My acoustic loves me... my electric not so much

Wolfmother is pretty easy to play. Get the tab for White Unicorn and go from there.

Jim

I've written a few times on the difference in playing style between acoustic and electric. They can be played exactly the same way, but generally they aren't. As everyone here has pointed out, you generally play on less strings with electric. It helps to break full 6 string chords down into smaller partial chords on 2, 3, or 4 strings.

In the ESD I posted the old Elton John hit, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting). This song is an excellent example of what everyone is talking about. All of the chords are broken down to 2 or 3 strings, primarily on the high E, B, and G strings. There are multiple guitars on the recording, another electric is probably playing the low end of the chords on the 6th and 5th strings, but mostly the bass is carrying the low end. You have to consider that you will be playing with a bass player when you practice electric. Lots of players try to get this super hyper low bass tone when it is really the bass guitar they are hearing, the electric is playing higher tones.

Here is the tab for Saturday Night's Alright, but there is a clip you can listen to to play along. But it will give you a good idea of how differently electric is generally played.

http://forums.guitarnoise.com/viewtopic.php?t=29964

And as others said, you have to control bad sounds with electric. You usually don't strum with wide action. Keep your picking motion small and precise. Completely relax when you play and practice striking just the strings you want to sound. But you also need to practice controlling bad sounds by muting with your picking or fretting hand. It takes a little practice, but after awhile it becomes very easy and you don't even think about it when you play.

But keep your picking motion small and relaxed. Learn to completely relax and play with a light touch. Your amp will make all the volume, you don't have to coax it out like an acoustic. :D

Man, I nearly missed your post Wes. I hadnt been checking since maybe Rahuls post so the last few slipped by me. I love, or atleast really like, Elton John so I have been having some fun with your excercise a bit today. Never realized how much different electric and acoustic is. I am thinking I need to get back into lessons, or atleast a jam, and practice this electric stuff.

Thanks for the excellent lesson on Saturday Nights Alright

Jim