# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 142
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2823 "2013-02-23T21:46:26Z")
OK, the “aux in” RCA connectors are going to be line-level. Microphones aren’t a much lower signal. What kind of mic are you using? Something for a computer with a 1/8" jack? Or conventional mic with a balanced (3 prong) connector, or a 1/4" connector? Depending on your mic, you basically just need a mic level to line level preamp with the right connectors (or with adapters to those connectors). I’d recommend something with a level control, since adjusting the aux level through those G-DEC menus is a huge PITA. You could also just get a line-level mic, like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Speco-Pre-Amplified-Line-Level-Mic/dp/B004H6GQK6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1361655588&sr=8-3&keywords=%22mic+to+line%22+level), though I totally do not vouch for the sound quality. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2824 "2013-02-23T22:43:49Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > OK, the “aux in” RCA connectors are going to be line-level. Microphones aren’t a much lower signal Oops, I meant a mic **is** a much lower signal. So you can’t just use an adapter from the mic connector into that Line In on the amp. Hmm, it looks like this would do what you want and more: [Behringer XENYX 302USB](http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/302USB.aspx). Balanced and line inputs, line output AND it has a USB for connecting to a computer. If you have a balanced (3 prong) mic; just plug it in, set the levels, then send Line Out to the G-DEC. If you have a 1/8" computer mic (not recommended, sound quality-wise) it looks like you can use the “headset in” and again send it to the G-DEC. Lastly this device also let’s you send everything to your computer via USB, so you could also connect your guitar and send the signal to computer software, as we were discussing above. I believe you’d need a 1/4" -\> RCA adapter -\> Line In to do that. Not bad for $50. Although I’m sure there’s a zillion other ways to approach this, I just happened to dig this one up. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2825 "2013-02-24T00:11:42Z")
Wow! Thanks for all that research my friend! To answer your question, the mic I am using is a normal one with the three prongs such as a singer would use, but it’s connected with a cord that has a 1/4" plug. It’s a Shure SM58. Again, thanks! Q PS: Here’s how much they want for it on eBay: [Behringer XENYX 302USB USB Mixer for sale | eBay](http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Behringer+XENYX+302USB+USB+Mixer&_sacat=0&_from=R40) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2826 "2013-02-24T00:34:08Z")
Looks like what I’ll need to do is get a mic extension cord instead of using the one with the 1/4" plug. With my guitar plugged into the front and the mic into the aux jacks in the back, if I use headphones on the G-DEC I should be able to hear both my voice _and_ the guitar, right **Squeege**? The reason I want to do it that way, is so I can tell if my voice is on key. Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2827 "2013-02-24T01:39:52Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Looks like what I’ll need to do is get a mic extension cord instead of using the one with the 1/4" plug. With my guitar plugged into the front and the mic into the aux jacks in the back, if I use headphones on the G-DEC I should be able to hear both my voice _and_ the guitar, right **Squeege**? The reason I want to do it that way, is so I can tell if my voice is on key. > > Thanks > > Q I think the mic will be too quiet going into a line level input, but maybe not. Give it it try. PS: the XENYX 302USB is $50 at [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005EHILV4/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1361670066&sr=8-1&keywords=XENYX+302USB&condition=new). ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2828 "2013-02-24T18:04:43Z")
I thought what I’d do is give one of the tech guys at musician’s friend or zzounds a call and see what they tell me, **Squeegee**. Thanks again! Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2829 "2013-02-25T00:22:22Z")
