This article is a brief guide to chorus effects. It explains what Chorus is. What In-and Out Puts they have? What are the typical controls and applications of a Chorus effect? What variations are there among the various Chorus effects?
The article is not a guide to the various Chorus pedals which exist. Any brands mentioned in this article only serves as a example for a particular sound.

Chorus is a form of Delay optimized for a specific function. A typical guitar signal will sound fuller and more animated once processed through a Chorus effect compared to the signal being without any form of processing.

Delay times of 10 to 25 mS will start to produce Chorus sounds. Some Chorus brands may even give you a shorter delay range to alter the colour and sound of the particular unit.
A delay range of 25 mS and anywhere above will give you Slapback Echo and other forms of Echo and Spacial effects.

The first Chorus effects for Musical Instruments started to appear in the mid-to late 1970s. Most of them used the “Bucket-Brigade Device” (BBD) technology. Later on, in the 1980s, as digital technology became more available and less expansive, more Chorus units started to use the newer, digital technology. In general, digital Chorus effects tend to be brighter and less noisy compared to the earlier BBD examples.

In-and Out Puts:
Most Chorus effects will have one Input and one-or two Outputs: One for a Mono output, this output combines the straight signal with the Chorused sound. The second Output may contain the straight signal or a out-of phase ( inverted) sound. The inverted Output will make your sound a little duller or brighter. Using both outputs will make the Chorus sound fuller and Spacial.

Typical Controls:
Speed (or Rate): This control will let you vary the speed of the modulation. It will give you the sense of your sound speeding up or slowing down.

Depth (or Width): This control will let you vary the depth of the modulation. Increasing the depth will make the Chorus appear fuller in sound.

Effect Level: This control will let you dial in more-or less of the given Chorus effect.

Delay Time: This control will let you fine-tune the range of the Delay for the Chorus.

EQ: This control will let you choose the band range from low to high frequency range. Basically it will make your Chorus sound duller or brighter depending on the setting of this control.

Input: This control will allow you to set the input level of the overall volume level. Turn it all the way down and you will have no sound! Open up the control fully and you may get unwanted distortion.
Input controls often come with a combined overload Led. It is a handy way to tell you what your optimum input signal should be.

Some Chorus units may come with a switch which lets you toggle between Vibrato and Chorus, or Vibrato and Flange. There may even be controls to vary the Delay, Speed and Depth of the Vibrato.

Typical Applications:

Vibrato: Increase depth and delay time to create a extreme sound. Doing the opposite will give you a gentler and less extreme Vibrato sound.

Rotating Speaker Simulation (Leslie Effect): Increase the speed and depth. Use two Chorus effects to fully exploit this sound:
Set up one unit for a slow speed while the other one is set up for a faster speed. Connect both units to a A/B box, toggle between the two units to experience your sound slowing down and speeding up again, just as you would when using a Leslie Cabinet.

Gentle Chorus: Speed and depth are both half way up to create a less dry guitar sound.

Variations in Chorus Sound:

The Boss family came out of the CE-1 with its fine and sophisticated sound. This sound has become very popular over time. It is also a sound which has been copied by many different type of brands.

Electro Harmonix produced some Chorus pedals which contain a rougher, more primitive and therefore unique sound sound. Examples of this are the Clone Theory and later version of the Memory Man.
Between those two opposites lie many subtle variations. My examples of the Boss-and Electro-Harmonix type of sound only serve as a guide for your ears. As you research the various Chorus types around also check out some of the sounds as found on Pitch Shifters. Some of these can give you Chorus sounds which you cannot obtain using standard, basic Chorus units.

There are no good and bad Chorus sounds: some you may find more inspiring compared to others. One particular unit may be better for a certain application compared to another one. Being aware of some of those aspects will help with your choose what kind of Chorus is good for you.

I will create more articles about Delays and Flangers in the near future.
If you like this article and video, why not subscribe to the channel? Please do not forget to share and like video. Cheers!!

Hope to see you soon again,
Eddie

• 

The use of a Slide can add a complete new dimension to your Guitar Playing. It is a amazing experience to listen to melodies coming to your ears from a Guitar played by using a Slide. If you have never used a Slide before you simply will not know what the experience is like.
In this article I will explore the various roles Slide playing can play for your music.

