Effect Pedal: Compression Guitar Lesson
Effect Pedal: Compression
TThe compression effect pedal is one of the most misunderstood pedals around. Chris Liepe finally sheds some light on the subject. By explaining all the different options and sounds this pedal can create, Chris will help you decide whether this effect should be included in your arsenal.
Taught by Chris Liepe in Basic Electric Guitar with Chris seriesLength: 14:12Difficulty: 1.0 of 5
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Electric Guitar with Chris
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsChris will guide you through the world of electric guitar in this series.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Your Electric Guitar
Chris Liepe talks about the absolute basics of the guitar, including tuning, the guitar parts, and proper technique.
Length: 23:21 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Playing Your First Chords
Chris Liepe introduces you to your very first 2 chords, E and A. Since this is your first chord lesson, Chris also introduces a backing track for you to slowly play along with. Practicing in this manner...
Length: 28:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
3 New Chords: Complete the CAGED Method
Here in lesson 3, Chris teaches the C, G, and D chords. Once you have mastered the chords taught in this lesson and the previous lesson, you will have learned the CAGED method of remembering open chord...
Length: 12:22 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
The Basics to Tablature, Chord Charts, and Musical Notation
Chris is back with his most information packed lesson to date. In this lesson, you will learn how to read tablature, chord charts and musical notation. All of these tools will drastically help you in your...
Length: 25:38 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Introduction to the Concept of Scales
Chris Liepe is back in lesson 5 with an introduction to scales. In this lesson, you will learn how to play up and down simple scale patterns.
Length: 21:07 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Beginner Electric with Chris Liepe: Barre and Minor Chords
In this lesson, Chris introduces minor chords and barre chords.
Length: 25:23 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Strum Patterns and Time Signatues
Chris Liepe lays down some grooves in this lesson! He provides instruction on rhythmic strumming patterns and time signatures such as 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8.
Length: 21:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
All About Intervals
Intervals, Intervals, Intervals! Chris Liepe explains what they are, where they are found, and how to play them in this lesson.
Length: 14:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Intervals Pop Quiz
Sharpen your pencils and grab your guitar. It's pop quiz time. Chris Liepe adds to his beginner lesson series with a quiz on intervals. This is a hands-on lesson that will undoubtedly improve your ears....
Length: 15:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Triads: Everything You Need to Know
Chris Liepe breaks through his 10th lesson with a detailed discussion of triads. Dig in and take these triads for a ride!
Length: 24:14 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal Mini Series
This lesson begins a mini-series on effects pedals. Chris breaks down routing and how effects work with each other.
Length: 8:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal: Compression
The compression effect pedal is one of the most misunderstood pedals around. Chris Liepe finally sheds some light on the subject. By explaining all the different options and sounds this pedal can create,...
Length: 14:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Gain Stacking with Overdrive and Distortion
Chris Liepe is back with the 3rd installment in his Effects Pedal mini-series. He explains the concept of "gain stacking" by combining an Ibanez Tube Screamer and a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal.
Length: 7:54 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal: Delay
Chris Liepe adds yet another lesson to his effect pedal-mini series. Here he covers the delay pedal. This effect that operates on the principles of time and rhythm. Use this pedal to add depth to your...
Length: 19:52 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal: Chorus
Chris Liepe quickly demonstrates the chorus pedal with some 80's style licks. This pedal can create a deep and rich addition to solos or add the illusion of multiple guitars.
Length: 3:28 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Understanding Key Signatures
Key Signatures! How do they relate to one another? Chris Liepe explains them in lesson 16 of his beginner series. Getting familiar with your key signatures will help pull everything together that has been...
Length: 15:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Harmony Basics
Chris Liepe demonstrates how to take a key signature (the set notes within a key) and stack 3rds on top of a root note to form chords. With the help of a modulating backing track, this should be a fun...
Length: 30:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Technique Basics: Alternate Picking
Chris explains and demonstrates the very basics of alternate picking. He also provides simple exercises to develop the technique in your own playing.
Length: 16:03 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Technique Basics: Legato Playing
Chris details and demonstrates the fundamental movements and suggested left hand position for legato playing -- specifically hammer-ons and pull-offs. He also provides exercises for developing the technique.
Length: 16:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
Technique Basics: Palm Muting
Chris talks about proper palm muting and discusses potential snags when first attempting the technique. He offers a number of exercises and patterns to help palm muting become a part of your rhythm playing.