Whoops! I _meant_ what they tell me about the mic to guitar volume thing, **NOT** about the cool info you already gave me, **Squeegee**. I need to wake up completely before I post, I see. Sorry! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2830 "2013-02-25T16:07:15Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > With all the various ways to voice and finger chords, I am sure the answer is yes. I play a B your way when I am bulling through Hey Hey by Big Bill Broonzy, a fun E shuffle. > > **Nars** , **squeegee** is right. Let us know if you have any questions… 😉 > > As for me, I remain focused on acoustic. Small-bodied Martins like Model 0 and 00 have extra-wide necks - between normal and classical - to provide better string spread for finger-picky stuff. I don’t fingerpick patterns - well, except **Dust in the Wind** 😉 - but I have wanted to expand my technique to include _fingerstyle_- where I put the pick down and use my fingers, but not in a set way - just kinda throw them out there. Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler both play this way, but obviously very, very differently. > > So I have one of those wide-necked Martins and am hacking away - and starting to actually sound fluid. It’s fun - and these little guitars are typically only 12 frets clear of the body - vs 14 normally on acoustics - so the bridge is on a different spot on the top and provides a different tone. It’s really rich - having fun. Back from some time away off the grid - nice to get away. While I was away, **squeegee** emailed me the following questions/comments: > [@](#): > > I was wondering about your recent fingerpicking post in TGOGT, Feb 11th – what kind of material are you working on? I went on a short fingerstyle quest, off and on for a few months, and I can’t say I got all that far but definitely learned things, though I’ve petered out. I can do a bad intro and a bit more of Classical Gas, I could fake my way through some of Alice’s Restaurant, and a couple of other things. I find fingerstyle both horrid and compelling, alien and fun. What kind of stuff do you like to work on? The short answer is that I am, I dunno, _translating_ (transcribing?) some chord grooves I have played with flatpick or hybrid flatpick/fingers and am just trying to use my fingers. I have no rhyme or reason - e.g., I have a hybrid approach to Moondance where I flatpicked a bass note, then used my fingers to upstroke the chordy bit, then flatpicked the next bass note, etc. - well, now I am trying that using just my fingers. There is a vid on YouTube of Big Bill Broonzy playing Hey, Hey - a song Clapton plays a ton unplugged - > **[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/?app=desktop)** > > Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. If you see his thumb, it is thumping out the counterpoint bass line while he uses his fingers to pluck the melody. That’s the stuff I am trying to do - yes, that kind of bluesy riffing, but mainly the thumpy thumb counterpointing melody, regardless of the nature of the tune. Right now, my attack is tentative - not quite thumpy yet - and my fingers haven’t figured out which is doing what across the top strings - so the riffs aren’t as fluid as they will be. But damn, I can hear what it could sound and feel like. It is…exhilarating - it requires that much more “in the moment” presence and really makes it feel like more of my neurons are firing. I can hardly wait to get to a place where some of this approach feels more second-nature… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2831 "2013-02-25T18:44:13Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > The short answer is that I am, I dunno, _translating_ (transcribing?) some chord grooves I have played with flatpick or hybrid flatpick/fingers and am just trying to use my fingers. I have no rhyme or reason - e.g., I have a hybrid approach to Moondance where I flatpicked a bass note, then used my fingers to upstroke the chordy bit, then flatpicked the next bass note, etc. - well, now I am trying that using just my fingers. > > There is a vid on YouTube of Big Bill Broonzy playing Hey, Hey - a song Clapton plays a ton unplugged - > > [YouTube](http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Fm1qtX7Mz5w&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFm1qtX7Mz5w) > > If you see his thumb, it is thumping out the counterpoint bass line while he uses his fingers to pluck the melody. That’s the stuff I am trying to do - yes, that kind of bluesy riffing, but mainly the thumpy thumb counterpointing melody, regardless of the nature of the tune. > > Right now, my attack is tentative - not quite thumpy yet - and my fingers haven’t figured out which is doing what across the top strings - so the riffs aren’t as fluid as they will be. But damn, I can hear what it could sound and feel like. It is…exhilarating - it requires that much more “in the moment” presence and really makes it feel like more of my neurons are firing. I can hardly wait to get to a place where some of this approach feels more