American Standard Telecaster

Any Ideas how/if i can run a guitar and electric drum set through the same amp?

Question:
i bought an electric drum set to avoid noise complaints, and i was thinking of how i could run both the guitar and drum set through the same amp so i can jam with a friend and we can both wear headphones so no one else is disturbed and we can hear both instruments. i think it's possible if i get an amp with multiple imputs, and i know how to get a couple sets of headphones hooked up, but i just wanted to see if someone with more knowledge of the idea would do it.


Answer: Your best best would be to get a small mixing board. The headphone outputs probably have enough juice to power two sets of headphones. Any more than that and you will need a headphone mixer/amp, something like this;

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRESONUS-HP60-HP-60-HeadPhone-Amp-Mixer-NEW-EXTRAS-dlr_W0QQitemZ200208962965QQihZ010QQcategoryZ23792QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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For a guitarist there's nothing more frustrating than trying to get your guitar in tune. In theory, you should just plug your guitar into one of those new electronic guitar tuners and the job is done ... the problem is everyone hears musical pitch slightly differently ... what might sound good to one player may sound incorrect to the next player.

The truth is you have to make subtle changes in the pitch for a guitar to play in a a variety of keys. Take particular notice next time you are at a concert or jam session, watch the experienced guitar players ... if a guitar is handed from one player to another notice how the second guitar player will make tiny adjustments in the intonation of the guitar to accommodate his or her listening preferences.

Natural harmonics are beautiful bell-like tones that skillful guitarists use in a variety of ways to add variety and colour to the musical performances.

How to play natural harmonics: simply do the opposite to what you would do to play a normal fretted note.

(a) place your finger above the fret.

(b) don't press the string down to the fret, just rest your finger lightly above the centre of the fret.

(c) after you have picked the string remove your finger from the string and the harmonic will ring.

Practice these natural harmonics on the twelfth fret of the guitar.

The names of the natural harmonics produced at the twelfth fret are as follows:

6th string = E, 5th string = A, 4th string = D, third string = G, second string = B, first string = E.

Notice how these natural harmonics share exactly the same letter

names as the fretted notes at the twelfth fret.

Checking your string intonation: string intonation is the ability for your string to produce the correct pitch when fretted.

The important point here is... just because a string has been tuned to the correct pitch via an electronic tuner does not mean that the string will produce the correct pitch for every note when played over the entire length of the string.

Three factors determine the strings ability to play the correct pitch:

(a) string wear on the underside of the string due to metal to metal contact with the fret alters the diameter of the string, causing irregular vibrations and incorrect pitch.

(b) similarly, string corrosion caused by the chemical make of up of the players perspiration, will created irregular string diameter.

(c) incorrect bridge saddle adjustment.

Before setting your string intonation make certain your strings are in good condition and if necessary change them. It's best to set the intonation after the new strings have "settled in", so it's a good idea to play the new strings to get rid of most of the string slippage before to do any intonation work.

How to set your intonation:

Step 1. using your electronic tuner, tune your open string to the correct pitch.

Step 2. compare the natural harmonic on the twelfth fret with the normal fretted note at the twelfth fret ... both these notes should register the same pitch on your electronic tuner if your string intonation is set correctly.

Step 3. if your fretted note at the twelfth fret is flat when compared to the harmonic at the twelfth fret, shorten the string length by moving the bridge saddle closer to the head stock of the guitar. You adjust the bridge saddle by using a small screwdriver to turn the adjustment screw at the back of the bridge saddle.

Step 4. if your fretted note at the twelfth fret is sharp when compared to the harmonic at the twelfth fret, lengthen the string by moving the bridge saddle further away from the head stock of the guitar.

Step 5. repeat steps 1 to 4 for each string.

The best way to make sure your guitar is in tune is to use a variety of tune methods, in fact, your guitar will need to be slightly out of tune in all keys for it to sound good.

Tuning your guitar with natural harmonics is excellent way to cross check your tuning with the electronic tuner, it's also a great way to improve your ear.

Mike Hayes develops systems and products to help you succeed in your guitar playing. Find out more about how to learn guitar fast with his popular free ecourse, available at: => http://www.guitarcoaching.com

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