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| Example 1 This first example is a two string G# minor arpeggio (G#, B, D#). This is a great way to develop your sweep picking, just using 2 strings. The right hand pick motion is just down, down, up continuously. Example 1a is the same arpeggio but we will be adding a pull off, this is a common way to play arpeggios. |
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| Example 2 Let''s move on to three string arpeggios. Here we have a D major arpeggio (D, F#, A). This is a great one to practice, and is really useful. The right hand continues down, down, up. Make sure you are lifting off the left hand slightly after you hit each note so the notes don''t run together like a chord. Example 2a is great way to practice sweeping. We are moving the D major arpeggio up in half step intervals, the pinky and index finger is sliding up each time we move to the next arpeggio. Be sure you follow the suggested fingerings. |
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| Examples 2b & 3 Example 2b is the same thing as the previous example, but now we are adding the 4th string. In example 3 we will add the 5th string to our D major arpeggio. This is a common shape and is fun to practice. In this example we are moving the five string arpeggio up in minor 3rd intervals. These examples are great for developing your sweep picking technique. |
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| Example 4 Here is a A minor 5th string arpeggio (A, C, E). A cool way to add interest to your arpeggios is to change the top note. In this example we change the top note to a G, which gives us a Am7th arpeggio and by changing the top note to F# creates a Am6th arpeggio. |
That wraps up the lesson, be sure to make up your own examples and for more info visit www.mikecampese.com.
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 | Download example 1 |
| Recorded with a Burns Steer Cutaway and a Fender Deluxe | |
Placed between a Vox AC30 and a recent Fender Stratocaster, with the gain set to 9 o’clock and the mini-toggle switch on the cleaner setting, the sound took on a nice compressed punch that worked great for both funk-style rhythm and country-style chicken picking. Switching the mini-toggle to its dirty side unleashed a nice hint of breakup that works great for classic rock and blues.
The Dynabox brings out the character in different instruments impressively. It reacted particularly well to single coiled instruments: a Strat, a reissue Telecaster, a ‘63 Dano Baritone, and even a vintage seventies Fender Musicmaster Bass. Unfortunately, the Dynabox was a little muddy when coupled with humbuckers, and wasn’t able to get completely clean in either setting. With a hair of treble boost on the amp, though, the lack of clean actually made for a nice alternative overdrive sound.
Though it’s a more dedicated pedal, the Dynabox could be a nice addition to your overall sound. If you’re looking for a booster with a lot of headroom and its own character, check it out. – SS
Buy If...
you want a booster with a lot of headroom and a little bit of grit.
Skip If...
you need a booster that gets super clean.
Rating...
MSRP $170 - Dino’s Guitars - dinosguitars.com |
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Some chorus pedals offer only two controls, Speed and Depth. To these, Liquid Chorus adds Width and Delay Time. The Width knob thins or thickens out the chorus sound, while the Delay control sets the time of the delay sweep. All of this allows you to create a wide range of classic chorus effects. Unlike the H2O from which it is derived, the Liquid Chorus is “true stereo.” Rather than just emitting a dry signal, the second output emits a fully-chorused sound, 180 degrees out of phase with the first output’s effect.
I found that cranking the depth and width with a shorter delay time recalled the lush top-forty sound of two decades ago. A longer delay time combined with a reduced width conjured up the EH Small Clone. Fiddling with the Speed and the other knobs created a variety of Leslie-type effects. All I missed was a blend control that would allow me to add dry signal to the chorus.
The Liquid Chorus offers dead quiet operation, lots of low-end and rich analog sound. Combine this with a street price of under $150—in a market where some analog choruses top out in the $300 range—and you have a pedal that is a good bet for adding a world of swirl to your rig. – MR
Buy If...
you want a versatile, warm analog chorus.
Skip If...
you are “so over” chorus, or need a blend control.
Rating...
MSRP $207 - Visual Sound - visualsound.net |