#Frail Autumn,, #Lyrics, #music, #songwriting

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over……..and a Dirge song included….

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Even when recording your own songs? These phrases apply.

GarageBand drums, from their choices accessed in the library, sound brilliant. I know how to access the drum kit, once chosen, and alter the dynamics required to produce individual sections for the songs. I say ‘know how to’, but that doesn’t mean ‘I am able to do so’.

When layering a song, I have found the way to do this, for my own comfort, is to first upload a drum track. It just trundles or thunders through with the same beat from beginning to end. It can be tweaked, but I have no skill to get it sounding like a real drummer’s dynamics. But, even in this basic format, it gives a foundation to layer acoustic or electric guitar bits on top of the basic beat. I can add the AKAI MIDI keyboard for other instrumental sounds like brass, strings, keyboards, etc. afterwards too. Finally, I like to finish off with my bass guitar and vocals.

Bought this yesterday.

Vocals, I will admit, aren’t sung by myself with any passion, because this project is a simple one of specific intent. Just get the song on to the system. Even in short example form. Also, GarageBand doesn’t emulate the real vocal sound. Opening up the ‘voice’ for recording option, it then accesses vocal sound choices like compressed, bright, dance, narration, telephone, etc. The warmth and nuance you attempt to create goes AWOL.

Research produced this information as to additional pedals for the drum kit.

So. This project up to now? Yes, I have a few songs done. But they are simply to create basic templates of my songwriting ideas so that each can be listened to by other musicians. They can then understand what is going on and then add their own melody, style, dynamism, warmth, individual skills, etc. Once captured, similar tracks of individual instrumental recordings I have played can be deleted. First example, my guitar flicks and small riffs are naive. My brother would take them at face value and create a whole new story by forming the ‘full on’ human body attached too.

The Yamaha KP 65. This acts like a bass drum. A drum pedal hits it and creates about 50 different bass drum sounds. The drum pedal ( not yet bought) sits in front of it. You can buy little stick on pads that can elongate the rubber pad life.

With the drums in mind, it was an ‘out of the blue’ eBay purchase because I saw the Yamaha DD65 electronic drum kit at a decent price. A quick YouTube visit to listen to what it sounded like convinced me to go straight back and buy it. It’s arriving here next week. After purchasing and internet reading the accessories required, a kick bass drum accessory, a bass drum pedal and a hi-hat pedal, which can open up the hi-hat cymbals, seemed to be good additions. You hit the drum pad hi-hat option and use the pedal in conjunction (placed on the ground like a normal hi-hat pedal) to create the open/close sound. So I bought two extras, but as yet, no drum pedal.

The HH65 (obviously second hand) which allows the rubber mat hi-hat on the DD65 to ‘open and close‘ like a real hi-hat.

I’m no drummer of any skill. But at least I can change a bit of the dynamics to a song I write by playing drums, albeit naively. I hear a song’s totality in my head to a large degree so can drop out drum beats and add different rhythms in specific places.

My brother, the guitarist, said the same thing on listening to a few tracks he was playing over after I sent them by email/Messenger. He said it was a ‘chug’ all the way through of similar beat pattern. Difficult to create little sparks of joy and intent. Musicians, and you who are musicians and who read this, know that internal dynamics are vital in a song. Highs and lows, quiet and loud, frenzied or calm. I actually agreed with him so much that I recorded a real ‘chug along’ this morning. Out of irony. It is the equivalent of throwing my toys out of the pram. A melancholy pout at the ridiculous. This song chug below now serves as a ‘this is what you get if you don’t start changing the ball game’ example. My nod to the phrase “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

This is my morning example of Insanity:

VOCALS, GUITARS, KEYBOARDS by Gray Summers. That’ll be me then. Percussion off GarageBand library choices.

Once upon a Time. The Punk Drunk Ironical Dirge……

So the story goes

To where? No one knows.

Borne out of promises.

Not worn out wishes……….

WITHOUT THE VOICE : Two slightly different ones. The longer one messed up on email sends. Blipped out and changed the format because it was too long for email compatibility. Low quality too. So another lesson learned for the future. Downloads in future have to be thought out differently. Maybe MP3 format. May just be my rural situation though. Weak signal.

As an aside……….insomnia can be helped with these……😊

LONGER BLIP VERSION
SHORTER VERSION.

