How to Get Great Guitar Tone - Jeff McErlain

[hypodive]

Yo! Very nice video, I'm JV guitar player for HYPODIVE and I really enjoyed your tone! Thanks for taking the time to record this video

[gibsonDaddy]

Not to be negative, but if a player can't experiment with their rig and learn how to "tune" the amp, guitar vol/tone, pick attack, etc, a demo is just that a demo for entertainment.

[blueseffect]

tone is one thing but excessive volume has ruined my hearing and it sounds like you play too loud, or was the mic placed in front of the amp? Either way the guitar is way to loud for the spoken instruction, just like the vocal is drowned out in most bands

[sniperfxxx]

sorry bout the buzz!!!!!!! noisegate perhaps for the 60 cycle hum...

[RODE2112]

'Strats do have their own tone but the basic techniques being taught (I thought) were accurate. I think it's a great lesson for those that haven't learned these things yet and will add to their skills. The presentation was accurate, he covered all the rudiments and his tone and playing was good. But it needs a noise gate.

[ilikemr2s]

ah you got a tuttle! great great guitars

[MrBigNose144]

Jeff, great advise, great video. You are one of the few that knows guitar tone is an important aspect of playing, not just tapping,sweep picking & shredding with tons of distortion. The other part of tone, I have found out, is in your hands. I have played with several great players that have great tone no matter which guitar they pick up because most of their tone is in the way they use their hands.

[DarktownStudi0s]

Some of us don't understand what you mean by sound being 'flubbby' or 'farting out'....

[ahinko]

Easiest way for all Marshall owners: if you are not happy with the tone you got, buy an amp which goes to eleven. ( :D:D )

[eddvlp]

Thanks very much... you helped a lot of people. I was watching some Joe Satriani's live shows and I've realized that he use a lot the volume knob.. far from the pedal case, and the tone changes a lot Hi to Low gain.

Very nice advice

[yinyangthang]

What gauge/brand strings? Thanks!

[berherbi]

very interesting thanks , very good Berh

[berherbi]

jeff , this tutorial ist super stuffe, very very usefull and really helpful...Great , keep up the good work in the new year!! all the best to you Berh

[brucekirk89]

first off for great tone GOOD guitar player

[LukeSkywalker015]

A leprechaun!

[funofsk8ing]

@LukeSkywalker015 I was just gonna say that!!

[Haassan1]

Everything about you says that you're a Strat guy... Doesnt that bother you?

[berherbi]

@Haassan1  you can t afford one, right , poor bastard

[SarahLovesJanetDx]

7:20 ,,, Thats wat he said ;)

[dacrowster]

Which amp/FX do you use?

[dacrowster]

@dacrowster I wasn't at 3:00 !

[OlazerOfightOshowO]

Herman Li of Dragon Force is all over the controls when he plays, watch his improv solo video on youtube for a great example

[MrStratguy1]

Great playing! Thanks for the tips too! I kind of automatically go to the hard picking dynamic , which is all good but it doesn't give you anywhere to go accept to step on a pedal and be louder. Lucky for me though, I think my mid/bridge selection is out of phase. Sounds great for major solos!

[tukun3104]

i have only one tone knob and it sounds bright in the humbucker position wat to do????? pls help

[MaloneyGuitars]

really good playing and instruction

[thej0hnson]

that tone is amazing.

[GnosticMayhem]

This is the best video ive ever seen explaining tone dynamics. Awesome playing Awesome!

[cachetband]

i think one simple mistake that beginner guitarists always make, is not using the options on the guitar. like something as simple as changing pickups makes such a big difference in the sound of a particular riff or lick. even rolling back the volume to clean up the tone can make a world of difference when it comes to a coherent tone

[brostomper]

its a neat technique to use the volume knob as a kind of EQ rather than just a straight volume thing

[brostomper]

nice tone...

[JMBELK]

Great Man....!!!

[jacek2397]

AWESOME WHISKERS!

[ThomasBCullen]

great tips better licks thanks a ton

[THEFUNDAMENTALVIEW]

Question...I use a strat. I find that when I roll off the volume to clean the tone I also lose volume to the point where it really drops off. Can you offer amp set up examples that will allow me to go dirty with volume at 10 and allow the tone to clean up with a slight roll back on the knob? (6 ot 7) I use a Vox AC30 C2 by the way. Thanks

[captd2000]

please stop talking!!! just play guitar you sound great!

