Getting a Blues Tone: FIRST FEW MINUTES

Рет қаралды 12,095

Күн бұрын

Where to start with getting a basic blues tone.
This video is the first few minutes from a longer video available only to my Patreon Supporters.
Here the introduction looks at using different guitars for blues and advises on pickup selection and guitar choice.
In the longer video we discuss various types of amp and look at the pedals we might choose to use to get a basic blues tone.
** To access the full video, sign up to become a Patreon supporter here: / marcguitar **
The important links:
Marc Guitar's Patreon page:
/ marcguitar
Patreon supporters get access to additional lessons, as well as mp3 backing tracks and all the tabs.
Have my lessons been useful?
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Marc’s band - Northbound:
Website: www.northbound.org.uk
Facebook: / northboundblues
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Album available as mail order CDs from northbound.org.uk and downloads from all the usual download stores (iTunes etc)
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Пікірлер: 48

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

When I was younger and starting out, I thought that I needed some special guitar like the starts had in order to get a blues tone. Many guitars and £££ later I realised that's not the case. It's possible to get a workable blues tone no matter the guitar. Practice got me the blues tone more than swapping guitars.That was the point I was trying to make in the opening section of this video. The full Patreon video then talks through amps, how I set them up, the pedals I use and how I record the tones on my videos.

@FRANKSNAKE71 4 ай бұрын

I bought a Stage Right Tube Amp ($275) and it is absolutely amazing for acquiring a blues tone. I find it’s all I need besides lots and lots of practice! Love your lessons Marc👍

@MarcGuitarVideos 4 ай бұрын

Thanks! It's always great when you find a piece of gear that you connect with and can help inspire you

@arthurnewman382 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, Marc. Now that I have a different amp (with a tube!) I am getting a much better tone. 😌

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that!

@davulcu64st 2 жыл бұрын

Another great lesson ..Thanks lot Marc 🥰

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😃

@anthonyclegg1511 2 жыл бұрын

I've got a hutchins guitar with 1 pickup and it's great for playing the blues.

@stoyangerginov2877 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for lesson Mark. I use pedal reverb, vintage distortion. My amp is China making NEW -X model....but is sound is good... Your lessons is important for me. Thank a lot friend.

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Stolen. A good dollop of reverb is good for blues

@Eagleburger90 2 жыл бұрын

It wasn’t long ago I struggled with knowing and getting the tone. Going between lessons and distinguishing the different tones sure helped. I have a cheap les paul that had a broken neck with humbuckers and a 2nd hand squier strat. Boss mini amp and a Joyo Batsiin overdrive pedal. I can get close to most blues tones I hear. I bought alnico pick ups from AliExpress before I realised just how close I can get to the tones I hear on Marc’s videos. It was liked a switch was flicked on. Keep practicing and listening and it will come. I am sure I still have a lot more learning to do. The cheap guitars have taught me about set up too. I bought a set of nut files, a crowning file and fret dressing rubbers off STEWMAC, and along with a straight edge and flat sanding bar and probably a few other bits and pieces off AliExpress my guitars are easy to and are a joy to play.

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Being able to set up and upgrade your own guitars is an excellent skill to have, and will save money in the long run. I've tried it in the past. I'm ok, but not great. I've put together a few guitars but then paid a pro to do the final set up. Great idea to hone your skills with some cheaper guitars. I've heavily mod'd a few of my guitars.

@dchanson55 2 жыл бұрын

I use a little growl for blues. I don't like a thin tone for blues, needs some meat on it.

@andrews127 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Completely agree!

@iamanovercomer3253 2 жыл бұрын

Was looking at PRS but a little pricey. My next 🎸 will be a Mex strat & put Seymour Duncan humbuckers, JB jr so I can split between single coil to humbucker ( less expensive, with the extra money I can get some pedals). My 🇺🇲strat I will leave it stock. I like the feel of the stratocaster instead of the PRS.

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

USA PRS are really expensive (Mine took me several years to pay off). Their S2 line is is cheaper but still a little pricey. Great guitars though. My main guitar these days is a Mex strat that I've heavily mod'd. Like you, I prefer the feel of a strat.

@deans.8659 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Marc. I'm changing between humbucker and single coil. Both guitars sound good! Have a nice weekend!

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Humbuckers and single coils sound quite different but I love both. I find myself playing slightly differently with each as singles tend to be a bit more forgiving where as hum buckers force me to play a little more precisely. By that I mean that, for me, single coils suit a loose style of play which includes more incidental noises/handling noises. Maybe it's psychological because SRV, Hendrix ext tend to be looser and dig in more. What ever it is, I love both!

