Let me start by saying I was an extremely avid player years ago, but stopped for various reasons. I've been inspired to get back into it again but I have so many questions I don't know where to start. I like to play pretty heavy types of music, and love the sound of certain effects/distortions. Could you experts please use your vast knowledge and trained ears to tell me how Funtwo gets that great sound? I'm sure you all know who he is, but if not, here's a clip that might help you help me!
I'm no expert but there is some obvious stuff. The rest is likely in his gear(amp, guitar, pickups).
1) The intro he is using volume swells not with his volume knob so apparently he is using a volume pedal.
2)There is some doubling going on. Because he obviously has a backing track going and some previously recorded rhythm tracks. The doubling gives a perception of "thicker" tone. There are also some harmony lines going with the synths which can perceivably affect the sound of the guitar.
The other little things are just technique related. Pinch and "artificial" harmonics(they should be called forced harmonics because they aren't artificial just forced to the fore by subtle muting.).
As far as gear is concerned, I can't help but think that he's using some sort of pedal/interface like the GNX series from digitech. Being that he's in his bedroom, I doubt that he's playing through any sizeable amp otherwise there would be noticeable things.(like the curtains moving or mom coming into the room screaming "turn that darned thing down!")
Anyway, that's my two bits.
Haha.
Thanks a lot for your help. Yeah, when you talk about forced harmonics, are you talking about how some notes tend to squeal at much higher octaves than they really are? Is that done by light palm muting? I think I'm going outside the scope of the recording forums I fear :(
Edit: Also good catch on the volume swells. I saw another video of him doing this song live and he was using the volume knobs.
Yeah the squeals. Zakk Wylde loves them overexaggerated vibrato and squeals. Not done by palm muting. You can see near the end of the song where that guy touches the string at around the 17th, 19th or 24th fret(I don't remember) to bring on the harmonic. By doing this, your kind of "muting" the main tone and allowing the harmonic to continue ringing. It's kind of like cutting the oscilation at whatever division of the harmonics you want to ring.
Hmm, in the beginning and middle I don't see him muting with his fingers like that. I thought he was just tapping towards the end there.
on you tube there is this brit that explains and shows how it is done. brilliant clip.
he calls them squealies.
here is the link. I hope it works, because whenever I type in a youtube link it does not work.
I went to youtube and searched harmonics. this guys video was there. I saw last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I508P-5Rk
just as I thought. I clicked the link and it did not work. just search harmonics and it comes uop.
squealies is the one!
If it's not brought on by "muting" that is obvious, it's likely a pinched harmonic. So basically allowing your thumb to just stouch the string as you pick again "muting" the main tone and allowing the harmonic to ring through. This technique is also affected by placement. Where you pick on the string determines which harmonic rings.
Broken link.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=harmonics&search=Search
that is it on the top. thanks.
Yeah. That Justin guy knows his stuff. Check out Tommy Emanuels lesson as well. Love that man's playing.