[GetReide]

very sweet tone and intelligent video! thanks

[bertusjechild]

i got that guitar

[dinkaDPB]

you talk too much son. let the guitar do the talking

[MANinBLACK103]

what is the middle nob for? and why dont all guitars have it

[ML120374]

@MANinBLACK103

On a standard strat that middle knob is the tone control for the middle pickup. Reason why not all guitars have that may be that almost no one uses it ;-)

[wileym]

@MANinBLACK103 2 tones knobs, 1 volume knob. The front tone knob is for the neck pickup, the rear one is for the other 2 pickups. Lots of guitars have separate tone knobs for each pickup.

[brandonmarks13279]

i have a hell of a time trying to get a good tone with my setup... i have a killswitch black razorback with a fender frontman 15g... bass-8 mid-2 treb-6... btw i play metal (not death metal, more like disturbed and breaking benjamin) any ideas on how to improve it?

[beforezero]

@brandonmarks13279 turn your mid up!

[CDNBOBify]

totally informative and educational--thanks.

[ilmanmuutajamuutilma]

more bass and it will sound orgasm.

[undergroundamericana]

normal fender stratocasters dont have a bridge tone do they?

[emilowich]

@undergroundamericana Yes, they do :)

[0maxxis0]

@emilowich hmmmm no most of them dont come stock. i have two, an HSS and an SSS, and neithe rof them did.

[lilronaldihno14]

playing metal (or anything with a harder tone) you also open up possiblities like harmonic tricks, whammy bar tricks, etc...

[petsematarykeeper]

great video/lesson man!!

thank you so much...

[megaboxxx]

4:32 thats what she said!

[ecgedsel]

I need help getting a good tone. for not alot of money. i have a epi lp standard with dimarzio pups but i dont have money to buy really good valve amps

so i was thinking in buying a peavey bandit 112?

[fercko13]

Hi, great sound, but please, what is your amp, and pedals?

[thrashmetalcovers]

@fercko13 fender pro junior

[mcerlain212]

I am glad to hear some of you have found this useful!

[jehovahuponyou]

ACTUALLY, TONE IS VERY OVER-RATED - JUST TURN EVERYTHING WIDE OPEN (INCLUDING THE VOLUME ON THE AMP) - AND PLAY, PLAY, PLAY - THE TONE WILL EITHER COME OR THE POLICE - HAVE FUN - AND PLEASE, STOP WATCHING STUPID ASS VIDEOS!

[guitaristman23]

i wouldn' take this guy seriously at all

[6noteblues]

great info. now i have reference point for adjusting for tone. thanks, jeff.

[Zubirrex]

The instrument and amp are important, but the it's all in your hands, folks. There's no secret. If Zakk Wylde, BB King, Brad Paisley, and Jack White were on stage playing the same guitar, through the same amp, none of them would sound the same.

[FallenPrey33]

You are the man! :)

[youenjoy00myself]

novice player here. i feel now inspired to mess around with the volume settings on my amp and guitar instead of blowing a couple hundred on that delay pedal, that chorus, and every other pedal. great video!

[Pash091]

sounds like shit... but that shit is just awesome, really like those bluesy licks!!

[Jingleschmiede]

Great tone, sound and lesson. Thumbs up.

[sparky7718]

Jeff, you are unreal... I like your style.

[ChrsGuit]

I thought I was the only one who called that flubby, fall-on-its-face tone "farting out"... I'm glad us guitar guys are on the same page!

[Tiarnan1986]

this guy looks like he likes touching knobs

[oauzzie]

always touching that volume knob, got it

[TheDriveMaster]

Great advice If you use a strat.

[allthingsclassicrock]

@TheDriveMaster Wait you don't use a strat!?!?!?!?!?

[DRGK9]

@allthingsclassicrock not everyone uses strats

[allthingsclassicrock]

@DRGK9 joke

[Funkyryno]

@DRGK9 They should...

[DRGK9]

@Funkyryno i know they should... but not all dont.... whatevs there loss.

[waytogodick]

thank you so much for this, you helped a lot, especially with the whole volume knob thing.

[bushibayushi]

great tone and great touch, there are really some cool licks here

[GianpaoloUsai]

really great video Jeff, this is useful thank you

[mcerlain96]

WTF are you like my long lost uncle or something?

