Let’s talk dynamics! My vibrato, where to pick? And more.

[@michaelbuchanan3212]

Killing me with your solo. Just beautiful.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Michael, cheers 👍

[@gwbuilder5779]

Great tips Paul.👌 Every guitar has a unique response to the attack on each string. Of course, electrics will react to the intensity of the string vibration in reference to how close or far way from the active pick-up you are and whether you are in front or behind each pick-up, not to mention how sensitive each pick-up is and the tone woods of each guitar. Acoustics have a similar response, but it is the sound board or top of the guitar and the relative position in relation to the sound hole. If you have a pick-up it will also depend upon whether it is a saddle, under-saddle, piezo, mic, sound hole, or other type of pick-up being used. However, where you pick or pluck the string will cause that string to react in relationship to how close or far away from the fret and or bridge because the length of the string will dramatically affect how that string is going to vibrate. If you pick in the center where the distance between touching points (bridge and fretted string) are equal, the sound will be loudest or the string will be allowed to vibrate the greatest amount, but as you change where you pick that string the reaction and vibration will no longer be equal and the response will actually be affected in multiple ways. I know I'm getting a bit technical, but it will actually expand the possibilities of sound you can make just with the technique you are describing. Foe example: As you play closer to the bridge, the rises in pitch as well as creating a tighter clinking type of response, if you try the same thing by picking closer to the fretted end of the string the response is not the same because you are both farther away from the pick-up and on the other side of it. Using the volume and tone controls will also add new dimensions to the creative process as well. It is curious how just playing slightly in front of or behind the active pick-up can also provide subtle sound changes as well. All part of learning each guitar we play and finding out their individual personality.😉 Vibrato is like the absence of a note. As we develop and become seasoned musicians, we begin to understand and recognize if and when a note is needed. You mentioned it briefly and it really is the key to vibrato in its entirety. Does this sound even need vibrato or a bend for that matter? Whitney Houston is a beautiful example of holding a note just long enough to actually create the need to slowly introduce a very discrete movement that builds into its own beautiful moment. One of the most powerful tools we have as musicians is the patience and discretion of when or if something is needed. Is a note needed in this moment? Does it need to be left out? Should it stand alone, proud, all by itself? A touch of bend? More? A lot more? What about vibrato? A little? Speed it up? Take it slow? Shake the hell out of it? Discretion is a very powerful thing, but it only come with time and experience. We can always learn how someone else plays, but if we don't pay attention to why they are doing what they do, we are missing out on the most important thing. What reaction are they searching for? What feeling are they trying to draw from the listener? Vibrato and bending are both tools of emotion. When you want that slow, deep, pull of emotion. You are going to slowly pull that string and get it to cry just the right amount for as high or however long until the emotion pulls the listener in close. Do you feel it? You are right right there on the edge of your heartstrings anticipating the next movement, anxiously awaiting what next. That's how you use vibrato.😉 Cheers.🍻🤙

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Some great ideas and tips in your comment GW! Cheers mate

[@petedunning_SG]

Your touch is amazing, Paul...

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Pete. Appreciated

[@OneForTheNorth]

Picking up a guitar for the first time at the near tender age of 40, videos like yours keep the interest going. Love the content, thanks!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Delighted you like my little videos. Cheers 🍻

[@Taffafilms]

The tones you get with the bends, doblestops, disonances, killer vibrato, perfect amount of amp distorsion, tone etc its unreal and really expressive...

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you TaffaFilms, I’m delighted you like my playing. Cheers 🍻

[@glenlapwing8468]

I’m so glad you addressed this Paul, so many inexperienced players need to know this is how you get your own voice -look for all the sweet spots on your guitar & learn vibrato without shaking your whole arm. Well done

[@mikeb5372]

Lol.. I refer to them as neck shakers. Another thing I see too often are people vibratoing chords at every rest taking what would otherwise be a beautifully intonated sustained chord and ruining it with vibrato

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Glad you liked the vid Glen, cheers 👍

[@LeeMcDaidDonegal]

Paul Kossoff's vibrato on his solo from the live version of 'Fire And Water' is simply glorious! (It's here on youtube - "The Beat Club") .. as is Angus Youngs vibrato on both his solos from the Live version of 'The Jack' (On "If You Want Blood: You Got it"). Thanks for another very interesting talk/lesson, Paul.

[@philippehendrickx1109]

Fantastic intro and valuable lesson, Paul. Thank you so much! ☺️

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

My pleasure, cheers for watching 👍

[@ivanrosemusic]

Would love a short video discussing vibrato while bending specifically. Yours really sings! Maybe the specific technique mechanics, action of the the wrist, arm/wrist angle for leverage, fingers, thumb, what sensations to focus on, etc

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Ivan, that’s a fair idea for a video….. I’ll give that some serious thought. Cheers for watching 👍

[@walkinginharmony]

There's a lot in this video Paul. It made me think. When you say Kossoff/Stevie Ray play it like they mean it I realise that I throw out a Kossoff lick but don't "mean" it. I play the lick but I need to perform the lick even if it is just me alone in the room. I need to make very note count and pay attention to it. That's what elevates our playing. Keep up the good work mate.

