Source Tones
If you play electric guitar, knowing how to use your pickup selector is key to nailing the right guitar tone. In conjunction with the strings and technique, the pickup is a SOURCE of your sound.
In general, a bridge pickup position is brighter with a more forward midrange. A neck pickup position has more bass and less aggressive high end.
Which one you select is dependent on taste and artistic expression. Having awareness of your tone is essential to delivering a convincing performance.
Through experience and acute awareness, you can manipulate your sound by flipping to the neck pickup to fatten up the signal; or flip to the bridge to bring some bite to the strum.
Most genres have a standard sound.
Genres
Jazz and R&B flavored tones are typically derived from the NECK pickup; which typically delivers fat, warm and balanced clean tones.
Metal tones typically use a BRIDGE pickup for rhythm tracks; which captures tight, aggressive transients and harmonic overtones from the strings being close to the bridge saddles. The natural compression from a high gain amp sound tames the spiky transients of pick attack in a pleasant way. [If you listened to a raw DI track of a metal guitar performance, it would generally sound terrible.]
Rock has very similar tendencies to metal, but will use the neck pickup more. Guitar solos often switch between pickups phrase by phrase if needed. The high notes and strings can be too shrill if on the BRIDGE.
Country. A classic country guitar tone is the sound of a thinner aggressive single coil BRIDGE. It has a specific attitude that is hard to replicate. One song might require this attitude, while the next may need a warmer touch from the NECK.
Application
It’s pretty straightforward once you have spent time learning how each pickup reacts to the amp.
Too shrill? Try the neck. [Flip selector up]
Too muddy and not enough overtones? Try the bridge. [Flip selector down]
Unsure about your guitars capabilities? Search the manufacturers website to find pickup diagrams.
Notice where your musical tendencies lie, and dial your amp to the preferred pickup; while noticing how those settings react to the other pickup. Having the right tone will change the dynamics of your playing.
Some people know what sound they need so well, that they have guitars with only ONE pickup. These guitars are tailored to a specific sound. Any other tonal adjustments can come from the amp
You can alter a shrill or muddy sound with amp knobs, pedals, guitar tone knobs, and etc; however, it is ESSENTIAL to begin at the SOURCE TONE. The strings and pickups are the original source of electric guitar sound.
Read more on source audio and electric guitar sounds here!
https://namsfrisco.com/what-strings-should-i-get/
https://namsfrisco.com/tone-talks-audio-signal-chain-fx-pedals/
If you have any questions about this, come visit us in Frisco and say hello! We offer private and group lessons Monday-Thursday. You can also email me directly: cody@namsfrisco.com
Voice, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Synth, Ukulele, Violin, Songwriting, Band, Audio Production & Recording, Nuendo, Cubase, Logic Pro X, Reason, Pro Tools, Abelton, Video Production & Editing lessons available!
Enjoy!
Cody
