How To Get Killer Guitar Tones
So I was recently asked in an Instagram story questionnaire “How do you get killer guitar tones?” And knowing the person who asked, I knew they wanted to hear about electric guitar! So naturally, this became the topic of a new YouTube video! In addition to the new video, here is some information about recording electric guitars, and how to get yourself and the equipment out of the way as much as possible, leaving behind KILLER guitar tones!
Recording electric guitar can be a tricky process to get right, but with the right techniques and equipment, you can achieve great results. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1 Amplification: One of the most important things to consider when recording electric guitars is amplification. In my opinion, the amplifier has the largest effect on the tone quality next to the actual guitar itself. If you're recording a live performance, it's best to use the amplifier that the guitar player will be using during the performance. But, if you're recording in a studio, you can use a variety of different amplifiers to achieve different tones. There are many options available including tube amplifiers, solid state amplifiers, and digital modeling amplifiers.
2 Microphones: To capture the sound of the amplifier, you'll need to use a microphone. There are many different types of microphones available, but for recording electric guitars, you'll want to use a dynamic, condenser, or ribbon microphone. Dynamic microphones are great for capturing the high energy of a guitar amp, while condenser microphones are better for capturing the nuances and subtleties of the sound. Ribbon microphones are an older design of microphone, but they have a nice honest sound to them that often can work well for guitar amplifiers as well. Dynamic microphones and ribbon mics are my favorite to work with when recording electric guitars.
3 Positioning: The placement of the microphone is crucial for getting a good recording. You'll want to experiment with different positions to find the sweet spot. A common technique is to place the microphone a few inches away from the speaker, pointing towards the center of the speaker cone. This will capture the sound of the amp while minimizing the amount of room sound. My favorite way to dial in the microphone placement is to wear a pair of isolating headphones and send the guitar signal to the headphones, then move the microphone around while intently listening to the sound in the headphones and stopping only when the sweet spot is found. This ensures that the least guess work is happening and you’re getting ideally the best sound for what you’re going for. Even many digital guitar amplifier plugins these days have settings to control mic placement, but sure to play around with positioning microphones to get the tone as close to the tone in your head as possible.
4 Effects: Effects such as reverb and delay can add a lot to the sound of a guitar recording. You can add effects during the recording process or in post-production. Many digital audio workstations (DAWs) come with built-in effects, or you can use external effects processors. I think adding effects in post production is probably the way to go so you can change them in the mixing process if needed, but if you have a sound you like you have a sound you like. Be sure to find a good sound and commit to it, you will ultimately be happier in the end if you do your due diligence in the beginning.
5 EQ and compression: EQ and compression are two important tools for shaping the sound of the guitar recording. EQ can be used to boost or cut specific frequencies to help the guitar sit well in the mix. Remember you don’t want to have to rely on EQ to compensate for a bad recording! This is a tool to be used to enhance an already good sounding guitar. Compression can be used to control the dynamic range of the recording, making the louder parts quieter and the quieter parts louder.
With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to recording electric guitars like a pro. Remember to experiment with different techniques and equipment to find what works best for you.
Happy recording!
