Apache

[rosemary]

I tried 'Apache' out on the Mexican Strat a week or so ago when it came back after getting the trem fixed. (The spring fell out today - but hopefully these problems will be solved soon).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Aj9y5OzcE

This is probably the best I can play it at present and it's not for want of practice. I've been trying to play it for 18 months or so since starting to learn. Sometimes I get close to the gallop and then miss it at other times.

I'm not sure if some intonation issues are because of the tremolo technique or because I forgot to tune it first this time.

Best wishes
Rosemary

[jase]

Hi Rosemary

Almost there but getting better and better all the time.

[strat64]

Hi Rosemary,

The intro, outro and the gallop is the tricky one with Apache!
It will take some time to learn it, but I can here you are soon there!
When it come to the gallop parts, I myself find it easyer with a not to hard pick.
I use a Jim Dunlop Nylon .60 pick.
Regards
Bo

[hank2k]

Very good rosemary coming along nicely

[rosemary]

Hi Jase, Bo and Steve
Thanks for listening.
Bo: The intro I find as difficult as the gallop. I think I might be getting closer with the bending technique but am not quite sure that I'm playing it properly as it still doesn't sound like the original or how everyone else plays it. Thanks also for the tip about the pick. I tried a few different picks recently but always seem to go back to the Jim Dunlop 1.0 picks. It seems that the amount of pressure when muting also has an effect on the gallop. Maybe?
Best wishes
Rosemary

[ade]

Hi Rosemary

Very good and as Jase says nearly there. Like Bo I also use a 0.6 pick for the gallop. When I want a softer sound I use a thicker 1.0 pick.

Kind Regards

Ade

[Jono]

Hi Rosemary,
A Good effort on what is the hardest of the Shad's numbers to get right. Only practice makes any of us any good & even Hank can't match the record on this one.

Best Regards
John

[hank2k]

Nov 3, 2011 22:09:36 GMT Jono said:

Hi Rosemary,
A Good effort on what is the hardest of the Shad's numbers to get right. Only practice makes any of us any good & even Hank can't match the record on this one.

Best Regards
John

That's not entirely true, as the tvs 3 said hank could if he wanted to but chooses to go for an all round sound at shows

[rosemary]

Thanks John
I'll keep trying
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Jono]

Well hank2k,
When he proves me wrong I will change the above statement.
Jono

Hi Rosemary,
After nearly forty years "I keep trying" myself.
Best Regards
John

[sixchannel]

Hi Rosemary
Getting better all the time.
The Gallops are pretty good, the "slide" is excellent.
The seeming "off-tune" sound is puzzling. What I'd like to hear is you play that MINUS trem arm (in a novice it can cause more problems than it cures - please, no disrespect - you have come on so much in recent months). Take it off the guitar, re-record the audio and you can send it to me if you like - you have my e-mail addy, or put it up here - and I'll take a listen.
I cannot go with this "Pick" thing here. A .6 JD is a rhythm pick!! Even Bruce doesnt go that low - he uses a .73 JD. .6 is way too soft. Hank uses a "SHARP 1.3" Remember too that in the 60's he was likely using something like tortoiseshell - as hard as nails!! - and really digging in. You cain't doo that with a pick as soft as what is suggested. Do hold the pick firmly and quite close to the tip for the "Gallop" - it gives lots of control.
cheers
ian

[rosemary]

Hi John and Ian
John: If it takes 40 years there's no hope for me. I'm too old already.

Ian: Thanks. I've sent you an email.

Best wishes
Rosemary

[93strat]

Hi Rosemary.
Nicely played almost there. just keep going and it will all come together.
Cheers Alex

[George Lewis]

Hi Rosemary,
Coming along nicely.

I think the issue with the opening and ending bend is that you are starting the bend too soon. Allow the D natural note to sound for a moment then bend up and release back to the D natural.

It goes without saying that the guitar and intonation need to be in tune. ;D

regards
George

[Jono]

Hi Rosemary,
Mean't to ask you if you had done 'Apache' yet on your American Strat?. If you have, post the link please for comparison.

