Faking it

[metropolis_4]

I’ve been playing music lately that calls for 22 frets and a Floyd Rose, but I feel like playing it on my Strat that only has 21 frets and a blocked bridge.

I started to realize the 22nd fret is almost always used just on the high E as the top note of a line and I can easily fake this by using the D harmonic on the 19th fret of the G string, or by hitting the C# on the 21st fret and bending up an extra 1/2 step.

I can’t dive bomb, but most of the whammy stuff I can fake with slides and hitting notes a step lower bent up a step to pitch, then bending down and back up to pitch. Also using the old tricks of bending behind the nut and turning tuners.

It doesn’t always work, but I think it’s a lot of fun to find creative ways to work around limitations. Sometimes more fun than having the “right” gear because it forces me to think and be more creative in how I approach things.

 

[DrewJD82]

Much agreed.

Growing as a player the majority of my playing life with a JEM/24 frets/Floyd and having that shape the way I played, it’s hard to navigate away from that and a huge part of what I’ve enjoyed in the last several years with Strats and LP’s is that exact thing, figuring out how to play like me without those features. Tends to make me ‘go for it’ more……while keeping plenty of lube on my Strat nuts so I can still go whammy crazy with them.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

creative ways to work around limitations

be more creative in how I approach things.

Yes! I really like to use the wang bar to "rise up" to notes. My 7 string has a fixed bridge, so these moves were nigh impossible until I figured out this weird hammer-off-slide move (sorry it's hard to describe!) up a single string that sounds close and really cool.

Now I do it all the time because it's pretty unique and fun.

 

[TSJMajesty]

When I saw Ozzy in 84 w/ Jake, I remember being so wowed that he handled so many "dives" w/o a whammy bar. It was impressive to say the least!

Pre-bends & release, not only on notes, but also behind the nut, bending the neck, pushing the headstock against the floor then rising up..., it was insane watching him, right up in front in the 2nd row!

Randy who?

#notatalldisappointed

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

I’ve been playing music lately that calls for 22 frets and a Floyd Rose, but I feel like playing it on my Strat that only has 21 frets and a blocked bridge.

I started to realize the 22nd fret is almost always used just on the high E as the top note of a line and I can easily fake this by using the D harmonic on the 19th fret of the G string, or by hitting the C# on the 21st fret and bending up an extra 1/2 step.

I can’t dive bomb, but most of the whammy stuff I can fake with slides and hitting notes a step lower bent up a step to pitch, then bending down and back up to pitch. Also using the old tricks of bending behind the nut and turning tuners.

It doesn’t always work, but I think it’s a lot of fun to find creative ways to work around limitations. Sometimes more fun than having the “right” gear because it forces me to think and be more creative in how I approach things.

We used to play Sister Christian, and I had to fake all the Floyd stuff with a decked trem. Good times.

 

[metropolis_4]

We used to play Sister Christian, and I had to fake all the Floyd stuff with a decked trem. Good times.

Nice, that’s one of the ones I’m playing this way!

 

[la szum]

Met's Motoring!!

 

[la szum]

Wrong thread??

 

[la szum]

What's the cool line, "Necessity is the mother of invention?"

Limitations force us to become more creative. I have always
loved and applauded players who have done things in a creative
way because they didn't know better, or had limitations in their
gear that made them come up with new ideas and approaches.

And while we all love our guitar heroes and icons I do think we
can also be served by not trying to play or sound like them
exactly. Aren't we trying to be and become ourselves in Life?
Warts and all?

 

[la szum]

When I saw Ozzy in 84 w/ Jake, I remember being so wowed that he handled so many "dives" w/o a whammy bar. It was impressive to say the least!

Pre-bends & release, not only on notes, but also behind the nut, bending the neck, pushing the headstock against the floor then rising up..., it was insane watching him, right up in front in the 2nd row!

Randy who?

#notatalldisappointed

Same. 1000%. I was mesmerized by Jake. Total package.

 

[la szum]

You ever use the Pitch/Whammy feature with an EXP Pedal in the Fractal? Or is that too Morello?

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I don't think I've ever played a note on the 21st or 22nd fret in a song ever. I've used them playing at home but never playing with other people. No real point to this post I suppose, more of an idle thought.

 

[la szum]

I had to bend up a full step on the 22nd Fret of my Flying V this week working
on a Michael Schenker lick. But yeah.... how many times that happens in my
entire lifetime playing with others is rare.

Fuck, I recall an entire decade of gigging out where there weren't even any fucking
solos in the songs.

 

[PLX]

I don't think I've ever played a note on the 21st or 22nd fret in a song ever.

< Steve Vai has entered the chat >

 

[metropolis_4]

You ever use the Pitch/Whammy feature with an EXP Pedal in the Fractal? Or is that too Morello?

I’m going to spend some time messing around with that. My hunch is that it sounds too linear to be convincing. But I’m wondering if I combine it with actual bends if I could make it work

 

[TSJMajesty]

I got one that's impossible to play, I feel, on a guitar with any trem- the solo in My Sharona. With all the double stops in there, there's just no way to keep the higher note from going noticeably flat as you bend the lower note up a step. So, idk how you could "fake" that. You just gotta have a stop tail for anything that has those in it.

AND

 

[HotRats]

It doesn’t always work, but I think it’s a lot of fun to find creative ways to work around limitations. Sometimes more fun than having the “right” gear because it forces me to think and be more creative in how I approach things.

100% and this is true for all gear.

 

[Eagle]

I usually play 24 frets these days but I have four 21 fret guitars and do the same thing. The only times I run off the end is if I am playing a run or an arpeggio and didn’t think. Something with a D in it usually. The high E bend is not an issue.

 

[metropolis_4]

I got one that's impossible to play, I feel, on a guitar with any trem- the solo in My Sharona. With all the double stops in there, there's just no way to keep the higher note from going noticeably flat as you bend the lower note up a step. So, idk how you could "fake" that. You just gotta have a stop tail for anything that has those in it.

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AND

View attachment 33434

Yeah that would be tough. Sometimes if it’s just two notes you can bend the other note a bit to keep it in pitch, but it’s a PITA and would be really difficult at that speed.

When I was playing a lot of country I was really into the faux pedal steel licks where you play the 2nd of a chord and bend it up to a major 3rd while holding the root and 5th. I always used fixed bridge guitars for those gigs

 

[State of Epicicity]

You could just set your trem for down only, then you'd be able to pull off the My Sharona solo no problem and still play Eruption note for note!