My Approach to Guitar Layers

Joey walks you through his approach to layering guitars for a clean yet impactful result. What tricks do you use to glue your guitar layers together? Let us know in the comments!
Release your music with confidence with Distrokid, get 7% off your first year: distrokid.com/vip/joeyismusic
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Preparation
1:51 Rhythm
5:28 Leads
7:24 Cleans
8:36 Thoughts
Join the JST Forum: / joeysturgisforum
Learn how to mix: nailthemix.com
Get URM Enhanced: nailthemix.com/upgrade
Become a wizard of audio production: joeysturgistones.vip/join
Schedule your mix crit with Joey: joeysturgistones.vip/mixcrit
Tags:guitar layering,audio production,mixing tutorials
#guitarlayering #audioproduction #mixingtutorials

[@thetylersherman]

My GUY, growing up listening to your god-tier post-hardcore mixes I never thought I'd get this insight straight from the source. At this point, I will admit that I have picked up a lot of these tips either through hours of tutorial digging or hours of experimentation, but the sauce is all here, and clear, and from the man himself. Thanks Joey.

[@naiomicampbell99]

melodic death core

[@naiomicampbell99]

melodic death core

[@grantahart]

Pretty much exactly what I thought when I found out he had tutorials on KZbin!

[@nathanstatham]

This video is a wealth of knowledge! Probably one of the best channels out here!

[@samhardaker7698]

I would love to watch a live stream of Joey editing/mixing a song

[@jacee8094]

He did on nail the mix a bunch. He even did a more recent one with attack attack’s new song

[@smash_adams]

Nail the mix or Creative Live

[@henriqueferreira2155]

I've seen it before

[@sanimoze31]

Count me in!

[@limi.]

second that 🙌🏻

[@Mikeyprs21]

This is the information I needed in my life. Always wanted to figure out how to layer rhythm guitars properly!

[@danizha212]

ikr, it's very hard to find these stuff for metal music around internet. That mono compatibility trick is what I needed

[@josephmartinez9988]

very hard to find anything metal and modern 😂💀

[@ded_kishoved]

Thank you, Joey! Very informative video!👏

[@LucasMoscardini]

So many great tips in just one video! Amazing as always!

[@cagapaisso]

On a quad track recording I particularly like the blend between 2 tracks recorded on a bridge humbucker and 2 recorded on neck+bridge splited coils. Great blend with the seymor ducan sentient/nazgul.

[@steinnbjorn7627]

That's a treasure chest of information, thank you for sharing!

[@nikitalebedev6264]

This was very helpful. Noticed my mistakes right away. Thank you!!!

[@denisherry]

Always usefull tips, thanks JST!

[@frostik0303]

Thanks for the tips Joey!

[@queentantrumofficial]

Your channel is helping me with my guitar production so much, thank you.

[@joeymusic]

That's awesome! Keep rockin!

[@musicinsession]

Mann I just found this channel by chance... This is hands down my favourite mixing/producing channel! It's like watching a TV show and it is everything Nail the Mix should have been! Focused and to the point!!

[@Marin-nn1bg]

Great hints. Thanks

[@Carryusaway_]

Sounds amazing Joey thanks

[@jmwicked]

Reaper "licensed for personal/small business use", eh ? 😅

[@luisendymion9080]

Good catch lol

[@videogamecoverss]

shhhhhh ;)

[@carlhands4686]

Awesome tips. Thanks man.

[@yellowdudewithedibleshorts]

This is pure gold man

[@soundleague]

The song you featured in this video is BANGER! Very Scandinavian melodic style, love it.

[@wyrlismike]

Great channel, my new favorite place to check out with a cup of joe

[@user-dq7oh1ih3b]

I learn more in the 9 minutes your video last, than in years trying wrong ideas, SUPER GREAT VIDEO.

[@shredseeker8420]

Man, Sturgis is the frikkin god of metal mixing and tone. Toneforge Jeff Loomis changed my life. And this video was a game changer for my guitar sound, not just the double/quad tracking but also the use of atmospheric cleans and the use of effects to create texture. We bow in awe.

[@TheWizardArtist]

I love the tone you achieve with the guitar, it reminds me a lot of Cathedral! Cheers!

[@dvddymusic]

Fantastic Video! Thank you!

[@TheGlitterMovement]

Please make more of these. Like... so many. I'll give you a hug and a free song.

[@voronOsphere]

Helpful Lesson! Thanks!!!

[@gitarman666]

Great vid one of the best I’ve seen regarding multiple guitar tracking! As a studio and touring guitarist first from the late 70s hard rock 80s glam,metal and virtuoso and still playing I have always struggled with getting that big sound with separation definition and clarity God knows I have everything from radial for RE-amping, axe Fx and every plug-in emulator available, Ox box, Torpedo, tons of vintage heads and cabs some great mics But no goddamn patience! I’m also very interested in this Mutt Lange technique Thanks

[@unknownkreator1295]

Nice video! Very helpful 👌👌

[@RussellFeatherstone]

Lots of good tips here!

