isn’t even half of the gain I use lmao. Different kind of distortion though, way more pre amp distortion but less to zero power amp distortion

[@koffieverslaafde627]

Also I kinda disagree with the hummable part. Humming fast sweeps or fast picking runs is a bit difficult, but they have to serve the solo and the song, they have to work towards a note or just something. “Oh I’m in the lower octave but I want a bend on the 15th fret on my high E, let’s do a sweep or picking run to get there fast and cool sounding”

[@theversatilehunter3651]

The bad solo reminds me of a Stereophonics solo tbh 😣

[@rubenvela44]

Still sound mushy check out Marty Friedman Jewel thats the best overdrive

[@vinnien]

I prefer the dirty sounds much more.

[@artemshemyakin3162]

never thought that Limp Bizkit guy knows so much about guitar recording

[@dirksorge]

Summary: don't do stuff too much or to little.

[@ReyBanYAHUAH]

Always remember we must repent of our sins (sin is transgression The Law Of Yahuah The Father in Heaven. The Law are The Books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy). We must repent of our sins and Have Belief On Yahusha The Messiah. HE Died and Rose three days later so that we can be forgiven of our sins! Come to HIM Today. Much love!

[@jonniegibbins]

Please please please NEVER use that ice pick sound again. I was listening on Audio Technica headphones and I swear my ears are now hurting ;-)

[@RecordProducerRob]

All I see now is a swampy floor. Hope insurance sorts it out quick joe.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

😂😂😭😭😭

[@jamesconraadtucker]

Clean your room, mister. ; )

[@daveannis2280]

your terrible solo sounded like the Chilli Peppers!!