Video Guitar Lesson 10: Tremolo bar acrobatics. Uses, tricks, tips, rules and advice

Guitar Lessons with Tune in, Tone up!

In this lesson, Dan and I revisit the tremolo or whammy bar to go over some of the subtleties of using it to best effect. Dan starts this lesson by giving an overview of the different types of tremolo systems and then we get stuck into some different ideas and uses of the whammy bar to gain different effects. First we look at the subtle warble idea to add some shine and sparkle to your playing (we also return to this as a means of gaining vibrato high up on the fretboard at the end of the lesson). Then we take a look at some ideas widely incorporated into Jeff Beck’s style. Next we look at scooping between notes. Finally we look at the more extreme techniques of dive-bombing to catch harmonics, pinch harmonics and the ‘gurgling’ sound. Timings for the SoundCloud audio version 00:05:47 I show Dan where my trem bar skills are (or are not) 00:06:19 An exploration of the different types of trem systems 00:08:46 Uses 1) A gentle 'warble' 00:16:35 Point two: you donon't need to move the bar as much as you think 00:17:03 2) Some Jeff Beckisms 00:18:24 2a) Dipping down the pentatonic 00:23:35 2b) similar idea - modulating the pitch up 00:25:17 2c) putting the two together 00:27:38 Moving down the bar for better control 00:30:03 3) Scooping into notes 00:32:53 3b) A variation is to scoop up between notes 00:34:36 3b) Scooping up to the semitone gaps in the Phrygian Dominant 00:38:20 4) Divebomb on the G String catching the harmonic on the way back up 00:43:56 Getting a pinch harmonic and using the trem 00:46:14 Gurgling action of the trem bar by twanging the springs suddenly 00:50:06 Remember the golden rules / summary 00:50:52 Final idea - using the trem as a vibrato when playing high up the fretboard 00:51:58 Most strat trem systems and tuning stability For more on tremolo bar systems see this useful blog: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/top-10-tremolo-systems