How To Transition From Playing The Acoustic, to Electric Guitar (Q&A with Rhett Shull)
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2021
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In this video, Chris interviews Rhett Shull to get tips for anyone who plays acoustic guitar but is looking to start playing electrics too.
For more info on Rhett and his fantastic youtube channel, go to:
/ rhettshull
For more info on Chris and his work, go to:
www.DriftwoodGuitars.com - Навчання та стиль
Thanks for the video. As a player of both for over 35 years, my analogy is that acoustic is like something that tastes great in it's natural form and electric is more like tofu and needs to be flavored to be yummy. I will eat plain tofu, but it's rarely what I really want. You need to understand the 'spices' to get the right flavor.
Great subject to pick for a video. I’ve found it really hard to bond with my electric - on acoustic I can pick a guitar, strings for the sound I want, and the rest comes from the fingers. When i pick electric, even the guitar has too many settings, before I even get to pedals or the amp.
One thing I think I gained from this video and Rhett's channel is this, when you learn how your guitar is interacting with the amp, you will learn how you are also interacting with the amp. Sometimes I feel like I can't get my tone right, the next day I'll come back and with the same amp settings and it sounds so much better. For me it's having relaxed fingers but still being consistent. Never underestimate how much the right hand controls the tone, and having a "death grip" with the left hand makes everything harder. This is something I struggle with because I have meathead construction worker fingers... ;)
Electrics are a canvas with an endless selection of colors to paint with. Acoustics are elegant works of art highlighting the beauty of craftsmanship and tone woods. An amplifier pushing air is an amazing experience, but an acoustic resonating against your body is an amazing feeling. I love both.
I am a new 7 month old acoustic learner
I cannot tell you how valuable this video was
Thank you
If I ever buy a handmade acoustic guitar, it will be from Driftwood guitars . Fantastic instruments
Thanks guys, this has been an amazing half hour “lesson”. Chris, your questions were exactly what the rest of us wannabes need to hear but just couldn’t seem to voice. Rhett, your patience and the answers/examples you gave were so very clear and easy to relate to. Tone: amp vs guitar; the major difference between elec & acoustic: charcoal vs color, finding your own tone, tone vocabulary and on and on….best video ever. Waiting to see the Driftwood Shull guitar presentation. Peace.
Thanks so much, I’m glad you got something out of it!
Thanks Steve!
I can't tell you how humbled I feel when I hear someone as awesome as Rhett say "i'm not a virtuoso..." and I'm looking at a virtuoso. This was such an amazing video. I play acoustic on our church's worship team and i'm fixing to build a pedal board for my acoustic. While that excites me, i've always wanted to go electric. But we don't have any other strings other than myself (small church) so i don't foresee that happening and since i'm a "cowboy chord" extraordinaire, this video has stunted my want to move forward with that lol one day of course, just not right away. Great talk guys
I have played acoustic guitar (nylon and steel string) for over 40 years and recently picked up an electric guitar and a Fender Blues Junior amp to play some blues riffs. The biggest challenge I have faced is damping the resonances / sympathetic string vibrations in electrics which is something you rarely have to do in the acoustic world.
exactly the same as My take, on the acoustic you're the engine, on the electric you are the muffler.
I started the electric journey 5 years ago after playing acoustic for 20 years. So much great advice in this video! I would add two pieces of my own: 1. Learn to integrate the pentatonic shapes to CAGED + triads. This will really help moving between chords and lead. 2. Learn to mute unplayed strings. As a self-taught acoustic player, I didn’t know this was a thing. I picked up the electric and suddenly all of the noise from the other strings blared through the amp. I had to totally re-learn how to fret notes. Interestingly, getting better at the electric has made me a way better acoustic player as well.
100% agree. I know the CAGED system and use it at home all the time, but at shows it’s just not engrained in my brain hard enough to use it on the fly.
When I saw the title of this video, THIS is along the vein of what (and more of) I was hoping to see. Yeah, gear and expectations are one thing, but HOW to make those fingers and hands operate on the different animal is what I've been struggling with. Both types of guitar are an extension of ourselves - just different extensions that require different approaches of feel. Chris... get Rhett back on the horn and address transition of feel and technique; maybe a 'I play this on acoustic, you play that in on electric' side-by-side in part 2. :) I really enjoy both of your channels gents!
