Sustain
The ability of a note to maintain its volume and duration after being played.
Sustain is an important aspect of guitar playing that affects the overall tone and expressiveness of the instrument. A note with good sustain will continue to ring out for a longer period, allowing for a more fluid and connected sound, whereas a note with poor sustain will quickly decay and become inaudible. Various factors can influence a guitar’s sustain, including its construction, materials, string gauge, and action, as well as the player’s technique and the use of effects or amplifiers.
Guitarists often seek to maximize their instrument’s sustain in order to create a richer, more resonant sound and to facilitate techniques such as bends, vibrato, and legato playing. Achieving a desirable level of sustain requires an understanding of the guitar’s physical properties, as well as careful attention to technique and setup.
Check out these Licklibrary guitar Lessons and Courses to learn more about rock and metal guitar songs where sustain could be integrated into your playing.
