Of interest to guitarists only

[dwenius]

• Technique stuff:



That trick where you put really, really heavy strings-- as in, buy a normal set of strings, throw away the high E, move every string up a notch, and buy a single .58 or so for the low E-- on the guitar, then tune down a half step or whole step to make the strings a little bit less like bridge cables? It sounds fantastic, but it will chew the tips off of your fingers in no time flat. I can't decide if I want to leave a guitar strung this way or not. Note well, we will have no discussion, at this time, of the obvious solution of procuring an additional guitar to string this way. That way lies madness.




Ted Greene's Chord Chemistry and Modern Chord Progressions will break your brain. Then, they will break your hands. Nonetheless, I highly recommend them to beginners and advanced students alike. I don't know that I've ever seen so many of those little guitar chord symbols in one place; I suspect that the reason so much tablature on the internet sucks is because Mr. Greene used up this universe's allotment of chords in creating these books. 20 pages on the I (iii or vi) ii V I progression? In ONE KEY? Oh, my head.



• Pimping gear:



Strings I like a lot: I have started using DR strings exclusively on both my acoustic and electric guitars. I used to use D'addarios and Dean Markleys, but I've found that the DRs stay bright and flexible for significantly longer. Maybe I've gotten better with my right hand technique, and maybe I've been changing strings more often, but I haven't broken a DR string yet. They also seem to bend easier and farther than other strings at the same gauge.




Strings I LOVE LOVE LOVE: Bass players, take note: these Thomastik-Infeld flatwound stings are the most amazing, supple, slinky bass strings I've ever played. Metal heads and other aggro types will want rounds, I suppose, but for anything smooth, Motown-y, jazzy, or deep-and-thumpy, holy god. They have the goods. Be warned, I have seen these in retail shops at stupid markup; watch Ebay and you should get them for a reasonable price.




Also, bass players, pssssst: this Chinese made, 5 string fretless bass from Rondo is just stupidly playable and fun for the cost. It's very well balanced, and lighter than any other guitar I own. The pickups have character, a little darker than my mexi-jazz bass, but with more variation. The neck was a trifle dry when it arrived, nothing a touch of oil couldn't fix; it is fast, and gives a very even response. The presence of fret-line-markers (no frets, just lines on the neck) will surely annoy some, but for someone who is just getting back into bass playing and has small hands to begin with, they help me out a lot. The low B is a little thumpy; I may play with a lighter set of Thomastiks to see if I can get it to sustain a little more.