Video Guitar Lesson 1, part 2: ‘solo acoustic ideas’ – Using a looper pedal
- What can help you to sound big when playing on your own acoustically?
- What should be kept in mind when planning an acoustic performance?
- How can you make up for the lack of a singer in this kind of scenario?
- What are some good ways to use a looper pedal?
If these questions interest you then keep reading and be sure to check our video and audio out for this lesson.
Our video on our YouTube channel (my lesson with Dan):
(see below for timings)
In this lesson, Dan helps me out with my acoustic sound for a performance I have been asked to do for my sister-in-law’s wedding. I am performing several songs at the front of their service some of which they have chosen and some of which they have asked me to come up with. As there is a delay on publishing our episodes, this comes after I have actually done the performance and it went very well, particularly because of Dan’s excellent advice and suggestion to use a looper pedal which I followed.
In the second part of this lesson, we take a look at how to arrange multiple parts for the looper pedal performance, particularly covering “Something” by the Beatles.
In the end, the performance was of the following songs:
- ‘Something’ by the Beatles: Played while the wedding party awaited the arrival of the bride
- ‘Textbook’ by We Are Scientists: Played as my sister-in-law walked up the aisle
- ‘Pretty Ugly Before’ by Elliott Smith: Played while the register was being signed
- ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ by Fleetwood Mac: Played as everyone left
Most songs were played using my Boss RC30 to create a long loop, then some layers added to this on the fly along with some melodic playing and improvisation. On ‘Textbook’ the Looper was not utilised but I used reverb, chorus and a bit of delay to build the atmosphere. The acoustic amp I use is the Marshall AS100D which is great and has an effects loop with the downside of being very heavy.
Our audio podcast on SoundCloud (my lesson with Dan)
Some things which I am really going to take away from this lesson are that:
- I planned the performance and practised using a looper pedal
- I tried to include melodies from the song in my rehearsal
All the best, Gary and Dan
https://soundcloud.com/tunein-toneup/
Timings for Video Guitar Lesson 17 – on looping:
| 00:01:05 | Equipment which I have bought to the lesson: Gibson J45, Looper RC30, Marshall AS100D |
| 00:01:51 | Outlining the four songs I’m doing as part of this performance |
| 00:03:11 | Advantages and disadvantages to playing acoustic rather than electric |
| 00:05:55 | An experiment to discover what will happen when I push the AS100D a little harder |
| 00:06:41 | The low “A” note bass response feedback and how to solve using a soundhole cover |
| 00:11:42 | Alternative idea – you could use a volume pedal |
| 00:12:47 | Experimenting with the controls on the AS100D |
| 00:17:49 | Dan demonstrating ‘digging in’ on an acoustic |
| 00:19:30 | Another thing about the settings on your amp: you want the amp set so you can use “touch” to control the volume and response |
| 00:21:11 | Getting onto the songs with the looper |
| 00:24:31 | Dan’s first go with the looper playing “Something” by the Beatles |
| 00:25:56 | Dan’s second loop with correct start and end |
| 00:29:23 | Identifying the double stops which Dan was using |
| 00:32:09 | Dan’s suggestion to layer the Am section |
| 00:33:39 | Overdubbing the Am section |
| 00:37:47 | Dan harmonising the melody of the singer using guitar loops overdubbed |
| 00:44:02 | Breakdown of the Am part |
| 00:46:16 | Quick discussion about the key change and whether to include it |
| 00:48:04 | Considering other equipment like amps, pedals and different types of guitar instruments to get used to in their own right |
| 00:51:27 | “Textbook” by We are Scientists |
| 00:52:06 | “Pretty Ugly Before” by Elliott Smith |
| 00:56:11 | Dan recording a generic chord progression and the value of double stops on acoustic |
| 00:56:27 | a) using single notes |
| 00:56:52 | b) up an octave |
| 00:57:33 | c) using sixths (interval) |
| 00:58:00 | d) using arpeggios |
| 00:58:29 | e) some more double stops |
| 00:58:57 | f) using arpeggiated triads |
| 00:59:11 | g) playing quicker – e.g. sweep picking |
| 01:00:01 | h) superimposing different chords |
| 01:00:21 | i) octaves played concurrently |
| 01:05:51 | I Don’t Wanna Know Fleetwood Mac |
Last eight lessons for new arrivals or those who want to brush up on this contentCurt Mangan Strings Website: https://www.curtmangan.com/
Keep watching listening and getting in touch. We really want to hear from you! Keep an eye out for some improvements to our video setup coming shortly which we’re really excited about.
You may want to check Dan Davies out in action. You can find a video I made of Dan and his band Full House on this YouTube channel: Full House Brighton Band (more to come with improved video and some different approaches to the audio).
Enjoy your musical journey 🙂
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