Recording Guitars | Tips For Writing Guitar Instrumentals.

[@seanemmettfullerton]

Bless you! Shawn... soooo very generous, good sir :) You're our best-kept secret guitarist-super versatile, touch sensitive, and tone tone tone for days 🙏

[@jayseb]

With respect. This is much more interesting than equipment reviews. As I love to record, fantastic view of your bubble. Thanks for this.

[@aerialfocus]

Thanks for sharing your expertise and always stunning playing!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks very much for watching!

[@foryoubrotherdotnet]

Man, I'm glad I found your KZbin channel!!!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much, John!

[@GuitarPlanetVideos]

Great stuff Shawn, thank you

[@JohnCoughlan_JAC]

Awesome, I learned a lot, thanks for sharing!

[@DavidFeilyMusic]

Thanks for this awesome video! Seeing your process is very cool!

[@PIPA1302]

I love your playing Shawn , greetings from Spain

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much, Pablo, you're very kind indeed!

[@PIPA1302]

@@ShawnTubbs my pleasure man¡¡¡¡ i'm learning a lot, thanks

[@gagapavlovic]

Great tips man,subscribed,cheers from Serbia:)

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much for watching and for subscribing!!

[@gbfusion]

I have a growing appreciation for the differences between writing an instrumental guitar song and a song based around lyrics. Different universes. This video is a great resource. Thanks for sharing your process.

[@jameslugo]

Great video Shawn. I’m a superior drummer guy but have never really got into the premade loops in it. I’m gonna experiment.

[@keithshapiro]

Coming back to this one again, dayum! This is so bad ass!

[@kengoodman7719]

Completely bad ass! Great!

[@edmoss2020]

As always great stuff man, thanks for showing this.. very informative 👍

[@irondavebennett8635]

Just recently subbed thanks to KB. The last riff starting at 1:22 really caught my interest with the harm swell and precise shred ending up high and then stretched. Wicked, excellent and out of the box tasteful. Unexpected makes for great appeal. Cool vid Shawn, love the tips, will definitely try some. Cheers!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@bernybernstein]

1:24. I’m dying here Shawn. OMG. Awesome timing on the whammy. You are such an artist.🙏🙏🙏🙏 for all good things for your career. All the best for 2021 and beyond

[@voronOsphere]

Nice and Thanks!!!!

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Right up my street, gutted I didn't spot this post earlier, as I am subscribed.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!

[@MarkKirbyMusic]

Thank you for doing this Shawn!

[@Georgio594]

Great informative video Shawn! Thank you for your generosity.

[@MychaelAllenMusic]

Great video bro! I've been thinking about switching to EZ drummer for doing this same kinda thing myself and you've just confirmed it.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much! I think EZ drummer is best for what I do. It just sounds great right out of the box.

[@kennsmith]

You are my new guitar hero, lol. Love your stuff, can’t wait till you put out a full LP.

[@rtosborne4]

What the heck happened at 1:29?? That was absolutely insane!! Great info as always, Shawn! Thanks for sharing!

[@AZFunk]

Awesome insights Shawn!

[@daniellesaux6152]

Wow! Keeping the DAW on record and just noodling, walking away for fifteen minutes and then sorting ideas out. What a great tip and concept! I'm going to try this. I've always wondered how you came up with such interesting riffs and song structures. Really inspirational. I'm so grateful that you shared this with us. Thanks a bunch Shawn!

[@DanielSeriffMusic]

Thanks Shawn! You are the man. Love your stuff.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

What in the world @ 1:30?? That was insane! You're the man, Shawn 😎

[@MichaelWilson-ri9pn]

Love this video man. So helpful. Thanks

[@jammer777]

Thanks for taking the time to share this. I just found you and subscribed. Awesome playing and good detailed info. Rock on.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much for subscribing! I put some time into this video for sure and it means a lot to me that you took the time to watch!

[@danielhurtuk6203]

Great video! Thanks.

[@jeremyversusjazz]

shawn’s lines are so mesmerizing i tend to overlook his insane sense of time. when he put the click on then immediately made it disappear in the groove it reminded me how deep his timefeel is which is a huge part of what makes his lines and comping so cool.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!

[@jeremyversusjazz]

@@ShawnTubbs yeah brother…your playing and tone are really inspiring. your playing is also intimidating. love to see you do a record with a killer bass player and drummer with longer form tunes to really blow over! im pretty sure every sub will buy it! 👊

[@roscoepcoltrane23]

Excellent video.

[@guitfiddleblue]

Man! That beginning song is killer!

[@TheGuitarnut]

Thanks Shawn, great stuff.

[@jamesjerniganmusic]

Awesome info Shawn, thanks!

