Clean power chords

  • Thread starter Thread starter lopie
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lopie

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i have pod pro and am trying to record direct - i need power chords(slight distortion ) but with control - wild but tame
is this done by hitting just a couple of strings (not so hard) or do you have to hit them all
or is it in the pod settings

mostly all i can get is a bit muddy
 
I'm not quite sure what you mean. The definition of a power chord is only 2 (or 3 depending who you talk to) notes anyway, so you would never be playing ALL the strings.

Is this what you mean?
 
Lopie, you're speaking Greek to me. You're talking about how to get something out of the POD, but you don't even know what it is. What you need first is a lead guitarist who knows how to play power chords. The POD is the least of your problems.-Richie
 
power chords

I think lopie might be refering to open chords like Gmajor, Emajor... where open strings are used. I don't own a pod but have a Boss multifx with sims. And I would find factory preset that is close to what I'm looking for and tweak from there. Or find an amp sim on your pod. Start your eq settings at 50 percent. And work with your gain and master volumes for the punch you want and how clean you want. Low gain with a higher master volume gives me a fat clean sound. Bringing up the gain level will bring more "edge" into the sound. Tweak with your eq. Adding some stereo chorus or double tracking can fatten up those clean open notes also. You don't need a guitar player. Just take the time to mess with your tone and you'll be fine. In the end, it's about what sounds good to you. Good luck. Pj
 
If he's talking about open chords they are most certaintly NOT power chords. Power chords are in fact only 2 notes, however, they are commonly confused with 5th chords.

Power chords are commonly used in punk and hardcore music, so assuming you want this sort of guitar tone you'll be wanting to boost the treble and bass and cut the mid's. Set the gain to about half wayish, perhaps more, perhaps less, and you'll want to be using a guitar with high-gain pickups, like a les paul or SG.

Could you give us any examples as to what kind of guitar tone you are looking for?
 
Heavy and distorted guitars are often recorded with minimal gain to avoid muddiness, so in your case of only slightly distorted power chords a low gain is essential.

Also, distortion is controlled mostly by the muting of the strings by the palm of the picking hand. Try different degrees of palm muting to get a tighter and more focused sound.
 
Simply Just Dont Use A Pod To Record. Its Simple, Use A Semi Decent Amp And Get 50 Times The Quality If The Eq Is Right On The Amp.
 
Actually a POD will sound just as good or better than an amp if you're not a dumbass like EXKTRONICOCK so step one would probably be:

1. don't listen to exktronicock
 
*Whistle Blow*

Unsportsmanlike conduct. 15 minute penalty to the Seifer.
 
I'll split the difference here. I use a variety of amp modelers here, including POD Pro 2.0. VAMP-2, and Bass VAMP Pro. While they aren't the same as an amp, they are very useful tools. However, I tend to jack them into a power amp, then to a cab, then mic them. The only real DI stuff I do is the bass into Avalon AD2022, which rocks every whichway from Sunday.-Richie
 
i can't believe all the responses

thanks
note -before i say what kind of sound i want i'll qualify myself as raised on hendrex and think jimmy page was increadible-now its time for you to laugh at me because the sound i want will have the "wild tame sound of crimson and clover" (ok now you can laugh)
and the cord will be "open" c or whatever chord can hit the hardest (suggestions)
I have written the most powerful song ever written and it need to open with two full slow hits that will roll over everything in it path " like the big bolder in indiana jones" then the song will take turns with being able to hear a pin drop in parts - and then the proud guitar (power) chords with haunting melody that will make you cry
I hope this helps in defining what i'm looking for

Ps: i also know i'm the worlds greatest guitar player -but then again so is everyone else when they find that groove they understand (note i'm also the worst guitar player in the world)
 
Neil Ogilvie said:
Power chords are in fact only 2 notes, however, they are commonly confused with 5th chords.

Power chords are commonly used in punk and hardcore music, so assuming you want this sort of guitar tone you'll be wanting to boost the treble and bass and cut the mid's. Set the gain to about half wayish, perhaps more, perhaps less, and you'll want to be using a guitar with high-gain pickups, like a les paul or SG.

Could you give us any examples as to what kind of guitar tone you are looking for?

Whats the difference between a 5th Chord and a Power Chord?

A Power Chord is made up of a root and a 5th...a 5th chord?

anyways....Try this, use less distortion then you think you need and layer the part with Warm sounding setting (tube amp) and a brighter setting (solid state or lead) playing the same thing. If thats not enough "power" then add a layer an octave down.

just keep screwing around and it will eventually work
 
It seems to me that your problem isn't what chords to play or how to play them but a matter of getting the right distortion blend and having it come through your recording cinvincingly. The POD is great but maybe you need to get some other type of effect in front of it and just use it cabinet emulators to create the right ambience. Is there a guitarist that has the sound that you are looking for? You mentioned Page and Hendrix.
 
ecktronic said:
Simply Just Dont Use A Pod To Record. Its Simple, Use A Semi Decent Amp And Get 50 Times The Quality If The Eq Is Right On The Amp.


So what you're saying is...it's simple?
 
lopie said:
thanks
note -before i say what kind of sound i want i'll qualify myself as raised on hendrex and think jimmy page was increadible-now its time for you to laugh at me because the sound i want will have the "wild tame sound of crimson and clover" (ok now you can laugh)
and the cord will be "open" c or whatever chord can hit the hardest (suggestions)
I have written the most powerful song ever written and it need to open with two full slow hits that will roll over everything in it path " like the big bolder in indiana jones" then the song will take turns with being able to hear a pin drop in parts - and then the proud guitar (power) chords with haunting melody that will make you cry
I hope this helps in defining what i'm looking for

Ps: i also know i'm the worlds greatest guitar player -but then again so is everyone else when they find that groove they understand (note i'm also the worst guitar player in the world)


Please be sure to post your "most powerful song ever" in the MP3 clinic when you've finished it.
 
will do

but i can't claim total owership because of the contribution of all the great mind in this forum
 
VanAmp said:
Whats the difference between a 5th Chord and a Power Chord?

A Power Chord is made up of a root and a 5th...a 5th chord?

anyways....Try this, use less distortion then you think you need and layer the part with Warm sounding setting (tube amp) and a brighter setting (solid state or lead) playing the same thing. If thats not enough "power" then add a layer an octave down.

just keep screwing around and it will eventually work

I was always told by my old guitar teacher a 5th chord would be 3 notes, ie, for A, A, E and A. A power chord would be only the A and the E. This then leads to messing around with power chords like and E and an Aflat for a song in A...... I'm not so great with theory but I have an idea of how it works.

This 'most powerful song ever' sounds interesting. On a scale of cool to KOOL, how much will it blow us away?
 
Yes, technically a open chord is NOT a power chord. But a nicely mixed open G,E,A,D can be termed or referred to as a power chord by the way it is strummed or inserted into a song. Lopie I think is looking for a tone/settings resolution to his problem not the 3 fingered bar chord. Pj
 
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