Never used a Slide before in your life? Do not know what “Slide” stands for? No sure what kind of Slide to get? Do not worry, the next video will answer all these questions as it will explain in detail how to get started with Slide Guitar. Watch the video in its full length. It will explain about how to use-and hold your fingers, what kind of Slide to use, how to Set-Up your Guitar, your String Gauge and how to actually play the guitar whilst using a Slide.

Okay so now we know how to get started with a Slide, let us now make some music by using a Slide.
The next video shows mainly Singe Note Slide playing. The sound of the Slide is very natural and does not contain any sound processing whatsoever. The focus is not so much on the Slide, the Slide only forms part of the music which develops throughout the course of the video. I used a Slide mainly to get a difference in sound. The sound difference creates a contrast between the sound of the delays and the loops. This variety in sound may be one of the reasons why you may want to use a Slide for yourself since the sound of a Slide is unique. You can use the Slide in any way you want really, no reason you should not want to try using one!

The next video demos the role of the Slide in a more prominent role: The sound of the Slide is much fuller compared to previous video: The sound is more traditional and was treated with the use a OverDrive pedal. Using a Overdrive pedal makes the sound of the Slide stand out more. It sits better in the context of the rest of the music soundwise. The music is fairly traditional compared to the music of the previous video hence my choice for a more traditional sound of the Slide as well.
In terms of playing I use the Slide to enhance the notes of the riff and solo. I also use the Slide to play harmonically for the use of those “A” shape chord types. Even the Loop pedal is used in combination with the Slide. Every Tool used in this video serves the purpose of the sound of the Music!

Both last videos show how you can use a Slide in a very different and unique way. The first video is good for a general overview of what is on offer sonically by using a Slide.
There are other ways how one can use a Slide, I will write about those others ways of playing with a Slide for future blogs.
Hope you will have find this helpful for your own Guitar Playing and Music Making and hope to see you soon again for more.

Thanks and Enjoy!
Eddie

The guitar is a wonderful instrument, it offers you lots of options but as a Guitar Player you need to make a choice about what it is you want to achieve. You can play Acoustic and aim for the Singer-Songwriter approach. You could learn to play Electric Guitar and get used to playing with a lot of Sound Effects. The actual instrument of choice, either Acoustic or Electric, does not make any difference to the physics of playing the guitar: Chord fingerings will be the same for either Acoustic or Electric, the lay-out of the notes on the fret board is similar for both the Acoustic and Electric. The big difference lies in the feel and sound of the Guitar. Most Acoustics will have larger neck and the strings may feel a little stiffer, but once you have learned to play the Guitar there is no real difference between playing a Acoustic or Electric instrument. The sound of a Acoustic guitar comes mainly from the body of the Guitar, whereas the sound of a Electric guitar comes mainly from the Amp you use. This Amp is usually placed a little further away from the Guitar, therefore the sound may be a little less intimate compared to the sound of a Acoustic.
Besides the differences in sound and feel of the Acoustic and Electric guitar there is also the difference in approach. Playing a Electric guitar with a lot of Sound Effects and using a Multiple Amplifier set-up require a different skill set from the Guitarist compared to playing Solo Finger Style Classical Guitar. For this article I will have a look at some of the styles a Guitar Player may choose to play, and what this choice means in terms of skills and approach to playing the instrument.

Since most people will get introduced to Playing the Guitar by the Acoustic Guitar let us have a look at Playing the Guitar on your own, using your Voice and Playing and Writing Songs.
For this approach you do need to be able to Sing with the Guitar at the same time. You could either play Cover Songs or Your Own Songs.

Writing your Own Songs can be a very pleasing experience, but it requires a new skill set: Being able to create your own songs. The beauty of this approach is: Your own songs do not need to fit any criteria. The standards you set for yourself are good enough, which means you can get started straight away and play with what you know!
The more you write the better your songs will become. Once you get hooked your standards may change, but this is only natural as it all forms part of the process of growth as a Musician and Song Writer.

Here is one way of the Singer/Song Writer approach.

Now check out this video here, a different way of Playing, more raw and less sophisticated. Still, it is using the Guitar in the Singer/Songwriter approach.