@deans.8659 2 жыл бұрын

@@MarcGuitarVideos You're right. Playing and sound are different but I love both too.

@tbone2451 2 жыл бұрын

I agree, nothing sounds better than a Stratocaster neck pickup. I also think single coil pickups sound great with pedals as well.

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

I love a single coil with a fuzz, or a wah-wah... or a fuzz AND and wah-wah!

@kidr5510 3 ай бұрын

My bluestone I’m looking for is that clean tone that is on the verge of being overdriven

@MarcGuitarVideos 3 ай бұрын

Excellent

@billyclub56 2 жыл бұрын

Your red Paul had the best tone. IMO

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, yes P90s have a very special tone

@retiredguyadventures6211 2 жыл бұрын

The green strat is beautiful. Looks like a custom shop?

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

It's a heavily modified Mexican strat. They produced this limited edition finish and I love it. However I've changed neck, pickups, tuners and strap locks! I'd originally intended to swap the pick guard for torty, but decided against it as the black really suited.

@tbone2451 2 жыл бұрын

It is a beauty.

@retiredguyadventures6211 23 күн бұрын

@@MarcGuitarVideos I have the same MIM Player HSS strat but in aged cherry. I like the aged white pickup and control knob covers. I want to do the same mods that you have done. What pickups and neck did you go with? The new Fender Player II series has a rosewood fretboard option with rolled edges and I was thinking of getting one of those necks when they become available but who knows when that will be. It would be interesting to know what you went with.

@MarcGuitarVideos 23 күн бұрын

@@retiredguyadventures6211 Neck pickup is a Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Strat. I love it. The original Fender was really good, but I prefer the Fralin. The middle pickup is the original fender and the humbucker is a Bare Knuckles. The tuners are Sperzel locking. I also had the volume pot replaced because the original one broke/developed a fault. I've also changed the strap buttons for locking ones. The biggest change though was swapping the neck. I made a video documenting this here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/is1zoZigt7mRlqc.html so you can see/hear the differences. I hope that's helpful

@retiredguyadventures6211 23 күн бұрын

@@MarcGuitarVideos Thank you! Which Bare Knuckles humbucker did you decide to go with if you don't mind my asking?

@graemero5532 2 жыл бұрын

When I started I thought I had to have a Gibson as my favourite players all used them, but I am most cumfy, and play better with Telecasters or Asats.

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

I love the sound of a Gibson, but I prefer strats. I think I play better on a strat. They feel more natural to me.

@54PIRATE 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Marc when people talk about tone why do they not mention the fact that if you play over the selected pickup as opposed to playing between pickups or even playing over a pickup that’s not selected gives you a different tone range

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul - that's an excellent point. To me the way you play has is bigger impact on tone than the gear you play. I know that's a controversial idea. I made a video a while ago where I took one of my strats and swapped the neck for an A/B comparison of maple and rosewood fretboards. In doing that, I noticed that my picking had a much bigger impact on tone than the neck wood did.

@andyolson6781 10 ай бұрын

wtf is neck pickup the pickup closer to the neck?

@MarcGuitarVideos 10 ай бұрын

Yes, neck pickup is the pickup by the neck. Bridge pickup is the pickup nearest the bridge. And for guitars with 3 pickups, the 'middle pickup' is the one in the middle.

@sometimesdimneverthin8901 2 жыл бұрын

👍🎸

@bowrog 2 жыл бұрын

You said nothing about amp settings or pedals!!

@bowrog 2 жыл бұрын

Ok i now see that's on patreon!!

@MarcGuitarVideos 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, that's it

@44scoots 2 жыл бұрын

Thinking most newer players will be watching this so you can’t start the video with overdriven guitar tones. You can put an OD on a piece of lumber and make it sound bluesy but what does that tell you? At least tell us up front what your set up is.

@graemero5532 2 жыл бұрын

Marc was merely letting watchers know they can play blues on any guitar. As he says the level of dirt used differs from player to player.

@44scoots 2 жыл бұрын

@@kennypriest7434 a comment, a statement, and a question. What are you talking about?

@nerminsalkic6360 2 жыл бұрын

13 gauge and tube amp. . .

@graemero5532 2 жыл бұрын

Can't agree with your comment. Kirk Flletcher & Robben Ford sounded fine using the Roland Blues Cube and it's solid state. As for string gauge, B.B. King and Billy Gibbons use 8 gauge. Personally I think tuning stability is compromised with anything lighter than 10 gauge, but each to their own.

@nerminsalkic6360 2 жыл бұрын

@@graemero5532 bro 13 i have on strat crazy srv sound .. another guitar 9 or 1o is still good