Good songs to demo an amp with?

[lespaul3013]

What are some good songs or riffs to demo an amp with?

I'm going on Saturday to try out a few different amps and I didn't just wanna sit there and play pointless blues licks and stuff. I want to put the amps through their paces...anything from super clean to metal.

 

[Gitfiddler]

if it's a hi-gain amp, "iron man" over and over and over and over.

 

[The Hoff]

I do Keith Urban and basic chords for clean. AC/DC & Led Zeppelin & Hendrix for different mid-gain sounds. And then Metallica for metal tones. Then for drop tuning I do some riffs from some of my bands (make sure there is riffing involved, etc.)

 

[Shatter_The_Silence]

hendrix, Metallica for midgainy stuff, slayer, lamb of god, soilwork, and original riffs
if you are guitarjesus some scar symmetry lol

 

[kasperjensen]

Remember to bring your own guitar.

I like to play Lenny by SRV when trying a clean tone.

Then some big chords with some distortion to see what the separation is like. Something like this:

2
5
4
2
2
0

Also how it rings out.

I like to see how it plays lead in something like D Minor. If I can some nice overtones there we are all good.

 

[lespaul3013]

Remember to bring your own guitar.

I like to play Lenny by SRV when trying a clean tone.

Then some big chords with some distortion to see what the separation is like. Something like this:

2
5
4
2
2
0

Also how it rings out.

I like to see how it plays lead in something like D Minor. If I can some nice overtones there we are all good.

Awesome, great tips. thanks

 

[lespaul3013]

I've got...

Clean-ish stuff:
Electric Gypsy-Andy Timmons
Wind Cries Mary-Hendrix

Mid-range gain:
You Shook Me All Night Long-AC/DC
The Ocean-Zeppelin

Higher gain:
Would-Alice in Chain
Metalingus-Alter Bridge
and lots of Metallica

Lead:
For the Love of God-Steve Vai
and a couple of solos that I do...

Sounds like a winner to me. I really wanna put each amp through its paces and get a good feel for what each one is like.

 

[Gooseman]

I play my own songs and try to have my own style flow through the amp. Playing other songs are good, I suppose, if you are in a cover band. Otherwise, let YOUR playing shine through the amp. Bring your guitar too!

 

[Gooseman]

I used to play music by my favorite bands, but that gets me nowhere because of how diverse my musical tastes are. I really think playing your own music, having your own style and ideas flowing through the amp, will be your best bet. Then you can really see how the amp reacts to what is inherently YOU.

 

[lespaul3013]

I used to play music by my favorite bands, but that gets me nowhere because of how diverse my musical tastes are. I really think playing your own music, having your own style and ideas flowing through the amp, will be your best bet. Then you can really see how the amp reacts to what is inherently YOU.

Yea man, I totally agree with that...but I'm young and haven't necessarily "found" my style yet. And sometimes I get a little nervous playing in music stores. So basically I'm just trying to get some stuff together that I can play well in order to hear how the amp sounds. I'll play some of my own stuff (my licks and stuff), but an amp is an amp...I'm just trying to see if I can get good tones out of it or not.

 

[jjblacksheep]

Any amp leaning to mid-high gain, I automatically go to some AC/DC and then early Metallica, without thinking about it. If that sounds good, really good, then I am usually set with that amp wherever I go from there for rock/metal.

 

[racerevlon]

I always look for the "crunch" factor. I go with "Balls to the Wall" by Accept and the opening lick from "Wicked Sensation" by Lynch Mob...

 

[crankyrayhanky]

You have to play stuff that you currently play. No need to learn new material, just go over the stuff you already play.....if you start feeling new riff ideas that's a huge sign that the amp fits your style.
Play at least 10- 30 minutes in order to fight through the "store jam nerves"- the first minute you'll be inclined to stop, just play through it. Eventually you'll notice no one cares what you're playing and you can get busy feeling the amps

 

[The Hoff]

You have to play stuff that you currently play. No need to learn new material, just go over the stuff you already play.....

Very true

 

[university81]

chords using all 6 strings are good for both in clean/gain modes

the best is really to play riffs/ideas that you'll be using the amp for and with, if it gives you a huge smile to your face and instant satisfaction, it's usually a sign =)

if you play ac/dc riffs which the amp does really well but you're looking to do a funk covers band.. well you get the idea

 

[RoidRage]

Dokken Alone Again

 

[lespaul3013]

You have to play stuff that you currently play

Yea...I agree, but the thing is I am usually playing in church at the moment. And its great, but my Vox can handle church stuff for right now, so I'm not too concerned about that. I want my next amp to have a little more gain and cover a wider range of music. Thats the main reason for this post.

 

[King Guitar]

Are we playing a gig or demoing an amp here?

umm, open cords, power cords, single note runs, give man money, take said amp to gig and then play set list.

 

[nighttrain69]

stairway to heaven, the guitar shops use to love to hear it

 

[Meathead]

Are we playing a gig or demoing an amp here?

umm, open cords, power cords, single note runs, give man money, take said amp to gig and then play set list.

...then return to store.

I can't buy an amp just from playing it at the store.
Every time I take an amp to try out for the night on a gig, it goes back to the store. I should really give it up and just stick with the Peters Polaris and the Electra Dyne.