There is something magically easy about the 3-string shovel guitar. From the angle of a novice guitarist, it’s easier and much less intimidating to play 3 strings rather than six, and there's additionally the delivered benefit of the broader string spacing and excessive action, which makes learning slide guitar and lap steel lots less difficult.
For the superior guitarist, however, there are limitless benefits to getting to know to play on fewer strings, and without a frets. When you're pressured to create a whole music on three strings, with out frets, and with most effective one finger of your fretting hand (your slide finger), you have to learn how to do extra with less. To me, this is constantly been the most attractive and important component that differentiates blues and roots track from the relaxation of guitar gambling; the capability to do greater with less.
This song is tuned to Open G (G-D-G, using the A, D, & G strings from a six-string %), and I perform it on my Justin Johnson Signature 3-String Shovel Guitar, strung with a percent of my Signature Slide Guitar Strings, and the usage of considered one of my Signature Ceramic Guitar Slides. All of these products are to be had at my on-line keep.
In this video, I use numerous techniques to create an entire band sound at the shovel guitar. Creating a robust rhythmic feel and syncopated, funky groove is the maximum vital element. When I’m playing solo guitar, the rhythmic groove is usually the maximum important detail.
When you are playing any sort of rhythmic tune, like blues or funk, even if you hit a wrong be aware, as long as you keep the groove, the listener can stay onboard, but as quickly as you lose the groove, you lose the listener. I create this groove via using lots of proper hand slap bass techniques, mixed with left hand muting to insinuate a drum beat.
Sometimes I play the bass word like a lap metallic, bringing my sliding hand across the pinnacle of the neck. This gives me a unique experience, tone and voice, and makes it feel and sound like every other 'member of the band' taking a lead wreck. I want to think about the bass string at the shovel as the bass 'player,' with a completely one-of-a-kind sense than the rest of the strings. Palm muting the bass strings while leaving the lead strings open additionally facilitates create this impact.
(Image credit score: Justin Johnson)
The high string motion at the shovel guitar also helps to make a few strategies possible that wouldn’t be as clean on a conventional electric guitar. One such impact I use in this performance starts approximately the 1:25 minute mark.
First, I hit the twelfth be concerned harmonic at the excessive G string. Then, while the harmonic continues to be ringing, I run the slide up the string, starting on the nut, which allows me to exchange the pitch of the harmonic. This impact sounds like a slide whistle, and may add a ghostly melodic impact.
This method is possible on a conventional fretted guitar, however is much more potent on my signature shovel guitar, because of the manner the movement is set, and because of the prolonged maintain that the shovel guitar achieves.
(Image credit score: Justin Johnson)
I make every of my signature shovel guitars by way of hand, and I personally play and tone-check every one before sending them out. While they'll appear to be simple, I’ve spent years refining the layout, components, setup, scale period and pickup role to create a professional instrument that also has the sincere nice of being a home made roots device.
The tempered metal body and hardwood manage has a long preserve, matched most effective via some of the biggest, heaviest strong bodies, even concept the shovel is quite mild.
I suppose the most vital and enjoyable quality of the shovel guitar is that I reminds musicians that there are still no guidelines to tune. It doesn’t be counted what lifestyle dictates, and it doesn't be counted how rapid the top-banger at Guitar Center can play the solo to Beat It. You can always take things lower back to their roots and create your own method.