Robben Ford Discussion

[nineacres]

Gary - I don't know of any CD players that will slow down music without changing the key but if you interested in software that will do the job, try this site: http://www.ronimusic.com/ You can download a trial version of the Amazing Slow Downer here which, although limited to (I think) the first two tracks of a CD, (full version does it all and costs about $45) it will give you an idea of what it can do. It'll read MP3 files too. I've used this software to learn several bits of Robben's solos on Misdirected Blues and others. Very useful piece of kit.
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"Creativeness often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were only thought up a little more than a century ago?" - Bernice Fitz-Gibbon 1894-1982

[jconstant]

[JavaDiva]

[JackD]

The CD player I was refering to is the Tascam Guitar trainer (it's red). You used to be able to get these for $150-$200. I think I got mine at Guitar Center. Great little piece of equipment.

[bluenote]

Hey Jack D, I was considering the tascam (red) machine of which you speak. I have a question about it, a while ago I had a slowdown machine that when it slowed down it sounded like Darth Vader.....but the good feature it had was a "freezenote" where you could go one note at at time, does the tascam have such a feature?
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volcano vaporizer

[Aeolian]

[quote="JavaDiva"][quote="JackD"]Like much of Robben's music, he uses both on this song--pick and fingers.[/quote]

Interesting observation from my concert partner last night - he noticed Robben playing both with the pick and then fingers in the same song, changing back and forth. And what does he do with the pick while he's using his fingers? Anybody have the answer? Inquiring minds want to know.[/quote]
You pull your first finger out from under the pick and your thumb naturally slips it down onto the second finger. Then you close your second finger back over it. Rest it between your first and second knuckles unless you are doing more complicating finger picking patterns when sometimes it helps to move it down to the first knuckle area. When I was sitting across from Robben at a clinic once trying to figure out his tone production, we were both plucking the chords he was showing me with thumb and fingers (in what Eric Johnson calls a "piano" technique in his instructional video) and I noticed that we both had the pick around the first knuckle. Didn't help me with the tone any.

I do a lot of the Tuck Andress stunt of whacking the strings with the side of my index finger 12 frets up from a chord to get the chord to chime. I'll do this in the middle of something and just go back to playing. I had to stop and think once, where was the pick going? (Tuck doesn't use a pick) Between my thumb and second finger and then back up to the first finger. Only takes a split second.

Sometimes you'll see Robben stretching his arm out as if he was shaking out some stiffness. This is usually when he has been doing some fingerpicking with the pick burried way back by the first knuckle. It's probably some unconcious act of throwing the pick out of it's hiding place, even though it's staying in contact with one or more fingers throughout the motion, and does give a bit more time to re-orient it in a regular picking position.

Also note that Robben will turn the pick to use the less pointed corner at times.

I have one of those red Tascam things. It eats batteries like nobodies business but it's portable and handy. There is a loop function but no single note step function that I'm aware of. You can always set the loop very short and figure out a note or two at a time, but doing this on a computer with a visual image of the notes and beats is far easier.
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[Bill Morgan]

[quote="Aeolian"]
Also note that Robben will turn the pick to use the less pointed corner at times.[/quote]

I thought Robben said once that he always uses the rounded end of the pick instead of the pointy end. I've always done that myself. For some reason I can't seem to pick with the pointy end. It gets stuck on the strings. And I also like the tone a lot better with the rounded end. To me it sounds closer to the tone you get when you use your fingers. In fact, I found a pick that I like (with the rounded corners a little more round than the standard Fender shape), so I bought a bunch of them and cut the pointy ends off so I now have picks with 3 rounded corners and no point. Works for me!

Bill

[Aeolian]

So would you call your picking "pointless"? Sorry, couldn't resist.

I've seen Robben with the pick both ways. Although it looks like he usually strums with the point and it seems like he's turning it on some single line stuff and maybe quieter parts. I'd read about this turning the pick bit so I've been watching, and still see the point sticking out quite often. I think Larry is more consistantly using the pick turned from what I've been able to see of his hands.
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There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[ropiyas]

maybe this little picture of the Cannonball Shuffle chart could give youa hint, man...
http://web.mac.com/jconstant/iWeb/Constant%20Kids/Sams%20May%202006.html

[jconstant]

[Gfox38]

I wanted to thank nineacres and jconstant for telling me about the Amazing Slow Downer. This thing is great! It has helped me along very nicely.

I also got the new RF music book, and I had many areas on or close to the money. However, it has helped a great deal on neck location and some of the more complicated passages. I can't play it all yet, and of course it's with a beginners feel, but man I love Cannonball.

A question about tone. I currently have a Fender RIDR and I'm very happy with it. I don't have any pedals yet. Now, what do you suppose are the effects on Cannonball? There seems to be some grind (or however it's described) and something else? I can afford a pedal or two to get a little closer here. Would appreciate any help.

Thanks.

Gary

[Aeolian]

The pedal question is easy. You need a Zendrive and a delay that can be set to 116ms, single slap return. Robben used a Moogerfoger and has occasionally used a Roland for a compact touring set up.

I recently did a gig in a place were we had to use the house gear. They had a DRRI sitting at the front of the stage pointed and tilted back like a monitor. There was a mike hanging from it for the house PA. Their way of keeping guitarists from playing too loud. The Zendrive worked wonderfully though the DRRI. And with my Roland delay pedal turned to a short slapback, gave a pretty good Canonball like sound.
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There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[leftyguitar]

Interesting how since I started this thread it went off topic then back on!