Thanks Carl, we’ll do more vids together soon.
@@Guitar4C Pinch harmonics and palm muting are important electric techniques. Strumming and chord phrasing are important to acoustic technique. Just a start, and broad generalization.
Good conversation about going to electric guitar from acoustic.
Some thoughts from left field:
1. Jazz boxes (Hollowbody or semi-hollow body guitars) sound good in the hands of acoustic players.
2. All guitar players can play better from knowing 'caged', the fretboard and many tri-tone voicings. I wish this old man could remember what I thought I learned.
3. Great guitar players will sound great with an 'okay' guitar and an 'okay' amplifier. A bad guitar player will still sound bad with magnificent guitar, pedalboard and amplifier setup.
4. Do the learning and practicing before spending for the best gear.
5. I really like the Driftwood Guitar and Rhett Shull UA-cam channels.
Thanks for the great lesson!
Thanks for making that man! I just started playing electric last year after playing only acoustic for 20yrs. It’s been a real hurdle to lighten up my touch!
This video was good. Great questions and answers. I needed to hear this! I've been an acoustic player since 1979 but lately I'm converted to playing my electric Gibson Les Paul's, ES-335 etc... Thank you Chris! Thank you Rhett! Happy New Year 2022! Blessings!
Insightful. Thank you gentlemen!
This is exactly the video I’ve been looking for, having recently bought my first electric (A Gretsch Jet Electromatic). I explain the difference between electric and acoustic as similar in extent to organ and piano.
The point about playing the electric differently is spot on. I started on acoustic and I just remember things not sounding like I thought they should sound when playing on the electric. I do think it's an advantage starting with acoustic but IMO they weren't that different to where anyone should be intimidated. At the end of the day for me I alternate. Sometimes I go through phases where I'm feeling the electric and vice versa. I'm still probably 65% acoustics, but I like both in different ways and it keeps it fresh for me.
Chris made such good points in response to Rhett's rants. I learned a lot.
This is my fave video so far! Great to see genuine curiosity and acknowledgment of a lack of knowledge, and wanting to wrap your head around it, especially coming from a professional maker, and a longtime acoustic player, is refreshing!
Liked the tone and "accept the amp" part. Kempers are awesome, but sometimes less is better, at least at first. Too many options can just lead to a kind of paralysis.
You should have an interview with Tony from Acoustic Life, since he's a lifelong acoustic player who's coming into playing electric. Hearing you guys talk about that experience of switching styles & techniques of playing, and building for you, I think would make for some very interesting conversation.
Love this channel!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! There's still so much to learn.
Great conversation! Thanks for sharing it! Wished to have listened to that years ago…
You and me both!
I liked the, delayed, "infinity monitor", to the left of Rhett.
Whooaaa, cool, dude. 🤪😵🥴
I can't stop watching it!
Visual delay!
The delay looks like Rhett is doing an interview with a hearing impaired self doing sign language.
Guitar meets inception ... so it's guit-ception ?
great interview!
Thank you for this little informal masterclass so well done! And thank you for bringing Rhett to this channel he deserves the recognition! And I love the last point too that the reason you have your sound is because you failed at creating someone else’s sound. Style, and notes getting lost in the musical translation is what music is all about to me, it’s what makes people original when originality doesn’t truly exist!!
I really dug this video. I’m an acoustic player myself. I’ve had a few electrics over the years and it never felt right for me. After listening to this it makes more sense to me. It’s not that I can’t or shouldn’t play electric, I was just going into it with the wrong mindset. Thanks so much for doing this video.
this channel is soo underrated .. i love ur videos guyz..
Thanks man!
That was a great video. I'm an acoustic play by heart but this was eye opening. Much more respect for all the intricacies of an electric player now. I have a young nephew that loves the electric and is learning it now. I think I'll send him the link to this video. :)
I agree with so much here, I wish I had this knowledge when I first started playing electric guitar going from acoustic.
