String spacing, damping and fingering.
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WigglePig
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:37 am Posts: 15
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String spacing, damping and fingering.
Hi all,
I've been having a bit of a problem with my new (to me) 12 string Grand. How do I avoid fouling the low C string (#7) when playing the adjacent strings? Given the tight spacing on the heavy bass strings, is this just an issue I'll have to learn to live with on a Grand?
The 10 string Grand I was playing before I bought this Stick seemed to have considerably bigger spacing.
Tra
Piggly
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Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:57 pm |
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jaap
Contributor
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:46 am Posts: 196
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
Hi, yep, the string groups are closer to each other on a Grand. I guess Emmett chose this so that the Grand's fingerboard wouldn't become too wide. You will get used to it
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Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:49 am |
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greg
Multiple Donor
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:07 pm Posts: 7088 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
WigglePig wrote: Hi all,
I've been having a bit of a problem with my new (to me) 12 string Grand. How do I avoid fouling the low C string (#7) when playing the adjacent strings? Given the tight spacing on the heavy bass strings, is this just an issue I'll have to learn to live with on a Grand?
The 10 string Grand I was playing before I bought this Stick seemed to have considerably bigger spacing.
Tra
Piggly Hi Piggly, Make sure you curve your fingers like hammers and play with your fingertips. Also, using energy from hand movement along the line of the string, instead of an up and down finger motion alone really helps you avoid accidentally hitting the lowest bass string. You can see the kind of motion I'm talking about clearly in this video at 3:30: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVNNUHKZWLw[/youtube] It's also covered extensively in the Basic Free Hands Technique DVD coming out next week. Hope that helps.
_________________ Happy tapping, greg Schedule an online Stick lesson
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Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:05 am |
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Brett Bottomley
Multiple Donor
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:01 am Posts: 1757 Location: North Haven, Connecticut USA
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
The Strings are closer on the grand for sure. I have big fingers and I can play the 6th and 7th strings simultaneously. It has taken practice though, and finger curving/hand movement as Greg has said.
Brett
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Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:11 pm |
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WigglePig
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:37 am Posts: 15
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
Evening all,
After a bit of experimenting I have discovered that moving the 7th string to the other slot in the nut screw makes a lot of difference in the playability of the adjacent strings. What I have done is to move it closer to the 6th string which, completely contrary to what I expected, has made it much easier to cleanly play both the 8th AND the 6th string!
This instrument turns out to be surprising me in so many ways!
Now all I need to do is to sort out what the string gauges are so Rotosound can supply me a matched set of flatwound (or groundwound) strings!
Wiggly
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Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:19 pm |
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kevin-c
Multiple Donor
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:57 pm Posts: 2213 Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
Hey man. I don't think that's such a great idea. Let your fingers get used to the spacing and you will adapt. I would also advise against using anything other than stick strings on your stick; just sayin'......
kev
_________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/chiasson65
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Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:35 pm |
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Mercury Sandoz
Contributor
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:06 pm Posts: 171 Location: Modesto ,CA
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
Just curious. Why do you want flat wounds ? and some advice, put the string back and just practice,any difficulty will go away with practice. trust me.
_________________ "It is by will alone I set my mind in motion"
BassLabs 10 string #5050 PASV4 baritone melody Mesa Walk About bass amp Mesa TA-15 amp
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Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:16 pm |
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WigglePig
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:37 am Posts: 15
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
Hiho, I just fancy trying flats, is all. I used flats on both guitar and bass and like them and I'm looking for my own sound. I understand that SE selects carefully for balanced sound, etc, but I want the same type across the fretboard and I like the sound flats make. So there. Piggly
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Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:06 am |
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jaap
Contributor
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:46 am Posts: 196
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
Hi,
beware that a flatwound string of a certain gauge has a higher mass, and thus string tension than a roundwound string of the same gauge, so you may want to take a slighter thinner gauge for playability. The first Stick strings were kind of flatwound (cello strings), from what I understood. Regards, Jaap
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Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:59 am |
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AnDroiD
Elite Contributor
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:42 pm Posts: 2532 Location: Jersey
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Re: String spacing, damping and fingering.
I have a 12-string DBR Grand and an original Ironwood #1212. The string spacing is actually tighter on the Grand. it takes me about a minute to adapt between Sticks. Get used to it. And about those strings...(all chime in) WE TOLD YOU SO.
_________________ Peace, Marty "The present day composer refuses to die" -Edgard Varese
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Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:41 pm |
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