Unplugged Tips?

[Zolbol]

Hi TB.

Our band been asked to do an unplugged set in two weeks and I was just wandering if anyone got any tips on how to approach it.

We normally play a sorta rootsy melodic rock, mostly originals.

We rehearsed last week and it went ok.. Still tryin to figure out exactly whats required of me. On a few of the songs i sorta changed the bass line almost completey, which i rather enjoyed as it felt really good to experiment with well rehearsed tunes - refreshing really. Amazing what a little space can do for you musically. Kinda opened my eyes a bit.

Anyway just checking if there's something fundamental i should be doing or just carry on sorta feeling it and softening it all??

Many thanks.

[BillyIVbass]

Are you playing with drums? When I play acoustic sets I try to bring my dynamics down and focus more on keeping basic time with the root than playing patterns

[bassbrad]

It really depends on your band. I just did an unplugged thing with one of my bands and having the 2 gtr players on acoustic, and a smaller drum kit really opened things up for me to play. I played my fretless and acoustic bass guitar. It also let the others hear some of the nuances that are always there but covered up with cymbals and distorted gtr. It also offered me and the drummer to sing the vocal parts we did for the recordings but never sing live.

[Billnc]

+1 these are usually wonderful gigs for fretless. I haven't had an ABG in a while. These are gigs I wish I did more often, it's one time we're not fighting guitars for sonic space, or just be heard.

[Zolbol]

Yeh thanks guys. We all going accoustic - two guitars me on my accoustic bass and a smaller kit with brushes... we think. Not too sure on the brushes though.

Yeh normally its all electric with distortion,in places, well more crunch actually on the guitars, and me pumping away.

But gotta say what a difference it makes having everything toned down and softened - actually really enjoying it. The comment by Billnc pretty much sums it up hey. Not fighting with the guitars for sonic space.

Anyway thanks for the comments guys - very glad that i had the general idea down lol.

Rock out!!

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Zolbol

Yeh thanks guys. We all going accoustic - two guitars me on my accoustic bass and a smaller kit with brushes... we think. Not too sure on the brushes though.

definitely brushes, or at least those bundle things.

think about it: you guys on your acoustics can still rock out energetically without it being too loud, but the poor drummer would have to hold back with his sticks the whole time like he was playing an old folks home.

with brushes (and maybe a t-shirt wrapped around the kick pedal beater), his playing energy can match the rest of yours without being too loud and wrecking the mix.

[Zolbol]

Great point Walter... Brushes it is then