How to get started
with guitar synths as an acoustic guitarist in 2024
What sounds can you play on your acoustic guitar?
Have you been playing acoustic guitar for a while and are looking to expand your sound? You might consider using a pickup system with an amp and effects like reverb, delay, and chorus. However, these options can feel limited. This is where guitar synthesizers and MIDI technology come in, opening up a universe of sound possibilities for your guitar playing. The challenge is finding a music store with the latest guitar synths and knowledgeable staff to help you get started.
In this article, I’ll guide you through today’s guitar synth landscape.
Why Go Through the Trouble?
Let me share my journey: I started using guitar synths in 1994, inspired by the vocal/guitar duo „Tuck & Patty.“ I formed a duo with a blues singer and, as a trained classical fingerstyle player, found my Gibson ES 335 limiting. The Roland GR-01 guitar synth and the new Godin Multiac with an inbuilt MIDI pickup changed everything. I traveled hundreds of miles to buy this setup, which transformed my musical life.
With this new gear, I could play a Hammond organ with a sustain pedal while soloing on guitar, double my bass strings with a fretless bass sound, and mix guitar with electric piano or vibraphone sounds. These capabilities allowed me to create unique live and studio performances. My first duo CD, „To Be Two,“ released in 2000, showcased these new sounds.
Seeing the benefits, let’s start our journey into the world of guitar synths.
The Software Approach
If you have an acoustic guitar with a pickup, an audio interface, and a computer, you can easily try MIDI technology. Connect these devices and install a free demo of „MIDI Guitar 2/3“ by Jamorigin
After selecting the guitar input in „Preferences,“ adjust the guitar gain and low velocity threshold. The app includes pre-installed sounds like acoustic piano, electric piano, and organ. If you have virtual instruments and audio plugins, perform a plugin scan to use those as well. You can also use „MIDI Guitar 2“ with Apple’s GarageBand or MainStage for thousands of sounds. For sustaining sounds, set a sustain time in the app, buy a USB MIDI input, or use a sustain pedal from a USB MIDI keyboard.
If you enjoy „MIDI Guitar 2,“ consider purchasing a license to make it the centerpiece of your MIDI guitar setup. Watch my video on the beta version of MIDI Guitar 3 here: YouTube Link.
The Hardware Approach
I still use my Godin Multiac, among other MIDI-equipped guitars. Check out the Godin portfolio of MIDI-ready guitars: Godin Guitars.
The latest addition to the Roland/BOSS guitar synth line is the BOSS GM-800: BOSS GM-800. This advanced synth offers excellent tracking and a vast array of sounds, expandable with Roland Cloud. It features an editor app for easy sound and library management. Note that BOSS’s new pickup technology requires the separate BOSS GKC-AD adapter for use with Godin guitars. It’s a worthwhile investment, and I’ve made a five-part YouTube series on „10 Great Uses for the BOSS GM-800“: YouTube Link.
No matter which approach to MIDI Guitar you choose, you’ll unlock a new world of sounds for every acoustic (and electric) guitarist to explore for years to come!
“Man ! Great playing, taste and feel wow ! Congrats ! Serious musician and player here, talent comes before the synth ! And your playing this synth is awesome !”
@anneonym7346via MIDI Guitarist Youtube Channel
