Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I'm looking for a critique of a tune I just put up today. The link in my sig will take you there. My profile here tells me I don't have enough room to add more. It's the first tune in the list called "At the Bottom" actually, if that one isn't too grating on you-feel free to check out any of the others-they aren't all slow blues, but its all bluesy. I'd like to hear anything anyone might have to say. The tunes at the bottom of the list were recorded first-about a year ago...I think the production is getting a little better. I'll gladly return the favor and listen to anything you'd like me to, and give you feedback.

Thanks!

Brian

I'd like to hear your music Brian. But I have this thing about having to download stuff or turn off my POB to do anything on line.
Sorry

Yeah, post it here; I'll give a listen.

Cool tune. What is the "warbling" type effect you are using? Sounds like tremolo and whammy bar, but seems too constant for you to be playing the whammy bar and all those licks throughout the whole song. If that IS what you're doing, kudos to ya. Nothing really to critique. Good mix, good bass sound. I like that walking bass. The only thing keeping it from pristine CD quality is mastering and that's something that I haven't started into learning yet, though it's next on the agenda for me. The guitar on that song reminds me of the kinda obscure Johnny Depp movie, "Dead Man". Have you seen that movie yet? The whole soundtrack is done by Neil Young and his guitar.

ratsass wrote:Cool tune. What is the "warbling" type effect you are using? Sounds like tremolo and whammy bar, but seems too constant for you to be playing the whammy bar and all those licks throughout the whole song. If that IS what you're doing, kudos to ya. Nothing really to critique. Good mix, good bass sound. I like that walking bass. The only thing keeping it from pristine CD quality is mastering and that's something that I haven't started into learning yet, though it's next on the agenda for me. The guitar on that song reminds me of the kinda obscure Johnny Depp movie, "Dead Man". Have you seen that movie yet? The whole soundtrack is done by Neil Young and his guitar.

I LOVE that movie! Neil's guitar is the best he's done for my taste. I'm using a tremolo pedal with alot of reverb, a little slapback echo, a treble boost and the faithful Bigsby tremolo bar...yeah, production is my newest pursuit and weakest link. Drum machine programming is weak too...I'm getting better though, I hope! Thanks for listening and the feedback.

Guys-I'll drop one of the other tunes and put this up momentarily on my profile here. Sorry about that-I didn't consider all the issues pertaining to downloads etc etc...

Well, I seem to be having technical difficulties-or the site is. I took 2 songs off to make room on my profile, added the new file-it tells me when I try to add audio files that the file IS there...checked 4 times and re uploaded each time w/ the same result-file says it's there, but then at the list to push "play" it's not

...so, it says it's there, and my profile has updated that I removed 2 songs...however the new one still doesn't come up in the list...vexing?!
(I don't usually get to use that word; I did enjoy it LOL)

With any luck..there's just some sort of lag...?

Sad, but ridiculously good.

Andragon wrote:Sad, but ridiculously good.

Thanks! I tried to be as depressing as I could be -LOL just kidding-but I wanted a forlorn sound-glad you got the intended vibe-and thanks for the compliment too-that definitely feels good-though I want the weaknesses pointed out too. I always bounce back from an ego whipping..at least so far! LOL


Still cant' get the tune on my profile here...same problem...I emailed tech support...hopefully I can get it uploaded soon...I'm considering springing for year membership, but wonder if this bodes ill for that....many of you guys doing upgrading your account?

Good blues tune but to be honest it's not that slow. I'm playing bass in a blues band now and the old saying that the slow blues is the hardest to play is true. I'm talking slower than Stormy Monday.

Make sure it's a 16 bit mp3. Try it at 128.

Blues cat,
I gave Purgatory blues a listen, and can seriously say that if you lived around here, I'd definitely be lookin' to jam!
Nice collection of artillery sittin' on the couch too ! ( Where's the Strat, out for a neck adjustment or sumptin'?
Howlin'

OK, I have the tune uploaded to my profile here. I didn't click the option to allow people to hear it...(DOH!) Atleast I wasn't an ass to the tech support guys...woulda had to eat a bucket full of crow!

Howlin J-thankyou-I wish we *could* jam. Cool that we atleast get to meet after a fashion. Purgatory Blues is my Texas shuffle attempt behind a funny story regarding the afterlife...

I have had many Strats throughout the years...they always get traded...I dunno-I've yet to find the one that's a keeper for me. The last one went toward the Les Paul...

Jimmy Danger- You're right...70 bpm isn't slow...but it *seemed* slow till I looked at the metronome and the Italian words and realized there was 2 categories below 70...no doubt-the slower it is the harder it is. Almost like playing naked-it's all right there and everyone will see/hear it.

As a bassist, can I ask you a Q.? Am I playing *bass* or am I just applying 6 string thinking to a bass guitar? I know a lot of guitar players fall into that-and a couple of friends of mine have told me the same thing regarding my own bass work. Am I close to playing that song like a real bass player? I mean my choice of lines more than technique, or lack of! LOL

Your bass lines are acceptable but very simple. Remember, bass does not stand for basic. Good bass players apply fragments of scales to add more variety. Bass is a subconcious voice; i.e. average people listen to the guitar and vocals conciously and the bass and drum parts unconciously.

jimmydanger wrote:Your bass lines are acceptable but very simple. Remember, bass does not stand for basic. Good bass players apply fragments of scales to add more variety. Bass is a subconcious voice; i.e. average people listen to the guitar and vocals conciously and the bass and drum parts unconciously.

That's still to the good though! I kept it simple in hopes of not overplaying and tipping totally into 6 string thinking. I hope to have the "services" of a real bassist (and drummer and singer for that matter) *sometime* this year...I'm making a push to get out into the scene here where I live. My hope w/ these recordings was to demo a feel or groove for them to think about when they come up with their own ideas.

I'll tell you this about my bass expereince-it has helped my guitar playing alot. I am concious of things going on that I wasn't prior; for example I'm much more aware as a guitar player what is going on w/ the rythmn section! That sounds simple, but I have been a very typically self absorbed soloing maniac for a good part of my years. I went into a several year hiatus to woodshed and develop some better rythmn habits, so I could be a better ensemble player...playing bass for my tunes over the last year has been an eye opener for me and advanced me quicker than any of the chord work I did w/ 6 string .

I agree with you-it's a very subtle thing, bass...but man is it crucial! Pivotal really. Not telling you anything you don't already know as a bassist yourself. Bet you get tired of being taken for granted! LOL

Thanks for the feedback, man!


B.