50 steps to better guitar tone
Click onwards for the ultimate guide to sounding better
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50 steps to better electric guitar tone
Pearls of wisdom from the experts
50 steps to better guitar tone
Use fatter strings
Understand speakers
Slap it on
Try a different scale length
PRO TIP: Get a grip
Put a tone pot on your Strat's bridge pickup
Be clear
PRO TIP: Understand the Fuzz Face
Remember Douglas
Go unplugged
Get your board in order
Play loud
Be sensitive
Get some lessons
Double (or more) your track
Turn your bass pot down as you get louder
Play in Eb
Turn down the gain
Screw your tailpiece down
PRO TIP: Have your frets levelled
PRO TIP: Know your amp better
Steel yourself
Go potty
Try a new cap
Don't skimp on your cab
PRO TIP: Maximise playability for better tone
Set your intonation
PRO TIP: 'Connect' with your hands
Play fewer notes
Spring to action
Try a 5751
Pimp your volume pot
Optimise your pickup height
Raise your action
Know what you're bypassing
Know your strings
PRO TIP: Learn more about pickups
Improve your humbucker's coil split tone
Try a different lead
Stop tickling your guitar
Play with dynamics
Use your plectrum's tone
Use two amps
PRO TIP: Set up any amp quickly
Use two overdrive pedals
Learn your parts
Make your bridge single-coil pretend it's a humbucker
Use the right size amp
Tune your guitar
Be yourself
Tone... that mysterious, elusive quality that you know in your bones but can’t define in your head. The world’s top players spend their lives in its pursuit, while the rest of us chew over the minutiae of their sonic journeys.
It’s time to cut to the chase – here are the 50 steps that are stone cold guaranteed to help you sound better. It’s all pro advice, with no snake oil. Let’s do this.