Needless to say, within the Singer/Songwriter approach a lot is possible, there are many unique styles, all of them can be as deep and pleasing as you want them to be.
For the Singer/Songwriter approach a Guitarist only need to have a guitar and sing, not much else in terms of additional equipment is needed, fantastic!

Let me now have a look at Playing the Electric guitar as a Solo-Instrumentalist approach.
In terms of skills, a Guitarist will need to be able to play melodies, improvise, and work with various sounds the Electric Guitar can offer. You do want to be able to change sounds, since this will make your songs not all sound the same from top to bottom.
Changing sounds on the Electric Guitar can be done as simply by changing the Pick-up selector: You could play your chords for the backing through the Neck Pick-Up. For Solos and Melodies you may want to choose the brighter, Bridge Pick-Up. All depending on your taste.
Another way to change sounds is by using Guitar Pedals or other Rack-Kind of Effects. This approach requires the Guitarist to have a interest in technical details about Sound and Effects Processing. It is a wonderful, deep world, but it may not be for everybody!
Here a short video of the Instrumentalist Approach:

Needless to say this approach to playing the guitar can be very deep and pleasing at the same time. The down side may be the need for additional equipment, but one can keep things as simple as possible.

So far we have looked at music which stays within the boundaries of one song-idea. What about playing music which is constantly changing as we go along. Music which is a bit like a symphony: There is scope for a lot of development within the music. How can this be achieved with one Guitar?
Well it can be done with the use of some Loop Pedals in combination with the use of some other Guitar Effects.
In terms of skills for this approach: a Guitarist will need to know a little Music Theory to create the music, have a awareness of Sounds and Musical Ideas which go together to make something sound like it all belongs and does not start to sound like a mess. In other words: You need to have a vision of what it is you want to achieve.

Here is a short video of this kind of approach:

In addition to standard playing I also use a Slide in this video. Slide Guitar is ,off course, another unique style of playing the guitar. It is a style with requires it own approach. It is steeped in tradition, but you can make it personal. Slide Guitar is very deep and there are many different artists out there who have a totally different way of using the Slide in their own music

A last style I want to highlight is: Making Sounds with the guitar by using gadgets. Gadgets such as day to day objects, like a cork, elastic band or paper clip.
Attaching day to day objects to the strings of the guitar is the called the art of Prepared Guitar. I have written about this approach in a previous blog, check it out here if you want to learn more about it: https://www.guitartutorleeds.com/prepared-guitar-and-extended-guitar-techniques/

The style of making sounds with the guitar is sometimes called: Sound Scape. It is possible to use those sounds into songs, or compositions. One could also just make sounds and not really relate those sounds to any music. Again the choice is up to the individual Guitarist, what you know and your own taste.

The styles I have high lighted here are only a snap shot, there are many many more styles known to the world of music. I have mainly used elements of styles I work with for myself from time to time. Check out the styles you like and see what you can do with them for yourself as a Guitar Player.

Once you have read through all of this you may wonder where it is you should start with your own playing? I would say, get started with what you know and what you like and build onto that style over time. Keep at it and keep working on the various elements which make up part of a particular style of playing. Yes I know, it does require a lot of time, but playing the guitar, and making music, is a life time skill. As long as you keep working on Music you Playing Style will grow.

Hope to see you all again soon in the New Year.
Cheers,
Eddie

On Monday the 25th of June 2018 Jam Sessions at Royal Park Pub,  39 Queen’s Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 1NY will start.
Sessions will start at 8.30 pm

The main idea behind the sessions is that people play music with each other. The sessions are open to musicians of any level.
Please bring along small amplification if your instrument needs some form of amplification.

We welcome different kind of instruments, any instrument is welcome!
At the Jam Sessions there will be Bass and Drums which are able to give you a strong backing to any kind of music you would like to play.

The music we can play at the Jam Sessions varies: It can be music people have played before but would like to try out now with different, new musicians.  There is the change to try out new musical ideas on the spot, good for creative musicians who love making up their own parts and compositions.

