How to use Looper pedals for practicing Blues – Guitar Lesson
#loopers #looperpedal #bluesguitarlessons
TC Electronic Ditto, Boss RC-3 Loop Station, Donner Beltway all used in a lesson giving tips on how to use a looper pedal to help you practice playing.
This is not a shootout, or even a demo of these pedals, so they are not compared side by side, but rather each is used at different points of the video and showing how each have different features which can help you.
Which is best?
My personal favourite is the Ditto. It usually lives on my acoustic pedal board. It’s really simple, quiet and really easy to use. It doesn’t do what the others do, but it just does one thing really well and takes up minimum space on my board. I love it.
The BOSS RC-3 lives on my electric guitar pedal board. I prefer the design of the Beltway and the Ditto, over the traditional BOSS design as I find those switches more immediate and it feels like the BOSS needs a harder ‘stomp’. However, the built in drum machine is fantastic. It doesn’t sound great, but its really useful for practicing. This is why this is the pedal that lives on my main board.
The Donner Beltway is the cheapest by far. It’s solid, and like the Ditto only takes up a minimum space on the pedalboard and has a more responsive switch than the BOSS. The Reverse and 1/2 speed features are curious, but I don’t use them. It’s not quite silent like the Ditto and the BOSS, but if you are only using this at home, this would not be an issue.
As a practice tool at home, for helping you develop your blues playing, any of these pedals, or indeed any other looper pedal, would be really useful.
I wish looper pedals existed when I started playing, because practicing against a loop will really help develop your playing.
The Ditto Looper and th BOSS pedal are pretty easy to find in any music store or online, however if you are interested in the Beltway, it’s only available through Amazon:
I am not affiliated to the company and I don’t make any money from purchases.
Marc Guitar’s Facebook page:
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Patreon supporters get access to additional lessons, as well as mp3 backing tracks and all the tabs.
Marc’s band – Northbound:
Website: http://www.northbound.org.uk
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/northboundblues/
Spotify: “Northbound Acoustic Blues Band”
Album available as mail order CDs from northbound.org.uk and downloads from all the usual download stores (iTunes, Google Play, CD Baby etc)
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#Looper #pedals #practicing #Blues #Guitar #Lesson
Originally posted by UCBAiz0GzRpv37U7ftOCV6FA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wurJZwDUD0
ok i bought the TC Ditto looper pedal and you certainly make it look easy…it is NOT easy lol
I played the Em chord as a barre chord as you did then i played it as an open chord and they sound very different….what is going on there?
I didn't know you could combine major and minor in that way Marc…a very interesting lesson, thanks.
Just bought my first looper today and you’ve given me some great & simple ways to get started. Thank you????
Very good experience for me. Very well done.
There is also looper pedal with different switch for on and off. It will be good to record multiple rhythm. Acoustic guitar can be used as drum and snare drum and on top of it can record guitar rhythm. Anyway thank you for thr lesson, especially the last message about keeping the looper pedal at the last link so that the effect / distirtion will not effect the recording. Cheers from Indonesia.
much appreciated lesson – but holy treble batman !
Donner Circle Looper – DO NOT USE WITH WINDOWS 10!!! Previously thought the software only works with a reboot, Looper powered on and connected USB but now. November 11 2021, THAT DOESN'T WORK
Windows and irresponsible Donner will "Brick" the Donner Looper.
Software an absolute nightmare.
Buy this looper if you want to quantize to the bar and then play this looper INTO ANOTHER LOOPER to copy files to and from your computer.
Read my notes below for the THREE HOUR NIGHTMARE of arriving at this conclusion:
Problems: The red circle icon should be called FIRMWARE, not software.
There is a SECRET UPDATE MODE on the looper, power on with long press on lower left "REC DUB TAP button.
Doesn't matter, nothing worked!
Donner Looper has become a recording device only.
Cannot delete IMPORTED loops without USB computer connection.
Cannot access Circle Looper from computer!!!!!