second-nature… That song looks fun as hell to play. I’m not sure I’d call that a “bass line”, since it’s just thumping out the E or the A for the most part, but there’s at least once where it looks like he does a short trill, hammer on/off D-\>A-\>E strings, which is pretty tough. But yeah, pedal tones on the high strings, thumpy bass notes on the low. I can’t play like that, but can I follow the approach. It’s pretty awesome you’re attempting that, and it sounds like you’re starting to pull it off. Sweet. The stuff I find real confounding is the Rev Peyton thing where you thump out octave bass, low-high low-high, like open E on the sixth, then E on the D string 2nd fret, back and forth. You need two entire brains in one hand for that, crazy stuff but its like once you get the trick it wouldn’t be bad at all. But it’s much like playing a melody on each hand with Piano but on guitar its down across two hands each doing two things, so four brains. PS: bought a Am Std Strat last week. Dunno if it’ll stick, but it’s fun and I feel like now I “get” strats after playing it for 20-30 hours. I’m still jonesing for a Les Paul though. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2832 "2013-02-25T19:37:41Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > That song looks fun as hell to play. I’m not sure I’d call that a “bass line”, since it’s just thumping out the E or the A for the most part, but there’s at least once where it looks like he does a short trill, hammer on/off D-\>A-\>E strings, which is pretty tough. But yeah, pedal tones on the high strings, thumpy bass notes on the low. I can’t play like that, but can I follow the approach. It’s pretty awesome you’re attempting that, and it sounds like you’re starting to pull it off. Sweet. > > The stuff I find real confounding is the Rev Peyton thing where you thump out octave bass, low-high low-high, like open E on the sixth, then E on the D string 2nd fret, back and forth. You need two entire brains in one hand for that, crazy stuff but its like once you get the trick it wouldn’t be bad at all. But it’s much like playing a melody on each hand with Piano but on guitar its down across two hands each doing two things, so four brains. > > PS: bought a Am Std Strat last week. Dunno if it’ll stick, but it’s fun and I feel like now I “get” strats after playing it for 20-30 hours. I’m still jonesing for a Les Paul though. Yeah, I am coming at it from the basics in - starting with a bass pedaltone is the easiest way to get the thumb moving a bit more indepedently. I am sure it will evolve to jazzy walking bass stuff - like the one I do for Moondance that I mentioned above. I seem to be stumbling into this approach - been experimenting with picking hand angle and fell into a few steady grooves and have been exploring from there. But yes, that finger-and-thumb independence thing - to finally have an inkling of what it must be like - very cool. ETA: Oh, and yeah, if you love your Tele, I suspect you’d prefer a Les Paul, if your hands feel good with the LP / Gibson ergonomics, which I believe you are. LP’s and Tele’s are more alike than either vs. a Strat - more balls in the low-end. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2833 "2013-02-25T19:44:00Z")
Thinking of getting a thumbpick, and comments, recommendations? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2834 "2013-02-25T19:55:09Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > All I want to do is use my computer as a guitar amplifier… I’ve also been trying to find a simple direct guitar-to-computer interface, preferably USB, that doesn’t require a software studio package. There are a lot of products with only poor-to-middling reviews or quality, though, and I haven’t found my dream gadget yet. If you don’t care about recording/mixing, you might check out the **Rocksmith** game. It uses a guitar-to-USB AD converter cable included with the game. In game, you can freely select various boxes and effects and tweak and chain them, and then pound away through whatever sound comes out of your computer. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2835 "2013-02-25T19:56:12Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Thinking of getting a thumbpick, and comments, recommendations? > > Thanks > > Q Sorry; no clue. I tried a gamut of thumbpicks and found the sensation too foreign; like a cat with mittens on. With this attempt at fingerstyle I am just building up a callus on the edge of my thumb and figuring out how to add some _pluck_ to the motion to get the sound to sound like a hard flatpick has struck it - to make sure it pops. