they say tone isnt in the fingers..?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RaceU4her
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Slim taper and I'm all good.
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Tone is definitely in the fingers. Whenever I put my hands to a beautiful guitar, it sounds like absolute crap, so I'm speaking from experience.
 
nightlight said:
Tone is definitely in the fingers. Whenever I put my hands to a beautiful guitar, it sounds like absolute crap, so I'm speaking from experience.
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What is it your “sounds like crap” thing? I now want us all guys gathering and creating some scale of what sounds like a crap and what not. I think it is very difficult not to be able to play a single note or chord properly enough.
 
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I don't agree with the sentiment that tone is in the fingers because it oversimplifies everything.

Expanded a bit more...
Tone is in the gear, style/technique is in the fingers. Both have an impact on each other.
 
MadAsAHatter said:
I don't agree with the sentiment that tone is in the fingers because it oversimplifies everything.

Expanded a bit more...
Tone is in the gear, style/technique is in the fingers. Both have an impact on each other.
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Tone is in the fingers in the butt.

🍩
 
I call it the 80/20 rule. We can play chords and some leads and get 80% there, but can still be missing something. The last 20% is the nuisance we play with. The changes, smoothness and the little things (vibrato, playing clean, etc…) that make the difference. And that last 20% is what we gain over time and with regular playing.
 
stratjacket said:
I call it the 80/20 rule. We can play chords and some leads and get 80% there, but can still be missing something. The last 20% is the nuisance we play with. The changes, smoothness and the little things (vibrato, playing clean, etc…) that make the difference. And that last 20% is what we gain over time and with regular playing.
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So, you're saying constantly flipping gear ain't gonna do it ?

:unsure:
 
MadAsAHatter said:
I don't agree with the sentiment that tone is in the fingers because it oversimplifies everything.

Expanded a bit more...
Tone is in the gear, style/technique is in the fingers. Both have an impact on each other.
Click to expand...
I can literally alter my pick angle and where it contacts along the length of the string, grip on the pick, picking intensity, introduce some flesh and nail impacting the string, and change where and how forcibly the meat of my palm is muting the strings. All these things drastically change the tone, to the point where I can exaggerate these techniques for illustration and normally wouldn't play that way. The tone can go from good to bad just doing these things. And I haven't even mentioned left hand pressure while fretting, etc.

And since gear has it's own tone as well, the answer is always both. Always. It's a pet peeve of mine when strict tone is in the fingers proponents say, X sounded himself playing through anything. I counter that by pointing out that X sounded like X with a certain tone through rig A, but X achieved a different tone with rig B. Same hands, different gear = different tone.
 
thegame said:
I can literally alter my pick angle and where it contacts along the length of the string, grip on the pick, picking intensity, introduce some flesh and nail impacting the string, and change where and how forcibly the meat of my palm is muting the strings. All these things drastically change the tone, to the point where I can exaggerate these techniques for illustration and normally wouldn't play that way. The tone can go from good to bad just doing these things. And I haven't even mentioned left hand pressure while fretting, etc.

And since gear has it's own tone as well, the answer is always both. Always. It's a pet peeve of mine when strict tone is in the fingers proponents say, X sounded himself playing through anything. I counter that by pointing out that X sounded like X with a certain tone through rig A, but X achieved a different tone with rig B. Same hands, different gear = different tone.
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I agree with all this. Everyone one of my guitars needs a slightly different grip and attack to really get them singing, it’s why I tend to like tune-o-matics cause I feel they give me the most flexibility with palm muting, every guitar I have has a “chunk spot” I call it. When im properly warmed up and acclimated to whichever guitar im playing that day, it is kind of crazy how my tone can go from meh to damn that sounds great just by playing better
 
CrystalSky said:
What is it your “sounds like crap” thing? I now want us all guys gathering and creating some scale of what sounds like a crap and what not. I think it is very difficult not to be able to play a single note or chord properly enough.
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I'm sure you listen to Van Halen. There's something magical about the way that guy played guitar.

I've seen tonnes of master shredders. Don't get me wrong, their technique and chops are great.

But Eddie? Jeez, that guy's fingers really made the guitar sing.

That's just one example. Yngwie is another one.

I'm not talking about the music and playing. Just listen carefully when they play. There are other guys who can copy them note for note.

But the tone remains elusive.

Kind of how they say that if you play through a great guitar player's rig, you'll sound just like yourself and definitely not like them.
 
Ben Waylin said:
Here's my tone test of a Larry Dino 802

This does not sound like a crap tone..

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That is not a crap tone, definitely.

But why so much hype about Larry Amps? I'm not sure, it didn't really strike me as miles ahead of most other high gain amps I've heard.

What am I missing?

Here is my weak right hand, squeaky left hand, and rigid as an arrow neck that's afraid I'll f*ck up any moment while playing in action.



You can tell I have no fun playing by my dull expression as I struggle to hold the instrument in a playable position. :ROFLMAO:
 
DanTravis62 said:
Playing for hours every day to keep your chops up is a sacrifice and not a lot of people can do it

It really does help though, and it's difficult to not mention "hey the reason your tone doesn't sound great is because your playing is a bit sus"

Which does pop up from time to time with RTers, but honestly most of the people here are pretty solid and know what they're about

I notice the difference a lot more with specific types of amps though. I gig the 1992 with my punk band specifically because it's pretty forgiving and I don't need to hone my chops to a razor's edge to get the music across.
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Coming from a practice folic
RaceU4her said:
I agree with all this. Everyone one of my guitars needs a slightly different grip and attack to really get them singing, it’s why I tend to like tune-o-matics cause I feel they give me the most flexibility with palm muting, every guitar I have has a “chunk spot” I call it. When im properly warmed up and acclimated to whichever guitar im playing that day, it is kind of crazy how my tone can go from meh to damn that sounds great just by playing better
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i literally the same 3 guitars . Exact models . Just diffent hardware . I love the same grip I always am at home
 
nightlight said:
That is not a crap tone, definitely.

But why so much hype about Larry Amps? I'm not sure, it didn't really strike me as miles ahead of most other high gain amps I've heard.

What am I missing?

Here is my weak right hand, squeaky left hand, and rigid as an arrow neck that's afraid I'll f*ck up any moment while playing in action.



You can tell I have no fun playing by my dull expression as I struggle to hold the instrument in a playable position. :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...

You're missing a relaxed body and mind. Loosen up. Just not too much if you just had spicy curry.
 
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