[@masque1313]

thanks for this video. it was very interesting to see your work process.

[@MarkFromHawaii]

Nice one Shawn. I have EZ Drummer2 with the Latin pack. But for 90% of my drum tracks I use MT PowerDrum Kit2 from Manda Audio - free. If I have to make custom beats, I open up the Anvil Studio midi editor - also free. If I record keyboards or horns I just plug in the output of my guitar synth into my audio interface. I've been thinking of writing out the keyboard and horn parts in MuseSccore - you got it, free. I like good stuff that's free. 😂

[@jacquesbureau5294]

Great video! Very informative and well done. Like you say. keep it simple.

[@ChrisBucheit]

So great Shawn, thanks for sharing!

[@edward4670]

great video, been looking for this kind of information... thanks for sharing all this knowledge

[@derrylgabel]

Shawn, just found you. Instant fan!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!

[@rodiebobwilliams1330]

Yoice, from the early eighties always a recording device from cassetes, to mixers,4 tracs, 8 tracks, 24 tracks and so on, to the digital.. I think music for the musician is pieces, parts, waiting for the arranger to show up in you or someone else. Lol.. Noice content Mr Tubbs!

[@HansJohansson]

Great video!!! Love your playing!

[@jegl1012]

Very insightful Shawn. Thanks for posting...yup I use EZ Drummer too.

[@JC_Walker]

thanks for the video Shawn!!

[@gusbarros]

Great tone, great playing, great tips, great video!

[@Weily_Alcequiez]

great lesson and tips! thank you

[@CraigRMerriman]

Thank you Shawn! Always great content.

[@rsi1964]

Such a great video! Amazing detail, but so practical. Too point out the obvious, Shawn is the real deal. Chops, feel, crazy tight rhythm, and musicality.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!!

[@wesleyfletcher7654]

This is absolutely amazing! Thank you!

[@KurtLeBlanc]

Wonderful demo! Well appreciated!!

[@halfemptyful]

Great stuff as always! I really appreciate you talking through your process.

[@theishing1]

Thank you Shawn for sharing your knowledge and experience that you have gathered over the years of playing.

[@danman9510]

Saw you in the acoustic session with STP in the 90s : fantastic !

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much! Yeah, that was an awesome experience.

[@danman9510]

Shawn Tubbs this is so great man ! You are already so dazzling without knowing this. Here it’s history ! That acoustic live is awesomeness beyond awesome

[@DeathMetalGuitar]

shawn tubbs awesomeness! @4:54 sounds a little like Back in Black if Angus knew how to play outside😝😝 Well done sir!!

[@craigingrammusic]

Man, I love geeking out on this stuff. Thank so you so much for sharing this, Shawn. I'd love to see more of these type vids.Great content!

[@simonealbanese2]

Like having Scott Henderson, playing for Stone Temple Pilots, after spending his summer in Nashville, i mean, top of the top. I can't believe how this channel isn't just exploding like crazy. Just an incredible musician.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Well, you are very kind indeed sir to place me in the company of the likes of Scott Henderson. I love STP and I've actually played with them back in the day on MTV unplugged. It's one of my most treasured experiences! Thanks again so much for your kind words.

[@danielhornbeck6588]

I appreciate this video so much. I've returned to it many times. Something that just occurred to me: You said your miked closet amp is good for a close-miked sound, but could you apply a room IR to it? Thank you!

[@ShawnTubbs]

You could absolutely do that!

[@JLP-333]

Awesome. I just hooked up a 2nd OX Box, and my Morley ABC Pro is making everything sound not great.. what splitter do use/recommend? Thanks

[@JacksGuitarTrax]

I just started doing some product demos in addition to my normal KZbin stuff and this video was a revelation. Being able to streamline my writing and recording process for stuff like this was huge. Thank you so much!

[@bluwavdave]

Wow, thanks Shawn for this terrific video. Seeing your process really helps me refine my own! Thanks again! BTW, great playing!

[@keithshapiro]

The last sentence really makes the most sense. Creative mobility without a complicated set of obstacles and the end result is always good. Great video Shawn! Great tunes too! There's a great guitar lesson in every video you put out. I try to lift something each time. ;)

[@DaleBoyle]

Insightful video Shawn! Nice getting a sense of your recording process, mixing, etc. :)

[@pickngrimace2726]

Whether I ever use any of the info you presented is unimportant - I just enjoyed your presentation and the music you play. All your videos are great and I always look forward to hearing new ones as you put them online.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much for watching Peter! I appreciate the kind words.

[@SplintersWorld]

Excellent - Great to see behind the curtain. cheers

[@kengoodman7719]

Sounds lots like Michael Landaou (sp?).

