Old 03-24-2017, 05:16 AM   #1
reapermusic
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Default doubletracking a gtr melody with effects

Hi Guys,

When laying down a guitar melody track Left and another on the right (harmonized) example being something like twin guitars in Iron Maiden, Helloween, Judas Priest and so forth......would you record one side with just plain distortion and the other side with effects such as reverb, flanger,delay added?

Or should both sides be recorded with an unaffected distortion preset?

I use an amp/cab sim btw

Is there a correct way of doing this?

-Pete
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Old 03-24-2017, 07:08 AM   #2
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Not really. I would suggest you listen to some of the absolute classic double guitar lead stuff like Wishbone Ash, some of the early Eagles stuff, etc., and see what you think will work based on that.

Part of the problem is going to be you, if you are playing both parts. Kinda hard to sound like two guys when there's just you, eh?

Especially if you are using the same guitar to record both parts.
When I have no alternative, I do it by recording one part on a single coil guitar and the other on a humbucker.
Once you have that you can start thinking about effects separately. Much easier
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Old 03-24-2017, 07:58 AM   #3
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One reverb trick for thickening up a L/R doubled/harmonised part is to send both channels to a stereo reverb and then flip the L and R of the reverb. So you get the R guitar and reverb of the L guitar in the R channel, and the L guitar and the reverb of the R guitar in the L channel.

Another alternative is just to send them both to a mono reverb.

There's no need for flangers, phasers or delays, unless you think the part sounds better with them.

Ivan's advice about changing your guitar tone for the different parts is a good one too.
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Old 03-24-2017, 08:31 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by ivansc View Post
Not really. I would suggest you listen to some of the absolute classic double guitar lead stuff like Wishbone Ash, some of the early Eagles stuff, etc., and see what you think will work based on that.

Part of the problem is going to be you, if you are playing both parts. Kinda hard to sound like two guys when there's just you, eh?

Especially if you are using the same guitar to record both parts.
When I have no alternative, I do it by recording one part on a single coil guitar and the other on a humbucker.
Once you have that you can start thinking about effects separately. Much easier
Yes, will do I like those bands too
Silly of me I was using the same guitar even though I have another available ughhhh lol
Effects seperately, gotcha!

Thanks Ivan!
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Old 03-24-2017, 08:34 AM   #5
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Yes, will do I like those bands too
Silly of me I was using the same guitar even though I have another available ughhhh lol
Effects seperately, gotcha!

Thanks Ivan!
Don't forget to change the amp settings too!

Often one will be a softer tone with less treble (usually the part playing the lower register), and the other will have more top end.
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Old 03-24-2017, 08:42 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Judders View Post
One reverb trick for thickening up a L/R doubled/harmonised part is to send both channels to a stereo reverb and then flip the L and R of the reverb. So you get the R guitar and reverb of the L guitar in the R channel, and the L guitar and the reverb of the R guitar in the L channel.

Another alternative is just to send them both to a mono reverb.

There's no need for flangers, phasers or delays, unless you think the part sounds better with them.

Ivan's advice about changing your guitar tone for the different parts is a good one too.
Hi Judders,

Thanks for that reverb trick, I'll give it a try!
That was irking me,I had a feeling flangers,delays ect for those parts would sound, well not so good but I still tried. I'm glad you mentioned that's a no no. I had the preset created specifically for a solo but decided to try it as L and R melody lines. Thanks for clearing things up!!

-Pete
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Old 03-24-2017, 08:46 AM   #7
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Don't forget to change the amp settings too!

Often one will be a softer tone with less treble (usually the part playing the lower register), and the other will have more top end.
Yes, I have two differently eq'd amp settings like you described!
Ok I didn't goof that up, nice LOL
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Old 03-24-2017, 08:49 AM   #8
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Good luck, Pete!
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Old 03-24-2017, 08:56 AM   #9
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Good luck, Pete!
Thank you Judders!

Hopefully at some point I can post something up and get some critique
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Old 03-24-2017, 11:19 AM   #10
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You can write parts that can be played on one guitar:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_6X9ovmPA4
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Old 03-24-2017, 11:51 AM   #11
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Wishbone Ash style seems to me way more interesting than Iron Maiden or Priest.

Or do the exact opposite and do it like Brian May: same guitar, exactly same sound.

Or do it in both ways.
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Old 03-24-2017, 12:43 PM   #12
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Wishbone Ash style seems to me way more interesting than Iron Maiden or Priest.

