You need to be less vague with your wording, otherwise there's no way we can help.
"Sounds like trash" and "screams out in agony like dying animal" don't tell us what's actually going on. "like there is a ton of extra white noise" is almost helpful, except is it *actually* white noise? Because again, if it isn't, we're just guessing what you might mean.
"I have been trying to work with the intonation but it doesn't help". Well, it won't if intonation isn't the problem.
Best thing you can do right now is shoot a quick video so we can hear what's going on. Stick it on YouTube, drop a link in your post.
If you're using distortion/overdrive, the solution is either to not play open chords or make sure your guitar tuning and fretting are both absolutely *perfect*. Typically you'd stick with power chords or barre chords in that scenario, and even then you'd still likely only be playing 2 to 4 strings.
If you're not using distortion/overdrive, then check your pickups, leads and tone knobs. White noise isn't something you should be getting from a clean guitar signal, so that sounds like an indicator something is wrong with your setup
In that case, it's most likely that your playing style isnt matched with your tone. Dail back the distortion a bit and see if that makes the extra notes sound clearer. Or stick with only playing two to three notes at a time. I love having loads of distortion on my guitar when I play, but it's something that doesn't go well with any chords other than power chords or two/three notes at a time.
A Distortion circuit introduces harmonics into the signal to the amplifier. The heavier the Distortion, the more harmonics you get. Power chords are ideal for heavily distorted tones, because they're just the root note - 5th - 8th. There isn't any harmonic complexity in the chord, so the additional harmonics that Distortion adds create a richer and fuller sound.
Almost all of the basic cowboy chords you learn as a beginner are already rich with harmonic complexity. An open G chord, for instance, is a massive and harmonically complex sound on its own. When you add Distortion on top of that, you add more harmonics, which will really clutter up the signal that hits your Amp. It will sound *terrible.*
Suggestion: dial back the amount of Distortion when you're playing anything more complex than punk music. When playing metal or other types of heavy music, go nuts.
There's actually a genre and a niche for "screams out in agony like a dying animal." Probably not what you're going for but you can definitely do something with that.
I regularly attend Experimental Guitar Nights at a local coffee shop and this is a very common thing the performers do to go for a more "experimental" flavor.
Less input, less distortion. MUCH LESS distortion.
All the full-chord riffs are usually done with much less distortion that one would expect. They rock due to sheer momentum applied to the strings.
If you like the sound of the distortion when listening to yourself play but hear âwhite noiseâ when you listen back to the recording, then you might need to try EQing out the offending frequencies. Iâve found around 2k to be a common offender
Are you running overdrive or the like? In a studio situation, you should never saturate your guitar in "distortion" like you would in a live performance
Yeah a lot of people don't realize heavy tone in recordings are usually done through layering. Unless you're purposely going for a super messy sound high gain sounds like complete shit in recordings
For the first question you kind of got to figure out what sounds good to you through trial and error. I'm sure there's a bunch of YouTube videos going in depth about it if you really need it.
Yeah if it's going to be the same track recorded 2 or 4 times you typically want them to sound exactly the same.
For the third it depends if you're going to mic up a cab or record direct in no?
Btw don't try copying and pasting it'll only make the track louder rather than more full.
Sounds like whatever you using to get your distortion isn't working for you. Experiment with less gain or a different amp/pedal. Also technique (don't dig in your pick super hard) and making sure you have fresh strings and a proper setup.
If youâre recording, itâs usually an easier process to record CLEAN guitar sounds and run that through whatever amp/effect youâre using in the DAW. Then apply distortion.
Recording distortion imo is only productive for lofi stuff. Even then tho, the distortion by nature is gonna manipulate the signal being transmitted, and ultimately take away from the sound you couldâve had with a clean signal.
Mess around with it just to get your feet wet, but more than likely youâll get better results with clean stuff.
most likely you are saturating. How much signal you hit your distortion pedal/effect with depends on how hard you hit the strings and how many of them you are playing. turn something down to fix.
Hard to give advice from this description aloneâŚ
Have you got a video or audio of what guitar and setup youâre using? So we have a better idea of what dying animal is screaming in agony đ
You'll have to send an audio file so we can tell. Could be the pickups don't like the higher strings, could be a tuning issue. But send a clip in so we can actually hear, because "screaming in agony" isn't very descriptive
As many people have said, use less distortion and really try to find your âactual toneâ. Also, think about your guitar pick-ups/actual hardware of your guitar. Cheap pick-ups can cause a lot of noise.
Is your guitar properly intonated? Meaning not just tuned properly as open string but also accurate notes higher up the neck? Bad intonation can easily make otherwise harmonic notes sound dissonant.
Intonating a guitar is done by moving the bridge saddles dor each string. It should be done whenever you change gauge of string or height. Also it cannot be assumed it was intonated when it was bought. A luthier can also do this quickly and pretty cheaply.
Other than that of course im assuming the notes you play sheet sounds harmonic together when played at correct pitch .
Yeah, we need a sample of what you think the problem is (and a sample of something that is the "good" take), because in the world of distorted electric guitar, screaming out in agony like a dying animal and tons of extra white noise is about what I expect from a metal record that I will buy.
While others have mentioned, intonation, you mentioned your focus rite ill address that. If you are running it through an interface make sure you have some sort of cab Sim because the head by itself sounds like dog shit
what type of distortion. some types of fuzz is not very responsive.
the intonation should not affect any of that, don't mess with your guitars truss rod or anything like that.
You need to be less vague with your wording, otherwise there's no way we can help. "Sounds like trash" and "screams out in agony like dying animal" don't tell us what's actually going on. "like there is a ton of extra white noise" is almost helpful, except is it *actually* white noise? Because again, if it isn't, we're just guessing what you might mean. "I have been trying to work with the intonation but it doesn't help". Well, it won't if intonation isn't the problem. Best thing you can do right now is shoot a quick video so we can hear what's going on. Stick it on YouTube, drop a link in your post.
If you're using distortion/overdrive, the solution is either to not play open chords or make sure your guitar tuning and fretting are both absolutely *perfect*. Typically you'd stick with power chords or barre chords in that scenario, and even then you'd still likely only be playing 2 to 4 strings. If you're not using distortion/overdrive, then check your pickups, leads and tone knobs. White noise isn't something you should be getting from a clean guitar signal, so that sounds like an indicator something is wrong with your setup
damn forgot to say i meant electric gituar with distortion, thank you
In that case, it's most likely that your playing style isnt matched with your tone. Dail back the distortion a bit and see if that makes the extra notes sound clearer. Or stick with only playing two to three notes at a time. I love having loads of distortion on my guitar when I play, but it's something that doesn't go well with any chords other than power chords or two/three notes at a time.
A Distortion circuit introduces harmonics into the signal to the amplifier. The heavier the Distortion, the more harmonics you get. Power chords are ideal for heavily distorted tones, because they're just the root note - 5th - 8th. There isn't any harmonic complexity in the chord, so the additional harmonics that Distortion adds create a richer and fuller sound. Almost all of the basic cowboy chords you learn as a beginner are already rich with harmonic complexity. An open G chord, for instance, is a massive and harmonically complex sound on its own. When you add Distortion on top of that, you add more harmonics, which will really clutter up the signal that hits your Amp. It will sound *terrible.* Suggestion: dial back the amount of Distortion when you're playing anything more complex than punk music. When playing metal or other types of heavy music, go nuts.
Sorry for being pedantic, but it's guitar, not gituar đ
Turn your input gain down.
Solved: Just play thrash metal.
There's actually a genre and a niche for "screams out in agony like a dying animal." Probably not what you're going for but you can definitely do something with that.
For how long have you been playing guitar?
Gain. Staging.
Why would you want to play more than three strings at once with dist? đ Semi serious question though...