Here a few keywords, styles of music which may give you a bit of a idea what is possible on the night:  Fusion, Jazz, Alternative Music, Ambient, Electronic Dance, Experimental Music, Electric, Alternative Blues, Traditional Blues and Folk, Americana, Alternative Country, West-Coast Style.

The list of influences and people we like is too big to mention, we draw inspiration from any kind of style, as long as it feels and sounds good,  we are into it!

Key element to the night is to create a good vibe we can all enjoy and be part of.

The Sessions will run every last Monday of the month, please check my facebook for details as I will post them there first!

Hope to meet you soon at one of the Jam Sessions.
Eddie

Here the blog article which supports the video.

Song starts  with the Em and D.  Mute the Em, as demonstrated , to give it the sound of the bass and drums from the original recording. The Em is played for a whole bar, then it is D for two beats and again Em for two beats. This whole section is two bars and it repeats once before the harmonica parts kicks in.

Em      D   Em      Em        D   Em

The Harmonica part can be divided into three small phrases.  Here the tab. for all three phrases: Each Chord is being played for Two Beats. First note of the first- and second  Harmonica phrase come start on second beat. The last Harmonica phrase starts on the first beat, similar as the Em chord.

             Em                         C                         D                         G
E          – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –       – – – – – – – – – – – –  –
B          – – –  – – – – -3 – – – 1 – – -0 – –    – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
G          – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –    – – 2 – – 0 – – – – – – –
D          – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  – – – – – – – – – – – 0 – –
A           – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
E            – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – —    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

              Em                          C                        D                           G

E        – – — – – – 3- –  – -0 – – – –           – – -0 – – – – – – – – – –
B         – – – -3 – – – – – – – – – – -3 –         – – – – – – -3- – -0 – –
G        – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – —       – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
D        – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – —      – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
A        – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –     – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
E          – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – —     – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

               Em                       C                          D                          G
E          – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –     – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
B          -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 – –    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
G          – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –    – -2- – -0- – – – – – – – – –
D           – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – 0 – – – – –
A            – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — –   – – – – – – – — – – – – — – – –
E             – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — –  – – – – – – – – – – – –  – – – – –

If you like the video, please subscribe.
There will be more short videos of this kind, keep checking blog and video channel on a regular basis for updates.

Enjoy and hope to catch you soon again!
Eddie

For this blog a review article about the Squier SP-10 practice amp. I will briefly mention the history of this amp, the various models which have been around, give you some tips how to dial in  clean- and distorted tones using different guitars,  there will be a short section with ideas how to improve the sound of this amp and I will briefly mention some other, similar amps of this kind.

History:
Squier started to produce the SP-10 around 1997. The amp has been ever since  then included in starter packages including a cable and a DVD.
There is a bigger model of this amp:  The Squier 15, which does have a 8″ speaker, a Master, Gain and Mid control. The SP-10 does have none of this, I will later on mention more about the controls of the amp and how to find your sweet spot for your tone.
Two years before the production of the SP-10 Squier did have a similar line-up of practice amps. They were called the Champ series. The Champ is a well-known classic Fender amp model, and the Squier series tried to replicate those sounds with their non-valve transistor amps.
The line-up included: Champ 15G, and the Champ 15GR (reverb model). Both amps came with a 8″ speaker and are rated at 15 Watts. There were two more models of the same series: Champ 25 GR (reverb model) and the Champ 15B. Both those amps came with a 10″ speaker.
All of these amps came with a Black face panel, just like the SP-10 and Squier 15.

For Who Is This Amp?:
People who start out learning to play the guitar and need a basic amp to amplify their guitar.  Guitar Players who like to experiment with their tone and learn what can be done to alter the basic sound of the amp may also enjoy using this amp.
The early days of Rock ‘N’ Roll is full of guitar players who used all sorts of gizmos to add mojo to their sound.  Ritchie Blackmore used to plug into a small preamp to add more juice to his guitar tone, then there is Jimmy Page who liked to use small amps in the studio to create his unique sounds. Small amps are often easier to manipulate compared to bigger, stage amps

