Tips & Tricks

How to Be an Instant Pro

Do you want a quick and easy way to sound like a total pro guitar player?

This simple technique will instantly separate you from the hoards of amateur guitar players who just might be the competition at your next audition. That does not mean that you necessarily play better than some of your competition, but the band will instantly recognize and appreciate your professional attitude about being on stage. The better player does not usually get the gig. The more professional one does. Okay, here goes... ready?

When you are not playing, or have just finished playing, TURN OFF YOUR EFFECTS PEDALS! Maybe not all of them, but for sure the ones that are creating that loud, irritating, hissing sound. The pedals that usually create this sound are ones that add gain, like distortion and overdrive units, or even wah pedals. Usually if the pedal has a gain or volume knob on it, it will add loads of noise to your signal. While you are busy playing, this is usually not noticeable. But as soon as you stop... Whammo! Instant noise and feedback.

Watch your favorite players on stage or video, and notice how natural they are when it comes to turning their pedals on and off. They don't make a big deal out of it, they just do it. When your solo or the tune is over, make sure that the pedal or pedals are off BEFORE the final drum hit. Otherwise you are standing out there by yourself making noise. Who notices that even if you don't? Band members, club owners, and the audience. It's unbelievably obvious and annoying to them.

Here is the corollary, or the second easy way to sound more pro. When you are not playing, TURN OFF YOUR GUITAR VOLUME! Nobody wants to hear the hiss and feedback that comes from your instrument, let alone the sound of your hand moving over the strings when you are just noodling or inadvertently making noise. Single coil pickups, like those found on strat-style guitars, are notorious for this. Yes, there are some players that used this screaming feedback and noise to good effect (Randy Rhodes comes to mind... his guitar would feedback every time he muted the chords as he played rhythm just because of the insane volume he used to record, but that was part of his signature) but for most everybody else, the moment you stop playing or the song ends, your finger should be zinging the volume knob (or your volume pedal) to zero. Nada. No noise. Quiet.

This takes practice to get not only good at it, but to make it a habit. When you play at home or with your mates, make it a practice whenever you are not playing to have any possible offending pedals turned off and your guitar volume turned off. After a short time, you won't even notice you do it, but everybody sure will appreciate it.

Now go be a pro!

P.S. This pro tip does not just apply to guitar players. These same techniques are applicable to bass players, harmonica players, vocalists, and anyone else who uses effects.