STAR LETTER
SETTING THE TONE
I recently learned that I am interested in tone! I know the sounds I like: the high-gain sound of humbuckers through a distortion pedal or dirty channel of a Mesa, the in-between quack of positions 2 and 4 on a Strat, or the sound of certain players or guitars. My taste in sound probably hasn’t changed that much, but it’s only in recent times that I’ve become more sensitive to the nuances of tone, and this has really fuelled a new pleasure in playing guitar.
It’s not just about audible pleasure, my new awareness impacts my playing, making me more mindful of picking dynamics, use of volume and tone controls, opting for lower gain settings on my drive pedal or amp in order to discover how picking a certain way can shift the response from clean to driven. I know that none of this is new, most readers may be shaking their heads at my late arrival to the party, but it’s really opened up my guitar playing to new possibilities and new enjoyment.
There’s something about tone, it’s a little bit magical and can take you off into a new world. Matt Jones, via email Thanks Matt, and congratulations on furthering your journey into guitar. Taking care of tone is not about pretentious ‘cork sniffing’ as some cynics may think. The end goal is, ultimately, better music. If you create a good feedback loop between the sound coming out of your amp, your ears and your hands, you’ll play better – relishing every note, coaxing out all that natural expressiveness. Just as we may mindlessly chew down a tasteless sandwich, but take our time to savour a beautiful meal, good tone wakes up our musical hunger and our desire to make each note count. While most of us have had to put up with dodgy tone during a gig at one time or another, it’s not what any player really enjoys. And if you’re not enjoying it, it’s less likely the audience will either. To help you start your tone-quest right, we’re awarding you this month’s Star Letter prize of a fantastic Korg tuner.