Sarod Muting Concepts

[Pierceher]

after 6 months of sarod picking everyday for a couple of hours, i can tell you all guys.. sarod muting is indeed possible and cool as fuck and you can still mute metal stuff without having to anchor your wrist, it still builds a little bit of tension but im working on it :)

Thanks Pebber

[psychopathtoine]

you have a lot of books ^^

[pebberbrown]

not yet

[MooseyFate100]

Hey Pebber, I'm pretty ok at guitar but I need to work on 2 techniques, tremelo picking and vibrato. Any tips for either one?

[pebberbrown]

Thousands of tips.

Watch all my picking videos to start.

Learn Sarod.

email - justreleased09, TheCrookedFinger and 312chicagoadam they will all help you too...

[skruvmaejsel]

Can you sitar mute on wounded strings too?

because i can't find that "soft spot" on wounded strings.

[pebberbrown]

@skruvmaejsel You are not trying hard enough.

[CatGameDaiyE]

@skruvmaejsel What does he mean by wounded strings? Or am I reading that wrong 'wound' as like an injury instead of 'wound' like how a string is wrapped?

[pebberbrown]

@CatGameDaiyE  english has spellings that mean 2 different things.

Wound strings are wrapped .

[312chicagoadam]

It's steady as she goes, as far as my Sarod technique is coming. I am beginning to naturally inclinate toward this type of picking, NO ANCHOR,but the "wrist thing" can throw me off. I'm just sticking with thumb/finger for now, CLEAN. It's just easier to pinpoint my accuracy!! I'm not "up to speed", yet,and it may take a while,but I know I'll get there! I look forward to giving this muting a try, too!!

LOL @ 1:24 :ain't got a thing if you ain't got that "zing"!!

Thanks again, Pebber!!

[pebberbrown]

YOU do what you do - just know that the over riding knowledge of Sarod will make whatever your technique is much better and you will think much deeper about it. hey - new Hi Def cam videos uploading TONIGHT!

[312chicagoadam]

Absolutely! Like I've seen/heard you say a few times before: Practice Sarod picking for a year, or so, in order to get a proper understanding of this technique.

It takes patience and committment, HOWEVER, in just approximately 3 MONTHS, I can notice a difference in my timing, accuracy and LACK OF FATIGUE!!! No more tensing up for me (I hope) =D

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE HIGH DEF STUFF TO BEGIN!!!!

[pebberbrown]

Sorry guys about tjose fucking irritating sound GLITCHES. The mixer mic preamps are fuckin garbage. My fuckin mixer is a piece of shit made by PHONIC. They came on real strong a couple yeasr ago and we all bought their mixers but a year later they all crap out. I need to get a new one. Probably Mackie or Yamaha...or something.. any suggestions?

[601271]

is that scale at 1:58 harmonic minor? or something else? i really love the egyptian and indian sounding scales, let me know if its something different please!

[pebberbrown]

I would have to analyze it - it wasnt planned.

[601271]

alright cool.

[xcaluhbration]

Yea I know that did sound like a harmonic minor huh? I love that scale and phrygian dominant as well.

[justreleased09]

Awesome video Pebber! Thanks so much! I have been working on this all moring. On my latest vid, I demonstrate that I have been working on sarod without touching the guitar with my right arm at all. No anchor. David told me to do this and it is bringing a burn like never before! Do think it is helping?

[pebberbrown]

Thats the way.  Sarod develops all those little muscles you never knew yo had. But once you get them up to snuff you can take over Egypt.

[signofthehammer]

I've learnt to pick only alternating the thumb, without moving the whole forearm and hand, but I can't do that wrist semicircular movement to do the sarod...am I doing alright by starting with the thumb picking or should I first learn the wrist movement? thanx and I'll be waiting for the weekend videos :)

[pebberbrown]

You are the opposite of all my students. Most all of them CANT do the thumb movement at all even with repeated instruction. You are at an advantage right now. Work the thumb and fingers for a year before you work the wrist. Dont worry.

[signofthehammer]

Okey, that really motivated me to keep practising. I've also realized that I can play the "horse riding" thing (the song "iron" from Ensiferum is a good example), faster with thumb picking than playing it like I did before(moving the forearm and hand picking), I love it :D, keep rocking

[justreleased09]

I have been thinking of asking you about getting a good sound....like with amps and stuff. LOL. I just cannot seem to dial in a good sound, because I guess I am not too sure what the components are. I am not sure how to properly eq the amp... or how to effectively use distortion....to sound really good, like all of your vids....I want I good sound to play this kind of stuff. I am using a JCM800 combo(1982?) and I have a tubescreamer and a Boss ME-50....

[pebberbrown]

Sound is so subjective - I dont know what kind of sound you are after and what yo like to hear. No two people like the same music. What do you want to sound like and what problems are you experiencing?

[justreleased09]

I think my sound is very gritty....I want a smoother sound. Sarod does not sound.....good. Well, any kind of lead stuff sounds bad. I want to sound smoother...more fluid and have a better sound for sarod....

[AndreasMusician]

if you just play normally on e.g. the high e-string, do you keep your palm on the lower strings to keep them from ringing?? If you don't, how do you keep them from ringing at high gain sounds??

txs :D

[pebberbrown]

No palm - free float. Strings don't ring because I dont HIDE behind gain and distortion. Use less gain and quit hiding behind distrtion. Play more thruthfully - hit the notes more exact and you will find that less gain at higher voulme wont feedback and ring the unmuted strings. You'll be fine.

[justreleased09]

I know these are sort of elementary questions, but I would rather ask stupid questions and get a good sound, then have a gritty ugly sound and pretend I know what I am doing....Thanks again for the vids PB! You have helped us all tremendously....

[pebberbrown]

Remember the rule:

The CORRECT type of amplifier is the kind where you have to reach ABOVE YOUR HEAD to turn any of the knobs. Anything less is unnacceptable.

[justreleased09]

Well.....I have a 1959 plexi....but I can't take it out of the road case without worrying I am going to fuck it up lol....Could you offer any advice on getting a good sound? Perhaps I will buy a bigger amp to gig with....