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Guitar World
Guitar World
Entertainment
Janelle Borg

“Your picking hand is where you control your tone. It’s surprising to me that so few people really talk about it”: Sue Foley explains why your picking hand is the key to great guitar tone

Sue Foley performs during 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 05, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

What is the key ingredient to achieving a great, instantly recognizable guitar tone? This ubiquitous question has enthralled the guitar community for decades, and now blues veteran Sue Foley is putting her two cents in.

“Of course, you need decent equipment to get a good sound – a good-quality guitar and amp, decent strings that aren’t too old. But the real secret about tone is that it comes from your picking hand,” she tells Guitar Player.

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