Tips For Tones:
The SP-10 does have three controls:  One for Volume, One for Treble and One for Bass.  There are two Input Sockets at the front, one for Instrument, and the other one is for Headphones. There is a little switch for Distortion on the face of the front panel.
The tone controls on this amp are active: You will  need to open them up a little to get a sound. Because there is no Mid control, Mid can be achieved by cutting down a little with the Bass control. Cutting down any of the tone controls will result in loss of signal, compensate for this by adjusting the Volume control. It will bring back the body,fullness and depth of your sound,.  Check out the included video where I demonstrate this principle.
To find the sweet spot for your guitar you simply hold a chord and adjust the Treble and Bass control to your liking.
This amp is good for giving you the basic sound of your guitar.
The overall, clean sound of the amp does have a grainy character, something a lot of early 60s Brit amps used to have. The amp does not give a great deal of detail to your sound, but it is able to dial in a basic, grainy sound. The character of the  sound is kind of hard and does not have the softness for which some Fender amps are known for.
Pressing the little switch will activate the distortion. The distorted sound is full-on and not subtle, this is partly because the amp lacks a Gain control. Cutting down the Volume control on your guitar will tone down the distortion, Yes I know, old skool approach, but it does work!
The character of the distorted sound is very bright. It is possible to change its sound a little with the tone controls, but not matter what you do, the distorted sound will remain trebly.

Guitars and Which Ones Work Well?:
The amp works well with either Single-coil- or Humbuck equipped guitars.  If  you are using a guitar with high output Pick-ups you may want to back of the volume of your guitar a little to keep the sound clean. Overall it should be fine to achieve usable, pleasant tones from any type of guitar model.

Mods To Improve Sound of Amp:
Adding a external speaker socket for the use of a external speaker will improve the sound of any small amp, the SP-10 is no exception to this rule. Use a 8 Ohm speaker, since the amp needs a 8 Ohm ratted speaker.
Using a bigger, external speaker such as a 12″ will add more body to the sound, it will not change the character of the basic amp tone!
Adding a Line-Out output will also do no harm: It will let you take  the sound of the amp to any bigger amp.  You could, for example,  use the distortion of the SP-10 and connect it to the input of a bigger, clean sounding Valve amp.
Some of you may want to change Capacitors and Resistors: Better quality ones will certainly improve the basic character of this amp.
Last but not least: Adding a Gain control to the amp will let you adjust the amount of distortion you dial in.  You may be able to fit the pot in the place of the Headphone socket.

Similar Small Amps:
The Squier SP-10 is of course not the only one of its kind, the are many, many amps of this seize.  The Stagg 10 GA is of a similar kind, and probably of better sound quality: Its sound is more detailed compared to the Squier SP-10,. The Stagg does have  a Gain control for the distortion, which is a improvement. Furthermore it also included a Mid control, something the Squier lacks!
The Chord CG10 is also a very good amp of this kind. This one is also of a more detailed sound compared to the Squier. Its controls are similar to the ones of the Stagg, including Gain and a control for the MIds.

Conclusion:
The Squier SP-10 may not be one of the most refined amps you have ever plugged into, but it certainly is a fine amp to give you that basic guitar tone.
Beginners cannot go wrong with it and even more experienced guitar players may enjoy its basic clean tones.
Its tones are portable which makes it a great partner for when you are moving around!

Hope you enjoyed the included video and this article.
Why not subscribe to the channel? Please do not forget to like and share the video. Thanks!!
Check out other articles on this blog here.  Hope to create more articles in the near future about the SP-10, using it with some other gear and amps.

Hope to see you soon again,
Eddie

There will be an all Acoustic Jam Night at Factory Street Studios in Bradford. The first night will be on Tue 24th of January. The night is mainly for acoustic instruments. It is the intention not to use any amplification or microphones. If your instrument requires amplification, there is the Jam Night on the 10th of January (and every 2nd Tue of the month afterwards).
The night is open to any acoustic instrument and vocalists, experienced and inexperienced musicians who play any style of music such as acoustic Folk, Blues, Ragtime and Jazz. I welcome anyone who loves playing music with other people. The night is an ideal  vehicle for making new friends and finding new musicians who you would like to play with in future.
Factory Street Studios is based in Bradford, Unit 9 Factory Street, BD4 9NW
For more information, check out facebook page for Factory Street Studios or call me on 07796 808633
Looking forward to meet you there.
Eddie