You'd think this would be painfully obvious....

[Glenn Fricker]

I can't say this enough:

If you're going to record an amplified instrument, such as an electric guitar or electric bass, please, for the love of all that is great in this world:

PRACTICE THROUGH AN AMPLIFIER!


You'd think this would be obvious. You'd think this would be so easy that it needn't be mentioned.

But, I digress: I'm working on an ultra-important project the summer. Think Megadeth with Freddy Mercury on vocals. The project has a budget, and Mr. Fredrik Nordstrom is mixing.

Drums were spectacular: Very consistent hitting, beautiful snare sound. Rhythm guitars: even better. We got the guitarist dialed in so tight he did an album's worth of quad tracked rhythm guitars in about seven hours. There's some fairly shred-intensive playing as well. Again, think Megadeth rhythm guitars....


Bass guitar: complete & total disaster. The bassist has been playing about 11 years & has done some really nice work in the studio. But, he comes in the other night, and he's so sloppy it's like Jenna Jameson after a 500 man gang-bang.
I'm asking myself, "WTF? Why does this sound so bad?"
I threw his ass out, with a firm order to learn his material, or I'll find someone else who can. He left his amp at the studio.

Then, it dawned on me.

I called him up, "Dude, have you been practicing through your amp?"

"No, the head was at the guitarist's and the cab was at the drummer's." he replied.

"And, since you own a car, you let this stop you because?"

Silence.

"Because you're fucking lazy when it comes to your band. That's why. Now get back here and come pick up your fucking amp. You will practice, THROUGH YOUR AMP, for four hours a day for the next three weeks."
I ordered.

I called him today & he was happy to inform me that practice was going better because, "I can finally hear myself."

Well, duh!


The thing is, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. I had something similar happen a few years ago with a guitar player. We just couldn't get a decent guitar tone. Turns out, he never ever practiced through the Marshall half stack he had in his bedroom. But, he was all to happy to blame me for his shitty tone.


I just don't understand the line of thought: Practice your ass off, unplugged, and get to the studio & expect a miracle? Tone is in the hands & it has to be developed. I don't care if you're got an expensive rig or a POD. Just plug in to something.

It's obvious.



-0z-

 

[kev]

Jeezus. There are ass clowns in this world, and lots of em!

 

[Mancha]

Well, it`s a good thing the drummer practiced on drums

 

[Chris_P_Critter]

How can you play an electric instrument, and NOT use an amp?

No amp is all well and good for basic finger excersizes... I guess... :Smug:

But if you're in a band, why would you NOT practice your bands music through an amp?

 

[DanLights]

seriously, pretty dumb to never practice actually hearing what you're doing, and expect everything to come out beautifully. If you can't hear yourself you can't really tell what's wrong with your playing. might as well use a 1/4 to 1/8 converter and plug it into the mic input of the fucking home stereo at the very least if you have nothing else

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Well, it`s a good thing the drummer practiced on drums

Yeah, I was very impressed. Drummer used to be king of the crybabies. Always had something to bitch about. Always had some excuse because his double kick work was galloping.


This time around, he came in & conquered. And, surprisingly enough, had nothing to complain about.

It's amazing how things go when the musicians practice.

 

[Soundlurker]

Well, it`s a good thing the drummer practiced on drums

Or even worse, the vocal might be singing in his head

 

[jrt12]

Or even worse, the vocal might be singing in his head

what do you mean, the acoustics in my head are SO much better than any iso booth or practice room i've ever been in or maybe it was the mic's fault, never capturing the full sonic awesomeness i acheive in my mental practice sessions

 

[Soundlurker]

Tell that to Oz and he'll stick his u87 in your head "to capture the acoustics"

 

[DanLights]

lol imagine that
"I don't know what's wrong dude, It doesn't sound at all like that when I'm practicing"
"Do you practice with a mic or just by yourself"
"well I cant sing out loud in my house so I just sing in my head and feel all the notes hitting right"
"........get out of my studio"

 

[beyond dead]

I hate when bands blame their shortcomings on the engineer. I recently heard that a drummer that recorded with me was telling people that my triggers were "fucked" and made his double bass sloppy. He is one of these brutal death metal guys with the quarters taped to his bassdrum. Like no one ever hears his bass drum at practice, cause its so quiet, and thats the only time he practices drums. everyone just assumes his kickers are flying, but when you listen to his recorded tracks, the bass drum drops right out in some spots during blasts.

then I had a 19 yr old kid come play the same setup, and sounded great! lol

 

[mrbean667]

Practice through an amp, eh?
So THAT's how you sound good!

 

[abigor731]

i know so many peole who do this, i think the initial problem is that almost every guitar teacher tells you to play clean and without distortion, and people think why turn on the amp, its the same anyway, just louder
well, luckily i used to be one of those kiddies who always "practice" with shitloads of gain to cover the mistakes

 

[lolzgreg]

i know so many peole who do this, i think the initial problem is that almost every guitar teacher tells you to play clean and without distortion, and people think why turn on the amp, its the same anyway, just louder
well, luckily i used to be one of those kiddies who always "practice" with shitloads of gain to cover the mistakes

And now you trempick like a fuckin' demon

 

[abigor731]

thanks man, eventually i learnt that the best way to practice is with low gain but fairly high volume so that you can hear the mistakes

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Precisely!

 

[Glenn Fricker]

i know so many people who do this, i think the initial problem is that almost every guitar teacher tells you to play clean and without distortion,

It's been my experience that while most guitar/drum teachers are helpful with the instrument, they're not helping anyone get ready for the studio, as they know little to nothing (yet, think they know everything) about recording.

 

[BLUElightCory]

Tone is in the hands & it has to be developed.

This is truly a golden rule.

 

[mrbean667]

I think that practicing with distortion is a great way to develop your clean playing, as the unmuted strings ring out very obviously.
But as I've only been playing for a year, is it truly better to practice without gain?

 

[Psychotic Break]

I think that practicing with distortion is a great way to develop your clean playing, as the unmuted strings ring out very obviously.
But as I've only been playing for a year, is it truly better to practice without gain?

Yes and no. It depends on what you're practicing. Some mistakes are easier to distinguish with low gain while others are easier to distinguish with high gain.

Personally I just like to switch it up from time to time so I don't drive myself crazy with the same old scale runs, arpeggios, etc...