Length: 9:22 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
Technique Basics: Hybrid Picking
Hybrid Picking can add a fresh dimension to your chord and rhythm playing. In this lesson, Chris briefly covers how to get started with Hybrid Picking and offers two exercises that you can use to apply...
Length: 6:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Major Scale Positions in G (Part 1)
Chris talks about what it means to play in position and teaches three of the five "CAGED" major scale positions in the key of G.
Length: 12:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Major Scale Positions in G (Part 2)
Chris continues in his teaching of the five basic "CAGED" major scale positions in the key of G.
Length: 11:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Chris Liepe
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Chris Liepe was born on September 17th, 1981 in Portland OR. His first instrument was piano which he pursued until discovering his love for the electric guitar in high school. He became fans of such groups as Soundgarden, Collective Soul and U2 inspiring him to start singing, songwriting and helping others in their musical endeavors with teaching, co-writing and album production.
Having moved to Colorado with his family, he began gigging, recording and teaching in a number of music stores as well as out of his apartment until deciding to pursue music full time. He moved to Denver, CO to complete a Bachelors in Music Technology and was then hired on by Sweetwater Productions, a division of Sweetwater Sound and one of the largest, most successful recording studios in the Midwest.
Chris spent nearly 4 years at Sweetwater as a producer, recording engineer, studio musician and writer. During this time he had the privilege of working with many artists including Augustana, Landon Pigg, Jars of Clay, and Mercy Me. He also wrote for and played on numerous independent albums and hundreds of radio/TV commercials.
Wanting to get back to his favorite State in the world (Colorado) and feeling the urge to 'go freelance', Chris moved to Greeley, CO and opened his own recording and teaching studio. He continues to write and produce music for artists and agencies and is happy to be among the proud JamPlay.com instructors.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Thanks Chris, really good overview of the techniques, do you also cover sound processors?
what sound processors do you have questions about? I'd be happy to answer a few questions.
very nice job. i was playin around with my compressor earlier today and this seesion has definetley cleared some questions. very nice job
Chris, First of all, thanks for the great lesson. This is an awesome resource for players looking to understand effects pedals. I do have one question though: would you recommend the CS-3 for a compressor on the professional level and if not, what do you recommend?
The CS-3 is my favorite guitar compressor. It's easy to get the sounds I want out of it. There are not too many knobs but there is enough control to tweak out the sound. I'm not a fan of compression pedals with just one control, cause I can't really tell what they are doing. I also have not found a compression effect inside a multi effect unit that I've really liked. Even with my TC Electronic Nova System, which has compression built in, I still prefer the CS-3. Hope that helps!
Your answer was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the prompt reply!
Some people say it is not good to use with distortion or for lead playing. I have one, after seeing this I am putting it back in my loop. It sounded just fine to me.
hmm, yeah, I almost always use a distortion pedal when I'm playing leads. Even if I'm using my amps distortion, I'll still stack a few gains together to get just the sound I want
oh, I mis read your post. yes, I also almost always use a mild compression setting for my distorted lead playing. It really provides a nice musical sustain!
That must have been a great demo as I've just purchased a compression pedal within 24 hours of watching the demo. I never really understood how they worked before - really clearly explained. Thanks Chris.
You're welcome! Have Fun! Sometimes just having even a little starter info is enough to get the creativity flowing!
nice
What is the tab for lick @ 3:20 ?
The chord played during that lick is a E9 chord. Played from Lo E to Hi e, the fret positions are: 076777. Sliding it down 1 fret and then right after the strum, sliding it back up in to position will give that sound you see in the lesson. The examples in this particular lesson are really just played to demonstrate the sounds possible with a compression pedal... not teaching specific licks or position ideas. So there is no provided tab currently. Think of it as an intro to the effect. With effects and are less subtle and inspire particular types of licks because of the nature of the effect (delay for example) there will be specific licks and ideas tabbed out for you to try. For compression, its best to turn it on and see what comes out in your own playing now that you understand how it works.
Scene 3 :: Sustain
Thanks, Chris. I appreciate you demonstrating some of the different kinds of sounds one can make with the help of the effect.
Fantastic, Chris, I can't wait for the next installment.
Thank you sir!!
Great job Chris, one of the best explanations of compression I've seen. (Especially of the CS-3)