#Frail Autumn,, #music, #songwriting

Stop this Heartache. Extra instruments added. The 3 guitar flicks.

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Three guitar flicks at different points in the recording.

THREE EXPERIMENTS TO SEEK BALANCE. LISTEN ON AUDIO AT END OF BLOG.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR I PUT THE INSTRUMENTAL AUDIO PROGRESSIONS OF THIS SONG TOGETHER ON THIS BLOG BELOW. I REMEMBER THINKING I SHOULD REVISIT AND COMPLETE WITH THE VOCALS FINALLY DONE.

SO I ADDED TWO EXTRA TRACKS THIS AFTERNOON TO COMPLETE A PROCESS. NOT YET COMPLETE THOUGH BECAUSE THE NEW TASCAM MODEL 12 MIXER (DOWN BELOW AT END OF BLOG) CAN NOW BE USED TO REALLY TRY OUT THE SOUND, EQ AND FINAL MIXING BEING DONE PROPERLY.

THE ORIGINAL BLOG HERE:

This process? It’s no where near songwriting as I know and love it. It’s creating a simple overlay on overlay on overlay. Choosing a separate track, setting up the sound required and playing the electric guitar over the acoustic base track from the other day. Jamming with myself I suppose.

When writing a song, there is a process of hearing ideas alongside others and weaving them in and out with what your fellow band members play. Strong point instrument wise, for myself, is the bass guitar. Because that is what I play. I don’t play 6 string electric guitars, keyboards, percussion, etc. I actually am clueless to create and weave the sounds in my head with my limited skills. No bass played on this one as yet.

It’s not actually frustrating presenting one’s own limitations using other instruments and not creating an ounce of dynamics. You know others will find the answers for you. They pick up their instruments and the sky’s the limit.

But it came to realisation that it was nice capturing little ideas and getting them down for future consideration. If I was asking the brass section in the Team 23 if they could play some tune I had in my head and La La La sang it. They would pick it up, run with it, make it their own and bish bash bosh, all nice and sorted. Drummer, guitarist, keyboard player……all just cruised along in the writing of songs.

I don’t cruise instrumentally on my playing music anymore. Not with current expectations. I have a different dynamic. See what this Apple and GarageBand combination has to offer. I am in the infancy of learning. When I get others sitting in The Den, I can at least now show them the way forward. The basics of capturing sound now.

It’s quite a journey.

Decent speakers are the next step for mixing tracks to songs. Then ongoing to achieve the overall sound. Headphones are essential to eliminate outside noise whilst recording the instruments. Also, for general listening. If I listen back on the iPad or Studio Display screen monitor speakers……a very weak identification to the true sound. The Beyerdynamic headphones bring clarity to individual instruments. So the levels of loud/soft/quiet can be sorted out to some extent. But good speakers are the ultimate desire.

Anyways………. 3 naive flick guitar chords/licks added to what I had the other day.

First up, a crazy synthesiser guitar sound on one of the guitar parts. I knew I could change this anytime. Included it on here this morning to show the experiment with this particular track. Then went ahead and changed it to a cleaner guitar sound. Same guitar recording being played on this small riff. Didn’t have to play it again.

Riff/Chords on acoustic and electric guitars ………. Allows playing around with sound as it is a tiny riff.
CHANGED THE GUITAR SOUND TO A CLEANER SOUND VERSION. KEPT THE OVERALL SONG COMPRESSION ON THIS TOO.
Compressed sound…… heavier vibe.
Not compressed. Much lighter.
One I feel is okay………..but #2 is much clearer and compression is something I need to study properly.

ADDED THIS AFTERNOON.

Bite….
Softer…..

Vocals seem to be okay for now. But the progress up to final mix needs doing properly. The whole business of this instrumental sound control and mixing is based on trying to control a ‘mouse arrow’ and manipulate dials, faders, EQ settings, etc. on the monitor screen. So frustrating. So bought this Tascam mixer.

32 thoughts on “Stop this Heartache. Extra instruments added. The 3 guitar flicks.”

  1. I am hearing some great melodies coming out of these experiments of yours, Gray! I sense your frustration with GB but know you are trying to learn some very complex software on your own. I bet 5 minutes or so with someone who knows it well would alleviate your aggravation and take you to amazing heights!

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    1. Thank you. Melodies are just off the hoof instrument wise. But, as said, I now understand that there are no real songs at present. Any thing workable is caught up with the techno learning and experimenting.

      Very true about the complex situation. But what is positive is that I am getting over little hurdles one by one. I am going to invest in decent speakers later down the line for mixing. I haven’t even tried that one yet. I recently downloaded a 6 step guide from a YouTuber. It looks very difficult. The more you get into this, the more you need to understand the quick tricks. How to cut and paste is a massive one I need to learn. I am going back to the start again and again to play over the whole instrumental part when I make a mistake. Usually right near the end! I totally agree with someone to give guidance.

      Thank you Sheila for your feedback. Much appreciated.

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      1. You’re welcome, Gray. As much help as you have given me though, I don’t feel you ever need to thank ME!

        Your step-by-step learning really inspires me!

        At least repetition will work to your advantage if you ever do choose to put any parts into a song played out Live somewhere! I doubt anything is ever wasted.

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      2. Help comes from many sources. Especially here on WP. So, thank you again. I just found number 3 version I sent myself. Uploaded it. It sometimes takes a long time to come through on email here. Rural compromise.

        If you look at the photo up top of blog, it shows guitar sound choices. There are dozens on dozens and you can still tweak each one further and further. They have multiple guitar pedal board options to add to their sound too. I just pick about half a dozen simple styles, add some echo and play simple flicks. You can change any one of them already recorded over and over for a different vibe. Nothing is written in stone on this system. Be good if you got into it yourself Sheila.

        But, guitar and other instrument choices are limitless! Crazy. That’s why real musicians are so valued by me. And it would be so nice to only play a bass guitar. And a bit of acoustic maybe. Cheers.

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      4. I watch many good films over again. The ‘mind’s eye’ situation means I don’t retain the imagery. So it’s like watching a new movie, for the most part, again. Paul McCartney played his uncle in one of the films too. He did base Captain Jack in part on Keith. Also the way he walks on land is because of his ‘sea legs’. A ship moves a lot, so once on solid ground…..that rolling gait he creates. Great movies. Cheers Sheila.

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      6. Paul is pretty good to be honest. Johnny takes his characters seriously with adding in some of the presentations of others. Mordecai has the Terry Thomas vibe. Willy Wonka has Michael Jackson. Lots more. Edward Scissorhands was ‘a dog’. He says there is complete trust from a dog when interacting with humans. That’s how Edward presents himself. Cheers Sheila.

        Then, another one that makes me smile……he never watches his films on completion. Once he has made them, they’re done and dusted. I wish he could have continued his Grindelwald part to the third film.

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      7. I remember a few actors that have said they don’t watch the completed films. I find that amusing. I would want to see a complete film if I were in one. Ha!
        I would love to be the old lady witch in a cameo one day, as I enjoy dressing up. But I never liked ‘acting.’

        Great to know how Johnny brings others, like the dog personality into Scissorhands! Thank you, Gray!

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      8. He’s a generational master of his acting craft to be honest. The artist and musician an added extra. I don’t feel I would like to watch myself on the screen. I have very few photographs of myself. Always refuse to have them taken. A few over the years born from necessity.

        Your desire re: a cameo. I can’t say ‘Yes Sheila. You would be make a perfect cameo as an old witch’. That would be just rude. 😆 All the best.

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      9. Ah, you’re so kind, Gray. I love playing a witch. Always have! Ever since I was a child. But the irony is, I was raised Christian, so it is bizarre how I was always drawn to the dark, like I always loved Dark Shadows (an old vampire TV series), The Twilight Zone, Edgar Allan Poe, etc. etc.
        I think Johnny Depp would have me play the witch if he ever met me. It would be a hoot of a good time! But thank you, Gray.

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      10. Johnny and Tim Burton did Dark Shadows as a film. Some great actors in it too. I watched Tales of the Unexpected over here. Bought the complete series box set a year or two ago from a charity shop. Watched Twilight Zone a few times. Read Poe. Currently? Maybe Inside Number 9 and Black Mirror are the modern versions. But a lot darker. Not keen really. Too impactful psychologically.

        You could have been Johnny’s Grindelwald sidekick Sheila. Wanda the wand weaver. 😉

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      11. Ah, I love that, Gray! Wanda the wand weaver! Yes!
        And I bet I would enjoy Tales of the Unexpected. Fun! I did like Johnny’s Dark Shadows. I have to look up the Black Mirror and Inside Number 9. Oddly, I am not into Horror as a genre, like slasher or grisly movies. More like Afterlife stuff, or dark comedies now like Beatlejuice and Young Frankenstein.

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    1. Thank you Destiny. They, without really realising it, have become experiments again. Not serious songs with an aim and a purpose. Well, other than to keep delving into the technical side of GarageBand learning. As said, ‘Oh for some real musicians!’ Glad you liked them all. I think the lighter one sounds clearer. All the best. 🙏🏽

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  4. I really like the second because it’s heavier, darker even. there’s a copy of Sherlock Holmes behind the bass and amp. this is curious to me because you’re working hard to unlock the mysteries of recording with the new technology.

