This one’s a labor of love: Premier Guitar just published my live looping lesson. Included are most of the hard-won looping techniques I’ve acquired over the last few years. I crashed and burned 100 times onstage so you don’t have to! 😉
The 20 audio clips embedded in the article were trickier than usual to prepare. Ordinarily when I record music mag demos, it’s simply a matter of plugging in a guitar, amp, or pedal and noodling around while trying to make it sound good. But here I had to demonstrate techniques that unfold over time, which is harder than it sounds, at least for me. But I’m reasonably satisfied with how they turned out.
My emphasis throughout is going beyond looping cliches and defying listener expectations. That too is difficult — by definition, loops are predictable! But I’ve been racking my brain for years, trying to come up with ways to bust out of the usual patterns. Most of my ideas appear here. Hope you find them useful!
15 replies on “The Live Looping Lesson”
Simply the most comprehensive writing on the subject I’ve come across. This one’ll require a few re-reads to absorb it all. Excellent work!
Oh, you’re just saying that ’cause we’re friends! 😉
I look forward to spending some time with this!
Thanks, Matthew! Hope you find it helpful! 🙂
You set high standards at PG, nobody expects nothing less from you now. I truly enjoyed your clips. Thanks
Looking forward to vacation time to really dig in with the lesson–I’ve been meaning to really work on my looping technique and application.
That is one nice rig for looping , it might help just a little you think ? I don’t see the sidecar , I thought you had one ?
I meant the pedal controller dohicky thing?
It’s the box on the right that looks like a second Boomerang. Same enclosure.
The one you don’t have the volume /expression pedal Wholly Roller. Always on here in the very early A.M. while I am trying to absorb my first cup of coffee , I am not morning peoples even if I do get up before 7am!
Great article. Can’t wait to buy a looper pedal and put the examples in practice.
Thanks, Roberto! I hope you find it useful. 🙂
Joe,
I’m a retired educator & musician. These days, I mostly play for fun and personal satisfaction, rather than trying to impress the ladies (except for my sweetheart). I’ve been fascinated by the guitar since I first heard Bill Haley and Buddy Holly (around 1957)
I’ve been reading your articles in various music mags for some time, and I’ve always enjoyed them, and learned something useful. I just discovered your blog a couple of days ago, and I’ve been reading the entries and listening to the video clips avidly. What a treasure trove of interesting data, inspiring ideas, and freaky fun! Thanks for sharing part of yourself with us, Joe. Keep on making music and letting us look in on your discoveries and adventures!
Peace and blessings!
Are you using flatwound strings on the loops samples? I really like the basic guitar tone. Great looping advice too!
Hey Joe,
How do you switch tones and stop/start new loops so quickly? Having done the loop thing with only a few tones, I am always impressed by how organic you can make it sound.