Me too!
Very insightful interview! And great to see two of my favorite UA-cam music ppl interact! Greetings from the Netherlands
Thanks for watching!
Great discussion. I like how you guys essentially wrapped up the conversation with the idea that the acoustic guitar and electric guitar are simply two different instruments!
this was a super helpful video, after long contemplation I've bought an electric guitar, i had been thinking about it for four years or so
it's truly an experience to feel out what translates from playing acoustic and what other thighs are newly available
st vincent got me in love with some solos and riffs that i knew, the moment i had am electric i was gonna be aaaaall over them and i am having fun so far
While I do love watching Rhetts channel, you my friend are a true artist! I absolutely love watching you make guitars👍🏻👍🏻
Great interview... Love the shirt!
Thanks man! Always happy to see you chiming in.
2 minutes in, this is the video I needed for a long time.
I think its cool that you play and build. Been trying acoustic after playing electric.
2 of my favorite guitar guys on UA-cam! Excited for you to jump into the electric world!... it's quite the 🐇🕳
Thanks! It was super fun to record.
For me it is useful to think of this partly as acoustic vs electric, but also as solo instrument vs band instrument. I tend to play acoustic solo, which is obviously different from electric but also different from playing acoustic in a band.
I started on electric and I got into the brand Ibanez because of my teacher, my first amp was a Marshal 50/50 and I then got a Laney top and cab. I would use line 6 pedals, the POD is an amazing way to create a tone. I saw Rhett has an Orange amp, those are really awesome. When speaking about electric guitar, there is a massive difference in the type of neck and if you have a hollow body or solid body when it comes to sustain. I tried the link but the youtube link is broken
Thanks for this, I know this is stating the obvious, but I find the electric guitar too lively.
I really like to dig in on my acoustic. I appreciate that boils down to me learning the acoustic by looking at chord books (Your fingers go on the dots) without really seeking a more efficient way of learning or what the general consensus is in how to approach learning an acoustic.
I honestly believe learning the CAGED system will assist me on my electric guitar journey (and acoustic too)
Many thanks.
I played acoustic for about 25 years, and now I'm getting back to electric, I find the difference in technique rather uncomfortable at the moment. Thank you for explaining why my rhythm sounds 10x worse than my lead on the electric. This is exactly the video I needed.
I went from classical guitar to electric bass and it was a rough transition. Great upload!
Interesting conversation.
More you listen, more you learn.
Cheers
Picking/strumming hand to me is the most important thing-learn to feel comfortable with different positioning on a guitar body (elbow too) and listen to how the same picking (hard, soft...) has different effect in sustain and dynamics on different instruments.
Great point about amps, especially if you're not running it through different speakers, nothing is going to change really, not in a meaningful way at least. Your tubes are your tubes, your transformer is your transformer, your speaker cone is your speaker cone.... Unless your changing those then don't expect to change your sound.
long or short scale is the importent thing for me. The soundfinding needs time and is very personal. My personal set is a 84 japanstrat and my 68 fender pro reverb(sweet ton) and 6 meter kabel, or 2 three meter with an ts9 in between. The tubes makes also a big differens.
Gear wise, Electric Guitar is a RABBIT HOLE. Glad you guys touched on the amp being the biggest part of Tone. Love the color analogy.
There is so much music that I love to listen to, and so many Tones. The sound I like to play is more specific. The hard part is NOT being seduced by the latest by a new album, or manufacturer’s new pedal.
Most of Tone is how you play it.
Well said!
Great interview! Love Rhett, so able to teach and make sense of the journey. Looking forward to the electric guitar when he gets it.
Destin!!!! Cool stuff - I’m from Pensacola.
One other thing. When getting caged into the brain, I found it most helpful to focus on DGB string triads. So many more musical options in those 3 than being tied to E and A strings.
cool, really helpful . . . rhett's chan also is cool and has tones of useful info also
David Gilmore for sure. Those bends he does are always a personal favorite of mine. I know a little bit on acoustic guitar but I never have been at home with the electric guitar like my classical nylon. It's absolutely a whole different game yes they are both guitar that have 6 strings.
