Tips for Recording Percussion on Acoustic Guitar

How do guys like Antoine Dufour, Andy McKee, and Jon Gomm get those crystal clear and snappy drum sounds from their guitars?

Well, keep reading this post to know the secret!

These are 4 tips that’ll help you get a super-crisp percussive sound from your acoustic guitar.

1. Invest in a Great Microphone

If you’re going to mic your guitar, then the majority of the sound will be determined by the quality of the microphone itself.

Something like the Rode NT-USB or AKG P170 is an excellent microphone for the price. Andy McKee likes to use the Rode NT4, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for all of us.

A bit more costly option would be the Neumann KLM184 or any small diaphragm condenser mic. A steeper investment when you’re starting out, but you get much tighter bass and shimmery highs.

Cheaper mics like Zoom and Tascam can definitely work, but they won’t be able to reproduce everything as well as the Rode or Neumann. Slaps might sound fine, but body drumming won’t be as boomy.

2. Decent Pickup and Preamp

If you’ll be using a pickup, you should invest in a good one. If you own an entry-level or mid-range instrument, you should consider replacing the pickups and preamps on that baby.

I really like the K&K Trinity Pro Mini system. It picks up percussion effects from the entire body. But DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, and Fishman also make great pickups.

3. Get an Awesome Guitar!

I think it’s obvious. A cheap knock-off won’t ever sound like a well-built acoustic guitar from a decent brand.

Taylor Guitars are extremely popular among percussive guitarists. Their Grand Auditorium shapes produce a balanced sound and respond well to percussive hits on the body.

But those aren’t the only good ones out there. Yamaha, Martin Guitars, Takamine, and Breedlove are some other great brands for acoustic guitars.

4. Polish your Percussion Skills

You’d be surprised at how much the quality of your recording changes with the proper technique and skill. Make sure to learn basic percussive effects: thump, snare-drum slap, kick drum, hitting the sides, and tap harmonics.

Once you get familiar with these building blocks, move on to practicing some riffs or short sections from your favorite songs.

Here are some easy percussion songs for guitar I recommend starting out with. Once you learn them, gradually move your way up.

Percussive fingerstyle guitar is unlike any other guitar style and is something that’ll let you expand into unimaginable territories with guitar.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

- Pranshu

Harmonyvine

Tips for Recording Percussion on Acoustic Guitar

The benefits of learning violin for guitarists

Music is an integral part of the human experience. Researchers have found that learning to play instruments can decrease stress and depression levels in older people by increasing their self-esteem and sense of independence. If you’re a musician, you’re doing yourself a service while treating others to your unique sound.

Click to read more ...

What's The Best Finish For Your Guitar?

A while back I posted an article on my website explaining the cost of refinishing a guitar. This text is taken from the original article which can be found here.

Your guitar’s finish is not just there to make it look pretty. It actually does one of the most crucial jobs - Protecting the wood of your guitar!

Moisture is the main culprit behind wood damage, and the the best way to protect your wood from moisture is to coat a thin layer of finish over your instrument.

For this reason, and also to minimize any accidental damage to the wood surface, having a proper finish is vital for the long-life of your guitar.

But what finish is right for you?

Click to read more ...

How To Read Guitar Tabs?

Wanna make learning your favorite songs easier for you? Tabs will help you do just that!

When you start playing the guitar, learning how to read tabs as soon as possible is a good choice. Period. I’m so glad that I did that when I started. It made learning songs a lot easier for me. In my opinion, tabs are the easiest way to learn songs for beginners.

In this post, you will learn all that you need about tabs. I included photos, and text for you.

Click to read more ...

6 Mistake Beginner Guitarists Often Make (& How To Avoid Them)

As a beginner guitarist, you probably don’t know all the ins and outs of playing the guitar.

Mistakes will be made. That’s not a problem.

Where it becomes a problem is when you don’t learn from your mistakes and figure out what to do instead.

So, here are six mistakes beginner guitarist often make and how to avoid them.

Click to read more ...

Why (And How) To Practice In Gig Conditions

Today I’m going to share with you a pretty major secret of great guitar practice (or any instrumental/vocal practice really). As you may have guessed from the title, it’s to practice in gig conditions!

Click to read more ...

20 Guitars From Different Eras [Infographic]

As a beginning guitarist, the world is your oyster. You have a variety of opportunities at your fingertips. You not only get to decide what type of guitar you want to play, but also what style and genre of music you want to learn.

Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re a seasoned player needing some inspiration, check out the interactive graphic below. On it you can view 20 types of guitars from different eras, as well as the legends who played them.

Click to read more ...

Preparing For The First (Or Any) Guitar Performance

In order to look professional and avoid creating an image of a silly musical rookie, it is within the interest of any guitarist to create and follow a certain effective pre-show routine. A specific “code”, that will protect her from potential failures and furthermore – help her to stand out among other acts in a better way.

Since it is not 1931 (the year when the first electric guitar was created), this guide will examine the preparation for both unplugged shows and the ones that involves cables and amplifiers. But whichever guitar you have - always have an extra pack of strings. A pack of spare strings should always be in your guitar case, as a medical kit in the bag of a soldier. 

Click to read more ...

Power Chord: 4 Equipment Essentials Every Electric Guitarist Needs

Playing the electric guitar can be a lot of fun for many reasons. It can help you perform some of your favorite tunes in the world. It can even help you write a few incredible songs you can call your own. If you want to take complete advantage of your guitar proficiency, though, you need to make sure to invest in these four vital pieces of equipment.

Click to read more ...

The Ultimate Beginner's Guide To Guitar Terms

There are a slew of guitar terms to learn when you’re just beginning. If you want to be a successful player you need to learn chords and strumming techniques but also terminology. This is a complete list of guitar terms to get you started!

Click to read more ...