The or '''ebow''' (. Instead of having the strings hit by the fingers or a Pick , they are moved by the electromagnetic field created by the device, producing a sound reminiscent of using a Bow On The Strings . Some sound clips are available on the official EBow site here .
The EBow is used to produce a variety of sounds not usually playable on an electric guitar. By varying the EBow's linear position on the string, the player can produce different string overtones, and also fade in and out by lowering and raising the EBow.
An early pioneer of EBow playing was Bill Nelson , who introduced it to Stuart Adamson of The Skids . Adamson went on to use it heavily with Big Country , and it formed an integral part of their well known " Bagpipe sound". Blondie , Tom Petty and Blue Öyster Cult were also early users. The EBow has also been a familiar element in the sound palette of guitarist Phil Keaggy since the early 1980s. Béla Fleck has used one on an acoustic banjo in concert, also creating a bagpipe like sound. Australian band The Church make extensive use of the EBow and featured an EBow solo in their 1988 hit single " Under The Milky Way ." The sound of Robin Guthrie of the band Cocteau Twins is partly derived via the EBow and a host of effects pedals.
While the EBow is not normally used with the Electric Bass Guitar , which has heavier strings, Michael Manring (who uses light bass strings) has persevered, and it features heavily on his 1995 album ''Thönk''. He has even been known to use two at once. Steve Willett of Strange Boutique helped pioneer the use of bass EBow in the 80s post-punk goth scene.
Although the EBow is most commonly played on the Electric Guitar because of the ease of use and the responsiveness obtainable from the Pickup , the EBow has also been used in applications with the Steel-string Acoustic Guitar . Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour used one on his Gibson J-200 acoustic in the 1994 song " Take It Back ".
Generally an acoustic guitar gives a limited response for varying reasons, including the density and spacing of the audio download © 2005 Michael Miles /Dock72 Music Group. Posted with permission by artist).
- The EBow is mentioned in the title of R.E.M. 's " E-Bow The Letter ", and is used in the song by guitarist Peter Buck . Buck can be seen using an EBow in the video for this song at approximately 1:27 to 1:30.
- The popular English band Coldplay have also used the EBow on many of their tracks. Guitarist Jonny Buckland 's most well known use of the EBow can be heard on the track "Spies" and the '' Live 2003 '' version of "A Rush of Blood to the Head".
- Jamie Crossley guitarist with popular American electronica outfit Marconi Union uses the EBow to create loops which he layers live to create string quartet -like effects. Marconi Union also used the EBow on a number of tracks on Distance their 2005 album
- Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen of the band Queens Of The Stone Age uses the EBow extensively during live shows, and in the studio as well, for "Hangin' Tree" and other songs. Troy can be seen using the device in the Queens of the Stone Age DVD ''Over the Years and Through The Woods''.
- Members of the band Guster have been seen using EBows in concert.
- The EBow is also used extensively in the pits of two Broadway shows, namely Stephen Schwartz's '' Wicked '', as well as in Disney's '' Mary Poppins ''. Coincidentally, Tony winner William David Brohn orchestrated the music for both shows. The EBow technique was effectively used to darken the mood of the music and make it sound eerie. In Wicked, the EBow can be heard to prominence in the song "As Long As You're Mine" and in parts of "No Good Deed". In Mary Poppins, the EBow can be distinguished in the numbers "Temper, Temper!", the beginning measures of "Chim Chim-Cheree", the 3/4 sections of "Step in Time", as well as the final measures of "Anything Can Happen".
- A Flock Of Seagulls guitarist Paul Reynolds used the Ebow extensively live and in the recording studio. It can be heard on the band's singles: "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" and "(It's Not Me) Talking".
- Orange Lazarus use EBow on "Birds" as well as "Talking Fast to Logic" from the album ''Talking Fast''.
- American metal band Phoenix Reign use the EBow on "Run Now" from the album "Destination Unknown".
- Andy Dunlop of Travis has recently started using an EBow and features on the song "Closer".
- The EBow is used by Threat Signal guitarist Kyle McKnight on the songs "Inane" and "Seeing Red" from their debut album ''Under Reprisal''.
- Michael Dooley of PostPosition uses the EBow
- Brad Delson of Linkin Park can be heard using an EBow throughout the song "No More Sorrow", from their latest album, Minutes To Midnight . In fact, the working title of the song in the studio was "Ebow Idea".
- It is often assumed that uses an EBow on "New Killer Star", on the " Reality " album and on stage.
- Lead Singer/Guitarist Matt Kennedy of Illinois indie/rock band The Graduate has been seen using an E-Bow on many studio tracks, as well as live shows.
- Metallica 's James Hetfield used an Ebow to write the string section on the song "Nothing Else Matters" from the 1991 self-titled album "Metallica"
- Both Evan Mast and Mike Stroud of the electro band Ratatat use the EBow extensively, most notably on their first song Cherry, in which Evan Mast puts down his bass to in order to do a guitar duet with the EBow.
- also begins to use an EBow, with the two EBow parts harmonising each other.
- Steve Rothery , guitarist for British prog-rockers Marillion uses an EBow on the band's 2004 Top 10(UK)Single, "You're Gone"
- Jordan Robson of Sunset Rubdown uses an eBow on the track "Those Ones In Between," both live and in studio.
- Blue Man Group uses the eBow on the Chapman Stick as well as the guitar in many of their live shows.
- Aereogramme 's Iain Cook used an E-bow whilst performing live and on some studio songs before their split in 2007
- The EBow is featured prominently on the Scout EP, Someplace Would Be Nice.
|
