Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David L. on May 24, 2016 at 9:44am

Yes by all means - I will send you a friend request so you can email them to me (the site does this to prevent unwanted emails being sent).

Regards,
David L.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 25, 2016 at 7:12am

Yep, you need to be tuned the same as the video in question, your frets need to be in their proper place if you have them or placing the slide in the proper place if you don't have frets(above the place where the fret would be - not in the place between where the frets would be) and your intonation needs to be right. 

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Permalink Reply by chris phillips on May 27, 2016 at 1:58pm

Thanks Paul. 

Regards

ChrisP

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on May 28, 2016 at 8:48am

How it's tuned and how it's played takes time and a bit of "ear" this will come given time. Sit with it and fiddle with it while your watching TV. Make little note runs and play two strings together and generally just play about with it without having any goal. Trust me, this will work wonders to your playing.

Most of all you have to check out if the guitar is set up. If it's not set up properly then everything will sound off no matter how it's tuned and where you put your fingers.

The 12th fret note is (should be) at the middle of the string. For a beginner don't try to play it just measure it with a tape measure. If this is off or wrong then it might be that a moveable bridge has been moved out of place.

Playing any guitar takes time.. Give it time.
The first thing I played on guitar was 3 blind mice on one string.

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Permalink Reply by chris phillips on June 4, 2016 at 2:39am

Many thanks for these tips.

ChrisP

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 31, 2016 at 6:49am

You can check the height of the frets with a straight edge across the top of the fingerboard. If light appears between the (good) straight edge and the tops of the frets, you need to access the problem.

Is the neck straight or is it bowed backwards or ramped forward. A slight ramp forward is best cause it creates a situation were the lower fret(by the nut) is just slightly higher than the next fret towards the box and so on all the way up the board to the box. As long as the string height towards the box(higher frets) aren't too high. If the neck is in good shape move on to the frets.

Are the fret heights uneven? Mark across the top of the frets with a black permanent marker. Use a block sander(flat or radius) depending on your board. Sand across the top till all the black is gone, recheck with straight edge and repeat if necessary. When they are level you'll need to re-crown the frets with a small file.

If your neck is straight and the frets are level, look at the degree/pitch of the neck to the top of the body. Is the nut higher or lower than the bridge? Some is okay, too much is a problem. Is it the neck or the bridge height? Shims under the neck at the front of the neck pocket(towards the nut) will raise the nut, shim at the back of the pocket will lower the nut. If it's the bridge, raise it or lower it.

String height in the nut and bridge. Low strings cause buzzing or notes that disappear, high strings go sharp when fretted.

String break angle at nut and bridge. The nut and bridge on the fret board side should be straight while sloping down on the other side towards the headstock/body(usually not a problem with using a bolt as nut/bridge). The angle of the string going down towards the headstock/body should be at a good degree or you'll get weird buzzing noises.

Info overload, hope it's of some help to you. You might know this, but have overlooked something and it'll help you check over everything while teaching others. Everybody wins.

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Permalink Reply by chris phillips on June 4, 2016 at 2:40am

Thanks for your detailed advice Paul.

ChrisP

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