As said. This morning I was recording a trundle vibe. Just experimenting with sounds too really. Resulting in now having something to confirm that this has to change! The future songs awaiting to be recorded have to have a new dynamic. I can’t commit presently in doing the same thing over and over and feel motivated. So, hopefully, I can begin again with having more control over what I envisage. And when Steve and John get to play their guitar and drums, reality of the dreamed for songs will be realised.

New audio interface.

I bought a new audio interface too. The other keeps breaking down and causing 3 to 5 second latency issues. This is: The instruments being recorded are out of synchrony with the other recorded parts. They are playing catch up timing wise. Imagine an echo coming back at you. The first echo is what becomes the sound recorded. I am absolutely thrilled with the clarity of guitar sounds with this new audio interface too. Game changer!

23 thoughts on “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over……..and a Dirge song included….”

  1. Gray, this is a fascinating share. every songwriter has their unique approach, blending personal creativity with musical techniques. your approach is pretty cool. you know I can’t wait to hear where the songs go next.

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    1. Nice reply cookie. As a songwriter I believe most have to hand over their idea to get the best result from others’ contributions. A band is very much a different scenario. I can’t get away with standing on my own and putting the songs across, due to a need for a full on instrumental sound. Finding a driven energy only accommodated by others’ throwing their weighted energy to achieve a vibrancy.

      When you say about my approach, I suppose I’m still on that massive learning curve cookie. Head swimming in the stuff coming a me. The past had the easier role of simply playing bass, singing within the energy of surrounding instrumental and vocal sound and letting others, sound engineers, capture the results.

      It’s fascinating in this project. But over a year of ups and downs, not emotionally but learning wise, you get those moments of ‘this is crazy!’ Other people spur you on when sitting and sharing musicianship. That is probably the yearning presently. Flying solo can be fairly lonesome. But hey! Tomorrow is another day. And when the drum system arrives, the story continues. To where? No one knows. But it’s borne from promises to myself. No longer worn out wishes. That’s why that phrase is my mantra cookie. Thank you for your ever welcomed responses. Very much valued and appreciated. All the best.

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  2. I still have your previous song stuck in my head, Gray! Ha! (Go figure.) These Yamaha drums look impressive! I always wanted to learn how to play the drums but when I was young all that was available was the ’kit’ and no way was my mom going to listen to that! LOL
    Then children. Years later, Sheila E burst on the scene and I lived vicariously through her drumming and used to drum on my legs while out with friends. I even played spoons when Richard met me! He still teases me about that, something I picked up from the deep country music of my grandpa’s place in the hills of West Virginia. Think Flat and Scruggs hillbilly bluegrass (very country)!
    Anyway, I will take a listen to these new songs shortly after hubby is done with his alien movie.
    Glad to see you finding good deals on equipment!

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    1. When we had a drum set stuck in the front room of my Mum and Dad’s house, Kev picked up the sticks and proved himself a natural. The next door neighbour was around in a flash complaining. Luckily, we had a rehearsal room to go to where we just stored all the guitars, amps and drums. What Kev taught me was that you never know capabilities. So you may well pick up sticks and find an affinity with drums. Even Shaman drumming, New Age, Ethnic, Rock and Roll, is possible.

      The new ‘songs’ aren’t songs Sheila. They are samples of dirge. Repetitive, weird and practical for mucking about with. You won’t have these in the mind next day. 😊

      Cheers.

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    1. Ditto. I’ve realised I need to seek a voice that resonates differently. Not adopting a false style. But using what I have in a different way of phrasing and with tapping into certain soecific sounds I can produce. I never truly do it properly.

      You are in possession of an amazing and incredible voice. Also, the way you write lyrically in your insightful and poetic way. So shared influential learning goes two ways cookie. Thank you.

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    1. When I was studying in nursing Shep, my Masters Degree was for Chronic Conditions Management and we looked at many areas of both the ‘diseases’ themselves and holistic therapies to help relieve symptoms. I put ‘diseases’ in those little single backtick apostrophes because we didn’t agree with that word as a descriptor. Even ‘conditions’ was frowned on. Both weren’t considered positive. And hypnotherapy is seeped in positive questions/suggestions for therapy. But we couldn’t think of alternative words to suit. In the holistic ways of dealing with the different elements of therapy we were allowed to study outside the normal NHS ideal. Usually, doctors throw a prescription at a patient with drugs to use on it. Other therapists think outside the box.

