#Frail Autumn,, #GarageBand,, #Lyrics, #music, #Retirement Projects, #songwriting

Instrumentals. Possibilities.

11 Comments

Been thinking a while now about the instrumental tunes I am messing about with and trialing. Is there a subliminal agenda that is in force?

A while back I was speaking to a good friend I first met thirty years ago. One of those friends you don’t see for years and you meet unexpectedly and carry on chatting as if the last meet up was yesterday. She was speaking of an all female choir she belonged to. Talking over the idea of inclusions to future song recordings, I mentioned the idea of bringing their voices to a future recording session. Maybe a song or two. She was enthusiastic and really positive.

The instrumentals I keep messing about with are basically little experimentations in learning how GarageBand works. However. What they have turned out to be now is a bunch of simple interesting melodies. I have played them off the hoof, and made them up on the spot. I realise that the plink plonk of keyboard notes somehow let inner tunes explode into reality. I could easily substitute a simply played keyboard melody and expand it into weaving vocals and lyrics. The subconscious musical brain works in mysterious ways.

Where I used to sing ‘la la la’ to find a melody, the keyboard is producing the same. La la la expands and nuance explodes when lyrics come into the equation. The keyboard plink plonk is the base. I can’t play keyboards with any skill. Tunes that are possibilities? Opportunities exist in naivity because of the simplicity of only being able to play simple/core tunes. I keep saying ‘I am only a bass player’. Ain’t that the truth. Wish I was on Paul McCartney’s level of being only a bass player!

However, having said this, I do find myself singing the keyboard core and then expanding it into a more fluid nature of vocalised possibilities as I play these instrumentals back. Sometimes even try to harmonise with them. I have vocal tunes to most of the instrumentals I have on file. Just not the lyrics.

Here are three recent examples of instrumental experiments quickly written over the last few weeks. One older example as the fourth. The second one? Me? Simply found in Dad Dancing mode around the living room like Christopher Walken in ‘That’ Fatboy Slim iconic video. Yup! Shoulder shrugs and pointing fingers to the sky were involved. Guilty as charged. Self Nepotism.

Below,

Hey ho,

let’s see where they can………Go!

A Female Choir maybe?
Found myself dancing around the room to this one like a Dad at a party. Very embarrassing.
Lyrics? ‘Living in downtown, West Side, in 1961…..Having so much Fun’ is constantly a weaving mind lyric with a melody on this as I listen.
This is LOUD. If you are wearing headphones….PLEASE turn the volume DOWN.

Another vocal tune is always hummed over this as I listen back.
Stars above the Dunes, is one where the intended lyrics and vocal melody are currently not sitting well together. So awaiting a new vocal direction.

11 thoughts on “Instrumentals. Possibilities.”

    1. I do love brass. Not sure of the brass type in the photo. Maybe a baritone trumpet. Will add some real brass down the line. But these sounds here are from the keyboard library of synthesiser and various other little oddities choices. Downloaded the choir sound last night. They all have weird names like dark sky mood, etc. It’s been a delve into hundreds of different sounds and getting a feeling of what might fit. I have very little time to spend on recording at the moment due to Frankie and his exuberance.

      So it’s a case of sitting up at close to midnight tapping keyboard keys and using the headphones so as not to wake up Angie. Carry on for a few hours putting little ditty toons together and then wake up early really tired. A very isolated time in this aspect presently. Be nice for spring to arrive now. Freezing over here in the UK presently.

      Hope you are okay and looking forward to your next post. All the best and big cheers Shep.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Hiya cookie. Pure joy is getting a comment from you. Made me instantly smile. Nice to read your back and giving a positive energy in your words regards the tunes. These little excursions in playing without singing are quite therapeutic. But! I’m already humming tunes and little words over them for intentional vocals. I’d like to extend that first one to a full song.

      Talking of musical brains I hope that guitar of yours is crossing those distant miles and making its way back home to be retuned and singing in its own sweet voice again. All the best cookie. 💫

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Thank you Sheila. The last clip was a while ago and needs a revisit for vocal melody rewrite. The original melody doesn’t sit well. But can’t force a melody. It just arrives when it feels right. The second one I find myself moving to without realising it is nicely danceable due to the drum beat. I have vocal tunes to it. But no cemented lyrics yet. The first one I really want to extend and write a chorus.

      I should imagine music therapy plays a large part in the sauna experience. Your own new songs would be ideal. All the best and cheers Sheila.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. It’s what assists the calmness of the therapeutic processes. I love silence mainly. Eyes closed, nothing seen in the Mind’s Eye and therefore nothing to infiltrate relaxation. A thought is very easy to drop out of the mind. If I had one, the sauna may well then become a tactile body experience. Certainly was in the sauna rooms, with hot coals for dropping scented water on, that I used to go to decades ago.

        I find melody when least expected. And it then interweaves with the instrumental considerations with an easy flow. Cheers.

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment