ALL THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO OR WITH A NOTE

In the Guitar Addiction group we have a problem with lists, people just love lists: who’s the best shredder, best amp, what’s your favourite pedal?  And the lists go on…

So in the spirit of this group pastime I’m going to list all the things I can think of that we can do with or to a note.

1. Play it through a wooden chamber with strings on it (acoustic guitar).

2. Play it through a magnetic pickup through a wire and into an amplifier.

3. Slide into it from below.

4. Slide into it from above.

5. Bend up to it.

6. Pre-bend and lower down to.

7. Whammy bar from below or above.

8. Play it in different octaves.

9. Play it in different positions and string to change timbre.

10. Play it over repetitively in rhythms.

11. Put time based effects on it via delay, reverb, chorus, phaser, etc…

12. Distort it via tubes or pedal.

13. Hammer onto it.

14. Pull off to it.

15. Turn it into MIDI information via a guitar synth or software.

16. Harmonise it in 3rds, 5ths, 6ths or other dissonant tones.

17. Play it legato or picked or with device like EBow.

18. Swell it in via volume.

19. Mix it with other instruments to create cool texture.

20. Record or sample it and change the waveform and pitch.

21. Vibrato it wide or short with hand, bar or effects.

22. Use it to lead into chords not in the same key as a guide tone.

23. Use it to tune instruments ( A-440).

24. Split it and run it out of phase.

25. Send it through a transmitter wirelessly.

26. Intermittently cut and lengthen to make a code (Morse code).

27. Use it to make people poo themselves (brown noise).

28. Use it to make kids stop hanging around in front of your house or shop (Teen Repellent Frequency).

29. Call a dog or stop a footy match (Whistle).

30. Start a software program with a note and copyright it (good luck with that though, Microsoft did it with a chord, I believe).

31. Notify other road users of your presence (horn).

32. Intermittently sound it when someone is trying to contact you (ring-ring).

33. Play it on the hour, every hour (like Big Ben) or have it tell you when your eggs are boiled (timer).