Stormtiger wrote:

Thanks a million for posting that Dave. I've been trying to play that song for years and the video clears up a lot of things, like that I'll probably never be able to play it, especially the bridge. There is actually one part I've been doing almost right.

Hey Doug, if you can do the rest, you could do the bridge! Just a bunch of pinch and grab, underlying melody below one chord, for the most part.

You see how I mess it up in the video... I started filming before I ran it down, It's all about having a clear intention of where you're going before you start. You need to set yourself up position wise so the next part is possible to play in a continuous flow. That's why thumb over the neck can help you to make transitions that might not be possible with a strict adherence to proper technique. Guys like Chet Atkins use open strings in a melody to buy themselves time to set up for the next riff. I try to do that as much as I can, too.

~dave

CenturyBob wrote:

Thanks, Although I could practice this forever and not get it.. I see a bunch of cools things to borrow. After watching I see how sloppy my pick technique is and how much energy I am wasting. Your right hand is a machine. i will be putting much more effort during practice on my picking.

Thanks for that! One thing that's always good to think about regarding the right hand, is, be aware of the Center of your dynamic range. The center of the hardest to softest you can strike the string. This will give you the advantage of playing with Expression.

Maybe as an experiment, turn you amp up to where it's too loud, but control the volume by easing up on the picking hand.

~ dave

Maybe as an experiment, turn you amp up to where it's too loud, but control the volume by easing up on the picking hand.

~ dave

http://surfguitar101.com/media/smiley/images/icon_worship.gif

Altar wrote:

Hmm, I'll have to try that, I really have little control over my right hand, I've always controlled my aggression by muting. This video is really great, although I'll have to keep watching it, as I'm a slow learner.

Not to hijack the thread, but I have questions. Slacktone was the only surf I knew existed for the first ten years of my life, so it influenced many of my tastes in the past four years, as I've discovered the surfaris, ventures, etc., and slacktone is still my favorite. So I'm curious how you go about writing, whether you start with chords, ideas, groups of notes, and how you write with the band. I have trouble getting surf to sound like surf without drowning it in reverb, and any advice is greatly appreciated.

And way off topic, but do you make those wonderful little sparkly jaguar switch plates for little starstruck 14 year olds? My 12 string would love you forever...

Thanks,
Preston

First of all, are you really 14? You're a gifted writer, then!
Muting is cool, though, I'm careful about it with my surf sound, as it can get a bit too sludgy. Writing for me is starts usually from a spark of an idea such as a cool couple of notes that gives a feeling of something.
It's important to always be recording when playing your guitar while in an inspirational mood. Magic comes and goes quickly, and you better be ready when you get lucky. Many times I'll play something and think that it was a cool riff, then, be completely in the dark about what I just played. I think it's a left brain/right brain issue. That's where the recorder saves the day. It can still be tricky if there was some slick move involved that melodically can be played different ways, but only one way to make it like your original way.

Paying attention to the smallest cool idea you may have, and work it, and develop it, while trying to stick to just the essentials, and then pound that into the ground.

From the beginning of trying to write instros I've wanted to just get some really cool themes together, and avoid jamming type stuff.

Those switch plates were made by a friend of mine for me because I did not have any more chrome plates. I plan to get some more made... thanks for reminding me, I'll see if I can get a bunch.

~ dave

SlacktoneDave wrote:

Altar wrote:

Hmm, I'll have to try that, I really have little control over my right hand, I've always controlled my aggression by muting. This video is really great, although I'll have to keep watching it, as I'm a slow learner.

Not to hijack the thread, but I have questions. Slacktone was the only surf I knew existed for the first ten years of my life, so it influenced many of my tastes in the past four years, as I've discovered the surfaris, ventures, etc., and slacktone is still my favorite. So I'm curious how you go about writing, whether you start with chords, ideas, groups of notes, and how you write with the band. I have trouble getting surf to sound like surf without drowning it in reverb, and any advice is greatly appreciated.

And way off topic, but do you make those wonderful little sparkly jaguar switch plates for little starstruck 14 year olds? My 12 string would love you forever...

Thanks,
Preston

First of all, are you really 14? You're a gifted writer, then!
Muting is cool, though, I'm careful about it with my surf sound, as it can get a bit too sludgy. Writing for me is starts usually from a spark of an idea such as a cool couple of notes that gives a feeling of something.
It's important to always be recording when playing your guitar while in an inspirational mood. Magic comes and goes quickly, and you better be ready when you get lucky. Many times I'll play something and think that it was a cool riff, then, be completely in the dark about what I just played. I think it's a left brain/right brain issue. That's where the recorder saves the day. It can still be tricky if there was some slick move involved that melodically can be played different ways, but only one way to make it like your original way.

Paying attention to the smallest cool idea you may have, and work it, and develop it, while trying to stick to just the essentials, and then pound that into the ground.

From the beginning of trying to write instros I've wanted to just get some really cool themes together, and avoid jamming type stuff.

Those switch plates were made by a friend of mine for me because I did not have any more chrome plates. I plan to get some more made... thanks for reminding me, I'll see if I can get a bunch.

~ dave

Thanks a lot, yes, I'm 14, barely. Thanks for reminding me what surf is all about. I've been focusing so long on scales and chords. Thinking back, all the best surf I know captures a mood, atmosphere, sound, or personality. At risk of sounding sappy, I've been uninspired in my writing for a very long time, and I realize that inspiration is all around me. The sound you get when you slap strings against the fretboard under heavy reverb is like a child splashing through a puddle, and tremolo picking from the twelfth fret down evokes thoughts of the ocean, and an outside note can startle you into expectancy. I think I finally get it.

Thanks,
Preston

IMO.

Thanks, that means a lot.

IMO.

Just a heads up.... I put up a little video showing some moves for Rell Sunn Aloha.... at:

www.isurfguitar.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohaXpQESkDU&feature=player_embedded

Altar wrote:

That tone was great. Btw, is that a fender finish? I could see your arm in the finish.

No, not a Fender finish. I believe that is his Coke Bottle finish. Check out slackercaster.com to check out Dave's custom builds.

And thanks Dave! Rell Sunn Aloha, along with Glide, are my favorite Slacktone songs(I can't choose between the two).

Yes, that is a Nitro metalflake paint job done by Guitarmill who also made the body. They copied a picture of an old Coke bottle I sent them. Great people... in Tennessee.

Altar wrote:

Nice. Wasn't there an article floating around about your artificial twelve string sound, Dave? Links, anyone?

Is it just throwing in an octave note for a jangly sound? It just never sounds jangly like a twelve string for me. Any tips?

Here: http://www.guitarworld.com/deep-water-add-some-color-your-sound-fake-12-string-technique