Dynamics--The "Secret Weapon"

Have you ever been playing a song, or working a new one up and wondered, "why does this song sound so lifeless and monotone?  What's missing?"

Most often, I believe that what is missing is a good sense of dynamics in one's playing.  "Dynamics" refers to how loud or soft you are playing, and/or how aggressively or softly you are strumming.

An important thing to remember is that music is like a river or body of water--it ebbs and flows, has softer parts and louder parts, and has twists and turns--all of which can be accentuated and reinforced with good dynamic playing.

So how do you start playing your guitar more dynamically?  Well, the first step is just to remember and be aware that you have this "tool" in your arsenal, and to be aware that even within a song, there are some sections that might call for softer playing (i.e. the verses), and some that might require more aggressive dynamics (i.e. the chorus).

Secondly, before you play a song, really stop and think about how you want to approach it dynamically.  Maybe it's the type of song that starts out softly, and builds to a massive climax (think Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven").  Or maybe the song calls for softer verses and a harder-edged chorus (think Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit").

Or maybe it's a soft ballad that you might want to finger-pick throughout the entire song.

One great exercise to hear and work on the dynamic range of your guitar is simply to pick your favorite chords, and start out by strumming as softly as you can.  Then gradually, increase the intensity of your strumming and strike the strings as hard as you can.  Finally, start backing off the intensity again until you are back at a quiet level.

This exercise will show you the stunning dynamic range of the guitar, and help you think about how you might use dynamics in the future as a tool to make your playing more vibrant and expressive.

I demonstrate this exercise in the video below--so check it out, and Happy Pickin'!

VIDEO--DYNAMICS ON THE GUITAR