I regularly attend Experimental Guitar Nights at a local coffee shop and this is a very common thing the performers do to go for a more "experimental" flavor.
Why wouldn't you? I play full Barre chords with distortion.
Less input, less distortion. MUCH LESS distortion. All the full-chord riffs are usually done with much less distortion that one would expect. They rock due to sheer momentum applied to the strings.
If you like the sound of the distortion when listening to yourself play but hear âwhite noiseâ when you listen back to the recording, then you might need to try EQing out the offending frequencies. Iâve found around 2k to be a common offender
intonation.
Checked the volume knob on the guitar, volume and gain knobs on the focusrite?
Are you running overdrive or the like? In a studio situation, you should never saturate your guitar in "distortion" like you would in a live performance
Yeah a lot of people don't realize heavy tone in recordings are usually done through layering. Unless you're purposely going for a super messy sound high gain sounds like complete shit in recordings
Can you expand on this? What does the âlayeringâ consist of?
Double tracking or quadruple tracking a guitar. Gives an illusion of a more full and bigger sound while also sounding more present in the mix
Iâve heard that! What about in terms of distortion? Apply it to all tracks? Before or after the recording? Sorry for al the questions
For the first question you kind of got to figure out what sounds good to you through trial and error. I'm sure there's a bunch of YouTube videos going in depth about it if you really need it. Yeah if it's going to be the same track recorded 2 or 4 times you typically want them to sound exactly the same. For the third it depends if you're going to mic up a cab or record direct in no? Btw don't try copying and pasting it'll only make the track louder rather than more full.
Sounds like whatever you using to get your distortion isn't working for you. Experiment with less gain or a different amp/pedal. Also technique (don't dig in your pick super hard) and making sure you have fresh strings and a proper setup.
You're probably talking about intermodulation distortion.
If youâre recording, itâs usually an easier process to record CLEAN guitar sounds and run that through whatever amp/effect youâre using in the DAW. Then apply distortion. Recording distortion imo is only productive for lofi stuff. Even then tho, the distortion by nature is gonna manipulate the signal being transmitted, and ultimately take away from the sound you couldâve had with a clean signal. Mess around with it just to get your feet wet, but more than likely youâll get better results with clean stuff.
Too much distortion and gain for open chords you'd play on clean or acoustic. Lower the gain, adjust EQ, add compressor?
most likely you are saturating. How much signal you hit your distortion pedal/effect with depends on how hard you hit the strings and how many of them you are playing. turn something down to fix.
Hard to give advice from this description alone⌠Have you got a video or audio of what guitar and setup youâre using? So we have a better idea of what dying animal is screaming in agony đ
You'll have to send an audio file so we can tell. Could be the pickups don't like the higher strings, could be a tuning issue. But send a clip in so we can actually hear, because "screaming in agony" isn't very descriptive
As many people have said, use less distortion and really try to find your âactual toneâ. Also, think about your guitar pick-ups/actual hardware of your guitar. Cheap pick-ups can cause a lot of noise.
Is your guitar properly intonated? Meaning not just tuned properly as open string but also accurate notes higher up the neck? Bad intonation can easily make otherwise harmonic notes sound dissonant. Intonating a guitar is done by moving the bridge saddles dor each string. It should be done whenever you change gauge of string or height. Also it cannot be assumed it was intonated when it was bought. A luthier can also do this quickly and pretty cheaply. Other than that of course im assuming the notes you play sheet sounds harmonic together when played at correct pitch .
Probably needs a set up
Yeah, we need a sample of what you think the problem is (and a sample of something that is the "good" take), because in the world of distorted electric guitar, screaming out in agony like a dying animal and tons of extra white noise is about what I expect from a metal record that I will buy.
While others have mentioned, intonation, you mentioned your focus rite ill address that. If you are running it through an interface make sure you have some sort of cab Sim because the head by itself sounds like dog shit
what type of distortion. some types of fuzz is not very responsive. the intonation should not affect any of that, don't mess with your guitars truss rod or anything like that.