When trying new guitar...

heliker · Post by **heliker** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 5:46 am

I've been reading a few of the posts here on the martins and Dave's guitars, etc. So I'm just curious, when trying new guitar, whether you are planning on buying, just dreaming, or its a rich friend's dad's new collector's axe and you only have about 2 minutes before he comes in to kill you, What do you play?

What solo, excersize, song, whatever, best (for you) demonstrates the sound, feel, balance, tone, everything that makes your longing for that instrument physical, makes you sick with desire? (Or makes you throw it against the wall in disgust...)

What lick gives you the most knowledge about it?

just out of curiousity

-bh

thejoe · Post by **thejoe** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 6:08 am

wow... interesting topic

id proally play billies just because its the most technical

like i can play it on my martin very easily

but on my beater guitar its really hart because the neck is very different

PlayLikeDave · Post by **PlayLikeDave** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 6:25 am

Ooooh...great question

Well I usually warm up with a G-D-C-A-D chord progression, then that is quickly followed by something that isn't too difficult, like LIOG. I usually go from there to Billies, Satellite, #41, or Ants Marching. Playing those lets you hear chords, slides, hammers and pulls, and get an idea of the tone and action of the guitar. If I can slam home a great version of #41, I freakin would run out of the store with the guitar unless I could afford to buy it...hmmm....

peace

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 6:37 am

i always play a nice fingerstyle song and then try out some pick songs... i usually play something from all the styles i play just to get a good feel for what it can handle best

Speenis · Post by **Speenis** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 7:04 am

Definitely the instrumental intro to One Sweet World. That is what I did when i was shoppin around for guitars. Or the intro to Just a Phase by Incubus. Especially that last one cuz it gets all the strings in use.

isaac · Post by **isaac** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 7:35 am

fingerstyle song to see how clear picking each individual string is, and the sound that each makes i.e. one sweet world intro, if ya like.

billies for technicality and variation.

something with dynamics...like Watchtower to see how different attacks sound on it.

Speenis · Post by **Speenis** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 8:33 am

yeah, i forgot to add watchtower. go crazy with that song to see how the action is and if their is any fret buzz.

i-am-me · Post by **i-am-me** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 8:40 am

I play billies, and i like to play crash for little bit to see how te action is for my wrist and my fingers. Then i play a finger picking song like black bird or something, then anything i feel like playing at the time.

DreaminBassMunky · Post by **DreaminBassMunky** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 9:53 am

Whenever I get a guitar in my hands I always blank out, and never know what to play. After a few minutes I am usually rippin through Jimi Thing or something fun and groovy. Same thing happens to me in record stores. I'll go in, and completly forget what artists I am looking for. That's why i have to bring a list whenever I go.

isaac · Post by **isaac** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 9:55 am

the thing happens to me at record stores. i usually just wind up browsing and buying more than i probably should have done.

DreaminBassMunky · Post by **DreaminBassMunky** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 9:56 am

Well I usually end up finding something else, then I'll leave and realize what CD I meant to buy. But that's ok, because I am OCD about buying cd's, which probably isn't a good habit, but oh well. What am I gonna do?

Ranting Thespian · Post by **Ranting Thespian** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 11:26 am

I normaly start out with just strumming open chords randomly improving a tune, to see the full sound. Then I normaly play Real Love by John Lennon. I defaintely always play Blackbird. I also tend to play Granny for the brightness. I sometimes play Dylan's version of watchtower with barre chords to see how that feels. I also tend to play From the Outside Looking In, which is a song of mine, to see the folky rock sound with a capo. I sometimes play Wish You Were Here. Other than that, I screw around and see where it all goes.

saleen · Post by **saleen** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 1:30 pm

I can tell you what not to play;

stairway to heaven!!!!

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:43 pm

saleen wrote:I can tell you what not to play;

stairway to heaven!!!!

damn straight

i-am-me · Post by **i-am-me** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 12:22 am

That song has been murdered. i mean i love it, but everyone on the planet has tried to learn it. its like heraing a song on the radio too much, but in person!

But when zepellin is playing it... that's different