No Chops = Limited, weak or lousy musical instrument skills
Great Tone = Sound that takes the listener into another dimension (often hiding the fact you’re clueless…)
This site is dedicated to…and created for…all those below-average, stuck-at-intermediate, mediocre, frustrated - but enthusiastic - instrument players that struggle to play anything remotely “cool” and are drawn towards stuff like:
- “play well in 15 minutes”
- “sound great or your money back!”
- “have killer tone” (I especially hate that one - what the heck is “killer” anything??)
That was me 20 years ago. And then I heard one note on one song - I won’t say what because it might not be your particular style - and “got it”.
SURPRISE - I have no DVD’s for sale; no pdf’s of regurgitated tab; no “$59.99 Special “learn the 5 fretboard boxes you MUST know” courses…
I don’t want your money (well…if you WANT to send me some go ahead - but I’m not selling lessons here!)
Just my weirdly slanted take on (mostly) guitar…and maybe bass, strange pedal steel, definitely B-bender guitars, and whatever
(Caveat - although I play a lot of country stuff I am NOT a country music listener. I’m a Blues, Gypsy Jazz and Prog Rock guy)
For what it’s worth - I’ve been playing for 45+ years and YOU are probably “better” at the basic skills it takes to play guitar than me. I’m no “monster picker”. But I get more calls for gigs, jams and such than I can handle. Why? I’m a magician and chameleon.
I only have one trick and use it playing really basic stuff in a bunch of musical styles. Good Tone. You can play slow, simple, basic stuff and blow the doors off a “hot licks” player with just a few simple adjustments to your playing and equipment use. Great instruments, boutique pedals and vintage gear area all great - but NOT mandatory. A few quality…or unique…items, proper instrument setup (that works for you - not some other guy’s idea of your action at the nut, bridge saddles matching fretboard radius, fret type, bla bla bla…) and very simple playing techniques are all you need. Really, all you need is a guitar that works for you, a good cable (we’ll get into that - there actually are huge differences, and high prices do not necessarily equal good tone) and good amp that’s been serviced as needed and possibly tweaked a bit (another thing we’ll talk about) are all you really need. Everything else is “seasoning”.
Note - I didn’t say “Pre-CBS Strat”, “boutique pedal you’ve never heard of and can’t afford #9,387”, or “practice scales 30 minutes a day”. Oh, some of those things are fun…and some are painful.
My whole mantra - No Chops but Great Tone” is based on the K.I.S.S. System - Keep It Simple, Stupid. If that sounds like it might help, step inside. If not, step inside anyway and maybe get a laugh or two.
And again…to be REAL clear - I’m not selling guitar lessons. No CD’s. No books. No downloaded lessons. No videos. This is just information sharing - and it works both ways: if you have a good tip, idea, gadget, whatever, let me know and(assuming I’m convinced you’re not selling them or that your idea is completely idiotic…) I’ll throw it up (errr…bad choice of words) “post” it on the Tips From Readers page (ready to be launched as soon as you send some!).
Let’s make an important distinction right away - “tone” is loosely tied in to - and often confused with - “style” - but style is a totally different thing, and most players get the two terms confused. We’re going to “de-confuse” you and get all that stuff clearly defined.
BOTH tone and style are essential. I can’t help you much with your style unless I’m sitting with you, though, so we’ll stick with tone here.
I am not advertising for tech work either. I WILL handle certain emergency repairs, but I only expect to be paid for my time and parts - I don’t have set fees for that stuff because I’m not soliciting for it. Click here for details
Please be aware the almost all of the technical information here that relates to tone is my opinion. I am VERY opinionated (I’ve received enough warnings on internet forums to fill a five-gallon bucket). You may will disagree with something I say. No problem. As moderator, owner and host, I will carefully analyze each conflict and provide one of the following results: Silverface is right - or you are wrong. Like I said - K.I.S.S.
So enjoy yourself, and please email suggestions, comments, opinions, insults, subpoenas…we’re under construction permanently because the subject of tone is always in flux! The site will be expanding quickly in response to requests - emails, Twitter “bursts”
, carrier pigeon notes, Sharpie scrawls on hand grenades (I do read pretty fast…)….
You tell me - I want this place to be a resource, so I’ll listen to all ideas. And blog contributions will be welcome - and they don’t have to be things I agree with. Unless you want them posted (grin). And you can always write them on a $50 bill and mail ‘em. Or I take Paypal ;-).
Seriousness will be dealt with as harshly as possible.
Enjoy!
Silverface
Note: My day job is as a paint & coatings consultant, and it’s related to the one thing I DO sell here - I finish guitars or necks from scratch or refinish solid-body instruments/bolt-on necks. I specialize in very finely-tuned relic jobs. But you can completely ignore that if you want to - or if you want to see examples and get more info click here. And if you send an email asking about finish work, I will NOT spam you with monthly “newsletters” or other such crap - you’ll only get what you ask for. No sales pitch - if you’re interested, you’ll contact me…if you’re not you won’t.