Download and install version 1.7
Install complete. Run software? yes. Failed code 740
The requested operation requires elevation.
Desktop icon "Looper Software" (not the old light blue rectange, but a circular red icon.) "C:Program Files (x86)Looper softwareLooper Software.exe"
Loaded with "Run as Administrator" but produced
"Looper Suite V1.7 – (No device connected)"
with although I booted with Circle Looper connected.
For Windows :
Step 1:Please make sure your Computer Operating System installed "Visual C++ Redistributable Packages" , here is the official link for downloading: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784
Windows 10 "File not downloaded, potential security risk" Download anyway.
You can also download it by dropbox link:https://www.dropbox.com/s/y60ldzndri10rc5/Looper%2Bsoftware%2B1.7.exe?dl=0
Step 2: Download the looper software：Download
http://13723663.s21d-13.faiusrd.com/0/ABUIABBLGAAgj6vT5gUo0r6ggwM?f=Looper+software+1.7.exe&v=1557452176
You can also download it by dropbox link:https://www.dropbox.com/s/y60ldzndri10rc5/Looper%2Bsoftware%2B1.7.exe?dl=0
BAD, not true, info:
Import music: Click the [Import] button and chose a path to store the file. The file format is mono 48 KHz 24 bit wave;
Export music: Click the [Export] button and chose a file to load. The file format must be mono/stereo 48 KHz/44.1Khz 16bit/24bit wave.
The stereo wave file only loads the left channel.
Weird…. I hear both channels, from the looper, or from the file on the computer… maybe an old version Circle Looper where the channel stored drum info…
https://www.donnerdeal.com/pages/download/Donner Circle Looper Setup For WIN
Went to THIS
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XUbdsSRlbSLTLNTp0TaHi6GPAlvk5x6n/view
"Google Drive can't scan this file for viruses." Too big.
Win.zip (133M) is too large for Google to scan for viruses. Would you still like to download this file?Download anyway.
Downloads a Win.Zip, inside a PDF about powering on with a button depressed for "update mode"
further into the zip's folders, get to file
"CIRCLE LOOPER V1.0.4 Setup_win.exe" Note version 1.0.4
Open produces
"Windows protected your PC Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.
App: CIRCLE LOOPER V1.0.4 Setup_win.exe
Publisher: Unknown publisher
Windows error: "The destination file could not be created."
(It's waiting for you to approve as Administrator through a popup window) as if Windows knows musicians have a lot of USA Security Clearances when apps communicate to Chinese programmers?
Install prompts Windows to popup a "Device Driver Instatllation Wizard"
Driver name:
Microsoft CIRCLE LOOPER (02/23/2013 6.1.7650016385)
Status: Driver Updated
Taskmanager shows Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry using a lot of resources….
Trhing to run the Blue Rectangle Desktop Icon as Administrator:
EQUIPMENT VERSION IS TOO LOW. PLEASE UPDATE THE FIRMWARE
The file the newly installed Desktop icon runs is the same old updater, "C:Program Files (x86)DonnerCIRCLE LOOPERCIRCLE LOOPER Update.exe"
that supposedly checks for updates…
PER PDF file in Software download: Powering on with long press on lower left button (Rec Dub Tap)
LOOPER WINDOW GOES BLACK, green blinking LED.
NOW the normal Light Blue rectangle Desktop Icon goes into UPDATE!!! SUCCESSFULL!!!!
After Update, Looper window returns to normal.
RESTART computer with Circle Looper connected to USB
WAIT for your computer to settle down….
STILL WILL NOT RUN!!!
Power down and REBOOT…
STILL WILL NOT RUN!!!
App folder's Config.ini says
Name="CIRCLE LOOPER"
AppVersion=V1.0.4
"Looper Software" the Red Circle icon's program folder has Config.ini sayin
[Config]
WavLoadDir=F:/Desktop/
WavSaveDir=F:/Desktop/
My computer does NOT have an F: drive! Is that supposed to be the looper???
