playing amplified vs. unamplified

[Porcupine]

I play a lot while sitting with the family, watching tv or whatever, and I think I sound pretty good sometimes... until I plug into my amplifier. Then, for some reason, I miss notes, muff easy stuff, and my rhythm goes to hell. I think maybe it's just lack of confidence, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience.

[Blue Strat]

Absolutely! I've been practicing unamplified for years and have finally reached the conclusion that it does more harm than good.

Plug in!

[Dave B]

I was in the same boat for years. Once I had a chance to semi-regularly plug in, it was almost like starting over. I had to learn how to play the amps (one clean and one dirty). It didn't take nearly as long as spending time on the six string, but it (they) are definitely their own animals, and cannot be taken for granted by those of us that don't play plugged in on a regular basis.

Just devote some time to 'practicing your amp' for a few weeks, and you should be good to go. And have fun while you're having at it.

[DGDGBD]

Unamplified you don't have to worry...am I too loud?...too much treble? ...not enough crunch?....the art of managing your amplifed sound can be distracting at times.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by dave r.

the art of managing your amplifed sound can be distracting at times.

So can all the extraneous noises and sloppyness you didn't hear while unplugged.

[dewey decibel]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

Absolutely! I've been practicing unamplified for years and have finally reached the conclusion that it does more harm than good.

Plug in!

I don't agree with Mike that it does more harm than good, but it definitely is a different game.

There's a lot you're learning every time you play that you may not be aware of, especially in terms of how you mute strings, pluck certaint phrases, etc- it's done on a subconscious level. And as stated by the others, this is magnified when plugged in, just as the overall sound is magnified.

I got into this situation as when I practice my jazz stuff I'm unamplified 99% of the time. And even though I'm not using OD or other effects (not even 'verb) on gigs you realize that the amp is an instrument, as much as the guitar is. But as I said I don't think it's a "more harm than good", as I don't think you're learning bad habits unplugged, -you won't have to "relearn" anything- just refine what you already do.

[Zelmo]

As they say (and very true): 'tone is in the hands'.

Different dynamics and muting, etc. with both left and right hands that go beyond the actual notes themselves....

[Super Locrian]

I've found that I tend to have a much harder attack when playing an electric guitar unplugged. I do think it's possible to work on technique without amplification, but you probably need to watch and listen extra carefully for poor technique.

[andybaylor]

Originally Posted by Zelmo

As they say (and very true): 'tone is in the hands'.

Different dynamics and muting, etc. with both left and right hands that go beyond the actual notes themselves....

Yup. I pracitce unplugged a lot! Strat with medium action. It's loud unplugged. It's not too hard to play.

If I can make it sound good unplugged, then plugged in is gravy.

EVH's first GP interview states the same thing. 90% of the time he practiced unplugged. It makes you work harder. Tone IS in the hands.

[BBQLS1]

I've found the same thing as the OP, but I find it true when you are dealing with a more demanding amp. When I had a Marshall DSL, it was easy to just plug in and play, but with a Maz 38 or one of my 18 Watts, I sounded very sloppy. I used to practice all the time unplugged, since I live in an apartment, I use my Boss BR600 with a clean or slight overdrive to practice. I can then make backing tracks and hear what I played. It really helped.

[Icculus]

I really think it depends on where you are in terms of skill level. Compared to most people on this board, I'm a novice.

I've found that playing without an amp subconsciously gives me more "balls" to play whatever because mistakes aren't very audible (ie harder attack, half-assing notes bc you're playing faster than capable). HarryJ pointed out to me at one of my lessons that I was often letting my low E string ring open while playing on the other strings. Even with an amp, it wasn't that noticable, but it's definitely a habit I picked up from playing w/o an amp. I'd confidently state that playing without an amp too often will cause bad habits, unless you are already a very good guitar player who understands the difference.

[Porcupine]

Originally Posted by BBQLS1

I've found the same thing as the OP, but I find it true when you are dealing with a more demanding amp. When I had a Marshall DSL, it was easy to just plug in and play, but with a Maz 38 or one of my 18 Watts, I sounded very sloppy. I used to practice all the time unplugged, since I live in an apartment, I use my Boss BR600 with a clean or slight overdrive to practice. I can then make backing tracks and hear what I played. It really helped.

That's part of it too, I think... I'm playing through an old Ampeg, and it's a very clean-sounding amp, and every little flub comes through loud and clear. Then I start focusing on the mistake sounds and get into some kind of mental feedback loop, and then it's all over.

I guess the answer is: play through the amp a lot more

[alanfc]

I'm thinking of getting a little rig to plug in to the Strat with some headphones, since I too can sound great unplugged but sloppy when amplified.
I've got the guitar sitting around on the couch or chair and put it on regularly,walking around the apt., waiting for coffee to make, boiling water, etc. or the occasional 15 free minutes before work in the AM.

[alanfc]

aha !!


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ier?sku=151708

[Porcupine]

This looks killer, but a little spendy:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPGT1/