Double Trouble

As I was practicing my parts last night for a worship band rehearsal I wrestled with the dilemma we guitar players face as we need to figure out ways to sound like we are playing 3-4 guitar parts simultaneously. Case in point is a rocking tune called 'Happy Day' by Tim Hughes.

Originally uploaded by Mr. TRON

There is a typical riff part that works of a Csus chord on the 5th fret and the second and third guitars are playing driving power chords. What to do? Do we give up the identifiable riff for the weighty chords that will give the song body and punch? I face this all the time and truth be told I don't have a simple blog answer.

Here are some mitigating factors:

1. If there is an acoustic guitar player, ask them if they would be willing to join you as a partner in electric crime for the multi-guitar songs. (this can be tough to switch guitars mid-service, gives the FOH people headaches, and makes managing patches more difficult)
2. The synth player may also turn out to be a closet rhythm guitarist. I don't mean strap on a guitar I mean fire up some patches that can mimic either the riff part or the power chords. I'm surprised at how well this can work.
3. If 1 and 2 are not options I would then go for the divide and conquer strategy of playing the riff in instrumental sections of the song and going to the power chords in the choruses.
   
4. Talk to your worship leader and start a guitar army with another player. multiple electric guitars on stage is a scary thought but I'm quite sure that God can handle it. The challenge at that point is to ensure that you and the second electric player:
   
1. Play your parts together without the band. (Avoid playing over each other, BLEND)
2. Find patches that go well together. Example the riff patch could utilize some chorus and delay and have more high-end to the sound - while the second power chord part is more straight up overdrive without much reverb, or other effects. The sum of these parts is definitely greater than the whole if you don't let the effects gum it up.

The Speed of Sound

Amp Peavey.
Originally uploaded by fakestar

Some things frustrate me more than others. One near the top is the sound of guitars in sanctuaries. Especially electric guitars.

There are as many sounds that can come out of a guitar as their are broken 1/4" instrument cables. that said there are some basics that from my experience elude most players and FOH sound people. There is nothing like the feel of a creamy, crunchy guitar filling in the dynamic middle of a great mix. nothing. Unfortunately that's what most congregations hear from the guitars in many services I've experienced. nothing.

this post hopes to spark a revolution in how we all think about this slightly dangerous instrument and its over-driven partners in crime.

Here's the chain. In the posts and comments ahead I hope to see this labyrinth of forces navigated and understood by all who play a role in delivering a creamy, nuanced guitar vibe to the ears and hopefully hearts of worshippers.

Milestones along the way include:

1. guitar - pickups - single coils, humbuckers, passive, active, split, parallel,....
2. stomp box - there are countless forums online about this topic. To get a glimpse of how deep this art is check out a study of the Edge's delay.
   
3. amps - my personal crusade is to bless every worship service with the warm goo that emerges only from a nice tube driven amp
4. pods and multi-effect units - I call this out since in many ways they are used as hybrids of stomp boxes and amps
5. cabinets - closed back, combos, silent cabinets
6. mics and mic placement on amps
7. mixing the guitar sound with FOH sound
8. monitoring - floor monitors, the amp itself, how to accurately feel what you are delivering FOH.