Natural' Distortion & Multiphonics
With
Zach BrockZach Brock shows how to get distortion and multiphonic sounds from an acoustic violin - no pedals or effects - using bow placement and lifting the finger off the fingerboard.
What's in the course
24 lessons (2h 35m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Exploring Acoustic Violin Techniques
So, I'm going to turn my pickup and my pedals off completely. This way, you're only hearing the acoustic violin.
Harnessing Incorrect Playing
Another thing that you can do to harness the power of incorrect playing is:
- Imitating multiphonics and distortion, which are typically created by overdrive and distortion pedals.
I'm doing this with a combination of a couple of different techniques:
- Sometimes, I'm letting my finger off the fingerboard to achieve those multiphonic harmonic sounds.
- I'm also doing this in conjunction with my playing technique on the sound point.
Different Sound Techniques
You're probably familiar with the different sounds that can be achieved by playing:
- Sultasto: Playing closer to the bridge for a brighter sound.
- Ponticello: Producing sounds by playing very close to or on the bridge, which can create its own multiphonic.
By combining these two techniques, you can have fun exploring the unique sounds of your violin!
24 lessons
2h 35m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Heralded as "the pre-eminent improvising violinist of his generation," Zach Brock is a violinist and composer whose music draws on the traditions of jazz, classical, world and popular music.
Zach received his first Grammy Award in 2017 for his work on Snarky Puppy's album Culcha Vulcha. His acclaim as a bandleader has grown through appearances at venues such as Carnegie Hall and festivals like "Tudo e Jazz" in Brazil, while his reputation as a sideman has spread through his work with legendary bassist Stanley Clarke, contemporary instrumental super-group Snarky Puppy, and jazz masters Phil Markowitz and Dave Liebman.
Zach has made ten recordings as a leader or co-leader and is the first violinist to record for the venerable Dutch jazz label Criss Cross. He has also represented the U.S. Department of State as a Musical Ambassador in the Solomon Islands, performed as a featured soloist for two Sundance Festival feature film scores, and is currently an Artist In Residence at Temple University in Philadelphia.
In his course you will learn to improvise on the violin straight from the source: how Zach approaches melody, rhythm and harmony, and how to start finding your own voice the way he has alongside Snarky Puppy and beyond.
