sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
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Post by sgulley on Aug 21, 2008 20:10:52 GMT
I guess playing & recording with drums are 2 different subjects completely. Playing in a live setting with a good drummer is about one of the most fun things you can ever experience. I miss those days, but when a drummer that everyone depends on doesn't show then you are really stuck.
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sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
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Post by sgulley on Aug 22, 2008 0:57:04 GMT
OK I got the chance to listen to Storm but can't really add anything to what has already been said. The song is top notch in presentation, but mixwise the drums are drowning out just about everything else. Vocals & harmony were nice but could barely hear guitar or bass. Nice hooks and storyline!
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Post by mcarp555 on Aug 22, 2008 23:19:57 GMT
Let's talk about middle, change up, interesting riff.... Since I am coming from a position of years of playing acoustic guitar, picking or strumming, and just singing along with my playing, I tend to neglect leaving "space" if you will, for interesting lead lines of piano, violin, or even electric guitar. Now that I'm multi-tracking, I need to change my mindset when writing. I feel like I start with a good "skeleton" of a song, but I know exactly what you're saying about a producer. I feel like I need coaching or direction in tweaking the construction. If you don't mind my asking your opinion, in this song, what/ where specifically would you tweak? I am definitely open for suggestions. Would you add more measures in between verses, or just interject some type of riff in the existing transitions? And when you say change-up, I guess the bridge comes too late for interest, so what would you do? I'm going to send the tracks, and if anyone wants to experiment with electric guitar, EQ, panning, whatever....go crazy with it. Great suggestions. Thanks! Having another listen a day later, I can hear that for the most part, the structure is okay. I can tell your antennae are there, you just need to think about it more and you'll get it. For example, at the end of the verse/chorus, there's a bit of empty space after the last "storm". A perfect place for something like a sad riff on flute, or a little arpeggio electric guitar (a la Bangles). For that matter, double the length of the intro and having something going on there, even if it's some "oohs" the second time around. The middle is getting lost in the shuffle because it's a) played almost exactly the same as the verse, and b) it's too short by half. Doing things like changing the strum pattern or the drum rhythm would be a good start to breaking things up. And having four lines instead of two would be even better to extend the storyline, maybe even leading up to a crescendo or some other sort of 'big' thing. An old favourite is a major II chord, resolving to a V7, then back to the I chord of the verse (known as a 'Five of Five'). Having the riff or e. guitar pattern I mentioned earlier playing in the fadeout would help keep the ending from just dithering away. I know that with four tracks, it becomes a matter of choices, and sometimes it's tough decisions. Even if you just change up the bass, drums and guitar tracks, it would help break out a (longer) middle. Look at how the middle of 'Dorothy' fits in, but stands out from the rest of the song. Then leads into an accapella verse. So you know how to think in that direction, it's just a matter of applying that to other songs.
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Post by Girl Friday on Aug 23, 2008 14:33:34 GMT
Thanks for all the valuable input! Notes taken.
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Post by Tom on Aug 23, 2008 16:20:50 GMT
An old favourite is a major II chord, resolving to a V7, then back to the I chord of the verse (known as a 'Five of Five') Thanks for that one Mike -- I'll have to give it a try myself. Tom
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