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Rob’s Q&A
This is where Rob will be answering a new batch of selected questions every month or so. So please e-mail your technical, compositional, music biz, sonic, or philosophical questions to the Youngster at rob@robeberhardyoung.com. For notification of updates to this page or any other, please join Rob’s e-mail list… Updated February 05, 2004 Q: I wrote you awhile back, saying how thrilled I was when I first heard your Sticks and Stones album. Well, it's been a few months, and I still love it. I fire it up every couple of days at least. As I was getting to know the various tunes on it, a question popped into my mind: how do you choose your tunings? I'm teaching myself to play, and also trying some composing as well (my influences to this point are Will Ackerman, Michael Hedges and yourself). I'm actually pretty happy with one piece I came up with in CADGAD. I've kind of given up on standard tuning for the purposes of learning to play and compose: it just doesn't do it for me. So I guess my question is: do you have a 'standard collection' of tunings that you use, or do you experiment and completely invent a tuning for the purpose of creating a certain mood...? I'm just curious as to the process… A: Thanks for listening...still...As for the tuning process, I generally just try and come up with a tuning for each new piece. It is usually a total experiment when I write for solo guitar. There have been a few pieces that I have had to use a certain tuning in order to play what is in my head, but it is usually more of a "mess with the pegs" until I get an idea happening and go from there...Hope that helps... Q: I had some questions about your songs on Sticks and Stones. Song #4 sounds like it's all tapping. How do you get that much volume and attack on an acoustic with your right hand? Song #5 has some bends in it but it's while other strings are ringing. How did you do this? Also, how many tracks of guitars are there? Thanks… A: Thanks for writing...As for the tapping, you just have to build strength so you can really smack the shit out of the fretboard. Funny...before I had a title for "Possum'" I used to introduce it live as being tentatively titled, "Tendonitis"!!! "Jeremy" was actually remixed from my first record "Consistent Variation". Its been out of print since 1995, but we are re-releasing a remastered version of it next month on my own label. The piece is just two tracks of guitar. One track is the chords and the other is the melody and harmonics. I had to two track it because it was just impossible to play what I was hearing in my head with solo guitar. Bending while having strings ringing sympathetically isn't easy. You have to really invert your left hand, so that you are coming at the fretboard at almost a 90 degree angle. This way, you won't "step on" the ringing strings... Q: I see that on Trance Dance (which is my fave) you tune your low string to a G. From a standard low E, do you tune up to G or down to G? Up seems like it'd be too tight and low seems like it'd flap in the breeze. Anyway, I love your stuff and I'll be picking up some of your CDs. I'm even going to send you an acoustic recording and maybe we could collaborate (hey, allow me the pleasure of dreaming!)… A: The "G" is down, and yes it's pretty floppy...you just have to adjust the right hand pressure to get it to ring without bending out of shape. I'm always into hearing new stuff. You can send it to my attention to the office of my publishing company… Q: Batch. What more needs to be said. On a much more serious note--I'd like to meet you somewhere quiet and dark with candles so as I can share all of the beautiful things I know with you. If you would just open up to me Rob, I could show you the ever-loving path to rigid and girthy objects that will surely revolutionize your guitar work. I know "other people" may think they know the way, but only I am the true messenger of the way… A: Al, dude…seriously…you’re scaring me…As Hedges used to say, “Man, you ARE tweaked!”… |