Regards
John

[rosemary]

Hi Alex, George and John
Alex: Thanks for listening
George: Thanks for the tip. I'll try playing it like that.
John: This is an earlier version on the American Strat from about 2 months ago
www.youtube.com/watch?v=46I8UPMswf8
There's probably not much difference in playing as I don't seem to be getting any better at it despite all the practice. Hopefully soon I'll make some progress and things will sink in
Best wishes
Rosemary

[George Lewis]

Hi Rosemary,
No question you are improving, but it's the last 5% that makes the difference and is the most difficult.

Ah, grasshopper, a dedicated musician (excluding genius's of course) would practice a 1000 times then, when almost perfect would continue the practice with all lights turned off and no view of the fretboard. Only then, can you begin to concentrate on the expression !!!

Actually, playing in the dark is very useful ... why not give it a try.
Cheers
George

[rosemary]

Hi George
Thanks. Playing in the dark would be interesting but I can hardly look away from the fretboard for even a second yet. Actually I've been looking even more carefully at where my fingers are lately to try to avoid buzzing or clipped notes especially when using the 4th finger as it often doesn't reach comfortably.
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Jono]

Hi Rosemary,
Sorry if you have already stated this elsewhere but apart from the guitars what is your line up equipment wise?.
regards
John

[rosemary]

Hi John
I have a Zoom G2.1Nu with Charlie's EFTP patches and a Roland Cube-40XL amp. The videos are recorded on a Logitech webcam or sometimes on a Zoom video camera (but I haven't used it for awhile) and the backing tracks are played through desktop PC speakers. Owing to the small size of the room I have to position the camera a fair distance from where I'm playing and then crop the video later which is why the picture is a bit fuzzy. Also my connection is so slow I have to sacrifice video quality to get the highest sound quality. When my playing gets better I'll look at better recording techniques
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Jono]

Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for that. I would never have guessed you was using a Zoom unit, It's a pretty good live sound you've got, I'm impressed.
'Keep on plucking'
Best Regards
John

[rosemary]

Hi John
Thanks. I'm very happy with the sound too. I have to change strings soon and the new ones are uncoated (I'm currently using coated strings) so I'm wondering if they will affect the tone. Hopefully not.
Best wishes
Rosemary

[benitor]

Nov 10, 2011 11:45:31 GMT rosemary said:

Hi John
I have a Zoom G2.1Nu with Charlie's EFTP patches and a Roland Cube-40XL amp. The videos are recorded on a Logitech webcam or sometimes on a Zoom video camera (but I haven't used it for awhile) and the backing tracks are played through desktop PC speakers. Owing to the small size of the room I have to position the camera a fair distance from where I'm playing and then crop the video later which is why the picture is a bit fuzzy. Also my connection is so slow I have to sacrifice video quality to get the highest sound quality. When my playing gets better I'll look at better recording techniques
Best wishes
Rosemary

hello Rosemary,
that is very interesting to me, but what microphone/s and preamplifier/recorder did you use?

the sound is good and time by time you make an improvement.
In my modest opinion, in order to make a further improvement you should pay more attention to tremolo arm movement: on the start of the note you should avoid to press the arm otherwise the note can result a bit out of tune (this is the error that I often make too) . At the end of the note instead expecially before a pause you should act quite a lot up & downthe arm as Hank Marvin does, you can find some video on youtube or look at the last concert DVD for reference.
best regards
benitor

[rosemary]

Hi Benitor
Thanks for listening. The microphone is built into the webcam. It's a Logitech camera with two mikes. It looks exactly like this one

www.logitech.com/en-au/webcam-communications/webcams/devices/6816

but I can't see the model name on mine to be absolutely sure.

The Zoom camera which I've also used before has two mikes too. I increase the volume slightly before uploading videos as YouTube seems to reduce the volume as well as compressing the sound.

The tremolo technique is something I'm trying hard to work on but a large part of the problem is getting the tremolo arm to stay firm enough so when I press down it actually does something. I've almost got it to fit properly now on the Mexican Strat (the green one) although it became slightly loose again when practising this afternoon. Before then I think I was getting a bit better at it so think eventually I'll work it out

Best wishes
Rosemary

[benitor]

hi Rosemary
thanks a lot for the info about the webcamera
benitor