Grateful Dead Music Forum

O.K. guys I know i'm new here and y'all might not care but anyway I got my first elec. guitar last thurs. It is a sunburst squier strat. Just something cheap to get started on but for the price I think its a great little guitar. I have been playing acoustic for a little while now and its going to take getting used to but I think I'll get it. I did change out the strings to a heavier gauge just because the one that came on it felt way to limber. But anyway any advice on the difference of playing acoustic and electric as far as technique would be greatly appreciated. So far I have figured out it takes a lighter touch and I hope it doesn't affect my acoustic playing not that i'm good or anything but just dont want to loose what i have already learned. Thanks in advance for any advice or tips. Chris.

I'm kinda knew here to but I'll say what I know, I played acoustic also and I did alot of bends but know with electric (playing 4 years) instead of only bending half way I can get a whole note higher or even two but hen you will get broken strings
What gauge strings are you using? I would suggest 10 gauge because they are in the middle - the higher you go the more bendability you lose. Jerry used 10 sometimes 11's. What kinda of amp do you have?

I am using 11's now I meant to get 10's but picked up the wrong pack but I am sort of glad I did. I am using 13's on my acoustic and its a big change for me on the elect. As far as my amp its one a buddy gave me it's a peavey blazer 15 watt. Over all I am pretty happy with my little setup, I recon if I ever get any good I will most likely upgrade but for now I am content. Thanks for the reply Chris..

Yea man, So I'm guessing you going to do grateful dead covers?

I've found that with the electric I tend to play more up the neck. Chords sound better as barre chords and other riffs sound better up the neck. The touch is way different to me. I actually prefer the touch of my acoustic. You get what you want. With the electric there are so many variables to getting a good sound. I also found that I like to play in first position on the acoustic- to take advantage of open strings and that on my strat those chords don't sound very good, especially D. They are always much stronger and bolder with a barre further up. I think switching will also open up your songbook. Plugging in the electric just asks for some more rocking numbers and you now have the tools to do it. Bang On!

Yea I'm workin on some dead stuff now. I figured out I can do a lot more different stuff on elect. v/s acoustic. And Maybeck, i thought it was just me with the open D chord but It does sound strange on the elec. I thought maybe it was my guitar or something. But i did try some different picks and found one that sounds better on open chords. And like you said it has opened up a whole new songbook for me anyway. I actually started on 2 new songs last night. I played let the good times roll prob. 25 times.I love that song. And yes I know its prob. very simple to y'all but was quite an accomplishment for me. But anyway thanks to everyone again for taking the time to reply. Chris..

You said the D chord sounded wierd? Does it sound flat of sharp, or just twangy? Learn some basic Scales and jam along to those songs!

no its not flat or sharp just a little metalicy sounding if that makes any sence. but like I said I found a particular pick that takes a lot of that away. I also may need to adjust the pickup height. It seems like the G,B,AND E strings are a little more harsh sounding than the lower 3.I also think with time and just getting used to the elect. some of that will clear up. I guess I'm playing it allot like acoustic because thats all I know so maybe I just need to improve on technique. As for scales I am learning some blues scales now and plan on learning pentatonics next. Thanks for taking the time to reply and as always I appreciate any info or suggestions. Thanks Chris.

yea if you learn E blues all you have to do is add 2 extra notes and you got yourself a G major scale and can jam along with bertha, fotd and alot of great dead songs.

The blues scales has an added flat 5 to the minor pentatonic scales. The flat 5 would not be in the major scale.

ie:
A minor pentatonic - A C D E G A (penta meaning 5 note scale)
A Blues Scale: A C D Eb E G A
C Major C D E F G A B C

(A minor is the relative minor to C major)

Yea I was talking a 7 note scale, you know how on the 12th fret the E blues if you add 2 extra notes its a G major right? But you can make it mixolydian.

What I am trying to point out is that the blues scale has a flatted 5th. You cant add notes to make it a major scale without taking away the flat 5. That flat 5th is mostly used as a passing tone and gives it the bluesier feel. I think you are calling a minor pentatonic a blues scale. Am I correct? See below.

The E blues scale is

E G A Bb B D E

The E minor pentatonic is

E G A B D E

If you add 2 notes and change the root to the pentatonic you will have a G Major (notice no Bb)

G A B C D E F# G

I am not sure what you mean by you can make it Mixolydian. The E minor scale are the same notes as the G major scale as it is the relative minor. ( E Aeolin - same notes as G major with root on E )

The E Mixolydian is E F# G# A B C# D E - Same notes as the A Major.

No I'm talking about G the scale in the 12th position.

The position makes no difference but I am talking about the that scale as well. You can not add 2 notes to a blues scale and make a major scale. You also have to remove the flat 5 that is in the blues scale.

jackr wrote:The position makes no difference but I am talking about the that scale as well. You can not add 2 notes to a blues scale and make a major scale. You also have to remove the flat 5 that is in the blues scale.

Yea I was wrong my bad I see what I said wrong - The 12th position E blues scale is the same as the 12 Position G scale but if you add those 2 extra notes it sounds more smooth and major.