How to Record Electric Guitar

So, you have decided to record electric guitar. The process can be very frustrating and very time consuming, like all things that will ultimately feel rewarding. This guide will ease you into the process and detail the factors in recording your guitar correctly and capturing the tone that represents you.

Preparation: Let's get started. The first thing to note is, your tone sounds exactly like you hear it. That is, do not expect studio magic to make your tone excellent. You should always always record the best possible tone as studio magic can make excellent tone sound better, but it cannot make horrible tone sound great. Note that the low end (bass) of your tone will get bigger and boomier if you decide to place your microphone very close to your guitar amp's speaker.

Step One - Microphone Selection: Now let's move on to microphone selection. Ideally, the dynamic microphone we all know and love is quite honestly the best microphone for the job. They are cheap, extremely durable and can handle the excess volume guitar amps can create. Condenser mics can capture your tone in the correct manner as well. However if you are on a budget nothing more than a dynamic microphone is necessary.

As you'll come to find out, the most common microphone used for recording guitar amps is the Shure model SM57. This microphone has been in use for decades and will not fail in capturing your tone.

Step Two - Microphone Position: Next, we decide where exactly to place the microphone. First, it should be noted that there's no one way to record your guitar that is the 100% correct way. Experiment and choose which you like best. The two most popular placements are a having a microphone directly facing the speaker and having a microphone off the speaker just slightly. Harsher, more present tones come from the center placement and gentler, warmer tones are from the off center placement.

Final: Remember, you do not need to use just one microphone either. Multiple microphones can be used and mixed to create your ideal tone. Remember that you want the loudest possible signal without clipping when recording electric guitar so do not be shy with the volume.

Additional Notes: I should also mention that positioning a mic behind your guitar amp can also make for some very interesting tones. Once again, feel free to experiment and use your ear to decide what's best.