In 1973 bought a Yamaha Fg360 acoustic. Seven years ago bought a Taylor 610ce acoustic. This year at 67 years old I took some stimulus money and bought the third guitar of my life, an Epiphone Les Paul custom electric. How’s that for waiting too long to buy an electric?
Thanks for sharing that. I’m just glad that you’re still learning and exploring the instrument.
Chris, I came to you through Rhett, who I have known for a number of years. Rhett also like Rick Beato (must check his channel out) are locals here in L.A.nta.
What combo would get the sound in "nightmoves" by Michael Franks in the art of tea album ?
Driftwood guys are super nice and focused
I went the other way: started on electric, then moved to acoustic which is primarily what I enjoy playing most now. I still occasionally enjoy riffing out on my electrics, but they're heavier and in cases. My acoustics just sit out on a stand, ready to pick up and play any time. Also, I live in an apartment, so volume is a consideration. I don't even own a decent amp anymore.
Being a mainly acoustic player, things that have helped me with electric include; use a compressor as a limiter so that you can hear the dynamics of all the strings equally. On a "fender scale" use 10 or 11 strings and on a "gibson scale" use 11 or 12 strings as you will be less likely to go out of tune because of your fretting hand compared to an acoustic. Lastly, try a wet/dry setup so that you don't get overwhelmed by effects, one side no modulation and the other with.
Very nice video with lots and lots of info. I for one am about to do exactly the opposite of Rhett’s suggestion. I‘m in the process of commissioning my first own electric guitar. Since my family and I are living in an apartment in Germany I do not have the space for mounds of equipment. So I bought a 40 Watt Spark amp. This will give me the opportunity to try different sounds without the need to buy lots of gear.
True, it might not be the real deal (i.e. tube amp but modeler with modeled effects), but making music with my guitars (different acoustic models, one custom build electric acoustic guitar) is my hobby and therapy.
This might sound dumb, but the thing I wrestle with is electric guitars are easier to play, but, because they are played thru an amplifier, any playing errors are magnified 10 fold.
Also, In the past, I’ve driven myself nuts chasing tones. I’ve owned modeling amps and several pedals and, quite a while back, sold most of them. Now, I play thru an all original 1965 Fender Champ tube practice amp, and only really add a basic spring reverb pedal in front of it. Sure, I don’t sound like a Metal God, but I like the simplicity.
I 100% understand and sympathize with all of this.
I'm the opposite. I'm going from electric over to acoustic and strangely find the acoustic a much more 'free' instrument whereas I was feeling very restricted with the electric - doesn't make sense to me either!!! At the end of the day it's all music
I'm primarily a drummer and learnt accoustic first which I play like a drummer and now I play electric like I play acoustic which is like a drummer 🤓. I think I need to learn that caged sytem and triads 😂
Been playing acoustic for years and am going through the same process of trying to convert to electric. I pick one up and it feels like a toy (even though I play mandolin!) and I have no idea what to do with the thing!
There is nothing like a electric guitar through a 100w tube amp with a 2x12/4x12 :)! I like accoustic guitars when playing at home in front of the tv and so on :).
So if going into electric, you have all the colors of sound available. You should pick a color and learn its shades, then explore more later, correct?
Basically. It's like anything else, you don't just grab anything that's a [whatevr] and expect it to do what you want. Don't grab a Superstrat and expect a twang out of it. You have to meet the gear halfway. Then you can explore what it can do, and what it can't, and both lead to more exploration.
‘Rhett’s kind of a big deal’ haha. You’re about to make a statement with these new electrics!
There is a huge amount of complexity getting into the electric world. I have phases, go acoustic for while, and then exclusively electric for a while. Modelers aside, everything in your signal chain matters, from the guitar, pickups, cables, efx, to the speaker or cab emulator. Tube amps sound totally different depending on how much you crank the volume, and need to be up high enough to at least engage the power tubes. I have a older Mesa Boogie channel switching amp for clean/heavy overdrive switching. I also use (more often lately) a modded Valve Junior that's about balanced between a Fender sound and Marshall sound for my LP. That I plug straight into and overdrive. I use a good attenuation box to save my hearing these days. Different power tubes have different voices, 6L6's tend to give a Fender clean, EL86's tend to have a more chimey Vox like tone, but there's a lot of variables in the preamp circuit, transformers, etc. Many inexpensive little tube amps sound amazing, for example Fender Pro Juniors have a buttery tube saturation when cranked that is to die for.
