Hi Reso Folks,
I have been playing lap style for three years after years of regular guitar. But I am in a bit of a crossroads. I hesitate to post this, as it’s somewhat painful to acknowledge, and opens me up for criticism. It might also sound downright weird!
But hoping for some friendly, supportive advice.
I recently started recording myself using the iPhone camera on video setting. I did this as a way to improve my technique. But the results have left me perplexed. I have two resonators that I play on my lap — a Gretsch Boxcar round neck, with a nut riser, tuned to Open D, and a Morrell square neck tuned to GBDGBD, with a Scheerhorn cone recently installed.
When I record, I run through some standard blues and country licks, playing in an informal way just to get a gist of how I sound.
When I listen back to the recordings made with Gretsch, it sounds fine. I am no virtuoso, but it accurately reflects my own perception of my abilities: My intonation is there, the overall tone is decent, and my timing is locked in pretty tight. “Hey,” I think to myself, “I aint bad.”
When I listen back to the Morrell, however, it doesn’t sound very good. Though I can’t quite put my finger on why. I suppose it just sounds amateurish —the notes sound whiny and not well-articulated, and the tone sounds muddy, though I never heard that when I am just playing without recording. I am playing in time, and I am playing in tune, but there’s a heavy handed, plodding quality when I listen back.
It’s tempting to blame the instrument, but that doesn’t seem fair, given the new cone. But I don’t understand why I would sound significantly better on the Gretsch often using the same techniques, such as a basic roll pattern. On the Morrell, for example, on a basic G roll, the G root note on the fifth fret, fourth string sound overwhelmingly loud and almost distorted and you can barely hear the other strings in the roll.
I tried a lot of approaches to see if I could get the Morrell to sound better —changed the tuning back down to D, tried bare fingers, or a thumbpick and bare fingers, but it all kept sounding blecch.
Very strange: Only one thing made a significant difference: I picked up a flat pick and ran through some licks and chord arpeggios. All of a sudden, the old Morrell rang out like a dobro —clear, clean, and sweet.
Does that make sense? Could a lighter set of strings help?
At any rate, if anyone has any bright ideas, other than “practice harder,” which I already know, please feel free.
I don’t play in fast, bluegrass style, so playing with a flat pick isn’t out of the question for me. I enjoy it, and am watching some of the Tut Taylor instruction videos. But I prefer fingerpicking.
Thank you, Be nice now!
On the flatpickng, you already know that Tut Taylor uses a flatpick. I've never seen any Tut instructional vids but I believe that is how he picked from day one. But, there is a gentleman that was a disciple of Taylor's that also uses a flatpick and he has lots of videos on youtube. You may pick up some tips there and his name is Corey McQuade. Mr. McQuade used to come to the Reso Gathering that is coming up next week I believe. The gathering takes place in Wilkesboro, NC.
As to why one reso sounds better than another when you pick with finger picks I would guess that it's the way you are attacking the strings differently from one reso to the other. I'd hafta see and play them to get a feel for what is happening. I do have one reso that is just more difficult to play that the others that I have. I can get it to sound decent but it just doesn't "feel" right.
The Reso Gathering would be worth attending if you can swing it. It looks to be about a 600 mile drive for you tho. It would really help you if you could go. Great folks, friendly and helpful with usually some workshops. LOTS of jammin and they make it easy to be a part of a jam. I haven't been able to go for a few years so I don't know exactly what is going there on but lots of members here attend.
Here is a link to the ResoGat website
https://www.resogat.org/index.html
Thank you Terry! Yes, when I mentioned Tut's videos, I meant Corey's videos, which are very helpful. Thank you for the info on Reso gate.
John:
If the flatpick sounds better to you, it could be the material. Most lap Dobro players use metal fingerpicks...brass or stainless steel, however, there are some which prefer plastic finger picks and thumbpicks. (such as Hawaiian style players). It might be worth trying some different varieties that might have an effect on the tone you're getting. As Terry mentioned, the opportunity to try other guitars as well could be a mind-opening experience. Meanwhile, as painful as the experience can be, I would suggest that you trust what the self-recorded video is telling you and see if you can achieve a recorded version of the sound which pleases you. In "real time" we perceive our sound slightly different than a recorded version and certainly, every guitar has a different feel which also affects the way we attack the instrument.
What strings do you have on the Morrell? Which bar and picks? Are you anchoring your right hand with your pinky on the coverplate? If you can post sound clips, we could probably offer better suggestions for improvement. Don't be shy - we're all in this to improve, and, except for Jerry, Rob, and those who reside at the low end of the Dunning-Kruger scale, we all pretty much suck at this (or at least go through extended periods where we think so).
Ha! I think I’ve been practicing Dunning-Kruger scales ;-)
(Unconscious-incompetence-low-dian)
Edited by - Lounge Primate on 06/28/2023 08:36:33
Thank you so much, Eric, Philip, and Lounge Primate! I appreciate all your words. Philip, to answer your question, I have a set of 56-16 EJ42s on the Morrell. I use a Dunlop Dawg bar, and a basic plastic thumb and metal fingerpicks off the shelf at the Guitar Center. I do think one issue may be the way I am wearing t the fingerpicks where they are maybe not hitting the strings correction. One little bonus about fooling around with the flat pick and then listening back: It does seem to help me zero in on the some of the issues. I think one thing is I am playing too many notes. At any rate, thank you all. If I get the courage, I will post some clips of me playing.
As a player with some years behind me I can tell you that at 3 years in, many players are at that point where "I don't know what I don't know" and for others to give advice without the benefit of witnessing you play well, it's difficult.
Let me make a general suggestion(s).
Get a formal video lesson. Someone like Mike Witcher. Often new players can't execute due to an incorrect technique. Sometimes a lack of theory. Often both.
If you REALLY are motivated to get properly assessed, one of the best teachers on the planet is in Hadden Hgts NJ, Jimmy Heffernan. I'd bet that a single session with Jimmy would open your eyes/ears with "aha" moments. Plus Jimmy is just so much fun to hang with.
A bit of a trip, I know but the benefits would be amazing!!
Good luck in your journey. It's one we all go through. If we stick around long enough.
h
Thank you Howard. It's good to hear, in a philosophical way, that three years is still considered new. Everything moves at such a fast pace these days; it's easy to feel like "I should have this down by now." I will check into a live lesson. Best, JC
Like Howard says, check out what the best teachers say. Jimmy Heffernan has a great video on "common mistakes and how to fix them". We are really fortunate to have the best players and teachers willing to share their expertise online. I have purchased lessons from most them and found them to be an invaluable resource. If one on one is available in your area, by all means, take advantage of the opportunity and learn from the best.
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