Or do the exact opposite and do it like Brian May: same guitar, exactly same sound.

Or do it in both ways.
Yea I guess there's nothing wrong with having various options and choosing what best serves one's purpose.

Thanks
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Old 03-24-2017, 01:17 PM   #13
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I mostly DI guitar and add the FX/Amp & cab sim later.

Not that I don' have a drawerful of amp sims and effects, I just like to be sure I have a decent guitar signal going in and the flexibility to make it whatever I want later.

Although to be honest, I do also sneak a little Strat recorded through my homebuilt Wide panel tweed deluxe clone when I want fat but not too dirty...

The guitar on my lone demo track on Soundcloud (I really must put some more up there!) is actually a Danelectro baritone guitar direct into my interface's instrument input with a little compression and reverb.

To my ears it works really well but there again it aint exactly thrash metal....
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Old 03-24-2017, 01:17 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Coachz View Post
You can write parts that can be played on one guitar:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_6X9ovmPA4
Hi Coach!

Thanks for this youtube link I'll check this out too
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Old 03-24-2017, 01:39 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by ivansc View Post
I mostly DI guitar and add the FX/Amp & cab sim later.

Not that I don' have a drawerful of amp sims and effects, I just like to be sure I have a decent guitar signal going in and the flexibility to make it whatever I want later.

Although to be honest, I do also sneak a little Strat recorded through my homebuilt Wide panel tweed deluxe clone when I want fat but not too dirty...

The guitar on my lone demo track on Soundcloud (I really must put some more up there!) is actually a Danelectro baritone guitar direct into my interface's instrument input with a little compression and reverb.

To my ears it works really well but there again it aint exactly thrash metal....
Hi Ivan,
I DI the guitar and use a couple of presets that I created. I haven't tried switching amp/cabs or effects afterward which is something I would like to try. I am now starting to see the flexibility you are talking about,just haven't tried it.
I just kinda settled on these presets I created but I'm sure they can be improved
Another thing I must do is create an account on soundcloud,this is the way everyone shares their music in the forum as well, correct?
Very cool, I want to hear your sound
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Old 03-24-2017, 02:37 PM   #16
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This is me - embarrassed to say that this horrible distorted demo is the only track I have gotten round to posting in several years.
I have others but just never seem to get around to putting them up!

https://soundcloud.com/wasplollies

The baritone guitar part is like I said - straight in with no real FX and one take, so not the greatest.
At least it gives you an idea of what a clean DI can sound like within a track.
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Old 03-24-2017, 03:46 PM   #17
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Theme from Monk? Very twangy, Ivan! Nice guitar sound. And yeah, its not really that trash metal.
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Old 03-24-2017, 03:46 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by ivansc View Post
This is me - embarrassed to say that this horrible distorted demo is the only track I have gotten round to posting in several years.
I have others but just never seem to get around to putting them up!

https://soundcloud.com/wasplollies

The baritone guitar part is like I said - straight in with no real FX and one take, so not the greatest.
At least it gives you an idea of what a clean DI can sound like within a track.
Hey man I just finished listening to it I really enjoyed it! Horrible demo? Come on man lol
Thanks for posting and giving me an idea of what that DI guitar sounded like
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Old 03-24-2017, 03:51 PM   #19
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Some other ways to deal with 2 or more lead guitars: Allman Brothers - nearly to same sound from 2 different players, most obvious in "Jessica" and Lynyrd Skynyrd - 3 lead guitars by 3 players, completely different sounds from 3 completely different guitars. Grateful Dead - bad example. A bunch of guitarists, all in different universes and different songs...

Ah, and there is the possibility of "call and response"... arrangementwise. Masterpiece of this technique is Jailbait by Wishbone Ash.
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Last edited by haervo; 03-24-2017 at 03:58 PM.
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Old 03-25-2017, 06:12 AM   #20
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Some other ways to deal with 2 or more lead guitars: Allman Brothers - nearly to same sound from 2 different players, most obvious in "Jessica" and Lynyrd Skynyrd - 3 lead guitars by 3 players, completely different sounds from 3 completely different guitars. Grateful Dead - bad example. A bunch of guitarists, all in different universes and different songs...

Ah, and there is the possibility of "call and response"... arrangementwise. Masterpiece of this technique is Jailbait by Wishbone Ash.
LOL thanks for all these recommendations! I am familiar with all but I will go back and really listen with a critical ear which I haven't done in the past
Particularly The Lynard Skynard and I will most def take a listen to Jailbait by W.A
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