Better Dynamics

[Toby Jones]

Hi, I was just wondering if anybody knows any exercises that can help with better dynamics, I usually practice with my electric guitar without an amp and what I've come to realize when I use my acoustic is that it has been teaching me to play without much dynamic range.

 

[idssdi]

Dynamics come in many ways. Soft/loud, fast/slow etc. Try picking very softly to very harshly and get that into your habbit.

Another thing is strum quarter notes and put accents on 2 and 4.

 

[William B.]

Yes, hit harder on ONE,two,three,four,ONE,two,three,four or mix that up like one,TWO,three,FOUR,one,TWO,three,FOUR,
I think that's for percussive Dynamics, not sure
Can do palm mute too or whatever you can think of I presume

 

[Chris Johnston]

A good exercise for Dynamics is to practice how soft you can possibly play something (really over exaggerate), and then gradually build the intensity to how loud you can play it, then back down to soft - this will teach you how far you can push your playing and how much you can train it back when needed

You could also look up some Acoustic artists and listen to how they play and try to emulate what they're doing. It's all in your preference & your ear though

 

[William B.]

Don't use a compressor (I think), hearing a lot about that recently. ( like 5 times ) I never knew what it was, maybe I still don't

 

[Chris Johnston]

Don't use a compressor (I think), hearing a lot about that recently. ( like 5 times ) I never knew what it was, maybe I still don't

Yeah I second this, a compressor will limit the dynamic range of what your doing - bringing the quieter notes up in volume and the louder notes down in volume so they are even - compressing an acoustic guitar can be useful if you want a really tight percussive sound though!