Tone - What is it and how do we get it? 

Good stuff, Dan. Interesting topic.

The first to learn is to get rid of the distance between the thought and the tip of your pick so you instantly produce the note. The best way to do that is to imagine you play horns like at trumpet saxofone etc etc. When you master that it is time to start thinking about the tone/how it sounds. Pics do not sound the same cause they might be thin or thick flexible or rock hard. What angle you use alters the sound too. Not all guitar sounds the same and people like different tone. You play a steelstring acoustic different than an elrctric so you have to adjust to that to. If you fingerpick you need a lot of skin when you pick and not so much nail to get a warm and rich tone. I mean if you not are going for the campfire playing style = you use the guitar more or less like drum. This is one of the strongest reasons for less is more if your guitarskills are not top notch. Just play the basic notes needed/downscale chords to a minimum cause if you sing too the vocal needs lots of room and it is only us guitarfreaks that listens to the guitar most people listen to the vocal first.

Nice Hofner President you have there. Magical voice they have. Tone, is a brilliant topic.

Hello Dann I started my musical journey 45 years ago as a Violist. I’m so thankful for my Viola and teachers over the years. I’m also a guitarist and piano dabbler. 🤓🤓

Thanks Dan. Very informative and it answered a lot of questions I had. Happy New Year, mate ! (BTW... Love the 'stache !)

Happy New Year mate ! Appreciate your dedication to music and sharing :)

I have one of those 3mm stubbys in a box. However since I left the 2mm version behind in 1995, to use a Jazz III ever since. Much more control and fuller sound IMHO. The stubby does tend to have a pointy end and a sharper thinner sound, which would suit some styles better.

Another great video Dan. Happy New Year!

Great video Dan! Happy New Year!

You made me feel guilty for not practicing enough :) I’ll promise to do better from tomorrow, ok

The electric guitar is my nemesis. I can disappear down a very deep hole of faffing about tone with guitar/pedals/amps...finding that elusive tone I hear in my head drives me potty. Whereas I can pick up an acoustic or classical guitar and produce great tone and dynamics. I think part of the issue is that I’m tired of those recognisable electric guitar tones through the usual amps. Just can’t play that stuff anymore. I’m a pretty competent musician just struggling with finding that “ tone” on electric guitar. Maybe I should pick up a flute.

Dan, btw, do you also play cello a bit? I could see a lot of work for cello or even string quartet arrangements added to singer songwriting type stuff. I remember you kinda did this for Pete John's years ago. I remember thinking with a cello added to that arrangement it woulda really added a lot to his song. Ah. Just my two cents.

With a yellow telebooter!