Trying to capture the sound of an electric guitar on a recording can be difficult unless you have the right equipment and knowledge to do so.

The good thing is, learning how to record guitar that sounds good is pretty straightforward to learn.

Below I’ll be going through 11 easy tips to recording guitar that sounds professional.

Set-up

Before we get started, let's go through some gear that will help you when recording.

An audio interface for connecting your guitar to your computer
Microphone
A Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW for short
Plugins, which are software you use within your DAW to add effects
Monitors or headphones so you can hear the audio without colouring the sound

If you’ve been producing music for a while, you’ll probably have all of this gear already, if not that’s ok too, you just need the basics like a DAW and a microphone to start.

Microphones

When you’re recording your guitar, it’s a good idea to record your amp. The best type of microphone for recording an amp is a cardioid dynamic microphone.

When you record from home, the acoustics usually aren't the best. A cardioid dynamic mic can help with that. The cardioid dynamic mic blocks sound from the ear and they aren’t as sensitive to loud noises which makes them ideal for recording guitar.

Cardioid dynamic mics pick up sound from the direction they are pointed at and block out any sound coming from behind.

You can learn more about different types of microphones in this article from Musician on a Mission.

Check out the SM57 if you’re interested in purchasing a cardioid dynamic mic.

Mic Positioning

As mentioned before, your mic should be set up to record your amp. Ideally, your mic would be placed close to the amp to pick up any unnecessary noise.

Your mic will pick up the best tone 0-5 inches, or 0-12.5 centimetres away from your microphone.

If you have two microphones, try placing one farther away from the amp. This will create a roomier tone when recorded

Finding the Right Tone

It’s easy to get excited when recorded and forget some important steps. It’s important to spend a good chunk of time adjusting the EQ (equalization) on your amp and the tone controls on your guitar.

Your goal is to have a recorded guitar tone that needs no equalization in the mix phase. It may sound difficult but it’s pretty easy to achieve.

One good tip to remember when trying to achieve this is, turn the bass knob down a bit, as you don’t need much low end on the guitar.

Adjusting Position and Tone

When you adjust the position and tone, you want to find the speaker cone of your amp. If you look inside the front grill, you’ll be able to tell if it’s a cloth grill.

Position the microphone close to the amp and about halfway between the centre and the edge of the speaker cone.

If you move the microphone back and forth between the centre and the edge, the tone will become brighter or darker.

Here’s a diagram to illustrate this concept.

As you move your microphone around you will hear the sound become darker/duller towards the edge and bright or aggressive closer to the centre.

Some things to keep in mind

Use a brighter tone to record lead guitar
Use a darker tone to record a supportive part
Use a brighter tone to record low frets
Use a darker tone for high frets

Finding a Tone that fits with the Mix

It's important to hear the tone of the guitar in the context of the mix. So try playing along with the track as you adjust the tone. Set the tone at a place where the guitar sounds good with the rest of the track, not by itself.

Reference Tracks

If you’re struggling to find a tone that fits well with your mix, you can find a song that has the sound you’re going for and compare it to your sound.

Listen to the song and identify the tone. Is it clean or distorted? bright or warm? Once you identify that, you can compare it to the sound of the guitar you are recording. Then adjust your equipment accordingly.

Changing the Tone When Overdubbing

It’s not uncommon for one guitarist to play multiple different parts in one piece. This is called overdubbing.

An example of this would be playing the same chord progression twice and then pan one hard left and the other hard right.

If you want to create separation in your mix, try changing the tone a bit every time you record a new part.

Use Less Distortion and Amp Reverb

When you distort your guitar for a recording, it ends up sounding way more distorted in the mix.

A distorted guitar has its place in live music, but when you’re recording it’s best to use less distortion.

When you’re mixing and decide you want more distortion, it’s easy to add with an amp simulator.

The same goes for amp reverb. If you have it on while you’re recording, you’re stuck with it. If you record with no distortion or reverb, you’ll be able to add it if you need it.

Amp Size

The size of your amp doesn’t matter when you’re recording guitar. Because your mic will be placed close to one speaker, it doesn’t matter if that amp has one speaker or twelve.

Many musicians prefer to have a smaller amp while recording because they like the tone.

Headroom

A clean guitar can be very dynamic so make sure your levels are set with plenty of headroom.

BONUS TIP:

Recording Directly

Producing professional-sounding songs from home requires some compromise.

If you are recording from home, try recording the guitar directly and then using an amp simulator to capture a good sound.

If you decide to go this route, make sure you have a proper DI box.

This video will walk you through what a DI box does.

If you end up wishing you had recorded using an amp, you still can. A re-amping box can be used to play a clean recorded guitar track out of your DAW and into your amp.

This way, you can take your time adjusting the tone before recording.

However, re-amping boxes are expensive and not ideal in a home studio. If you are recording at home, consider every option you have and choose wisely, because it’s difficult to change your mind.

Written By: Leah Gerber

conclusion

Recording guitar can is straightforward once you have the right knowledge and equipment to do so. Don’t get too frustrated though if you’re still having issues with it. It will take a lot of trial and error to get the perfect guitar sound.

Are you a guitar recording pro? let us know in the comments what tips helped you get better at it!