Non-slide resonator technique?

[lawastooshort]

I’ve just bought an MM Blues 28. It’s excellent.

I want to learn slide, but at the moment I am learning jazz as well as some not-slide blues, and don’t want to spread myself so much I don’t make any progress anywhere. So at the moment I am just fingerpicking blues on it in standard or drop d tuning (as an example of type and skill level, I’ve just been learning M&O blues).

Are there any general differences in technique between a normal acoustic and a resonator that I should know?

Anything I should think about to get the best out of it?

Many thanks for any advice,
Ryan

[Michael Messer]

Hi Ryan,

I am pleased that you are happy with your new guitar

Regarding technique and tone; in some ways, especially the tonal colours, a National-style resonator guitar is closer to an electric, than an acoustic guitar. You don't have to play it hard to make it loud and you have a lot of variations in tone depending where you strum or pick it. You should experiment with fingerpicks. Many resonator players use them for volume, clarity of notes, and for their tone.

Never take all the strings off, unless you are doing a repair to the guitar. Just change them one at a time and tune it to pitch before you loosen the next one. Every time the tension comes off the cone it has to re-bed itself in.

I hope that is helpful

Shine On
Michael

[blueshome]

I have found that the most important aspect of playing a reso as opposed to a wood guitar is the use of damping the strings to control the tone and to stop the separate sounds being overwhelmed by the sustain and to give control over the dynamics. You can of course use this sustain to your advantage, listen to how Blind boy Fuller or Bo Carter did this with his Nationals by adapting his technique.
The usual tricks of picking near to the bridge for more attack also apply but are magnified. If you spend time just messing around with the guitar playing something you are familiar with, you will find the different sounds available. Let your ears find the solutions. Enjoy yourself.

[lexluthier]

Hi! I have to absolutely agree with what Blueshome said.
As a relative beginner to resonators (about 2 years) I've found the damping technique for BOTH hands to be a hugely important part of playing these instruments.
Using damping not only helps with what Blueshome describes but can also help develop a percussive aspect to your playing that is something beyond what's achievable on a wooden acoustic (IMO!)

Chris