How hard do you hit the strings?

sunvalleylaw

sunvalleylaw

Yep.
Second of two technique/theory threads to purge myself of the other off topic discussion I had engaged in. I have been thinking about this for a while and been meaning to post. I use guitar to relax, and to release stress sometimes. I also have a tendency to overplay. Sometimes especially when I am stressed out about something. At those times, I can feel like I am banging the shit out of my acoustic especially, but also sometimes the electric, usually on some rocker.

I am sure it is more effective to hit less hard, and am wondering if others of you have learned to get the same release/satisfaction out of playing your instrument hard enough to produce that lower chakra cleansing thing you want without playing so hard. How did you get there? Also, am I alone? Are there other out there that sometimes just bang the crap out of their guitar?
 
It depends on the music or style I'm playing. I'm fairly light with a pick but mostly finger pick these days. Playing into a class A amp a few years ago taught be some restraint.
 
I'm pretty sure I hit them too hard. I've actually been thinking about that lately and trying to stay looser and let the pick work.
 
It really depends, but as a general rule I'd start that I strum more aggressively than I pick single notes. I'm actually going to do a video soon on picking touch dynamics, because it's something a lot of my students struggle with.
 
I smash 'em pretty hard. I really like that percussive tone and the variable dynamics on an acoustic or via a tube amp. Probably the main reason I struggle with the feel of modelers because they don't respond to percussive attack the same way tubes do... they just get louder or softer.

That said, I'm not the worst out there. Yes, I destroyed the frets in a year, but I don't break strings as much as some musicians I work with. I try to smack the strings hard enough to get them moving without hitting at an angle that will snap the string at the saddle or nut. (although it happens occasionally). The Tusq picks are helping... they glide off the strings instead of slicing through them.
 
Kerouac said:
It really depends, but as a general rule I'd start that I strum more aggressively than I pick single notes. I'm actually going to do a video soon on picking touch dynamics, because it's something a lot of my students struggle with.
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Cool I would like to see that when you're done!
 
It depends on the style & what fits the song when comping / playing chords but I generally have a very light touch, especially on single note lines but for chords too unless the song demands that I dig in.
 
I'm kind of obsessed with economy in technique.

I think that volume generally has less to do with "how hard?" and more to do with "how?".
 
I am a light strummer but heavy picker. Trying to become a heavy strummer for acoustic playing but I cannot get to concept because I have never enjoyed campfire type songs. I also like to play fingerstyle and love to work with the dynamics of plucking strings.
 
it depends on what I am playing, but its pretty "in the middle". I've actually been trying to play with more velocity through the strings as opposed to playing"harder" though.
 
Flamencology said:
I'm kind of obsessed with economy in technique.

I think that volume generally has less to do with "how hard?" and more to do with "how?".
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That is what I am hoping to figure out. Also, the volume will more likely consist of the notes you are trying to project, rather than other noise created by over picking or over strumming, or by overly tight fretting.

Again, "therapy playing" sometimes degenerates into me very nearly actually beating on my guitar strings. But that is not how my guitar sounds best. By way of analogy, skiing is therapeutic for me too. Another "get me in the moment" activity. but if I am being too hard on my edges, or over muscling the turn, my skis do not hold their grip as well and I am not skiing as effectively. More refined technique gives me the same emotional release and charge without over muscling my technique.

So, I am hoping to figure out how to get there on my guitar too.

Mark Wein said:
it depends on what I am playing, but its pretty "in the middle". I've actually been trying to play with more velocity through the strings as opposed to playing"harder" though.
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See, this is what I am talking about. I remember a tip like that on mark's recorded vid lessons. Understanding and applying stuff like this I think will help get me what I am looking for. (Old U2 song cues in my head).
 
I used to think I would use playing the guitar as therapy but I found that if I play when I'm pissed, I only get more pissed. Primarily because I'm not very good to start with and I play worse if I'm mad. Then I get more mad because I suck more than normal. On the other hand, I have found joy in playing repetitive A and E one finger power chords really loud a few times.
 
I never hit hard. I love to be percussive when playing the acoustic, but you can do that without killing it.
 
Johnny N. said:
I used to think I would use playing the guitar as therapy but I found that if I play when I'm pissed, I only get more pissed. Primarily because I'm not very good to start with and I play worse if I'm mad. Then I get more mad because I suck more than normal. On the other hand, I have found joy in playing repetitive A and E one finger power chords really loud a few times.
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Yeah, I am pretty good at flogging sometimes.
 
SVL, I guess it all depends on what you call "hard." I'll dig in a little for extra emphasis on parts of songs, but generally I strum with a relaxed wrist. I do understand what you're saying about a mood changing your playing, though, and I wouldn't worry about it unless it carries over into other times.
 
Let's try this.

True or false: if you break strings, then you're playing way too hard than you ever need to be.
 
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