General Music Chat

wrote this a few weeks ago and am in the process of recording all the parts. No ending solos yet, and no bass (except behind the first chorus). Really enjoy home recording. The more I do, the easier and quicker it gets - and the more I do, the more the inspiration to write comes. My goal is to write/record one song from every genre that I enjoy listening to. This is my blues / classic rock attempt. Next up is a metal song.

Chris

The vocals seem a bit low and real dry, the kick drum is really faint. You stated that you were in the process so I’m assuming most of it will probably change. It’s good jam though, great musicianship Chris, the guitars are real crisp.

The vocals seem a bit low and real dry, the kick drum is really faint. You stated that you were in the process so I’m assuming most of it will probably change. It’s good jam though, great musicianship Chris, the guitars are real crisp.

thanks for the input - I'll beef up the kick a bit. Question about the vocals for ya if you don't mind. I don't like a lot of effects on the vocals - what would you do other than raise the volume. I want to avoid sounding like I'm singing in a can so I'm a little hesitant about wetting the vocals with reverb and stuff.

Chris

Chris - what did you use to record the guitar? nice sound. Good song.

Talbot

Yeah guitar sounds great.
Overall percussion is weak IMO

Great idea ... love to hear it fleshed out.

The vocals seem a bit low and real dry, the kick drum is really faint. You stated that you were in the process so I’m assuming most of it will probably change. It’s good jam though, great musicianship Chris, the guitars are real crisp.

thanks for the input - I'll beef up the kick a bit. Question about the vocals for ya if you don't mind. I don't like a lot of effects on the vocals - what would you do other than raise the volume. I want to avoid sounding like I'm singing in a can so I'm a little hesitant about wetting the vocals with reverb and stuff.

Chris

Hey, nice job (even for unproduced takes). I like the idea of switching guitar textures up like that for the middle parts.

Re Voice. My observations & ideas...
1) I agree vocals are dry ...but not because of the voice or tone itself. You hold the tune fine..It's more because there seems to be no substantial 'separation' in the track. As such, its actually behind the guiitar when it should be in front. I learned a neat thing about reverb... a little touch of it is all you need for the separation. AND if you run the separated voice (mild reverb) through a compressor limiter, you can bring that vocal forward without sounding like you're in a cave or a puddle filled room.

Bring your vocal forward on this one and you'll be amazed at how well your story comes out.

just my 2 bits

@Mike T. - I'm using a BOSS-ME 70 DI to my Audio Interface, recorded in Cubase. I have yet to get the tone I hear in my head, but it's at least easy to dial in and work with - don't need a pilots' license to operate it anyways. I have been looking at the POD HD500 after hearing several recordings made using it and now I'm kindof wishing I had one. I record at home late at night when everyone's sleeping so recording DI is my only option at the moment.

@PaperDog - thanks for that tidbit. I'll add that to my homework for this week! I appreciate it!

@Sans - thanks. the song is complete in terms of lyrics, and chord progressions. I just need to add bass and solos, then clean up the vocals, retrack everything and fix the drums in the mix. Just figured out how to send each drum to it's own channel so now I'm more likely to screw things up but at least I'll have fun doing it.

Thanks

" the song is complete in terms of lyrics, and chord progressions. I just need to add bass and solos, then clean up the vocals, retrack everything and fix the drums in the mix. Just figured out how to send each drum to it's own channel so now I'm more likely to screw things up but at least I'll have fun doing it.

Thanks[/quote]

Good job Sir, good job! Excellent tune. Performed well. I have nothing but respect for anyone who goes the "original route". Keep it up!

I wish I'd discovered this site before I started my business. I would have avoided a lot of mistaks.

Multifunction Printer  Greenwood AR

I think it had a good feel about it. The "unproduced" vocals gives it a live feel. Sounds like a band recorded at a club or something. Which is a good thing, but if you want that studio sound, cleaning up the vocals will probably do it.

The solo area... I am not a fan of the pentatonic scale. It's just too predictable, and limited. The diatonic scale is just 2 more notes and adds so much variation and possibilities. If you want that minor feel the Dorian or Aeolian would be nice and the Phrygian could give it color. Phrygian dominant scale would sound good with that song. If you need any help with the theory, feel free to contact me.

Didn't want to reiterate what others said, but to build upon it. Sounds good.