[heidegger101]

Great job Jeff - One thing you didn't say was whether you are getting any gain from the amp. what are your amp settings on this demo ? thanks !

[SnowmanMassacre]

I find I lose all of my volume when I try to roll down my volume knob. Please help?

[GodsentHellraiser]

Haha.... Fart out.

[taurus1269]

Love it! especially because I have a Fender pro junior. This was very helpful...thanks much.

[Dymmmitrov]

hi! What mic u use to record?

[stringbreaker6]

nice tip thanks man never thought of that

[Andrelix67]

Looking forward to snatch your data-DVD from Truefire!

[Andrelix67]

Nice tone!!! And I also have a Lovepedal COT50, what a great pedal!!

[kevaso]

Wow. I've been playing the guitar for over 10 years now, so I don't learn as much new stuff anymore, but this was really inspiring! Thanks!

[groverCotman]

Awesome insight. You're a real raw player. Love yer style

[Orthrus01]

BLUES FTW!

[hiphopsucks96]

ease up ur left hand, man! it looks so tense!

[bohs1984]

I love these guys who go on and on about tone and then use a wireless...lmfao

[punkiassjunki]

how do i get the john frusciante tone?

esp the tone of his guitar in the chili pepper concert in chorzow,poland.

but the best tone EVER is

john frusciante's guitar solo in ''shes only 18'' by rhcp.

josh homme has got the most unique tone EVER. check em out

[Ariel799]

@punkiassjunki right on! but homme has like 10000 different tones

[punkiassjunki]

@Ariel799 wel.. they only change every album =S

[TUUK2006]

It's completely and utterly pointless doing a tutorial on tone when you're using a shitty mic to pick up the sound. In case you hadn't noticed, pretty much all the tones sound the same: A big, bassy mess.

[NocturnalCucumber]

@TUUK2006 Come on, no need to be a bitch.  I thought it was pretty helpful..

[mcerlain212]

Hey Guys! I am glad you enjoyed the video. I'll be putting up some more for TrueFire in the coming months. Most focusing on tone.

[johnAKAbear]

awesome... thanks for sharing!!

[iamthe7thwalrus]

"if you play in a death metal band, all these subtleties are lost"

hahaha, gotta be the best line i've heard ever!

[guitanorak]

@iamthe7thwalrus He actually said "if you play in a death metal band, SOME of these subtleties will be lost". But your interpretation is funnier - agreed. Perhaps there should be a new genre called ' Subtle Metal' lol. guitanorak

[wlripper]

Cool!!! thx dude.. im a gibson kinda guy that just reasenly started playing strat.

I have a problem when i mute strings i get to the wolume knob by accident and turn the wolume down.. so anoying. And i feel i kant mute all strings cus the knobs are in the way.. Guess i get used to the along the way... I really like the tonal feel with abit of dirty and the strings just sing! not like the gibson.. can do more with a strat.

[jymi743]

@wlripper i played a strat for 2 years and jut baught a chord les paul and its great cuz im more rythm guitar

[vlog1234567]

@Amoneyxx depends on wat type of music u wanna play for rock metal pop go with electric for classical or singer/songwriter type music acoustic is good

or best of both semi acoustic

[gnrfanatic141414]

@Amoneyxx start out on an acoustic so that you're not trying to get a cool sound all the time, and you're working on just playing

[elfhermie]

@gnrfanatic141414 Sounds easier than it is. You can play great on an acoustic, but as soon as you switch to an electric, you're going to get frustrated as heck by all the excess string noise. You have to learn how to palm mute and stop string noise, how to do get a sustained vibrato, string bending, etc. I've seen people play the same things on an acoustic and sound fantastic and then on an electric and it sounds like a total mess. It's tough, but fun to keep trying to get both down.

[BluesPossessed]

Great, tks from Barcelona !!!

[CalenCoffman]

Loving that blues!

[intersweat]

Great presentation on an interesting topic. Thanks for the vid!!

[GuitarNovice100]

Its amazing what wonders some guys do with the same instrument. Give that to me and I would perhaps use it as a pen stand. Bravo to this guy!

[thevuduchild]

wish i could play like that, damn

[kyngnom1s]

@thevuduchild stop wishing and go practice

[thevuduchild]

@kyngnom1s lol good call, let me rephrase: wish i had the time and resources to cultivate the necessary skills to play like that, damn

ps i'm at work so no, that time is not now