Elixer Extra-lights on a 314ce ?

rbachman · #1 06-19-2002, 09:06 AM

I am a fairly new player and I am having buzzing problems when I play -- Not all the time.

I don't play nearly as much as I should and I don't hold those buggers (the strings) down as hard as I should.

I am a strummer and picker (not finger). Can the 314ce handle some Elixer extra-lights? What would it do to the sound?

I do fairly well when I play seated but when I am jamming with the band I stand and at times I buzz real bad.

Roman · #2 06-19-2002, 09:26 AM

You'll probably experience more "buzzing" with xtra lights. I'd stick with the lights and raise actions and/or adjust the truss rod a bit.

Roman

rbachman · #3 06-19-2002, 09:38 AM

Roman,
I don't understand - I'm getting buzzing because I'm not holding down the strings hard enough. Wouldn't raising the action make it harder to hold them down??

cotten · #4 06-19-2002, 09:55 AM

It may be that the extra buzzing when your standing comes from something other than lack of a death grip on the strings. I suspect it's also caused by poor finger placement, caused by poor hand position, caused by holding the guitar differently.

Step 1 - Notice how you hold the guitar when seated, when you get no buzzes.

Step 2 - Notice your hand position and finger placement relative to the frets.

Step 3 - Notice how gently you can press the strings and still get a clean, clear sound.

Step 4 - Stand up, adjust the guitar strap until your hand position, finger placement and grip strength are the same as when you sit down. For me, this is with the neck fairly high so that my wrist is beneath the neck, not behind it.

Try this - I think it will help. Generally, the less grip strength you use, the greater your guitar playing endurance, speed, clarity and sensitivity. Ah, and the less soreness of the fingertips after extended playing.

Other factors that can affect buzziness is the length of your nails and the disposition of the wasps who started building a nest inside your Taylor the last time you left it out on the stand.

cotten

rbachman · #5 06-19-2002, 11:19 AM

Thanks Cotten,

I will really have to look at my ergonomics a lot closer. I also rush myself. Being a relative beginner and playing 1 night a week with people that have played together for a long time doesn't help. But in the long run, I will get it.

And after the first few songs, I seem to get a lot better. And by the end of about a 1/2 hour - I seem to do okay. I have to realize that I've only been at this for about 2 years. I'm playing with people that have played for 6-7 years.

Practice, Practice !!!

Bob Womack · #6 06-19-2002, 01:51 PM

Another thing to consider is your action. Most manufacturers set their actions higher than necessary to accomodate harder players. Manufacturers also aren't able to take the time to optimize each guitar and keep the prices reasonable. A complete setup by a competent luthier, while it will cost around $100, can do wonders, leveling any high frets. With the frets level, you can lower the action. The lower action will require less muscular tension to stop the strings. As you build up your right forearm muscles, you can raise the action again if necessary.

Hope this helps!

Bob

rsimper · #7 06-20-2002, 08:08 AM

A good hint I once got was to learn first how to play properly, then how to play fast. Its much easier to speed up once you have your hands trained on a certain position than it is to learn a poor position at full speed then try to change your fingers around. Does that make sense?

Basically, when I first was learning, I, like everyone else, wanted to be able to play all of the songs I love at the speed they were supposed to be played at. In order to do this, I had to get to barre chords quickly, which always meant a poor position. I would get a chord that sounded more or less correct, but it wasnt crisp, there was some buzz and muting. Since then, ive gotten past that point and left behind those beginner aspirations, but I think i would have been better served had I played the songs at half speed with perfect chords. It really doesnt take much pressure to get a string to ring properly.

You can try the extra lights (you might need to adjust the truss a little) but thats like getting an (golf analogy coming up) offset closed faced anti slice driver. Sure it might work, but its not helping you get any better. Its a defeatist position to take...I think you will serve your playing abilities better by sticking with the lights and making sure you get good chords. It might be more demanding right now, but it seems to me that more demanding is what you (and all of us for that matter) need to ensure that you improve as you would like.

rbachman · #8 06-20-2002, 08:41 AM

roman, cotten, bob, rsimper:

Thank you all for your helpfull hints. You all helped me to get to what I knew needed to be done anyway.

I do need to pay more attention to how I am playing. And I need to play more on my own -- Help me to tell my wife that I want to play more !!

And then during my once a week practice sessions, I can work on playing at normal speed.

And by the way, the band currently is not playing out but we want to in a few months at a local coffeehouse.

This is all in preparation for us playing at my wife's 50th birthday party at the end of October. That gives me a bit of time to hone my talents. The other guys have played in bands for the last 15 years (together mostly).

I feel real fortunate to be involved with people that have been real patient with me over the last year or so!! Being invloved in jamming with them has made playing guitar "much" better than if I was just in this by myself.

Thanks all !!!
Rob

Bob Womack · #9 06-20-2002, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rbachman
...Being invloved in jamming with them has made playing guitar "much" better than if I was just in this by myself...

Isn't it amazing how exposure to other players, even for short spurts, really kicks you down the road of playing? After a dry spell, either jamming or playing with a band really gets my creative juices flowing and brings back the joy of playing. Seeing another player's approach also helps. "Hey, I can do this!"

Tell your wife that twenty minutes a day are better for you physically than two hours straight on Saturday. Those twenty minutes, taken when you get home from work, can help you drop off the stresses of the day and find you smile as well. Just remember to end each session with something fun!

Bob