A Silhouette of Mirror.
Photograph by Gray Summers.
Recently, the idea of getting back to bare bones of songs is playing around in the mind. Listening to a lot of other artists’ songs currently where the premise is simply a guitar and a voice. But they are a million miles away from my naivety when playing guitar and singing.
However. Something came to mind. Listening again to the Devendra Banhart album called ‘Mala’? Suddenly the Lightbulb moment went on. There are beautiful little Bass guitar melodic inclusions that are inherent in the songs.
I never play a Bass Guitar foundation at all anymore. And ….. I was always actually a Bass player first and foremost back in my band years of the 1970/early80s years.
I need to go back to my roots and play the main part first and foremost by playing my bass guitar in simple riff melody captures. And build on that premise!
It would be good now to find a sound of simplicity. Yet unique. I do like the vibe of ‘And so the story goes’ below. Tonight, I found myself singing a low bass line melody to add to the song. I will probably re-record this one soon and build up from a bass riff on a simple drum percussive beat.
Messing about with this tonight too. Just a trial song. Acoustic and poor keyboard playing skills. But I’m beginning to realise, with lots of new songs, that acoustic guitars, played alongside electric echo swirling riffs, could be a nice Frail Autumn pursuit.
🍁🍂
👌love the idea of bass melodic lines.👏🏻🐾🐾
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Cheers Shep. What happens with a bass guitar ‘at base’ foundation, is that I find myself playing differently on six string guitar. I kind of fill space in totality when playing without the bass premise. If I am totally in the capture of a song melody, then yes, guitar is paused for dramatic effects. But, I don’t write ballad type songs. It’s usually when I sing a tune from another’s song. Nilsson always makes me pause and play differently when ai sing his songs. Strangely, it is the ones that I feel a massive emotional connection to. I can’t fake playing nicely to certain songs. You kind of dive deeply into them. I wonder if you feel the same when playing certain harp pieces.
I listen to harp players who play those beautiful empty spaced haunting soulful tunes. Giving a wonderful harmonious ‘hang’ when you wait for the their next expression of sound. I reckon it’s because life’s breathing is involved. And breathing keeps us alive. And so, when listening to such technique, it captures and involves our own life’s basics. You listen in a synergetic way. Sorry for the word salad Shep. Just poured a third, but two finger measure, at 01.15.
Cheers and gentle hand claps in return. All the best. 🙏🏽
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