need wammy bar help

[noiz anomaly]

hi
I read Eric V's article on wammy bars and thought it was pretty cool. I am having a BIG problem with the tecnique where you depress the bar, then pick the note and release the bar....and tips on this? another thing is, I am finding it very akward to play and hols the bar at the same time....how should I be controlling the bar?

[DemonSorcerer]

another thing is, I am finding it very akward to play and hold the bar at the same time....how should I be controlling the bar?

Try to adjust the tension of the tremolo bar to a tight kind of feel, and if you can't play while holding it between your fingers, just keep it tight enough to hold it in a place near your right (or picking) hand...what kind of bridge do you have on your guitar?? (if you have an Ibanez tremolo, it shouldn't be a problem setting the arm torque to a tight feel)

David

[noiz anomaly]

yeah it's an ibanez tremolo on a prestigue rg 2570ex.
what fingers am I supposed to be using t hold the bar?

[DemonSorcerer]

That's very personal...i manipulate the bar with my ring and pinkie...for additional info, you should check some Vai videos...he surely can play while holding his tremolo arm!!

David

[Los Boleros]

hi
I read Eric V's article on wammy bars and thought it was pretty cool. I am having a BIG problem with the tecnique where you depress the bar, then pick the note and release the bar....and tips on this? another thing is, I am finding it very akward to play and hols the bar at the same time....how should I be controlling the bar?I have developed a technique for this without picking the note.

Wammy down.
Hammer-on note with left hand.
Use other fingers from left hand to mute all other strings.
wammy up.

[EricV]

Yes, what Los Boleros describes there is a very common way of executing the "dips". If you want to pick the notes though, you might need to work on holding the bar while picking.
If you have ever seen Michael Lee Firkins play ( i.e. in his old instructional video ) you will see that he constantly holds the bar with his pinkie. He constantly used the bar, simulating a slide sound ( I really thought he was playing slide when I heard his debut, very interesting approach... )
And he always held ( and pushed or pulled ) the bar with that index finger
Eric

[noiz anomaly]

is this tecnique supposed to be this difficult? some players make it look so easy. I can honestly say I haven't really 'practiced' it so much as I have just messed around with it. Did you need to practice it Eric?