How to Bring the Tone Out of Your Guitar

Getting the perfect tone out of your guitar can be difficult. The model of your guitar and your amplifier can both greatly affect the sound your guitar makes. Luckily, there are a few little tricks you can do to improve the tone of your guitar and give your guitar the best possible sound.

Jazz Guitar

Tip #1 Clean It Up

First, if your guitar and the amplifier aren’t clean, the chances are you won’t get a great tone out of them either. Therefore, you want to give your equipment a little clean up before you start practicing. Check out Gibson’s website for effective cleaning tips.

Tip #2 Get the Right Amp for Your Situation

You might dream about the amps your favourite guitar players use, but the truth is that your amp should match your surroundings and not your dreams. Check out our earlier blog post about the things to look for in a guitar amp.

Tip #3 Try Raising the Action on Your Guitar

Although it is a little bit easier to play when the strings are lower, you might be able to create a better tone out of your guitar if you lift them. This all comes down to allowing more space for the strings to vibrate, since the lower they are the less space they have.

Tip #4 Use the Volume Control

You probably think using your volume control is the most obvious tone tip ever, but you’d be surprised to know there are tons of guitar players out there who never use volume control. If you aren’t used to controlling volume control, then you better start practicing. It makes a lot of difference!

Tip #5 Experiment Different Pick Up Heights

Different pick up heights can also influence the tone your guitar makes. It all depends on your play style, as well as the kind of music you like to play. Nonetheless, it is still worth trying out a few things to find the perfect tone.

Tip #6 Invest in Quality

When it comes to getting the best sounds out of your guitar, you want to invest in quality equipment. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great affordable guitars and amps available, but you should realise that you’ll get a better tone out of a quality product. In addition to the guitar and the amps, quality cables are also essential for a great tone.

Tip #7 Change Between Playing Styles

Surprisingly, you can also improve your tone by swapping between different playing styles. If you usually slide when you play, try picking instead for a change. You could even play without a pick for a while. This can all have unexpected consequences to the sound and you might be surprised the way it can change the tone.

The above tips can help you bring out the best of your guitar tone. Ultimately, it is essential that you experiment with new things and keep mixing up your playing. Listen to other guitar players and learn to differentiate between a clear tone and an unclear tone. Improving your own skills will enhance your ability to bring the tone out of your guitar.

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