HaOriginally Posted by Big Paulie
I thought you might say that, John.
Hence the caveat "for most people".
I suspect "most people" aren't quite so enthusiastic about the Les Paul Signature or the Carlsbro Sherwood either!
"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand" - Homer Simpson
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I'm very much guilty of trying to plan acoustic like it's electric.. What I do is tune down a few steps (quite randomly, I just tune the bottom E down a bit and then tune to that) just to slacken off the strings a bit.
but they're never going to be the same, and neither should they be I guess
I suppose it comes down, to some extent, to how you learned.
I took up guitar because I grew up listening to my Dad (who is an awesome player).
When I expressed an interest in picking it up he suggested the best way to learn would be to start on acoustic. This would build up the strength in my fingers so when (if) I ever decided to move to electric, it would seem easy.
I have been surprised over the years to find it seems to be more common for people to start on electric then struggle to make the move to acoustic.
My name's Pauline and I'm a trollaholic.
My twopennw'th - I do bend strings on my acoustic which is fitted with 11s, it was hard work at first (I use 9s on my electrics) but you soon develop the strength to manage it easily. The real problem though was the rate at which I was wrecking wound Gs. Howevere I now use Ernie Ball power slinkies which is a set of 11s with a plain 3rd.
Do zen blues fans try to imagine the sound of one hand Clapton?
I bend strings a step on acoustic with 12s and 13s quite happily and all the time(tho not to the extend of a leccy) BUT that took time. Ive small hands and skinny fingers. But Ive been playing 40 years !! It wont happen over night. You wont get Kossoff like bends, but small 1/2 or full steps should be achievable.
It might actually help to pull down, rather than push up !! Seriously - it works well.
Rightly or wrongly, I probably dont play my electrics any different than acoustics, I just play em.
Id truely suggest Richards approach and use 12s tuned down 1/2 a step, get your fingers used to the heavier gauge. Then work your way "up" - It really will pay dividends - trust me (and I aint no doctor)
I really wouldnt go lower than 11s - the effort/pain is worth it
Last edited by bertie; 24th January 2013 at 10:36 AM.
......"Bertie is pretty much a zen master..................."
If you build up to it you will be ok. Just listen to your hand and finger aches/pains and be honest with yourself.
However, if you take a break from string bending acoustics and only play electrics for a while don't expect to come back and have retained all the strength needed for acoustic string bending. I've made that mistake before in the past and it can be a painful one.
I agree to start tuned down and work up.
Monte Montgomery does some quite savage bends/playing on acoustic,it can get a little shreddy though, I think he said in an interview that everything is transferable from electric to acoustic. No sure about 2 step albert King bends mind. I do love his harmonic headstock shaky thingys though, and the way Tommy Emmanuel does these.
Listening to Clapton unplugged though I think the judicious use of sliding up to what would have been a bent note is really effective and sometimes a healthy compromise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ztuvMsy-c
Last edited by dotcottonbluesexplosion; 24th January 2013 at 10:41 AM.
That was HORRIBLE!
Talk about murdering a tune...
My name's Pauline and I'm a trollaholic.
lol! it is really overcooked isn't it, for some reason I quite like the intro and then just switch off and stare out of the window after about a minute.
Last edited by dotcottonbluesexplosion; 24th January 2013 at 10:53 AM.
Agreed!
Good example of someone playing an acoustic like it's an electric instead of using the acoustic for its own sound
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