Trying to play Atlantis when bitten by a green ant

[Risky]

Oh Yuk!!! The ant, not the playing!!
And we get upset at our little blighters in our houses - how do you cope with these mothers??
You've got a few notes missing in the intro and brdges etc but hey - its coming on fine.
The intro and first 2 bridges is neck pickup, then you flick to Bridge for the main theme. The LAST muted section and final part STAY on the Bridge.
cheers
ian

I hate to disagree with me mate Slapsticker (who is 100x a better player than me) but over the years I have watched Hank closely as he has quickly "brushed" his pu selector from Middle to Bridge whilst switching from the last muted section to the outtro. Tin hat on

[ecca]

Oh Yuk!!! The ant, not the playing!!
And we get upset at our little blighters in our houses - how do you cope with these mothers??
You've got a few notes missing in the intro and brdges etc but hey - its coming on fine.
The intro and first 2 bridges is neck pickup, then you flick to Bridge for the main theme. The LAST muted section and final part STAY on the Bridge.
cheers
ian

I hate to disagree with me mate Slapsticker (who is 100x a better player than me) but over the years I have watched Hank closely as he has quickly "brushed" his pu selector from Middle to Bridge whilst switching from the last muted section to the outtro. Tin hat on

He don't do that on the record Phillipe ! Nor you Slockapocka !

[cygnetshadow]

May I offer another opinion on pick-up selection for a hopefully ant-free Atlantis....

The muted intro and 2 bridges are on a separate track on the original record, all on the neck pick-up.

The verses are all (including the brief muted part near the end of verse 3) on the bridge pick-up.

For a live performance it is quite easy to use the beat where the two tracks overlap for a single beat to switch from neck to bridge for the final coda (starting on the Eb chord).

I'm not sure what Hank does (did) in live performances, but I've always done it as above to try and copy the record.

I've been interrupted by many things - phone, sneezes, callers, family, power-cut, but never, I'm glad to say, an ant (of any colour!) Hard luck, Rosemary! Keep playing.

Best wishes, Stephen

[Stratpicker]

Oh Yuk!!! The ant, not the playing!!
And we get upset at our little blighters in our houses - how do you cope with these mothers??
You've got a few notes missing in the intro and brdges etc but hey - its coming on fine.
The intro and first 2 bridges is neck pickup, then you flick to Bridge for the main theme. The LAST muted section and final part STAY on the Bridge.
cheers
ian

I hate to disagree with me mate Slapsticker (who is 100x a better player than me) but over the years I have watched Hank closely as he has quickly "brushed" his pu selector from Middle to Bridge whilst switching from the last muted section to the outtro. Tin hat on

He don't do that on the record Phillipe ! Nor you Slockapocka !

Oh Shucks, Risky (WHo of the two of us can play Windmills of your Mind and KIlling Me Softly properly?!)
Oi ! ! - I did on Tuesday, Ecca me lad!! And no one chucked a beer mat at me!!
Sometimes I think its too "Wooly" sounding on the neck, other times its OK. I guess its how the amp your using is set up. It needs to be carrying a bit of top so the neck pup doesnt sound like an underground muffled rumble. Just for clarification of what I wrote - Bridge is used for thmain theme throughout, its the muted and "bridge" parts (musical not guitar) that are neck - er - until its not.
cheers
ian

[Rosemary]

Hi Stephen
Thanks for your tips. At present I'm having difficulty even palm muting and getting the rhythm in those bits in Atlantis so can't quite imagine being able to switch pick ups yet but it will be good to have a go at that when I improve. I also need to learn the ending of that one. I'm sure those single notes I play are not totally authentic. I'll be guitar-less for 6 days from Tuesday so will have a bit of catching up to do as well.
Best wishes
Rosemary

[Bluesnote]

Try going over the tune in slow motion and get used to changing the pick-ups as you do it, this will get your muscle memory trained up in the movements both in the muting and the pick-up selection.
Julien Bream the famous classical guitarist once said that when he is learning a new piece, he plays it so slow that if someone were standing there watching him, they would think he'd never played a guitar before, and would never recognise it as a tune.
Wise words from the great man
I've tried that and it really works but needs patience, a quality I dont have in abundance though
BTW - I've watched your progress ovder the last few months and I have to say that you are coming on really well with your playing.
Keep this up and you'll be better than Mr Marvin

[Rosemary]

Hi Hugh
Thanks very much for your encouragement. It's good to know I'm improving. I certainly feel more comfortable playing the more I practise. Playing slowly is very good advice. It's easy to rush in and try to play to tempo right away although backing tracks usually make it obvious when I'm not ready and I get left behind.

An update on Aussie insect hazards. I was attacked by a swarm of wasps this morning and when trying to brush them off, fell over and pulled muscles in my back so have somewhat limited movement and wasp bites on my strumming hand - but not enough to stop me practising After I get home from holidays I'm staying indoors even if we do get the occasional green ant there too.

Best wishes
Rosemary

[Paulps]

Hi Rosemary
When I'm learning a "new" Shadows tune, I get the MIDI file of it, mute the lead guitar, and slow the whole thing down, sometimes to half speed. When I can play it right through, I gradually increase the speed until I get back to the original tempo.

[Rosemary]

Hi Paul
Thanks. That's a great idea!
Best wishes
Rosemary