General Music Chat

You'd be sadder if you were me. In the "catastrophe of '96" I got drunk and burned my songbook. All that gone.

I resurrected a few from memory later on but rather than let it bother me, I wrote a bunch of new songs!

My ex could never get it - that I write songs because I have to. Nor did she, or most folks really, understand that songs are what happens to fall out of the songwriter's head. (usually but not always)

I went through a period of thinking all my music and my adventures were meaningless - ultimately I'd croak and that was that - all pointless. I got over it. Don't let it get you down.

Talbot

Well my wife deleted all my recorded tracks about 4 years ago. I was able to recover some of the songs, but there were a couple she made sure of - no burned CDs, files left on youtube or anything. They're gone.

So record them, video them, load them into the cloud, youtube, bandmix, anywhere. At least they are saved.

Alan - do you have the ability to mic up your acoustic? Minstrel would sound so much better that way than DIed. Also seems to be a low string out of tune (D or A).

Among the over 900 chord- changes in "Wandering Minstrel," I do hear a few sharp sounding spots, now. But that may be just sloppy playing technique, dunno. I'm human; I make mistakes.

I'll look into re-recording that song.
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Background info on the song & guitar:
I have a Samick, a budget acoustic guitar and extra light strings (10 - 47), so it often slowly drifts out of tune.
That particular instrumental, Wandering Minstrel, plays from regular "cowboy chords," on up the neck; much of the song "lives" between the 7th, - 12th frets.
That's a challenge for any guitar selling for under $300, eh? That's all my budget allows.
But I think I might've just stretched a string here or there, while rushing up 'n down the neck to get to the next chord, in tempo.
And the tuning may drift, with me not even noticing, when recording, easy to get distracted.
I'll look into re-recording that song. That particular copy of the song was from 5 years back, I'm sure I can play it better, now, anyway.
Thanks for pointing it out.
With that particular song, ("Wandering Minstrel"), there is maybe 3-4 ways to play it right, and about 3000 - 4000 ways to play it wrong!
So, I'll put it back on the list of songs to record.
Oh, you mentioned microphones, again. I'll think about it, but this acoustic guitar, with the extra light strings that I need to play on, sounds really tinny.
I can use heavier strings on my electric guitars ; they're easier to play; but changing to a heavier gauge string on the acoustic is not an option, it's slow down the action too much. So, I'm good with it.
At this stage I'm still recording new songs.

My .02
The only parts of life that are pointless are those that do not glorify God.
The rest . . . as it is said . . . is history.

With the right miking technique and a little EQ you could get that acoustic to sound ok. Try one mic pointed at the 12th fret, aiming slightly towards the sound hole, and a second mic pointed at he lower bout. Now try not to move while playing!

When I play in public - as I'll be doing tonight - I plug my guitar in, and boost the volume just a bit, to bring out the lower notes of my guitar.
But the volume is low enough that the audience can hear me play acoustically, also; it's kinda like stereo.
Over all, it becomes a crisp, clear, full sound.
Over the years I've gotten numerous compliments on the tone. I use a Kustom amp; very clean sound.
When I record, I just jack in . . . maybe one of these days I'll be able to afford a couple more mikes . . .
Anyone (in southern CT) got an old microphone they're not using? I'll trade lessons for it.
- Alan Bradley
N. Madison, CT