Music Minute Monday: The Basics Of Looping Pt. 1
When you see someone loop for the first time, it’s magical. They look like some mythical wizard with all kinds of special powers, known as “effects”. How does one person become a band in a box? LOTS OF FREAKING TIME AND PRACTICE, MY MUGGLE FRIEND! Looping isn’t for the faint of heart, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t attainable. You just have to make up your mind to be dedicated to what you’re trying to learn.
Step 1: DON’T BUY A LOOPER UNTIL YOU DO THIS…
I know it might seem trivial, but you need to develop limb independence first so that you can sync your loops properly. Can you walk and chew gum at the same time? If you can, congratulations! The rest of the world struggles with that skill, and yes, it IS a skill. Knowing where the beat is and how to find it will help you craft expertly timed loops. This is SO VERY IMPORTANT because if you don’t lock in the timing of your loops, they will get out of sync and you’ll get frustrated. Download a metronome app to your favorite device to practice tapping your toe and clapping your hands to the metronome.
Try this combo of beats:
Practice this combination at varying speeds. Slow, medium, fast, and faster.
Step 2: Buy a BASIC Looper
Yes, I know the bells and whistles are calling to you. However, Harry Potter didn’t start out with a Nimbus 2000, he learned on a basic model first. You need to develop solid rhythm skills, and a great working knowledge of how loopers typically function first.
The looper I used in this particular video is the “Ditto X4” by TC Helicon. It has two ACTUAL looping tracks, not four. There is an “all stop” or “kill switch” that will shut everything off, and an effects switch that has some basic functions that won’t trip you up too bad. (Don’t work with this feature until you get the looper down. Trust me.)
Step 3: Setting Up Your Looper
When setting your looper up, plug it in, and then run a quarter inch or instrument cable from your guitar into the “Mono Input”.
Then take another instrument cable, plug it into the “Mono Output” and then plug the other end into your amplifier or your PA system. Turn both of the loop channel volumes to twelve-o-clock. Now you can begin practicing.
Step 4: Percussive Sounds: **NOTE: Every guitar is different, so you will want to experiment and move things around as you try this out.
To get a “bass drum: sound - open your fingers (that don't hold the pick) and use the palm to lightly hit the strings over the sound hole. You shouldn’t need to use much force to get a low end sound out of the guitar.
To get the “snare drum” or “scratch” sound, your hand will also look similar to the picture above, but this time you’ll drag the pick across the strings, while simultaneously hitting the strings with your palm.
Practice the rhythm below before you try to loop it. Then once it is clean, try looping one measure, then two, then four. I don't suggest looping three measures because most songs use “four bar phrases”. Meaning there is usually a change of some kind that happens in four or eight bars.
As always, if you wan’t to learn more faster, the aid of a teacher is always helpful. I am happy to answer any questions you have. Simply reach out to us at info@musiconthemovestudios.com to ask for help!
Happy Looping!