      I focused my whole degree on Pain Control. Three years, part time, studying both pathology’s alongside therapy’s. Complementary application/therapy/medicine was my choice study subject. Mindfulness, aromatherapy, herbalism, nature’s fix, etc. And yes, I did look at positive suggestion use in hypnotherapy. It was a long time ago now, but I remember being fascinated at the reported successful results. I also remember that I couldn’t recall events myself when I pushed myself willingly to remember past events. I was never hypnotised, but it got me thinking why, after I read number plates on cars and committed the numbers/letters to rote memory, that I completely forgot when trying to recall an hour or two later. Of course now I understand it is my Aphantasia that is the problematic. No mind’s eye for visual imagery.

      I have often wondered, since knowing I had the condition over the last few years, whether hypnotherapy would be a non-starter on myself. No ability to recall the visual imagery of past events. So, long story short Shep. Where does the music like this ‘take you to’ when listening. New Age music with nature’s sounds inclusions of sea waves, rain, wind, chimes, singing bowls, whales calling, etc. I can understand. This repetition of melody, specific sine waves, frequencies would be helpful in meditation and relaxation. I suppose I can suggest then, that ‘if it left you feeling positive and relaxed’ then that’s cool man. Use it to meditate. Cool Man? I love Hippy vibe.

      If it grated on your nerves…….I suggest to future avoid it like the plague. Have a single malt instead.

      Seriously though Shep, it did put me into a mini trance like state when focusing on getting the notes right playing with the repetitive longevity of this exercise. The headphones resonated with echoes of synthesised sound. The putting on layers on layers of guitar and keyboards was actually quite intensely weird….but enjoyably addictive.

      Hope you are chilled after listening and not twitching or triggered with anxieties. Your musical sensibilities challenged by my playing bum notes.

      Love your replies Shep. They do lead me down some rabbit holes. I said you were a great interviewer with your sublime one line question techniques.

      All the best S. You’re a star.

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      1. The healing powers of music hey?…you just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in?…https://youtu.be/mkY8f8S44AE?si=ASBoCnd2-29EUE5i….sorry Gray not into lengthy replies….all the best to you too – you don’t go bad at the caper either. Cheers the Harp Hound Hisself

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      2. Kenny Rogers a bass player. And completely different from his later country songs. Great vibe on that link Shep. Never heard that song before. You have such amazing music knowledge. By the way…..what’s the caper mean. Over here in the UK it is going on a ‘merry jaunt’. If so…..yup! I do go into long typed out capers. Words are my visual imagery. 😊 Cheers to you OS the HHH.

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  5. as you know by now… I don’t understand the finer parts of these lol… but I enjoy the real in it.
    your morning does lol…. much enjoyed as the others … as Cookie (the musician too lol) speaks about it going to next… I keep listening and finding it just fine… 😁

    thanks, Gray …🙏🤍

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    2. Well thank you Destiny. Today’s blog audio is a very stripped back to basics one. It is to be a themed progression exercise. Rather like you yourself giving us one line of your poetry in the first blog and then the first and second one in your second follow up blog. Lines 1,2 and 3 in the third blog. And so on. Keep us all awaiting in anticipation. Hope that makes sense. 😊 Thank you for keeping on listening Destiny. It really is appreciated. 🙏🏽

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      4. What happens is that you include your audience by building the suspense as to what the next musical step or poetry line will be. It then encourages others to imagine their own ideas as to what it will be. They attempt to create their own idea as to your next poetic line. A tune added that they may create from my basic song of guitar and voice. In this way, the poem or song becomes a weaving of a multitude of ideas. Encouraging others to realise they have their own poetic or musical skills too. Thank you Destiny for your enquiring mind. It makes everything so much more interesting. 🙏🏽

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      5. ” own poetic mind and musical skill”… I can relate to this…
        lol my pleasure… the process and results of such is very interesting too…as are the thoughts of others…🤍🙏

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      6. Too true. You are a teacher and understand so much more than I do in how to motivate and encourage others. There are our own ways of doing certain familiar processes to get others interested in how they express themselves. And in expressing themselves they then teach ourselves something we never knew. Again the equivalent of OM……the wonderful emoji 🙏🏽

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