Is is harder to play more emotionally on an electrically amplified instrument?

[anonymous278347457]

I'm basically talking about Guitar and Bass. Personally, as a piano and clarinet player, I find it harder to play emotionally and dynamically on electric bass and guitar, especially guitar.

It just seems that most people (including me)can get by on guitar without paying too much attention to their touch. And to a certain extent, bass. But if I was to do that on any of my other instruments, It would sound dull and lifeless.

I think it might have something to do with the fact that guitar and bass is usually played with an amp of some sort, so you don't need to control your dynamics that much since you can just turn down or up. But even then, I rarely have to crescendo or diminuendo in a song. its just, "turn down during the guitar solo" sort of thing

Or the fact that you can EQ your tone, rather than being forced to control it with your playing style.

OR, it might just be because I'm not pro enough a bass and guitar.

Anyone else have similar views/experiences?

[cowsgomoo]

I think there are definitely control issues with electric instruments... the most obvious one is that your touch is translated via electrionic circuitry that can squash the dynamic range

but when it comes to 'emotion'... some of the most emotionally affecting music I ever heard was played on electric guitar... there might be compression issues to overcome but you have the advantage of hugely malleable timbre & immense volume to use...

there are many ways to send a shiver down the spine of an audience

cue Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock playing Star Spangled Banner... Jimi doing it on an oboe wouldn't cut it... so I guess I have to disagree with you

[lemur821]

I find it the other way around. Electric instruments are alive in my hands. Way more responsive than a wooden box with bits of wire stretched on it. Although the classical guitar does have quite a response for a dead tree. I suspect that has to do with the sensitivity of nylon strings.

[bassist15]

I feel alot of emotion playing very slow groovy songs on bass. Or playing a slow blues in a band it feels like you have the world at your finger tips. HEndrix is a perfect example of feel and emotion. He had such a perfect control of feedback and effects. Hendrix makes it seems as if he couldve made the guitar combust at his command.

[KeithBMI]

Hendrix is a great example. I can almost "feel" him through his guitar solos.

...If that makes sense...

[nad]

No.

[Bard2dbone]

Hard to play 'emotionally' on amplified instruments?

Check out Joe Satriani's 'Always With Me, Always With You' for depth of feeling. It's all electric, and except for a short section where he had to show off his chops for a minute, it's not very complex. But it will reach into your chest and pull your heart out.

Once you've recovered, listen to Santana's 'Europa'.

Now try Jeff Beck's 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers'.

Still doubt it?

The reason you have less expressive feel is that you haven't been playing stringed things long enough.

And any time you play an instrument that is driven by breath you have more potential for expression than one manipulated only by your hands. But the type of instrument you choose also has its own limitations. As mentioned eearlier, an oboe can play every single-note line in Purple Haze, but will anyone want to listen?

Keep practicing.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by thedonutman

It just seems that most people (including me)can get by on guitar without paying too much attention to their touch. And to a certain extent, bass. But if I was to do that on any of my other instruments, It would sound dull and lifeless.

Thank recorded music for that. Recording engineers tend to compress the hell out of amplified electric guitar and bass tracks, and in many instances the amps are being driven to their dynamic limits to achieve their trademark tone, hence the general expectation among listeners that dynamics are unimportant/unachievable with electric instruments. You're right though, electric players generally need to pay more attention to dynamics; as it is, most people are content to put everything on 11 and go deaf.

[Munjibunga]

Ever listen to Lee Ritenour? Nathan East?

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Probably, if you're not good on the instrument.

[Smallequestrian]

I think a big problem is a lot of guitar/bass players fail at playing dynamics. There are other ways to play quieter other than turning that amp or instrument volume down, especially while playing fingerstyle.

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by nad

No.

volume isn't the only way to show emotion in music...that kind of reminds me of that drummer joke--

Guitar player to drummer after practicing a song: Good job on the drums, but i think you need to play with more dynamics
Drummer: more dynamics? But i'm playing as loud as I can!

[kumde]

This brings to mind baroque music, instruments such as the harpsichord and recorder have no or limited dynamics so basically the interpretation has to rely on articulation and timing. Both are crucial in all music so it's worth while to listen to them "at the source", i.e. in settings where they aren't masked by changes in volume. Recorder players to check out are Dan Laurin and Michaela Petri, for example.

Dynamics done by the group collectively are another way, the classical soul singress phrase "Break it down, boys.." is usually the highlight of a gig

[Baryonyx]

Harpsichords are amazing, if I were rich I'd buy one and hire someone to play it for me, they have the most amazing tone!

As for the question at hand, I'll admit that becoming accustomed to the dynamics of electric instruments may be tough if you've come from a primarily acoustic grounding.

However, when you start to find a voice on the bass, you'll find it easier to express yourself and play "emotionally".

[Spector_Ray]

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Riviera Paradise(Live from Austin City Limits DVD)

Watch it and tell me there's not any emotion in playing and electric guitar That(and talent of course) is the reason he makes it look so easy.

[Spoiled Grape]

Dynamics are easily achieved on bass, especially when playing finger style.