delay tricks

[Chris Chovit <cho@gomez.jpl.nasa.gov>]

I use a counting method with a guitar (could be any instrument, though) &
delay, which may be of interest, so I will try to communicate it here:

Set delay to repeat only one time (ie. feedback at minimum), with a delay
~700 - 1000 ms (any longer can be done but it gets tricky). For this
discussion I will use a 750 ms delay.

(To get the feel for the delay time, I usually start out strumming muted
strings, with quick, sharp strums).

Break the delay time into an integer number of beats -- lets say 3.  So,
for this case strum every 250 ms.  Now, play notes, instead of strum.  Play
a 4 note, repeating meoldy (ie. repeats every 1000 ms).  Let s say the
meoldy is DO RE ME FA.  So, if we write the pattern on a time scale we get
(you might need to stretch your window size to view this correctly):

TIME    0       250     500     750     1000    1250    1500    1750    
2000
BEATS   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9
PLAY    DO      RE      ME      FA      DO      RE      ME      FA      DO
DELAY                           DO      RE      ME      DO      RE

This creates an interesting harmonizing relationship between the performed
notes and the delays.  Now, play the notes of the melody on every 2nd beat
(ie. half as fast), so you get:

TIME    0       250     500     750     1000    1250    1500    1750    
2000
BEATS   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9
PLAY    DO              RE              ME              FA              DO
DELAY                           DO              RE              ME

This creates an interesting "dynamic" pattern between the performed notes
and the delay, like a question/answer type thing.

Many of you probably get these rhythms, without counting it out.  But
counting it out has helped me to get some more complicated rhythms, that I
wouldn't have been able to get otherwise.  To communicate the pattern, I
could use 3 numbers:

Number of beats per delay time
Number of beats between performed notes
Number of notes in (repeated) melody

So, for the first example, I would write it as (3, 1, 4).
For the second example, I would write it as (3, 2, 4).

It is the relationship of the first two numbers  that creates the rhythmic
quality.  The third number will just affect the harmonic relationships, not
the rhythmic relationships

I have really enjoyed trying some more complex rhythms:  (Let X = 1, for
starters, ie. just repeat one note, or strum)

(4, 5, X);  (5, 4, X);  (3, 5, X); (5, 3, X); (5, 2, X); (2, 5, X); (6, 5,
X);  (5, 6, X) ....etc.

Some of these are tricky to play.  It's easier with a sequencer and a delay
that you can "dial in" the exact delay time.  I just use a Jam Man though.
For the larger first numbers, I use longer delay times.  If the first
number is 8 and my delay time is 1600 ms, I might strum every 800ms, then
every 400 ms, then finally every 200 ms -- instead of trying to break 1600
ms up into 8 parts right off the bat.

I hope this wasn't too confusing.....(or too anal)!

- chris










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Chris Chovit
cho@gomez.jpl.nasa.gov
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