Hope everything works out for you.

Good job Sir, good job! Excellent tune. Performed well. I have nothing but respect for anyone who goes the "original route". Keep it up!

Thanks Travesty! I appreciate that. My goal is to write a song in every genre I've grown to love over the years, in order to find myself - a style that is fun to play/sing, and makes the recording process a joy.

I think it had a good feel about it. The "unproduced" vocals gives it a live feel. Sounds like a band recorded at a club or something. Which is a good thing, but if you want that studio sound, cleaning up the vocals will probably do it.

The solo area... I am not a fan of the pentatonic scale. It's just too predictable, and limited. The diatonic scale is just 2 more notes and adds so much variation and possibilities. If you want that minor feel the Dorian or Aeolian would be nice and the Phrygian could give it color. Phrygian dominant scale would sound good with that song. If you need any help with the theory, feel free to contact me.

Didn't want to reiterate what others said, but to build upon it. Sounds good.

Hope everything works out for you.

I hear you on the vocals - I don't know what suits my voice best to be honest. I think for blues rock, which is kind of what I was aiming for, calls for unprocessed vocals - it just sounds more natural to me. I do agree with PaperDog - the vocals are buried a bit, which I'm trying to fix.

Per the solo - I didn't sit down with a paper and pen and try to calculate something unique. I listened to the track several times, and the solo reflects the sound I was superimposing over it in my mind. I guess I'm just limited in my musical exposure to blues'ish rock I personally love the pentatonic sound as was what I was aiming for in this song.

I appreciate the critiques. They shed light on areas I wouldn't be able to see without you!

Chris!

It doesn't take a pen and paper to play an Em Pentatonic scale. Why would it take one to play the E Phrygian (which is catch this, C major) or E harmonic minor (which is E minor with a raised 7, E-F#-G-A-B-C-D#-E, or basically G major with a D#)

The suggestion was because a pentatonic only solo sounds like every other pentatonic solo. I am not being critical, but truthful. It is used sooooooo much that if you threw a C major in there (E Phrygian) You would go from being Joe Blow pentatonic, to Joe Blow, hey what was that ditty.

You can feel music and hear where it's going. If you go exactly where you think it's going, then you sound like every one else. If you take it in a different direction than what you expect, you add texture and flavor to it.

Just trying to help, man. I have a youtube lesson series in theory, mechanics, and some jams. It's new and not complete.... but that's why I do it. I don't play out hardly, and I want to try to assist good players to be mindful of music. Not a shameless plug, but I taught for 20 years and I want to help.

I'll check out your site and play with your suggestions below. Thanks again for the input

It doesn't take a pen and paper to play an Em Pentatonic scale. Why would it take one to play the E Phrygian (which is catch this, C major) or E harmonic minor (which is E minor with a raised 7, E-F#-G-A-B-C-D#-E, or basically G major with a D#)

*snip*

I just want to reiterate that I liked the song and the elements in it. I really love music and as musicians, guitarists get no credit. Just the fundamentals of theory open vasts amounts of doors and channels one never would have played before.

I just want to share that knowledge and I do it for free. All I ask in return is to give me some ideas and feedback to make sure that I am helping and not hurting.

Thanks again, and good luck in your endeavors.

It doesn't take a pen and paper to play an Em Pentatonic scale. Why would it take one to play the E Phrygian (which is catch this, C major) or E harmonic minor (which is E minor with a raised 7, E-F#-G-A-B-C-D#-E, or basically G major with a D#)

The suggestion was because a pentatonic only solo sounds like every other pentatonic solo. I am not being critical, but truthful. It is used sooooooo much that if you threw a C major in there (E Phrygian) You would go from being Joe Blow pentatonic, to Joe Blow, hey what was that ditty.

You can feel music and hear where it's going. If you go exactly where you think it's going, then you sound like every one else. If you take it in a different direction than what you expect, you add texture and flavor to it.

Just trying to help, man. I have a youtube lesson series in theory, mechanics, and some jams. It's new and not complete.... but that's why I do it. I don't play out hardly, and I want to try to assist good players to be mindful of music. Not a shameless plug, but I taught for 20 years and I want to help.

I admit it... I dunno what Phyrgian scale means... Nor pentatonic... What are the differences essentially? (do you have a link that can illustrate?) thanks