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String Theory is a web series from Ernie Ball that explores the sonic origins of some of the industry's most innovative players. In this episode Paul Gilbert discusses his history and relationship with playing guitar, songwriting, and his Ernie Ball strings. Listen to Paul describe which gauges he uses when-and why-as well as which unique Ernie Ball acoustic set is his favorite.
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IN THE BASSMENT
During the prenatal development of the electric bass, there undoubtedly came a moment when Leo Fender realized a string would also need to be invented. So, he contracted string manufacturers V.C. Squier to make a steel string that would fit the 34" scale length with the proper gauges. It wasn't until 1962 that Rotosound developed the first round-wound strings for electric bass-the famed Swing Bass 66 set.
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WATCH THISIt took three guitarists, five hands and one eight-string guitar to nail this killer version of Metallica's "One." And don't ask how many hours. We have it on good authority that neither James Hetfield nor Kirk Hammett were involved, but we know that the guitar was a Chapman ML1-8RS Rob Scallon Signature 8, features a mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and swamp ash top.
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We're all familiar with the minor pentatonic scale. And if you play rock music, chances are good that you have a standard way of looking at the scale and using it. It's undoubtedly conventional. And conventional can be boring. This video starts out by looking at chords that can be found within the scale and then shows how the resulting five triads can be played as open-voiced triads and used as arpeggios.
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GREAT GEAR
A number of guitar pick makers have taken new and novel approaches to the humble plectrum, employing everything from unusual shapes and materials to colored lights that make your pick part of the show. Pickatto is a new pick that uses Bluetooth technology to sync up with an app on your smartphone. It provides you with information about how many strums are made, how much pressure you exert, how many up and down strokes, how hard or loose your grip, etc. Think of it as a Fitbit for a guitar player...
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ARTIST AWARENESS
So Who Is Edgar Meyer? The son of a bass player and high school music teacher, Meyer immediately took to the double bass and began studying at the age of five. He continued his education at Indiana University and the Aspen Music School under famed double bassist and educator, Stuart Sankey. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he recorded with countless country, bluegrass, and Americana artists, including Garth Brooks, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Douglas, Travis Tritt, and Emmylou Harris. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including...
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