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    1. Thanks for choosing cookie. It helps. I am too entrenched in the sounds to know where to go presently. I’m just trying out sounds to email to myself for earbud, headphone, single speaker, iPad, iPhone listening. This morning it has been a fresh listen after a few hours of going down rabbit holes yesterday. Ended up too tired to focus properly. This morning I decided to focus on one single short guitar part that drops in three times. That allows experimentation without messing up a whole vibe. So am including them here too.

      I like the heavier version too. But when I put it across to email and then WP upload, I have to choose the lowest quality for sending. The difference in The Den on headphones with the Apple Mac is world’s apart. I can see that you can transfer to top platforms like iTunes, Bandcamp, etc, with best quality. So will be good to know for the future.

      This was an intentional song. But, as the blog says, I can’t be dynamic on guitar. I need some people who play guitars properly. My bass guitar part isn’t even considered yet to add to this. I have a tune and riff, but not all of it.

      I have read Conan Doyle since I was a teenager. Absolute classics. Conan Doyle also wrote The Professor Challenger stories. Maybe they would be more apt! 😊 Cheers and all the best cookie.

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  5. Gray, Very good to hear (literally) you are working through you technology phobia. I have no idea what compression is but the various version all have their merit. I saw a 1 man band perform a couple years back and he was doing basically what you did. He would set up the underlying instruments, get them on a loop then play the song & sing. It was very interesting to watch. All the best.

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    1. Sorry Danny. Missed this comment. I have no true idea of compressing sound advantages really. I am currently looking at decent speakers for mixing tracks for better sounding songs. So need to get to grips with how and why it is done.

      Also, the loop you mention is easy to do once you’ve played the intended piece in bar lengths. It’s a repeating exercise and you use as many bars you want it to last for. I don’t use the loop so am pretty clueless in how it works properly. I play some instruments for the whole song. Or little introductory instruments I move the ‘vertices moving bar’ which moves along whilst the song is playing to show where you are. When close to where they come in, I hit record, and capture the playing without having to go through the whole song again and waiting until those moments to arrive. I am learning cut and paste presently so can play bits and pieces at the start and move them to their intended places in the song.

      It’s all a bit weird presently! Like a rabbit in the headlights. Cheers Danny.

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    1. Thank you Shep. I have a long way to go in fathoming out the Tascam Model 12. But YouTube videos in their dozens point to it being an exciting buy. Old School mixed with New Tech. It can be a stand alone recording system out in the field too. The connector ports at the back can take a number of different types of lead for different instruments and microphones. So, on my little desk in The Den, I can hook up leads and just leave them in situ. No continually swapping the one choice connection port for different instruments. I can also plug in my electronic Yamaha drum kit too. I am about 1% into reading the manual (Frankie doesn’t like attention spent elsewhere, so comes and sits on it when I’m reading it in the garden or living room chair) so am not familiar with its machinations yet. But I keep thinking how it felt like this with GarageBand and the M2 computer when I started.

      You never stop ‘slow bit by bit’ learning as a technophobe, but it is winnable. Jerome, the singer in our Team 23 band, has recently been in touch and sending me some connectors in the post. He has been doing some of his own recording over the past decades. So it’s good that he may drop some advice. He listened to my songs and said I was getting there. So, from Jerome, that is a big thumbs up. If you look up Casper Hauser on YouTube (a mid 1980’s band) you can catch a few of his videos playing live with his band after Team 23 split. Great sound from a five piece set up.

      Oh! I stumbled across the Australian band Floodlights on YouTube. Nice vibe. Bit of Harp too. If you have uploaded and linked them in your blogs in the past, forgive me for forgetting. My brain gets too full recently and says ‘nope…too much info to cope with nowadays’. Sad, but true.

      Cheers as ever Shep and all the best. Thanks for your encouragement. Priceless.

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  7. Manuals aren’t the easiest read. ‘Floodlights’ are in my backyard (so to speak – night cricket maybe?) and I hadn’t come across them. Thanks. Agree good vibe there’s trumpet too! Say g’day to Frankie for me. The Ol’ 🐕

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    1. I thought my manual reading days regarding using various equipment and machines were over after retiring from nurse stuff. The only common manual ‘same result’ of both medical and musical technology is that they’re both life savers. I liked the Floodlights’ sound. Sounds a bit Talking Heads, so that’s cool. Frankie says Hi back in a soft meow and not a harsh yowl. He must like you Shep. Cheers.

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    1. I absolutely love Echo and the Bunnymen. And Ian McCulloch’s solo Candleland album is often played too.

      Multiple cats? Having Frankie on his own is really full on Shep. And it’s all day long with not keeping still and just me in the house. The garden is his wanna be place too. Getting another cat could prove that my sanity gets truly challenged. So will just work through the kitten-hood ‘dashing and investigating everything around and needs constant attention’ stages and cross fingers he gets a chill factor in the future personality. Frankie doesn’t look kitten at all now as he is already massive for seven months old. Cheers Shep.

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