[@gulfsidestudios3995]

This is a great video! Love to see the thought processes through the whole song. Just curious as to what program you use to do the screen capture stuff with your video in the upper right?

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks! I use Canon 70d Cameras for all of my shots.

[@robertshamansky1912]

Thank you!

[@brentreid7290]

Thanks for the insight and the "behind the Scenes" look at your process. Very informative and enlightening, and picked up several pointers I can start using immediately. Drag and drop.. exactly!! Thanks and again enjoy what your doing here.

[@mattschmidt9300]

Shawn, are you still using OwnHammer IRs when you're not using a cab? What IR, specifically?

[@ShawnTubbs]

I like OwnHammer IR's for sure but I've been very happy with the IR's in my UA OX.

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

Fantastic presentation Shawn. I really enjoyed this one!

[@JosteinChrAndersen]

Good stuff!

[@vitoleo7197]

Yes, fantastic, interesting, useful. And what a great playing Shawn, as always....

[@YeatzeeGuitar]

More tips on how to play outside the box please 😅

[@thelonetwangster]

This is pure information. I always struggle to make guitar tracks that sound good together without cluttering the mix. I usually find the drums first, then bass (you say your's needs all the help it can get, mine is on life support by comparison - root notes and don't get fancy...) followed by 5 tracks (at least...😂) of guitar - plus every idea that I hear in my mind's ear and shoehorning in that sneaky lick I that I copped from that YT dude Tubbs' last vid - without really analysing where they should go...You just demonstrated how to make all the parts breathe...thats a masterclass. Groovy man, more please.

[@davidsisto7694]

Record everything in mono!!!! This was cool to hear as many fellow players give me grief for doing this. I never thought any other way was needed....especially recording in a resonant room. Great insight on your approach and love your playing. I sometimes follow a similar process but a recent project has me develop a riff first which inspires the melody for laying it down on acoustic first. That's the template that kicks off creating layers of rhythm playing for the song...the actual melody. Currently am recording material with just chords played via atmospheric reverb...long delay and wet. I will say that the SA Ventris delivers endless options for atmospheric landscapes and are "Rick Wright inspired". From there, I layer usually just one solo w/ the same guitar......occasional pieces(with different tone) are added if the inspiration and "musicality" are a good pair to add to the song Recent acquisitions of some new pedals boosted the creativity from the last couple years.

[@ChrisArlesMusic]

all great !!!

[@marshallx1162]

dope playing

[@kxmrock]

Your Bass Playing Killer Too Me

[@boblstclair4023]

A lot of valuable info for sure ! But for me the money came early on when you talked about walking away for 15 minutes. Duh..why didn't I know that automatically ?? Now I understand why at times I lose all objectivity and creativity because I find myself trying to fight through a bad idea...being married to it. I'm kinda embarrassed to write this but I wanted you to know your efforts are bearing fruit. Thanks

[@smellytele9629]

Great vid, very informative, thanks for posting it. And as always, great playing. How do you approach getting those "outside" phrases? They are very ear catching, really nice.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much! I've put up some licks videos that go into that subject!

[@smellytele9629]

@@ShawnTubbs I found them, thanks! I'm actually transcribing them. If you want I can send them to you as PDF's for you to share. Thanks again for all of the great content!

[@bwall615]

That Bass tone is what I strive for in most of the recordings I do. Could you talk about your bass chain?

[@perryguitar1]

Damn, you sound great, Sir! ;-)

[@semilivesixstringstrumist5595]

This is what digital has done to artist. If its written in a day, It sounds like it.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks for watching guy. I wasn't exactly trying to reinvent the song wheel with an idea that is less than 90 seconds long. I was just trying to consolidate a couple of ideas into one video. Be sure and hit that like button and subscribe grandpa!!

[@jefflittle4427]

Your bass sound and playing is sweet. Are you using a Fender P-Bass with flats and going into your Chandler direct?..smile. Your guitar licks with harmonies, remind me of Phil Keaggy in his early years. You are the most fun guitarist for me to transcribe, as your solos and lick seem to transfer to many styles...blues, country, jazz-fusion, rock, etc.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks! I'm actually using an MM Fender Jazz bass that has an incredibly dead set of strings on it!

[@jefflittle4427]

Shawn, I played a jazz for years and loved it. I did buy a Fatboy DI based on a buddy in your hometown that recommended one, based on top players always bringing one in their gig bag. Yep, even makes my cheap Schecter sound good, but does wonders for a p-bass. Now, I will have to find time to transcribe the juicy licks in this video...smile. I usually use Guitar Pro for your transcriptions, but lately you have so much info for us, I am using staff-tab paper like the old days.

[@garrettmalone1420]

Did you record all guitar tracks with the OX?

[@ShawnTubbs]

Yes, everything.