[@frankbolam7812]

Thank you Paul for another fantastic video’s, every one a winner. Best wishes from Glasgow 👍❤️🎶🎼🎸

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Cheers as always Frank 👍

[@gratata.enchilada]

that intro was superb

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you gratata 👍

[@cannavan1]

Some great tips there Paul . Beautifully illustrated as usual .

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Cannavan, appreciated

[@petergoddard1960]

Excellent stuff on this, Paul. Touch is the cornerstone and you just have to put in the hours to get there. I agree confidence is a big part of it, but again, that comes from the work you put in. Loved this one.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Peter! I also smiled when I read your reply to someone else’s comment, about me getting better at a faster rate than you’re improving, hence you’re going backwards 🤣. I’m sure it’s not true but it made me smile. And thank you my friend, it’s appreciated.

[@grantbuchanan3616]

Bloody marvellous video Paul, thank you!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Grant! Cheers

[@robhead22]

I love your lessons!! But i love your playing more! You are a poet on guitar!!!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Rob, I’m delighted to read such a nice comment. Cheers 🍻

[@jltrem]

In 1966 I had a rented sunburst Silvertone acoustic in my possession in order to take my first guitar lessons. I remember being amazed how the tone of the guitar changed depending on where I strummed the strings.

[@bongoslade1542]

pretty fancy stuff there -thanks

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Paul 😊

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Aminahmed 🍻

[@johnthursfield3056]

Loved the intro, not often I don't.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you John 👍

[@davidallman653]

Paul for a second I thought that you had discovered (and were about to play) Larry Carlton's "Burnable." Yes? if not check it out - there are some great vids of Larry with RF playing this one.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

You’re onto me 🤣. Yes, Burnable is exactly what I was imitating, albeit just momentarily. I just love watching Larry and Robben trade licks. Just wonderful 🙏

[@bozzy9887]

Hi Paul. Loved the intro. Is there a scale i can be working on to get similar runs like you get. I am subscribed & i will not go away. Cheers from South Australia.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Hi Bozzy. Delighted you liked the scales I’m using. The answer to your question is Yes. In this video I’m using a bit of “half / whole step”. That takes things in an exotic Middle Eastern direction. I’m also using diminished licks frequently. If you type my name into KZbin followed by “scales” or “dimished”, you’ll see a couple of vids where I break this down 😊

[@neilhawkins1]

I know what you are saying,thank you (again!)

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Cheers Neil

[@Saladzingers]

Your vibrato is wild. It sounds qualitative - it doesn’t even sound like a pitch alteration, it sounds like some sort of… wah? Envelope filter?! What I don’t understand is: you can’t vibrate the pitch lower than the standard fretted note. Mine sounds like I’m sharpening and normalising the note - yours is so smooth it barely sounds like a pitch change at all!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Saladzingers, I appreciate that 🍻

[@michaelroberts7044]

Redhouse by hendrix has some good vibrato examples 👌

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Absolutely!

[@davidharvey8812]

😳That LP sound 😮👌🏼🙏🏼

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Glad you like it. Cheers David

[@mooseymoose]

Jim Camplilongo was doing an interview where he did a little extra cheese opera singer vibrato when he was describing it. I died laughing. LaAaAaAaAaAaA!!!!!

[@johndodson4527]

Lawdylawdy.

[@stratpod]

see you and that feckin aladdin music 🤬 heheheh Aye it's all about the touch. That's what i notice about my own playing .Now i don't play so much. It's annoyingly clumsy, which pisses me off so then i shove the guitar away again. Unless you put the practice in it's not going to get any better, never mind refining your own sound . Struggling to make myself do as i say, but to any of you young budding guitar players out there, there's no quick fix or shortcuts, you just need to put the hour's in, stick at it and one day you'll be nearly as good as Uncle Paul 😃

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

“Aladdin music”….!🤣. I laughed out loud there Charlie. And you’re right, it’s definitely going in that middle eastern direction….

[@stratpod]

@@paulstaffordcook8799 😜

[@Movealongtherebuddy]

You'd have to have been born with no ears to not like that intro. Carry on Mr. Cook

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Well I’m delighted you liked it! Cheers man 👍

[@eoinsmith422]

Bad vibrato sounds like Joan Baez vibrato. Makes you feel nervous and uncomfortable :)

[@JohnJarvis-d8n]

As always… Superb! 👏

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks man, always appreciated 👍