Maybe if I keep at it, I’ll know as much about electrics as I do acoustics
@@DriftwoodGuitars Absolutely, I started off with a simple amp, cable, and a cheap electric guitar after learning on acoustic. Your acoustics are amazing works of skill and art, you'll be surprised how that knowledge of tone will transfer. What Rhett said about the caged system is totally right on. The more you expand up the neck the more tones open up.
It just takes time & patience
He kinda appropriated John Mayer's saying there where you find your sound by failing to sound like your heroes.. ; )
I should add that, for study, there are inexpensive amps in the market that are very capable, like the Frontman 25R, that will solve 95% of you needs. You just need to understand how to dial the knobs. And learn how to use the knobs in the guitar too.
I’m more of an acoustic guy, but my electrics are loud acoustically and have acoustic qualities. I add complexity to my acoustic stuff on electric and transform it to metal .
Guys that play 9-42’s, I just can’t understand it. I play chambered single cuts with 12-56 strings. Feels like an acoustic, but it’s electric.
I’ve been switching back-n-forth for the past 35 years. Now I’ve moved on to 8-string fanned-fret designs just to keep things interesting.
Bad ass! That's two to many strings for my brain.
To me, the major difference in "playing," is with the electric strings and fretboard you can, slide, bend, and play up the neck a lot easier without making squealing noises. When your on the acoustic, you need to be a lot more careful with slurring and finger control, because of the unwanted acoustic string noise. Unless your Dickey Betts :-)
Good stuff. One other thing you didn't discuss if you want to play electric guitar. You need to sharpen your Reverb and Ebay skills so you can buy a bunch of gear you probably don't need!
Good point.
you should make an instrument for the dooo
I haven’t read all the comments but when Rhett says the RSA 23 is ‘like the ultimate British amp like Hiwatt, Marshall, Vox’...... all of those amps would RADICALLY different. I mean not in the same ball park kind of different. You can’t make any Marshall sound like a Hiwatt. None of them or vice versa. It’s apples and oranges and let’s not even talk about the Vox that’s like peaches and The space shuttle.
Now admittedly I have never played a RSA 23 but the point of his comment was that an amp really has one killer sound not 3.. anyway.....
The rest of the video though is pretty awesome though 👍🏻
I don't really understand the intimidation angle, but maybe it's cuz acoustic music is generally so laid back cuz an acoustic guitar has basically one tone, but I think, if all this is the case, acoustic players need to have a change in attitude first, as, within the electric world you're going to be making louder, generally more aggressive sounds, so you have to develop a stance that electric players have, which is this relishing of making aggressive sounds. I'm sure the whole relearning, or I should say augmenting, of technique will have to be broached, but you have to want, and yearn for, those electric tones before you begin. As these guys have said, take it step by step. Find out, by listening to your favourite electric artists, what kind of tones each type of pickup makes, then try these guitars in the stores to see if they match your expectations; you might be surprised. Then do the same with an amp. Probably start with a combo, cuz I don't think you're gonna really want or need the bombast and lugging-around weight of a 100 watt and a 4x12 cab, not that I'm dissuade you. I, like many am partial to tube amps because of what volume does to the power tubes, but there are some sleeper solid states and modelers out there. I agree with these guys that it's better to target an amp that does one tone really well, rather than getting an amp that purports to make many tones, but does them all half assed. Remember, you're moving air now in a different way, with a more aggressive instrument. But, I think if you take your time, and do your research well, by trying to listen for subtleties in tone, you'll make a good decision with both guitar and amp. Then, you start exploring both the instrument and noise box. Don't be afraid to twiddle knobs anyway you like; that's how you really learn. As for pedals, that's where I'm at now. I'm convinced that you have to have a solid tone from just your amp first. One that you love, cuz it sounds so raunchy, or the cleans are to die for. The pedals, in my opinion, are just there to tweak it, or add a subtlety, although I know they can do a lot more than that. Point is, get familiar with the electric world step by step: guitar first, amp second( exploring the entire range of tonality of each), and learning to find out what you relish, then you can go down that pedal rabbit hole if you choose. Remenber, most electric players spent years ( and most likely many pesos) to get to the point they are now, and realistically, including myself, intend to spend many more years searching out new tones. There is no finish line. It's just a lifetime of exploration because you relish these sounds. Take it slow and do it because you love it. Sorry for being so long winded, but there you have it.
