Am I becoming a lazy guitarist?

FruitarGeek

Aside from the fact that I have not been practising nearly as much as I used to, and my jazz has taken a massive halt, this is all mostly due to my studies and my band.

But. In my band, I have become very dependant on my delay pedal. In fact it is my no.1 solution to all my problems. In all our songs, there are probably 2 or 3 that DON'T have delay. Is this a problem do you think? I know the edge does it, and without such use, U2 would be crap, but how else could I adjust my playing to compensate for lack of delay?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Is it an integral part of your sound as a band?
If yes, then make peace.
If no, wean!

Malkav

If you feel it may be a crutch then it is, what are your goals? does it detract from you feeling like you're achieving them? Then get rid of it...Force yourself not to use it at all in newer material and at home, practice creating textures using interesting voicings and note choices, not creating "delayscapes"

Besides who'd wanna play like the edge anyway? ???

Svengali

I used t have a couple of pedals but I kept being anoyed by the inevitable side-effects of each. Tone-colouration, noise, clutter, added costs of patch cables, etc. (and I used to have good quality gear). I got rid of all but figured I'd probably keep my delay, since it's the one thing no-one can do without, right?

I always played by myself but oneday I jammed a bit with some other musicians and was really almost shocked that when I was playing with them I didn't feel like I needed a delay either?! My playing sounded neat enough under the bit of cover the overlapping of the different instruments offered. My conclusion: a delay should only be considered as a way of creating an effect (duh!) that is superfluous to the core content of a song which is the music.

(I always aproach songwriting in an abstract musical way, anyway, i.e. as notes on paper with a limited regard for execution).

Just as some effects are only added to a master mix in the studio, it may be beneficial to add something like delay only later on during final rehearsals (when learning a new song)?

AlanRatcliffe

I'm quite biased towards delays (I regularly use up to four) and have no problem with effects as part of a composition, but the way you phrase it, you're using delay to cover for your lack (or perceived lack) of ability, to cover and hide "problems", which is not a good approach.

So the next few band practices, leave the delay off (or better, at home) and work on your playing so you can pull of your parts without delay. When you have got that right, then start bringing the delay back into things.

Keira-WitherKay

if you using delay that it's noticeable enough to sound like the edge . Those were your words . . Then i assume your drummer is playing to a click track or you using drum loops to keep the repeats in time ?

FruitarGeek

Thanks for all your advice. Not to sound arrogant, but I don't think I am relying on delay because I 1) Can't come up with something better or 2) I doubt my musical skills - I use delay more to make something I have sound better. It may just be that the music I play with (alternative rock) calls for excess delay. I'd like you guys to listen to the track and tell for yourself, but the listening will have to wait until we ready to launch ourselves (very underground haha). But, on the other hand, I will certainly practice more without delay, especially in song creation, that way I won't be so dependant on it.

I must add tho, it is a wonderful effect. There have been many times on the forum where people will start the thread "Your 4 favourite pedals" or what not - for me, delay (DD-20) is the only pedal I would really need to make me happy inside.

@Keira - He aint playing to a click, it is something we will do in the future once we can afford it, but I can assure you he is a human metronome. one of the best drummers I know in terms of playing to the click

Warren

Adrian Rogowski wrote: Thanks for all your advice. Not to sound arrogant, but I don't think I am relying on delay because I 1) Can't come up with something better or 2) I doubt my musical skills - I use delay more to make something I have sound better. It may just be that the music I play with (alternative rock) calls for excess delay. I'd like you guys to listen to the track and tell for yourself, but the listening will have to wait until we ready to launch ourselves (very underground haha). But, on the other hand, I will certainly practice more without delay, especially in song creation, that way I won't be so dependant on it.

I think you should use the effects you enjoy, and that bring out the best in you musically. I absolutely love delay, from a subtle touch of it for ambience to Edge-style note cascades, so it has been great having a nice delay pedal to toy with again.

You might find that you grow tired of it, and do a whole pile of songs without it. And then end up coming back to it. I think it's best not to overthink yourself, and just play.

JoeyBones

I don't see anything wrong with using delay. I'm a delay junky, but I have to agree with Alan on practicing without delay or any effects. I learn a lot of our songs on Acoustic before I try them on Electric. This is more because I live in a townhouse complex, but it does pay off.

I've heard bad playing with and without delay and most muso's will pick it up either way.