Video Question: Rhythm & Treble

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Date: May 26th, 2008 | Length: 3.37 | Instructor: David MacKenzie

Mingofalls asks, "I have been experimenting with my Les Paul Standard electric guitar, and I know not all guitars are set up the same way, however, I'm wanting to know more about my 3 way Rhythm & Treble switch. When do you use Rhythm, and when do you use Treble? I have 4 knobs, two that controls the front pick ups volume and tone, and the other two for the rear pick up volume and tone. I'm confused on how to set these up when playing, when to use which one, etc... Could you shed some light on this subject? Thanks." Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

New Guitar - November 5th, 2007 (2 minutes, 20 seconds)

Mniswonger asks: "I was playing with an Epiphone dr100 and I hated it!!! It was just too big for me, and I remember in one of the instructionals the instructor said to be comfortable with your guitar. So tonight I went out and bought a new guitar...it was not the one I wanted (could not afford the one I wanted...Martin 000XE). I ended up buying a Martin LXM travel guitar. It's very small, but for some reason it feels much better when I play. My question is, will this hurt me in the long run playing a smaller size guitar? Lets say I save enough to buy a Martin X series in a regular size, will I have problems converting from the small LXM to the larger scale X series. Thank you for your help. Mark Niswonger" View Response

Recording - August 7th, 2008 (6 minutes, 90 seconds)

Mav67 asks, "Hey guys I was wondering if I could get some advise on dealing with RBS (Record Button Syndrome). I learn these tunes, get the guitar part down and practice it extensively, slowly working in the singing with it, not that I can sing worth a damn but who cares. But everytime I go to record it I turn into a retard on the guitar. Everytime I mess up one way or another, if it isn't the guitar itself, I forget lines of lyrics or miss a vocal cue or try and change to the wrong chord or miss fret a given chord or what is becoming my personal favourite, messing up the picking or strum pattern. What frustrates me more than anything is that any other time I can do this with the minimum of fuss, but as soon as that Record button is pressed, it is like my mind, my voice and my fingers are on separate planets. Any advice on this matter would be appreciated, thanks in advance." View Response

Palm Muting - March 24th, 2008 (2 minutes, 10 seconds)

Nmound asks, "Can someone give me a quick lesson on palm muting. I am working my way through various lessons (including beginner) and find much of the music i like involves this technique. Just a quick show and tell would be perfect. Thank you...Keep up the good work!!!" View Response

- September 24th, 2008 (3 minutes, 39 seconds)

Pheonixrising asks, "Hey guys...gotta question for you. My private instructor has told me to play a G Major chord in a certain way that seems odd and actually questionable. The way he taught it is to have the fourth finger on the 1st string/4th bar & the First finger on the 6th string/4th bar muting the 5th string with the same finger. I haven't seen anybody on Jam Play teach it that way. Not only is that a large strech for the first & fourth finger..Some people that I've ask already thought that muting the 5th string was odd.. Help guys!! what's your opinion about this and have you ever heard of it being played that way.. Should I fire him..ha ha Thanks, Pheonix Rising" View Response

thumb pick technique - May 5th, 2008 (1 minutes, 35 seconds)

Greeno asks, "Jim, I've noticed in some of the songs that you play that you use an upstroke with the thumb pick and it gives the riff an additional sense of syncopation. I'm having some problems with that and wonder if you could share any excercises that would improve my ability to do that. Great lessons BTW. Thanks. greeno" View Response