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2836 "2013-02-25T23:36:39Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I’ve also been trying to find a simple direct guitar-to-computer interface, preferably USB, that doesn’t require a software studio package. There are a lot of products with only poor-to-middling reviews or quality, though, and I haven’t found my dream gadget yet. > > If you don’t care about recording/mixing, you might check out the **Rocksmith** game. It uses a guitar-to-USB AD converter cable included with the game. In game, you can freely select various boxes and effects and tweak and chain them, and then pound away through whatever sound comes out of your computer. Well, I’ve been going round and round with IK Multimedia for a week and a half now, **Gargoyle** and although I _can_ download Amplitude3 (free) and get Custom Shop (also free to try various amps), I just cannot get my Stealth Plug to produce any kind of sound. They’ve been pretty nice, but over the weekend they asked me for a screenshot, but today they wrote me and asked “what are you trying to show us with this screenshot?”, and they have a working ticket number. I’ll check out Rocksmith. Thanks! Quasi ETA: I wonder if my Stealth Plug cable will work with Rocksmith? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2837 "2013-02-25T23:46:23Z")
A Rocksmith download is $30.00. I think I’ll invest that much and give it a shot. Do _you_ have it, **Gargoyle**? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2838 "2013-02-26T04:28:37Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Yeah, I am coming at it from the basics in - starting with a bass pedaltone is the easiest way to get the thumb moving a bit more indepedently. I am sure it will evolve to jazzy walking bass stuff - like the one I do for Moondance that I mentioned above. > > I seem to be stumbling into this approach - been experimenting with picking hand angle and fell into a few steady grooves and have been exploring from there. But yes, that finger-and-thumb independence thing - to finally have an inkling of what it must be like - very cool. Cool, sounds fun. If you want to try the octave bassline thing in an easy form, try Alison’s Restaurant. It sounds really easy but it sure ain’t if you’re brain doesn’t have the pathways. It took me a week of sitting in front of the TV and playing the pattern over and over and over to forge new pathways for it. I still can’t play it well, but I can do the basic progression (though I still get stuck at the turnaround). > [@](#): > > ETA: Oh, and yeah, if you love your Tele, I suspect you’d prefer a Les Paul, if your hands feel good with the LP / Gibson ergonomics, which I believe you are. LP’s and Tele’s are more alike than either vs. a Strat - more balls in the low-end. Well, ergonomics-wise I felt like I got along with a Traditional Pro 60s Neck fairly okay, but I don’t think I’ve found a specific axe that calls to me, jumps into my arms and I just have to buy it. It doesn’t help that my GC only had bright red and Merlot colored ones in that style, sigh; I’d prefer a more traditional color, but it doesn’t have to be a cherry burst. Ice tea, tobacco and some others would probably do. Even black. But red just isn’t cutting it for me. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2839 "2013-02-26T04:45:04Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Alison’s Restaurant. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2840 "2013-02-26T04:47:01Z")
> **[开云手机官网入口(开云)股份有限公司](https://alisonsrestaurant.com/)** > > 开云手机官网入口(开云)股份有限公司是一家从事减速机械研发、制造、销售为一体的企业。🌏开云手机官网入口公司采用德国先进技术、模块化设计生产，在模块组合系统基础上设计开发各系列减速机传动产品，并承接定制非标减速机。 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2841 "2013-02-26T05:02:30Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Thinking of getting a thumbpick, and comments, recommendations? > > Thanks > > Q I got a thumbpick, tried several sizes in the store and… it just didn’t click for me. It tends to rotate on my thumb when I pick, which is bad. Or if I squeeze it tighter so it doesn’t rotate, it’s uncomfortably tight. I keep thinking a thumbpick might be a good thing for that picking I was trying to do, but the reality wasn’t satisfactory. And I’m not currently attempting that type of material since I got on my current round Guitar Questing™. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2842 "2013-02-26T05:29:23Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > [http://www.alisonsrestaurant.com/](http://www.alisonsrestaurant.com/) [Alice’s Restraurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yLg_bzwvxg). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=141) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=143)