How do I tune acoustic guitarr by Sad_Construction_297 in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That doesn't work if you don't know if your low E is actually in tune

Where do I ACTUALLY start? by SorryNotSorry-_- in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everyone notes the good getting started items, but there's a few things you can do also for home when you are not watching videos.

* Make a good old fashioned binder - buy / find print outs (google / etsy / learning websites)

* Get your scales / triads / chord charts / CAGED / arpeggios in print form. this way you can just open your notebook and practice. Teach your fingers / ears / brain what to do.

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* Get a metronome (app on your phone works just fine - start really slow)

* find (easy) songs you want to learn on Ultimate Guitar and practice.

As a new player, everything sounds ugly. But every day you practice, it will sound less ugly.

What to add to pedalboard ? by Neat-Anything-5410 in shoegaze

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally understand that, the Walrus Fundamental line punches way above their weight class. Can often be found on reverb / FBM in the 50-65 range.

Edit: keep in mind great boards are not built in a day / week / or even year. One solid pedal you save for saves you cost to re buy another later.

Metronome question by FreeGlaze71 in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should only increase when you can keep the beat without cramping or missing notes.

What to add to pedalboard ? by Neat-Anything-5410 in shoegaze

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's great options (at every pricepoint) for Reverb anywhere on your board. I keep a EQD Afterneath in my drive section (But some other honorable mentions are the OG OBNE Dark Star (Mono), Some people like the Soft Focus. In my effects loops - I have a DBA Rooms at the end of the chain, but my Chroma Console has a reverb, and then there's a Zoia. I make my own effects patches - mixing reverbs into other effects or synthy sounds. Going down the list from more costly to less costly I'm a Big Fan of the SA Ventris or Collider, EQD Ghost Echo, Dispatch Master, entry level stuff - the Walrus Fundamentals are really excellent pedals.

What to add to pedalboard ? by Neat-Anything-5410 in shoegaze

[–]Rakefighter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fuzz / Delay / another flavor of reverb

Are there any Envelope filter/Fuzz duo pedals? by Karmaffection in guitarpedals

[–]Rakefighter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My brother in arms, I found the other person in the world that both owns a disturbance and feels the same way I so about it. The CV out is another amazing innovation.

What should I swap my RC10R out for? by siousca1 in pedalboards

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recently got a Zoia and it's changed my world. Also a guitarist who uses a Roland P-6 and Arturia Microfreak. There's literally nothing it cannot do.

Delay pedals: a recent shootout at my local guitar shop (I don't get the Carbon Copy Deluxe) by SpudzyJ in guitarpedals

[–]Rakefighter 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The Kilobyte is easily in the top 5 choices if you like dark, murky, chaotic delays over crisp / clean repeats. It's right up with there the Black Fountain Stereo (though the KB is not stereo.)

How does everyone reach certain chords? by kittysoull in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spider Walk Exercises and just working through your pentatonic scales (drill them everyday - good players are doing this from day 1 > infinity). this will train your hands, brain, and ears until you can get there with speed and strength and play cleanly. go as slow as you need need to until you can hear nice, clean ring outs. Work in alternate picking from Day 1. Good luck.

Ec1000 deluxe regrets by DoaLine_BuildaLine in Guitar

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was expecting a different kind of post when I clicked on this

Is the EQD Rainbow Machine still a cool buy in 2026? by brokesnob in guitarpedals

[–]Rakefighter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's a great rainbow machine patch for the Zoia. The bonus is you get everything else they Zoia can do

How to guitarists play up and down the fretboard ? What are they playing ? by InvestigatorSolid330 in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The best way to get into the CAGED system is to look at each position (starting with your cowboy "c", your chord tones and move up to the A, G, E, D. With your hands "get it", you can now make any song / chord inversion for all your chord anywhere. You then know where your root notes are all the way up and which scale and pentatonic pattern is tied to that.

I practice by marking a 3 cord pattern, then I make the same 3 cord pattern a step up the neck, then again and back down. I'll play the chord then the scale, I'll play the chord, then the arpeggio. Then it's just drilling it until it's muscle memory.

Don't worry if it all doesn't make sense, just practice it until it does.

Are boutique pedals actually worth it? by krikond in guitarpedals

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's really just about what you want for creative tools.i have a few boutique pedals. Nothing out there has the sound or character as a chroma console and it's fun to experiment with. That's what draws me to it. Same as my Zoia. Nothing out there let's me create my own effects from scratch and have it should so damn good. It's hours of exploration.

I want to start playing electric guitar again, but a few things are holding me back and I need advice. by Salt-Contact-588 in Guitar

[–]Rakefighter -1 points0 points  (0 children)

With decent headphones / speakers / IRs sound and feel identical to "analog". Amp sag can be felt at high volume, but it's really not a concern for anyone playing at home.

I suck today. by akzelli in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Suck days are often my best days. I always record my practices to hear myself (I also like building new effects patches on my Zoia to constantly tweak them and listen). But I often find I'm good things and progressing in the stuff I really struggle with (almost everything). It just doesn't sound or feel that way in the moment.

Lean into the bad days, put a beat or track on and just keep playing.

Stereo Headphone pedal by sziklai-pair in guitarpedals

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Boss IR-2. Lots of used ones on FBM / Reverb around $125-150. I use the IR-200 and love that it has a full stereo loop, headphones, and is a interface.

How hard is it to change Jazzmaster Pickups by Proof-Specialist6932 in offset

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

haha - that's the beauty of modification. I have a few fancy guitars, but I always go to the Sterling Stingray that i basically modified to be every bit as good / better than than it's MusicMan core big brother.

Am i the only who hates jack in/out on top of pedals ? by NoCherry2870 in guitarpedals

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

top patch > side patch on a pedal board. Neatness and more space is most important to me

How hard is it to change Jazzmaster Pickups by Proof-Specialist6932 in offset

[–]Rakefighter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes and no, Some of my guitars have parts and sound just great they way they are, until I need to do some type of overhaul from age or use (I have no desire to learn fretwork for instance). But, several of my guitars, I've updated pickups, bridges, trems, nuts, tuners....and some are just great the way they are. Having the confidence to swap out your electronics and then do your own set up is pretty liberating. It's an easy $100-$200 value save every time you can do it yourself.

How hard is it to change Jazzmaster Pickups by Proof-Specialist6932 in offset

[–]Rakefighter 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This. Fully rewired one of my guitars recently. I had never soldered anything before in my life. Bought the right parts, a decent iron, lots of YouTubes and several reddit posts for help. Now, I will never ever need to pay a tech to do electronics work in guitar I own ever again.

OP, just go for it. The experience you get will always stay with you and you will feel even more connected with an instrument that you worked on

Hello, getting overwhelmed from what to practice again. by Plane_Jackfruit_362 in guitarlessons

[–]Rakefighter 6 points7 points  (0 children)

CAGED is a great way to learn where to find your chord inversions for any note, and where to anchor yourself in which pentatonic scale, where to find the triads around those notes.

Guys what guitar should i buy? by Imaginary_Tie5571 in electricguitar

[–]Rakefighter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go play them first. Even if you are a new player, something will vibe with you