REINSTALL VISUAL C++ Redistributable
Step 1:Please make sure your Computer Operating System installed "Visual C++ Redistributable Packages" , here is the official link for downloading: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784
From the above Microsoft link:
(List of) Supported Operating Systems: No Windows 10!!! From 2013!!!!
Downloads 3 files from 2013!!!! :
vcredist_arm.exe "This app can't run on your PC"
vcredist_x86.exe Ran…. "Successful"
vcredist_x64.exe Ran…. "Successful"
REBOOT, power down, USB connected to Circle Looper
STILL WILL NOT RUN SOFTWARE, no error message!
Have to use Circle Looper to create quantized loops to play directly into Boss RC-3 to get into computer, EQ and level, and arrange in set order.
Circle Looper now full of UNDELETABLE inaccessible "Imported" loops with only two slots available for creating loops!!
Thanks, Donner.
Excellent. Thanks
Thank you, that first tip is a game changer!
nice instruction but i can tap the button all day and can't get it to delete or record.
Thanks Marc, I’ve had a looper for ages, but got scared to use it! I could never get the loop to sound right, 😉
Thanks Marc, I like your teaching style, you were spot on with the common mistakes starting out with a looper, that's how I came to find your channel, much better now 🙂
Nice Liver bird on the blackstar ????
Great demo! Learned a lot. Thanks
Thanks for the review video. now feel free to join the Donner FB group(https://www.facebook.com/groups/310884515912783), You are able to have the chance to gain Donner product for review and obtain coupons. furthermore, you are able to share anything related to music and meet someone who has the same habit as u, whatever Guitar, Ukulele or Piano…
Hi Marc, I have a comment and a question for you.
As an aged technophobe who is mesmerised by my 11 year old grandson, this lesson is beyond words in its usefulness to me.
As an exiled Scouser, I noticed that you have added a Liverbird to the front of your Blackstar amp. Can I ask you where you got it please? (the Liverbird I mean 🙂
Marc, this was a great lesson and very useful. I live close to you and would love to see the band sometime. Thanks!
this is great info!!! thanks so much MARC. Before I saw this – Already had a BOSS RC3. your detail here was so helpful!!!!! I like what you do! thanks for your help and guidance here!
Thanks Marc, and very well explained. Sure, I have made all those errors and almost gave up on it 🙂 but I think I finally got it right. Thanks again ????????
Always good lessons, thanks Marc
Love yer Groove at 12.06, just love it ! Great video Marc very useful that practical info that you just passed on to us, Stay Safe….
I’ve watched several looper pedal videos but found several new, useful ways to use it. Thanks Marc. Now if you can find a cure for lack of coordination.
Thanks Marc. You should have recorded this lesson a year ago ???? I have made all the errors you are reporting ???? I have a boss rc2. A bit confusing to use but the drum machine that is embedded is really useful for practicing. I use an octaver to overdub a bass track using lower octave. Excellent video as usual, thanks
Great video Marc. These tips will save looper newbies a lot of time and cursing.
Sold my Boss , way too confusing Ditto is the way to go.
More great stuff. Thanks Marc.
Thank you for this, Marc. I was thinking of treating myself to a looper pedal for Christmas for just this purpose so your video came at a perfect time for me. Cheers!
Yeah !
Thanks. Have you been watching me, because I think I've made ALL those mistakes in the past. I found making loops was very useful to practise/improve my timing. Also have a Line 6 Spider Jam (like that behind you?}, which I find good for practise over the loops/drum beats. Although I'm only a beginner, I don't really understand the dislike some people seem to have for them. Surely if something is useful. it doesn't matter what name is on the label.
Excellent Marc, cheers mate. I’ve got a bunch of pedals in a boss case and need to set them all up properly. Going to start by practicing with the looper pedal ????????????????????
Excellent! Thanks, brother! I've a tc electronic flashback that I've been trying to use. This will help a bunch. ✌❤????