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#1
05-23-2019, 08:50 PM
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Playing Softly, (re-)discovering "new" tonality
Just wondering if others have experienced this. Often while watching TV with my better half I will very quietly finger-pick/flat-pick so she can still hear the show. When I'm doing this in my "comfy" recliner I'm holding the guitar pretty high up so my ears are also a little closer to the body. At these times I often feel I'm hearing REALLY nice, sweet sonic subtleties that I don't hear -or at least don't appreciate- at "normal' volumes. Later on -without the tv- I'll continue with this and appreciate it even more.
Playing very softly.....Anyone else try/experience this? 
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#2
05-23-2019, 08:55 PM
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Oh yeah! Celluloid picks are great at the end of the day.
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#3
05-23-2019, 09:03 PM
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Yes. Especially when finger-picking in the still of the night. Almost every guitar sound nicer than they do during the day.
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Martin 00-15M (2019) Yamaha FS5 Red Label (2019) Faith Venus Blood Moon Burst (2018) Taylor GS Mini Koa (2017) Martin LX1 (2009)
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#4
05-23-2019, 09:12 PM
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When I try out guitars, you'll see me hold my ear as close to the sound hole as possible, so I can hear the guitar over other sounds..
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#6
05-23-2019, 09:24 PM
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Quote:
Oh yes. I do that too when trying out a new guitar that I like... 
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Martin 00-15M (2019) Yamaha FS5 Red Label (2019) Faith Venus Blood Moon Burst (2018) Taylor GS Mini Koa (2017) Martin LX1 (2009)
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#7
05-23-2019, 09:52 PM
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I like to play in 'quiet time' too. Usually it involves a lot of unconscious playing, where my fingers go wherever they want and I'm just along for the ride. I don't try to play any 'set' pieces because that would involve taking charge, and it's not important to get it 'right' at this point.
I will also agree that sometimes the tones are very interesting when playing softer than normal. This also works when playing slower than normal in addition to softer. While blues material flows easily under these conditions, sometimes the best is to just play a known chord progression or verse and just solo off it for however long. Among others, 'Moondance' fits this bill handsomely, as do pieces that turn into mini-ragas, sometimes out of thin air. A little DADGAD doesn't hurt the process. I fingerpick everything normally, but I am at my most relaxed doing it this way. Thanks for introducing this topic. Don .
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*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo
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#8
05-23-2019, 11:08 PM
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Quote:
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#9
05-24-2019, 03:37 AM
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Oh yeah. I still play softly but years ago, when I was in the Army and lived in barracks, at night I’d pick very, very softly and put my ear right up against the guitar and got the vibration thru my skull so I could “hear” louder. I know, seems weird now but it made sense then.
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#10
05-24-2019, 04:56 AM
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Playing on the couch in the TV room has conditioned me to softer playing in general. I get accused by hosts at open mics of having a very soft touch. But to me, I really enjoy the dynamics that are created by the softer approach. There are only about 3 songs I play where I find myself digging in a little more and those are I-IV-V blues type songs. This issue is where different types of picks can really stand out.
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Guild D55 Gibson Southern Jumbo Farida OT-22
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#11
05-24-2019, 05:15 AM
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I very much appreciate dynamic range in all my music. Playing or listening to music at a constant volume is not terribly interesting. It is fun to enjoy all the sounds an instrument can make.
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Keith Martin 000-42 Marquis Taylor Classical Alvarez 12 String Gibson ES345s Fender P-Bass Gibson tenor banjo
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#12
05-24-2019, 03:18 PM
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I have several pieces I start out playing softly with a pick. I like the dynamics and contrast it provides to my normal picking. I also have several fingerpicking tunes that I play softly, and I fingerpick more over the sound hole because it adds tonal complexity as well. Normally my right hand is closer to the bridge.
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