Tremolo (whammy) bar how-to question

DNAdude

Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Jun 11 2009 11:06 AM

I am utterly new to the whammy bar.

I have noticed that some people seem to be able to keep it in their hand the whole time they play, but I find that it makes every note wobble when I try that.

Is there a trick to this? Or is it just a matter of finding the right hand position?

—

Ralph
The Storm Surfers

Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.

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estreet

Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
1 POTD Pin

Posted on Jun 11 2009 11:16 AM

Firstly, it makes a huge difference what guitar you are using. A Strat-type whammy is much higher geared than say a Jag or an SGV and the slightest movement makes a pronounced pitch-change. You can hold a Jag/Jazzmaster whammy quite easily without every note wobbling.

Secondly, Quite a lot of Strat players like every note wobbling.

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http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns

Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Jun 11 2009 11:39 AM

It is a matter of finding the right position, and practice. You'll get the hang of it. Just don't move your hand down, you should be able to strum while holding the trem arm if you keep your mind on it.

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DNAdude

Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Jun 11 2009 01:57 PM

Thanks for the help!

—

Ralph
The Storm Surfers

Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.

Top

Woodsurfer

Joined: Feb 07, 2009
Posts: 310
Bel Air, MD USA

Posted on Jun 11 2009 02:36 PM

Good thread -- I've been meaning to poll people here on this question but never got 'round to it.

Personally, I sort of drape my middle, ring and pinky fingers loosely over the arm. It's then sort of captive between the inner knuckles of my middle finger and the outer knuckle of my index finger. As I pick, the arm moves with my hand and when I need to apply vibrato either up or down, I the arm is right there. Here's a pic I just took with my phone:

It may look as if my finger is touching the pick guard but that's not actually the case. In practice (as opposed to in photos), I tend to curl my fingers a bit more than is shown.

This may be decried as terrible technique but I find that it works for me. I play both a Strat and a Jag and don't get any 'accidental' action while playing either. Both of my guitars have fairly precise arms with no slop (backlash) and a great ease of motion.

-- Woody

—

It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams.

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Surfgitar

Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
United States

Posted on Jun 11 2009 07:53 PM

There are some songs we play where the whammy bar never leaves my hand (Midnight, Storm Surf, Voyage Around the Moon, etc.) I've bent them to accommodate my hand & playing style so it feels comfortable and easy to hold.

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CUTBACK

Last edited: Jun 12, 2009 08:12:33

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scotstandard

Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 1140
Davenport Iowa
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Jun 12 2009 12:00 AM

Some tunes i keep it in my hand, some just close.
I put it on top of my pinky and under my ring, middle, i can trem pick and strum with the bar in hand, fits nice and i have total controll,

Something that you need to get used to.
Keep at it, youll get it.

—

Give me reverb or give me death!
facebook.com/onenightstandards
https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard
scotstandard@yahoo.com

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DNAdude

Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Jun 15 2009 10:38 AM

I'm working on it. All these tips have helped, and I have a noticeable improvement now. Thanks, everyone.

—

Ralph
The Storm Surfers

Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.

Top

zak

Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
1 Link Pin

Posted on Jun 15 2009 10:46 AM

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 19:38:06

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Surfgitar

Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
United States

Posted on Jun 15 2009 03:20 PM

I've been giving thought to shortening my whammy bar (no smartass remarks please) so that the tip would be closer to the bridge, where my hand rests more naturally. You can see in Zak's photo that player's hand rests more towards the center of the bar. I force my hand more forward of that so that the tip rests between my pinky and ring finger (refer to how Jeff Beck holds his) but invariable my hand falls back to center after awhile. David Gilmore uses a short whammy and I've always wondered how that would feel & play. I recently bought some spares for my strat & jag to experiment with a shorter bar.

OK - Let the smartass remarks fly.

—

CUTBACK

Top

DNAdude Joined: Aug 01, 2008 Posts: 404 North Carolina	Posted on Jun 11 2009 11:06 AM I am utterly new to the whammy bar. I have noticed that some people seem to be able to keep it in their hand the whole time they play, but I find that it makes every note wobble when I try that. Is there a trick to this? Or is it just a matter of finding the right hand position? — Ralph The Storm Surfers Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar. Top
estreet Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 839 United Kingdom	Posted on Jun 11 2009 11:16 AM Firstly, it makes a huge difference what guitar you are using. A Strat-type whammy is much higher geared than say a Jag or an SGV and the slightest movement makes a pronounced pitch-change. You can hold a Jag/Jazzmaster whammy quite easily without every note wobbling. Secondly, Quite a lot of Strat players like every note wobbling. — http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Jun 11 2009 11:39 AM It is a matter of finding the right position, and practice. You'll get the hang of it. Just don't move your hand down, you should be able to strum while holding the trem arm if you keep your mind on it. Top
DNAdude Joined: Aug 01, 2008 Posts: 404 North Carolina	Posted on Jun 11 2009 01:57 PM Thanks for the help! — Ralph The Storm Surfers Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar. Top
Woodsurfer Joined: Feb 07, 2009 Posts: 310 Bel Air, MD USA	Posted on Jun 11 2009 02:36 PM Good thread -- I've been meaning to poll people here on this question but never got 'round to it. Personally, I sort of drape my middle, ring and pinky fingers loosely over the arm. It's then sort of captive between the inner knuckles of my middle finger and the outer knuckle of my index finger. As I pick, the arm moves with my hand and when I need to apply vibrato either up or down, I the arm is right there. Here's a pic I just took with my phone: It may look as if my finger is touching the pick guard but that's not actually the case. In practice (as opposed to in photos), I tend to curl my fingers a bit more than is shown. This may be decried as terrible technique but I find that it works for me. I play both a Strat and a Jag and don't get any 'accidental' action while playing either. Both of my guitars have fairly precise arms with no slop (backlash) and a great ease of motion. -- Woody — It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams. Top
Surfgitar Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	Posted on Jun 11 2009 07:53 PM There are some songs we play where the whammy bar never leaves my hand (Midnight, Storm Surf, Voyage Around the Moon, etc.) I've bent them to accommodate my hand & playing style so it feels comfortable and easy to hold. — CUTBACK Last edited: Jun 12, 2009 08:12:33 Top
scotstandard Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa	Posted on Jun 12 2009 12:00 AM Some tunes i keep it in my hand, some just close. I put it on top of my pinky and under my ring, middle, i can trem pick and strum with the bar in hand, fits nice and i have total controll, Something that you need to get used to. Keep at it, youll get it. — Give me reverb or give me death! facebook.com/onenightstandards https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard scotstandard@yahoo.com Top
DNAdude Joined: Aug 01, 2008 Posts: 404 North Carolina	Posted on Jun 15 2009 10:38 AM I'm working on it. All these tips have helped, and I have a noticeable improvement now. Thanks, everyone. — Ralph The Storm Surfers Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar. Top
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jun 15 2009 10:46 AM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 19:38:06 Top
Surfgitar Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	Posted on Jun 15 2009 03:20 PM I've been giving thought to shortening my whammy bar (no smartass remarks please) so that the tip would be closer to the bridge, where my hand rests more naturally. You can see in Zak's photo that player's hand rests more towards the center of the bar. I force my hand more forward of that so that the tip rests between my pinky and ring finger (refer to how Jeff Beck holds his) but invariable my hand falls back to center after awhile. David Gilmore uses a short whammy and I've always wondered how that would feel & play. I recently bought some spares for my strat & jag to experiment with a shorter bar. OK - Let the smartass remarks fly. — CUTBACK Top

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Tremolo (whammy) bar how-to question