[@earlmergelsberg6127]

Thanks for doing this Shawn you are the man! Question, If you have a recorded mono guitar signal then you pan it left how do you the delay to pan to the right? Thanks

[@ShawnTubbs]

You can bus or send the incoming audio on a mixer channel to several different inputs. So in this case the incoming guitar signal has been sent to the input of a delay.

[@earlmergelsberg6127]

Thanks man got it!

[@LyndonWesleyMusic]

I cannot wait to sit down with a glass of red and geek out on this!

[@giancarlopaolini7529]

Thanks Shawn for sharing ...oh that Ox ....it seems doing magics ...now I'm intrigued by the combination offered by some new Synergy modules that I've seen are in the pipeline (Bogner and Friette and why not Steve Vai) plus the Captor X and its WOS ...I got already a number of Two Notes cabs from previous TN devices and I'm keen to give this combination a try now. You demoed both Synergy and Two Notes so if you have any chance to put that in place for sure much earlier than I do it would be a real gift. Oh by the way ...this song in thos video is superb ...in its concept, composition and your touch through the various segments ...great stuff ! :-)

[@DanielSeriffMusic]

OX for the win!

[@ericmichel]

so much finesse !

[@PooNinja]

Pan out effects to opposing sides nice tip ... ya gotta keep em separated. 🤘🏽

[@darlenesheffield9835]

That's the Produce Like A Pro trick! I've seen you there Poo! LOL!

[@PooNinja]

Darlene Sheffield everywhere all the time 👍🏽🤣

[@jakollee]

I'm completely in awe! Thanks for this look inside your writing/recording process, incredibly illuminating! I knew right away when I heard the B section that it was magical, but hearing that 12-string track by itself, and then hearing it again in the mix, was truly mind-blowing (for me anyway). All your video types (gear demos, outside lick lessons, recording tips, etc.) are great, please keep 'em coming. (And think about Demolition Vol. 2, pretty please?)

[@normjones6916]

Yes keep tracking simple, sounds good groove ! The ir sounds is being printed right ?

[@DanielSeriffMusic]

Yes. That's how the OX works.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much! Yes, the signal from the OX is printed.

[@JoePesce]

Great tutorial Shawn!!! Are you treating your drum tracks at all? It didn't look like you have any compression or eq on them.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks, Joe! There's no treatment on the drums but within the EZ drummer software, there are some things you can do with regards to room ambiance and compression.

[@SamuraiGTR]

Thank you very much for this video !! Great content for sure !! Quick question. Which version of Pro Tools and Mac OS do you use ? Please let me know.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much! I'm using Pro Tools 12 and Mac High Sierra.

[@frankcorcoran9619]

Nice

[@profpatison]

Thanks for this peak into your kitchen, Shawn, a lot of useful info there. I have a question regarding the OX (I use it as well, it's a great tool): What outputs do you you use? The S/PDIF or the 6,3 jacks? And if the latter, do you use both outputs ( L + R) or just one? You mentioned you record mono and I've noticed you have all the microphone faders panned hard left, so does that mean you send your signal just through the L out? Thanks.

[@ShawnTubbs]

I just use the line outs because I'm old school. I used just the left side out and keep everything panned to the left.

[@profpatison]

@@ShawnTubbs Thanks for this little hack. As trivial as it may seem, I could never figure out why the sound from the headphone out on the OX is better and bigger that the sound in my DAW. I was using just one cable (left side out) BUT the mikes weren't all panned to the left so I was losing some signal there. I solved it by running two cables out (left and right) but than the recordings were just stereo. So now I can choose whether to record mono (with multiple guitar takes) or stereo (when there's just one guitar and I wanna spread the sound a bit). Sorry for the longer post but maybe some other user of OX will benefit from it, too.

[@ShawnTubbs]

@@profpatison That's great! On the rare occasion, I do record in stereo, I've got stereo rigs saved and just switch to them.

[@rudiekazu]

Cant wait to try a couple ideas ....and his delays

[@Thecrush145]

This is very helpful Shawn. I appreciate the simplicity of what you share. 2 questions. #1-How do you keep the multiple delays from "taking over" the overall mix and making it muddy? #2- do you play to the delays when laying the track to keep inspiration, timing and a host of other benefits or do you drop it all in after? Thanks again......

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks for watching. In general, the delays are always panned with the guitars and are rather subtle on the rhythm tracks and more apparent on the solos. I almost always monitor with delays "on" during tracking and then adjust in post. I very seldom print or track delays "off the cone" unless I'm sure I'm going to be happy with the placement and levels.

[@richardpenhardt6100]

i am organically unable to use all your info. however just allowing your tutorial to roll out was effective. alot of work much appreciated.