badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 11:30 AM
I didn't want to hijack the Jag bridge thread, but I had to ask the following question regarding folks jumping strings out of the saddle while tremolo picking songs like Misirlou/miserlou: At what point did playing fast become playing hard? Playing hard is applying extreme force. Extreme force always produces tension. Tension is bad. Extreme force stresses your physical structure leading to tendonitis. Tendonitis is bad.
Going back to my Suzuki violin days, through high school jazz band, at which time I stopped formal education in music, it was always stressed that dynamics were achieved through proper technique and the controlled application of just the amount of force needed to achieve the volume needed.
So, do you play "harder" when you tremolo pick? If so do you feel you do so because you need to for the music, or because it's the only way you can accurately do it? Can you tremolo pick quietly as well as with balls out dynamics? If you cant, would you like to?
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 01:45 PM
badash
I didn't want to hijack the Jag bridge thread, but I had to ask the following question regarding folks jumping strings out of the saddle while tremolo picking songs like Misirlou/miserlou: At what point did playing fast become playing hard? Playing hard is applying extreme force. Extreme force always produces tension. Tension is bad. Extreme force stresses your physical structure leading to tendonitis. Tendonitis is bad.
Going back to my Suzuki violin days, through high school jazz band, at which time I stopped formal education in music, it was always stressed that dynamics were achieved through proper technique and the controlled application of just the amount of force needed to achieve the volume needed.
So, do you play "harder" when you tremolo pick? If so do you feel you do so because you need to for the music, or because it's the only way you can accurately do it? Can you tremolo pick quietly as well as with balls out dynamics? If you cant, would you like to?
 to you badash. To respond to your thread, and I KNOW I'm gonna catch Hell for this, but oh well.....I've gone from 12 guage strings all the way down to 8's. My guage on my picks have gone from a 1.0 down to a .38 (almost paper). As I had mentioned in another thread (have no clue which one that was!) about 10 years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting one of my Rock Heroes who is an M.I.T. graduate. He showed me a technique of playing a lot lighter on the strings, and you could sound like you were destroying the strings (only if you desired) by readjusting the EQ on your amp. Thus by playing with a lighter pick, you were not destroying your strings (which at one point I was replacing them every 2 to 3 days) and you could use lighter guage strings. Although it took a little getting used to, once I did, I found myself not having to replace the strings as often, because of also using the lighter pick. I think I mentioned in the other thread, think of it as getting that FIRST car with Power Steering! Only us old farts are gonna remember that! LOL!
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 03:12 PM
DennistheMenace
about 10 years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting one of my Rock Heroes who is an M.I.T. graduate. He showed me a technique of playing a lot lighter on the strings, and you could sound like you were destroying the strings (only if you desired) by readjusting the EQ on your amp.
Did he give you "More than a Feeling" and some "Peace of Mind". 10 years hunh? That's a "Long Time"... Boy if it isn't Tom Scholz this is the worst post of my career... But I guess it's important that you "Don't Look Back"...
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tonybologna
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 796
Oakland
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 03:23 PM
badash
DennistheMenace
about 10 years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting one of my Rock Heroes who is an M.I.T. graduate. He showed me a technique of playing a lot lighter on the strings, and you could sound like you were destroying the strings (only if you desired) by readjusting the EQ on your amp.
Did he give you "More than a Feeling" and some "Peace of Mind". 10 years hunh? That's a "Long Time"... Boy if it isn't Tom Scholz this is the worst post of my career... But I guess it's important that you "Don't Look Back"...
 Awesome post.
— Science friction burns my fingers.
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 03:40 PM
badash
DennistheMenace
about 10 years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting one of my Rock Heroes who is an M.I.T. graduate. He showed me a technique of playing a lot lighter on the strings, and you could sound like you were destroying the strings (only if you desired) by readjusting the EQ on your amp.
Did he give you "More than a Feeling" and some "Peace of Mind". 10 years hunh? That's a "Long Time"... Boy if it isn't Tom Scholz this is the worst post of my career... But I guess it's important that you "Don't Look Back"...
Badash, you're good!....I mean Bad!
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 03:43 PM
I think you are "Smokin'" if you would try to use 8's for surf. 
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Apr 16 2008 04:02 PM
My strings slip out of the bridge saddles because I hit those f*ckers hard! I totally agree with the dynamics argument and that you can play light with intensity, but playing hard to me is just plain fun and comes across as super high energy when playing live. That helps the crowd get into it more, etc, etc. So if I were to mellow out on my attack, I think it would translate into a little duller of a performance (for me only. YMMV). Heavy strings, heavy pick, heavy attack.... Its just part of the fun for me.
— Ryan
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