[@carriefingsolomon]

This was so helpful. I was wondering about quadruple layering in choruses too, and now I’m excited to do it and alter the tone a bit. Thanks!

[@joeymusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BJPriceMusic]

Do you hard pan all the tracks? Do you ever do like 80% left and right for specific stuff? Always was curious about that.

[@pogo_369]

Great Video!! Thank You!

[@metalheadblues]

This is AMAZING!

[@domigrin4886]

You‘re awesome! Thank you!

[@yaoguangtang1759]

So good tutorial video.

[@aiRxShop]

Some of my favorite guitar layering is what Ken Andrew’s did on Failure’s Fantastic Planet… so good.

[@thelostboymusic]

Excellent - thank you

[@MelaMindfreak13]

REALLY COOL VIDEO!

[@kshitijk14]

These were some cool tips!!

[@timmy_team_6285]

Nice video! Trying to break into metal production and this helps alot. There are plenty of techniques I've used dozens and dozens of times before but its nice to see them being repeated here. Thanks!

[@joeymusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pauliedibbs9028]

I never thought of processing my FX post-record on the DI... Thank you!

[@throughmists]

Great info here, for sure

[@ZeroaddoneMusic]

The lead guitar section was SUPER useful - thanks Joey! I'd been struggling with lead guitars so this helps give me a little bit of a foundation to come up with something unique. Thanks again!

[@joseferro1432]

Wow! Thank you for this GREAT video! This opened my ears to create better-sounding guitars in my songs. Mucho Thanks!!

[@AhmetWinchester]

What would I do without these videos... But Joey, could you maybe do a video about the important balance between the Bass and guitars (especially in the more heavy-ish genres)? "The key to a great guitar tone, is the bass" is a quote I think I once heard in one of the many URM Academy videos on YT

[@manugentoodrums]

Joey the Legend!

[@djskab3800]

Dat kul man 👌🏻

[@PooNinja]

The thickening 🤘🏽

[@KiraPlaysGuitar]

Thanks dude.

[@tobiaswhelan20]

I totally forgot that the amount of layers affect the size of the overall mix. I feel dumb after that one but this will help me so much!

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

Using that high end Gio. Nice👌

[@amidcossio3508]

a goldmine!

[@sadip_st]

Hey man,really loved your way. Could you please explain that rhythm section chop in a brief. Thanks.

[@Afurthyclays]

This man speaks fcking truth to power! 🤘

[@brianleechee]

Thank you for the info! When quad tracking, do you hard pan guitars 3 and 4? Or do you bring them inward more? Maybe even expanded further out? Or do they sit on top of the already hard panned guitars 1 and 2? Thank you!

[@Palm9797]

the song itself is amazing

[@Momointvland]

I’d be interested to see how you would mix a indie rock band.

[@LostSaga777]

I love u joey !

[@Mylastday666]

I love guitar left high end thinner, right guitar high end like thinner, duplicate left and right then make the guitars more thick mid range and blend them in all together. 100/100 high end 76/76 thick end. 🤘

[@proddreamatnight]

The single note chord building, insaneeee

[@boarderking133]

Read: lazy guitar technique

[@papageorgio]

sweet thank ya

[@samuelbassani1845]

Awesome video! Btw, how do you do that mouse selection around 1:45?

[@jedigarrett142]

I always quad track my rythem guitar tracks for the chorus and then double track in the verse

[@Kryptonian.oficial]

The master of production ! Thanks for all.

[@glenmcenroe1873]

When do you decide to track mono and track sterio ? Does it depend on the project / song your working on or is there another aspect to it ?

[@luxuriousfir]

Gold

[@charlesrocks]

Joey giving away all the secrets.

[@Landeux]

Awesome! Quick question! If you have 2 guitarist doing different riffs, do you double them, hard pan? Then merge and Pan those 2 performances L R?

[@ZacharyDial]

8:57 - That man right there is a God among men

[@MATIX720]

This is gold! 🤘😁 and... that's reaper? What skin? 😯

[@grantahart]

Please make Toneforge available on the M1 chips! 😫

[@carterbryantbanks]

Man, I really gotta stop watching your videos while I’m on a timeline…now I gotta go quad-track a chorus 😢

[@acklin83]

I'd like a tutorial on how you setup reaper to be so pretty!

[@Whamesl0l]

How would you go about panning the guitars where there is 2 distinct guitar parts? Such as harmony guitar riffs etc? I get the double track each guitar and pan L+R but how would this work for harmonies that are panned L+R without having both parts of the harmony in both ears? Hopefully I've explained this well enough 😅

[@80Facepalm08]

The man the legend the vst plug-in...

