Tone Settings for Fake Empire by The National (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set the volume around 70–80% on the guitar for dynamic control.
• Adjust amp volume to moderate — enough to get clean headroom with a slight breakup when strumming harder.

2. Tone

• Tone knob on guitar should be around 60–75% to retain warmth without being too dark.
• Use subtle compression and light delay/reverb to match the atmospheric sound of the track.
• Keep overdrive low or clean — the song’s tone is soft and rich, not aggressive.

3. Pickup Selector

• Neck pickup preferred for rounder, more mellow tones.
• Bridge pickup can be used if rolled down slightly on the tone knob to reduce brightness.
• Pickup selector in position 4 (neck and middle) for strat-style guitars for a smoother, chimier tone.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Single Coil preferred for clarity, articulation, and the slightly brittle quality suited to the song’s rhythmic arpeggios.
• Use noiseless single coils if possible to reduce hum during quieter parts.

5. Ideal Guitar Type (Electric – Strat-style)

• Fender Stratocaster or Strat-style guitar with single coil pickups.
• Rosewood fretboard preferred for slightly warmer tonal characteristics.
• Comfortable neck profile and articulate feel to allow fluid arpeggiated picking patterns.

• Gibson ES-335: Warm, rich tone ideal for atmospheric arpeggios.
• Fender Telecaster: Bright, cutting tone that complements layered rhythms.
• Fender Jazzmaster: Versatile for ambient textures with its floating tremolo.
• Strymon BigSky: High-quality reverb for lush, expansive soundscapes.
• Line 6 DL4 MkII: Looper and delay for creating evolving ambient loops.
• Walrus Audio Julia: Analog chorus/vibrato adds modulation to clean parts.
• Boss RV-6: Versatile reverb pedal with shimmer and mod options.
• Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail: Simple reverb option with spring and hall settings.
• TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2: Compact and programmable reverb pedal.
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: Useful for ambient swells and dynamic control.

• Use a clean tone with light overdrive on rhythm sections.
• Set delay with a moderate mix and short feedback for ambient feel.
• Apply light reverb on guitar and piano for atmosphere.
• Keep bass tone warm with mid emphasis and slight compression.
• Use soft dynamic drumming with controlled snare and hi-hat accents.
• Match tempo around 84 BPM with a steady, hypnotic rhythm.
• Ensure vocal tone is intimate and slightly melancholic; low reverb recommended.
• Layer guitars subtly to maintain texture without crowding the mix.