Harmonized riffs with just one guitarist

[Occam]

I really don't want to resort to using an eventide or even another harmoizing pedal but I'd like to get more realistic dual-guitar horminization riffs...nothing too fancy just single note lines....I've seen others do this but I don't know how. Whenever I try it comes across flat sounding. While typing this I was thinking of maybe adding some chorus or even the vibe setting on my mojo vibe to help liven things up...maybe a slap back delay....do any of these things work? What advice or tips do you have?

[Shredcow]

I suppose you would be playing with gain?

I'm sure you've tried playing both parts together on your guitar before... I think that would be the next best thing to do. And that sounds better using lesser gain, having more treble/precense and if possible, a tone/pedal/amp that has better note seperation. I'd do that if I had to absolutely retain the feel of a harmonised passage live.

Other than that... no delay - usually muddies up... a little chorus can help though.

[Occam]

Yeah, I'm typically trying to do this with gain...although I have better sucess clean for some reason. The brighter tone thing makes sense...I'll try that out.

[rcargs96]

If I'm understanding what you're looking for, try listening to and learning The Beatle's "And Your Bird Can Sing". Amazing harmony between the two guitars, but you can get fairly close with one. Starts on the E and G# (3'd and 2'nd strings respectively) and it follows pretty much the E major scale. This will really give you an idea of what works and what doesn't in terms of single guitar harmonizing.

[Shredcow]

Yeah, I'm typically trying to do this with gain...although I have better sucess clean for some reason. The brighter tone thing makes sense...I'll try that out.

Try less gain too...

Looking at your gear listed in your signature... i'm thinking... you might want to try less hot pickups. Loan a friend's guitar that has low output pups - you'll be surprised how much they affect the clarity. :)

[JRenn]

I'd definitely work on your study of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th intervals, respectively. For instance, an ascension of consecutive 3rds on the 1st and 2nd strings for Cmajor would be as follows:

e: 0--1--3--5--7-- 8--10--12
b: 1--3--5--6--8--10--12--13


6ths for Cmajor:

e: 0--1--3--5--7--8--10--12
b: -------------------------
g: 0--2--4--5--7--9--10--12

..., etc.