For All Seasons // ‘Eternal King’ Electric Guitar Tutorial
“When we completed the writing process for Eternal King and listened through the first pass, we got so excited about sharing it with our community. And, as we’ve been able to lead the song over the last couple months, it has been incredible to watch how God’s people are unified in song and heart as they proclaim these truths about our all-powerful God. We knew it needed a spot on the new EP, as our intention behind the release is to encourage the Church to worship UNIFIED in spirit and truth.” – Emily Hamilton
LEAD GUITAR
Always On:
-JHS Superbolt- drive = 8, tone = 11, volume = 3.5
-Strymon Timeline- dTape, Dot8 (71bpm), mix = 10, repeats = 10
Intro/Turns:
On this part, I slide into and toggle two notes of triads. The slide is a featured aspect of the part. The key is to hold the deeper note of the triad as long as possible before switching to the next. When finished, let it ring out on the 6.
-Fulltone Full-Drive (CompCut/Standard)- Volume = 9, Tone = 10, Overdrive = 8, Boost = 10
-Strymon Big-Sky- Cloud- mix = 10.5, decay = 3.7sec
Verse 1:
Not playing much in the verse, just two timely swells. But, the room reverb has a nice dark/dense texture.
-Strymon Big-Sky- Room- mix = 2, decay = 6sec
Chorus:
For the first pre-chorus and chorus I am paying piano, but for the second chorus, I play a single note picking part that adds some movement to the slow changing chords. It also plays off the melody line a bit.
-Strymon Big Sky- Hall- mix = 12, decay = 1.9sec
Verse 2:
I slide out of the turn and then just pick single notes to add a little color and then build into the second chorus by landing on the 7.
-Strymon Big Sky- Hall- mix = 12, decay = 1.9sec
Bridge:
The first, quiet part of the bridge, I play single notes that allude to the “Ooos” melody. As the BGV “Ooos” come in, I change my reverb to the Hall setting and hit chord inversions with the drum punches.
-Strymon BigSky- Cloud- mix = 10.5, Decay = 3.7sec
Pre-Chorus 2:
Here I am playing quick arpeggios of inverted chords starting with the high E string and ending on the D string.
-no reverb, no delay
Down-Chorus:
I engage the cloud setting on the last hit of the pre-chorus and ring out a hearty E chord. When the band comes back in I create a new melody and add my Full-drive boost to make it pierce through. I disengage the boost when I go back to the normal chorus riff. This part’s fun!
-Strymon BigSky- Cloud- mix = 10.5, Decay = 3.7sec
RHYTHM GUITAR
Always On:
-Greer Amps Lightspeed Overdrive- drive = 3, tone = 2, volume = 12
-Strymon BigSky- Cloud- mix = 11, decay = 2.5sec, tone = 10
Intro/Turns:
I do a harmonic pick at the 12th fret on the B and E strings. Then I just strum big chords, super simple and effective.
-‘always on’ settings
Verse 1:
I add a 1/4 note delay on my Timeline. Short decay and not a very high mix. Just try to give it a little more depth since I’m just using two strings for the whole first verse. I also leave on my intro drive and reverb.
-Strymon Timeline- dTape, 1/4 note (142bpm), mix = 11, repeats = 10
Pre Chorus 1:
I do simple picking of the chords with the verse effects on. Nothing crazy.
-‘always on’ settings
Chorus:
I keep on the effects from the verse. I strum the chord and then hold the verb with the sustain feature on my BigSky so I can hold the thickness of the chord and switch to playing the melody. I do that for every chord in the progression. The key for me is to have a bright drive so that the melodic part pokes through the thick chords.
-Strymon Timeline- dTape, 1/4 note (142bpm), mix = 11, repeats = 10
Verse 2:
I throw on a pretty heavy 16th note delay with a semi long tail. Just long enough to carry into the next pluck. I’m doing a muted pluck on beats 1 and 3. The most important part for this is to play on time. If you get off time, it will really show. I also turn OFF my reverb for this verse.
-no reverb
-Strymon TImline- Digital Delay, 1/16th note (142bpm), mix = 3, repeats = 2
Bridge:
I pretty much drop out when the bridge comes. I play very minimal stuff right into the bridge. I am basically just picking on a high E chord. I throw on a little chorus to give it some width without having to play more. Then when the drums come in, I switch to a pretty heavy Plate setting on my reverb. And I hit the same hits as the drums. I am also using the sustain feature on my BigSky again, it is such an effective way to sustain big chords. I’d rather do this instead of strumming the chords again, it keeps my part from getting muddy and lost.
-Strymon Timeline- dTape, 1/4note (142bpm), mix = 11, repeats = 10
-Strymon BigSky- Plate, mix = 3, decay = 4sec, tone = 12
Pre Chorus 2:
I am just strumming octaves on this pre-chorus. I throw on my boost for it to pop more before the drop out.
-Strymon Timeline- dTape, 1/4note (142bpm), mix = 11, feedback = 10
-Strymon BigSky- Plate, mix = 3, decay = 4sec, tone = 12
Down-Chorus:
I usually do some tremolo strumming on the E string as my build up into the last chorus.
-‘always on’ settings