classical, when?
Yep, I also hit the electric as if I'm playing an acoustic.
Just a guess, but I believe you may have picked up on players who were known for there acoustic work. I would switch gears and start listening to electric players who get you excited about it. Study some styles.
Concerning gear, do not get wrapped up in gear. Start small. Having an Eric Clapton Strat is pretty big. Instead of dropping $1500 to $3000 on an amp spend $500 on a Fender Pro Junior. A very simple great sounding amp. Consider inexpensive pedal from Caline or another lesser expensive brand.
David Grissom has a great video laying out his tones with a small pedalboard and how you can apply it to various amps. It’s titled “David Grissom My approach to getting great guitar sounds.
thank you . does this mean you will not be building acoustic guitars now !? !
Oh heck no! I’m gonna keep doing acoustics until I die.
@@DriftwoodGuitars thank God
The electric is easier, but that could be based on your first guitar...like my first was a.shitty Kay w/action on the 13th floor...next my dad gave me a 61 framus he got stationed over in Germany, but altho a nylon classical, 10 times easier....I find except chords I sux lol acoustically....first time recording a guitar track, even on my old 4 track cassette mixer....you really hear your mistakes...so I now use the recorder to back track and.make.it.clearer and that improved my playing
Next episode: Chris and Matt building amp :D
It's in the works!
Guitar or amp? The guitar pick ups will give it a specific sound, but the amp will color it in innumerable ways. Choose carefully.
Great video from different guitar player personalities... I do disagree with the description of transferring from acoustic guitar to electric guitar and vice versa. You should be able to play what you play on either or any guitar. It will definitely sound different but your personality should be recognizable on both.
turn down the technique and turn up the distortion?
I will never make that switch
tone comes from your fingers and your approach to that instrument. everything else is secondary. learn how to make your instrument sound great first and foremost. when youve accomplished that then the other 2 things matter. we will always be a student. find your own musical voice and develope that. it also depends on the musical style you are going for. im just ok after playing for 37 years. make your instrument sound good first.LONG LIVE EDDIE VANHALEN. i dont read music, i discover it naturally i really like driftwood guitars. yuo are approaching your electric guitar build the right way. i want both of your guitars, one of each.
I think the biggest difference between electric guitar and acoustic guitar is guitar face while soloing. Much different.
Very good point! I hadn’t thought of that. I’m working on my guitar face for electric now.
@@DriftwoodGuitars Here's a tip. Step on a 16 penny nail with a electric guitar in your hands. That face will be pretty close!
maybe i better stay with my acoustic
I think good bluegrass players have low ass action. Maybe playing electric can help us, acoustic players.
Electric guitar...welcome to the rabbit hole...
Do NOT switch. Add.
That’s what I’m talking about.
Less is more .
Electric vs acoustic guitar feel as far away from each other as violin and mandolin. Same tuning. Same fingering. Completely different sound, approach and technique. Biggest thing going to electric for me: partial chords and muting strings.
the first 4 minutes of this are useless...just talk. lets get to the meat of the subject please.
I purchased a fender MustangGTX100 modeling amp (assume that's how your using your Kemper) that allows me to select from many different pedals and effects as well as amps and all settings right from a tablet via bluetooth so I change sounds as I play different music. That has helped me to understand what some of these amps and pedals do without spending a fortune on actual hardware. That's part of the education process for me to figure out what I like/don't like and how different tones are made. So much to learn though it sometimes seems overwhelming with the various possibilities.