[@stephenfell4338]

The double track performance dropping back a few ms with different mics were to I buy this from?

[@CFox.7]

Anyone know what Reaper theme this is ?

[@lusiouse]

are all of the pannings hard left and right ? for leads also?? thanks

[@user-hr1rw7zy4i]

great video especially about the tape/foam - any products on the market for this?

[@stateofchrysalis5483]

Gruv gear sells stuff for $20 or more, but I've found that a velcro cable tie with the loop side on the strings does the same job, and you can get a huge roll of them for the same price. But the specialized products are more aesthetically pleasing. Don't forget the tremolo springs as well.

[@arsenije_wav8620]

Most of these tips are amazing, but I'm really against hyper-polishing a mix. Takes should not have to be cut up that much to be acceptable and line up

[@cultistsash]

I feel like it comes down to the musician at that point.

[@jomesias]

Yep I feel the same! Editing is a shortcut for not getting the takes right. Unfortunately, this is how records are produced nowadays 🥲🥲

[@DennisRyan27]

That’s just not true, I can play every part I write but can I do it perfectly like a machine ? This technique is to get perfection , if you don’t want a perfect take and want a more natural feel don’t edit . Of course the less editing the better the player needs to be but it all comes down to how perfect you want it. I like my recordings to sound like I’m a robot 😎

[@theneighborguy]

Fair point, but another is what sound are you going for? A live garage band vibe or a tight production? Both are valid.

[@SilverDaysFail]

Dope

[@captainhaydenpeterson]

Wait, was that “All My Life” by Attack Attack! I heard?? 👀

[@brianbaugusmusic]

Do you pan the quad track guitars hard L and R or are you off setting a pair to like 75% or something?

[@JayOneAlumni]

How did you get reaper to look like that? I have the same theme I think but your colours are more vibrant

[@Ottoni174]

2:47 is this attack attack? sounds like a riff from the newer ep

[@peteroxx]

Do you double track at once or in separate takes?? Or phase cancel issue?

[@Windiguana]

What theme are you using in Reaper?

[@chubbynut_0g]

I heard that Attack Attack riff ;)))

[@humbertosaccol6441]

How do you make this gradient color tracks???

[@stephenfell4338]

What is the name of the mic SIM unit did you say tunforge

[@guitarcleveland]

How come when I record guitars they sound terrible and quiet hard panned left and right, but sound good when panned like 75% or less?

[@DommoDommo]

The quad tracking sounded so good, every time I try it, it seems to thin out the sound significantly. I noticed yours were called OCTAVE L/R are they just pushed up 12 semitones or are they actually played an octave above?

[@Rendydany]

you can use the exact same DI and lower it by 1 octave then apply the same fx chain with a bit of variation

[@EnvisionedBlindness]

I would pay money for a start to finish recording and mixing/editing tutorial from joey. Is that already a thing anywhere..?

[@joeymusic]

Yes look up Studio Pass on Creative Live

[@fuzzypanocha]

Man i cant find it anywhere and i dont know.where i heard it but if you record at center and then pan after doesnt that cause a loss in definition. Shouldnt you record at 100 percent left and after that record again at 100.percent right

[@ozzynotwood]

Is there a link to the song @ 8:29?

[@bboymac84]

Hey Joey! How you been?

[@jose.a.r.1031]

Anybody know the song around 7:58? Melodic stuff!

[@chrise229]

For me the biggest challenge when it comes to double tracked guitars is mono compatibility. For some reason my guitars seem to disappear in mono, even when they sound very different. I know I'm not alone with this, many people seem to have the same issue on forums. When I switch to mono, suddenly the snare and the vocals jump out waaay too much. Any advice?

[@ajs787]

My understanding is it's kind of the nature of the beast. Panloss settings can affect this from what I've heard. But a surprising amount of professional tracks disappear in mono. Listen to your favorite metal tracks and see how they do in mono. It's actually quite surprising. Another thing you can do is switch out what cabinet you're using for each track, which is really only possible if you're doing it with amp sims like Joey. Another thing to keep in mind: the vast majority of people are going to be listening to the song stereo.

[@ajs787]

Pan law was what I meant

[@armfourteen]

Thank u Joey for this! I'm just starting out to this whole recording thing and I would like to ask if the DAW being used here is Reaper?

[@itsokaytobenormal3695]

It is, reaper is dope

[@armfourteen]

@@itsokaytobenormal3695 thank u!

[@fjd_666]

What reaper pitch algorithm are you using for stretching the DIs?

[@RedSheap]

Reapitch

[@firmans12]

Anyone knows how to get the floating mixer like in 1:55?

[@jmwicked]

right click on the mixer dock thumbnail... uncheck "dock mixer in docker" 😉