We cataloged a condensed list of tone culprits in a 2006 "Tips and Tricks" article worth reviewing. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the instrument itself as the cause and not "operator error."

There's something to be said for a quality build on an instrument generating beautiful tone, but you can still make a mediocre instrument sound better with enhanced playing skills. The concepts aren't as complex as you might think.

*Missing, not milking the sweet spot with the fretting fingers
*Inaccurate pick timing (RH/LH coordination)
*Choking or failing to hold the tone through to the start of the next note.
*Running out of gas, prematurely losing phrase intensity
*Tepid pick stroking, lack of "follow-through."

What can be done about this?

Read article for greater detail: Cataloging Bad Tone

Posted by Ted at October 15, 2013 6:10 AM