As a beginning acoustic guitarist there is every possibility that you won't be able to hear yourself sing when you play.
No it is not because you are deaf or anything as dramatic as that. It is because the sound being generated by your acoustic guitar as you play is so loud that it overshadows your voice and you can hardly hear what you are singing.
So it that how it is always going to be? I mean you hear songs on the radio and no matter how loud the guitar is you are still able to hear the voice of the artiste. If you cannot accomplish the same thing then you are forever doomed. You should simply forget about playing the acoustic guitar because you are not just talented enough right?
No. Nothing like that. There are a few things you can do to fix the problem. If you are ready then let us get started.
Dear New Acoustic Guitar Player:
I know you are sick and tired.
You are sick and tired of playing the acoustic guitar while you sing but can't really hear yourself because what you are playing is very loud. You have tried to strum lightly to get it quieter but the attempt just makes strumming very uneven. You barely touch the strings and miss them often whenever you try to play lightly.
You hear people like Jack Johnson play and find that their guitars are so quiet compared to when you hear yourself play. Their playing sounds really nice and you can't help but wonder: how can I play quietly like them?
Well here's how:
1. Try Using a Foam
Let me guess. One of the other reasons why you want to be able to play quietly is because you don't want to be a pain in the ass. You don't want to be the one to always have to wake your neighbors up whenever you play. So what can you do?
Simple: try using a foam and see if you are able to get the result you want.
What you need to do here is look for a foam that is just thick enough to fit into the space between the strings and the surface of your acoustic guitar. The foam should not only be able to fit into the space but also be able to touch the strings. Then all you have left to do is slide it under the strings very close to the bridge and viola! You can play till eternity without having to wake the whole neighborhood.
2. It Is Not By Force
Yes I know you want to be able to play in such a way that you produce a smooth and pleasing sound. But the way to do it is not by force.
One thing I have noticed about beginning acoustic guitar players is that they apply a lot of force when they strum. That is not the way to do it. Your state of mind needs to be relaxed. Your arms need to be relaxed. Your wrists need to be relaxed. In short your whole body needs to be relaxed. That is the only way your strumming can be effortless and that is how you can accomplish the effect that you want: to be able to play quietly.
And one more thing. Use a plectrum that is 0.46mm thick. Your playing will sound smoother and a lot less loud.
3. Use a Leather Strip
Okay listen to this.
This tip is from one of the all time guitar greats, Manuel Barrueco. In 1974 he won the Concert Artist Guild Award. He was 22 at the time and that made him the first ever classical guitarist to win the award. After that other classical guitarist started to win the prestigious award which means that he was the one to kind of break the jinx.
Anyway ever since then Barrueco has become well known. There was even a time where he got to play with guitar greats like Steve Morse popularly known as Deep Purple and Andy Summers popularly known as The Police.
So what is the point of all this? The point is that this guy is a guitar freak and he knows what he is doing. So if he says "try doing things this way" you should know it is going to work.
And that brings us back to the main point. According to Manuel if your acoustic guitar happens to be giving you a lot of problems in terms of too loud a sound, all you need to do is use a leather strip to cage its sound.
How do you do this? Look for an averagely long leather strip and then weave or roll it round the strings at the bridge. Believe me it will surely reduce the loudness of your guitar. Try it out and see how it turns out.
4. Change to Nylon Strings
Ask classical guitarists and you will find that most of them use nylon strings. It is not because nylon strings are better than steel strings or vice versa. It is because nylon strings have this kind of sound that sounds peaceful. And that is the kind of effect you want to achieve when it comes to classical music.
So if your objective is to produce a peaceful and quiet sound when playing the guitar, here is my advice. Change your strings to nylon.
The reason why I like them is because they not only sound sweet but are also easy on the hands. Of course if you are serious about becoming an extremely good player your fingers will still hurt and the tips of your fingers will still become hardened if you use them. But they will make it a lot less painful and the experience amazing.
Of course nylon strings will not give you the same sound effect as their steel counterparts but they will give you a peculiar sound that will touch your soul. Whenever you play you will always get a good feeling.
I know this because I have tried it and the experience has been wonderful. You too should do the same.
So What about You?
Have you ever been in a situation where you can't really hear what you sing when playing the acoustic guitar? What did you do to fix the problem?
I am waiting to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Samuel Lab
About the Author: Samuel Lab blogs at One Hour Acoustic Players. If you would like to learn more about what it really takes to become an extremely good acoustic guitar player, check out his blog on learning acoustic guitar with ease.
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