Guitar Sound

One thing that I get asked a lot is how do I get a better guitar sound? This is a rather broad question, the answer to which depends on a lot of factors and is very subjective. Some of the things that could influence your sound are what style of music you are playing, your personal playing style and technique, what equipment you use, and how well you use it.



It might come as a surprise to you that not many players really listen to the sound they reproduce. Many guitar players, predominately at the beginning and intermediate levels, are so enthralled by the physical aspects of playing that they forget totally about the aural side. Afterall, it is the sound that you reproduce that is “everything” when playing live or recording.



Here we will explore ten easy ways that you can easily improve your guitar sound no matter what style of music you play, level you are at, or sound you are striving for. If you implement any or all of these ideas you will improve your guitar sound immensely and the overall quality of your music. Get all the members of your band to make small improvements in their sound reproduction and collectively you won’t believe the difference it makes to your music.



1/ Tune your guitar

It is surprising how many people I come across that don’t know you should tune your guitar every time you pick it up to play it. Just because you tuned it yesterday doesn’t mean it will still be in tune today. If you are gigging you may need to tune up between songs and at least before starting every set. Always use an electronic tuner.



2/ Change your strings regularly

Everyone seems to know that guitar players should change their strings on a regular basis, but how many of you actually do it? How often you need to change them will depend on a lot of circumstances like how often you play, how much your hands and fingers perspire, how many gigs or recordings you do, etc. If you haven’t changed your strings for a while, do so and your sound will improve 100% immediately. When you do change strings, change ALL of them.



As a general rule I change strings before every second gig, and always before any recording date. If you are playing at home for your own enjoyment, then changing strings at least every three months should suffice.



3/ Use thicker strings

The thicker the gauge string you use the better the sound is a valid rule. If you play music where a lot of bending is required then sticking with a lighter set might have to do. But next time you change strings try the next gauge level up from what you are playing now and you will immediately get a better sound. One favourite trick of many rock guitarists is to use heavy strings and tune down one semitone. You may need to reset the action of your guitar if you do this, so see a guitar repair person first.



4/ Raise the action

Many beginning players tend to have the action (the distance between the strings and the frets) far too low, which results in a slight or bad buzzing sound. By raising the action only slightly you will immediately hear an improvement. The professionals all tend to have a reasonably higher than normal string action on their guitars. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it is worth it.



5/ Buy a professional model guitar and amplifier

There is no doubt about it, but professionals play the best guitars and amplifiers that money can buy. You should to. If you haven’t got one then you should begin saving for one now. Having a guitar and amplifier like your hero plays won’t mean you will be able to play like them though. It just means you will most probably get a better sound than what you are getting now.



6/ Use quality cables

What is the use of having a good quality guitar and amplifier and using cheap cables? Cheap guitar chords just ruin your sound like you won’t believe. They are not very well shielded either, which makes them prone to interference - like picking up the local taxi service or radio station - while you are playing. Your local music store can advise you on what is best. If you use effects, then obviously you will need to upgrade all your cables.



7/ Use heavy picks

Using a heavier pick, one that is more than 1mm thick, gives you a heavier and fatter sound. A light one, less than 1mm, tends to give a more thinner or flimsier sound. Many beginners prefer the very light picks, but the sooner you get used to thicker picks the better. I do not know any professionals that use very light picks.



8/ Effects

If you are a guitarist who uses effects like distortion, chorusing, delays, and the like, then using them will have an affect on your sound. Just remember to not over do it as this usually ruins the song, so use them with taste. Digital and analog type units tend to have a different sound as well, so you should try out both as many players tend to prefer one or the other. Using power as opposed to batteries in the stompboxes is preferable as well.



9/ Practise more

The more you practise the more you will improve your sound reproduction; however, it might not come overnight so be patient. Remember that the sound you make is the end product of the chain of many commands both mental and physical, but it will pay big dividends at a later date.



10/ Record yourself and listen to the playback

One way that you can improve on what you are doing is to record yourself playing and on playback take a self-critical listen. The recording doesn’t need to be studio quality, but listen and then ask yourself things like; are you buzzing any notes? Using too many effects? Not staying in time? Guitar out of tune? Solo doesn’t fit the song? There are many things you could consider when listening to yourself play. You should do it often and maybe write yourself out a checklist, then work on improving it.



You should also be listening to your favourite players (both guitarists and other instrumentalists) and working out how they get their particular sound. If there is one activity you want to be good at in this game of music, it is that of listening.



I hope those ten cool ideas get you thinking about improving your sound and help you create a better guitar sound for you, your band, and your audience.



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This lesson was first published in the New Zealand Musician Magazine June/July 2004 issue.
(not by me)