If i were a music major doing a thesis...

erik · Posted 7 Apr 2002 9:52 am

I would do a study on the effect of twang on selected listeners. What makes them love or hate it; the social, ethnic, and economic breakdown of the results; the need and hunger for it; the addiction to it, etc. It is certainly more interesting than yet another sex study.

Dave Birkett · From: Oxnard, CA, USA

A chacun ses gouts. In all seriousness, one would have to define twang. For the purpose of argument, let's call it the sound of a plucked string that is clean (not distorted) and bright (the treble accentuated, the bass diminished). Also the pitch goes sharp and then flattens to it's intended note (you can see this with an electronic tuner when a string is plucked). One aspect that may be noted is that twang is more popular in music of the lower geographic half of the U.S. where it can be said that twang is part of the dialect. In Southern and Southwestern speech, the dipthongs are more pronounced (longer) than in the North, and there are even tripthongs. This correlates with the sharpening and flattening of the pitch of a plucked string. There is also a temporal factor: I, for example, first heard popular music in the 1950s when twang was emphasized in the guitar and steel sound, and I prefer it. Folks of later generations probably prefer the smoother sound of controlled distortion.

[This message was edited by Dave Birkett on 07 April 2002 at 12:14 PM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

There's all kinds of "twang". It started in the country field with guys like Hardrock Gunter, Jimmy Bryant, Luther Perkins...even Chet Atkins (ever heard his original recording of "High Rockin' Swing"?) It started in rock with guys like Chuck Berry, Duane Eddy, and Lonnie Mack. There's different kinds of twang, each suited to it's genre of music. Playing a different sound on an instrument isn't limited to the guitar. There's a name for that "scratchy" style of fiddle music (the name of which escapes me, for the moment) popularized by guys like Chubby Wise and Buddy Spicher. And then again, there's a smoother sound, popularized by guys like Tommy Jackson. Each style is different, but accepted in the right form of music.

In every area of the arts, there are both progressives, and purists. There are always different approaches in the same medium. In days gone by, there were the completely differing styles on steel by guys like Brumley, Chalker, Emmons, Green, Kleinow, Tharpe, Myrick, Rugg, and Jernigan. But today, the field of "acceptable tones" and styles is far narrower. For the most part, "twang" on the steel is passe, while the "fat and full" sounds are in.

And, as in most areas, the only certain thing...is change. Differing sounds, be they fat or twangy, are still needed, if for no other reason than to offer some variety to the listener.

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

Good ?
My nephew Darrell,after graduating landed the Job at Elmo Arving and currenting with Dan Huff. I know it's a positive for him, others may disagree.
Music should be positive and ever growing in any field!
Theresa

[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 08 April 2002 at 01:06 PM.]

erik · Posted 8 Apr 2002 4:12 pm

Theresa, what in the world are you talking about???

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

erik,
I think your question is asked to music majors today in college.
Theresa

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Theresa, I think you need more words in your sentences, when you wrote currenting, did you mean 'currently with'.. I'm sorry but I'm a little confused as well.

I'm assuing that your nephew Darrell was a music major, and did a thesis or have I mis-interpretted. I don't mean to sound rude, but I can't seem to quite work out what he's done and what his current job may be.

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

erik & Jason,
Yes, I meant currently He is working with Dan Huff pitching songs to different artist. Sorry, this probably didn't have anything to do with your topic. Other than writing a thesis on twang while in college.
Nevermind

Theresa

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 09 April 2002 at 12:40 PM.]

Michael Holland · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

erik · Posted 9 Apr 2002 2:02 pm

Dave, thanks for your analysis, it is very scholarly in composition. Uh, Oxnard, eh?

Yes, the reason i posted this is because i have been twanging my Strat lately coming up with ideas for tunes. Also, i have a friend who has been struggling with her college thesis(already past due). So i had thesis on my mind. Thanks for everyone's input.

Bill C. Buntin · From: Cleburne TX

We talked for nearly a semester about this when I was a music major at UNT. Course then it was North Tx. State Univ. But once music appreciation is "appreciated" then the students were challenged to understand and interpret many "Styles". I too can't define Twang. Twang is "Slang". Growing up in TX has likely given me a distorted view of twang. Some folks confuse "Hard Country" and "twang". Where for my own self, "Twang" is kind of "Crappy Country" unlike some "Hard Country" to me is beautiful music. Ex. Gary Stewart. Allthough simple and generally considered to be "Twang", It truly is "Hard Country". Of course this is all just "MY" Opinion.

erik · Posted 11 Apr 2002 1:43 pm

Bill,
To me twang is what Dave wrote, which was a definition of the actual factors involved to create the sound. I don't care whether it's clean or overdriven. Either works for me. What exactly do you mean by "crappy country". Are you talking about style or quality of playing?

Bill C. Buntin · From: Cleburne TX

I said "Crappy Country" for lack of a better description of what "I think" most people think of when they say the word "Twang" in reference to country music. I mean "Twang" is slang in this part of the world and I think people mean to say that "Twang" is a word to describe overbent and overresolved music in general. Country music is simple which in my opinion is why folks listen to it. It is easy to listen to. Easy to follow and usually tells a story or has a theme. It requires no music education to appreciate it. I think the word twang is what overly sensitive self acclaimed music scholars invented to describe their dislikes of simple country tunes with simple country changes. ME, I love all music, as long as it IS music. I find no melody in some so called music. But generally Pop, Jazz, Country, Blues and what is generally labeled as such, I find melodies and good listening. That is MUSIC to me. Call it Twang if its' country. Doesn't matter. If it has a definite melody, I can find something good about it.

Over-bending to create that sound "Twangy" sound is really what I meant by "Crappy Country". I mean, I've played with one band in one place say on Fri. night and played say, "Your Cheatin' Heart" and because of the calibre of pickers, it was "Twangy". Then had a different job the next night with some different pickers and "Your Cheatin" Heart" was a swingy, big band, jazzy number. So I guess I meant "Quality of" and "Interpretations of" Players can make the music twang or not. This is all a humble opinion because I don't claim to be an authority. Best Regards. Great Topic.

[This message was edited by Bill C. Buntin on 19 April 2002 at 08:35 PM.]

Steven Welborn · From: Ojai,CA USA

If twangy guitars were around earlier in history, perhaps some of the classical baroque and romantic composers would've made good use of a "twangy guitar section". More than likely Ludwig would've rather kicked off the 5th with some nice clear twange instead of those dull, muddy viola sections.Probably would've cheered him up some too.

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