Thanks Daniel and Jafomatic. I am over-thinking it. Not the first time!

That could help, although the rhythm of the drums has a different grouping that the count-in measures,

That's kind of my bad, but it reinforces the exercise on odd time signatures, so it's good!

the grouping in the count-in is: 1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2


While the drums to me are: 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3


Except at the end: 1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2






it is all that matters,

all that theory behind odd time signature should help you understand better not confuse you,





yeah, well put, if you set your delay at 1622ms then you'd get a bounce at the tempo of the hi hat,

still to me that is an eighth note,

Any advices to sound less pentatonical ?

Use the minor scale to start, a good interval in this case would be E - C

Hi Daniel,

Here's my take with backing and without. I tried to stay in that dreamy sorta haunty mood. I hope it works.

Cheers!

 NoSkill_DanielDreamy_WithBT.mp3 ( 1.57MB ) Number of downloads: 204

 NoSkill_DanielDreamy_NoBT.mp3 ( 1.57MB ) Number of downloads: 175

I see that you had a musical idea in your head before recording, that's a good thing, did you sing it?

I think the haunty mood comes from using that low register and staying in the same area of the guitar. Try moving around more.

good job!

Yeah, I stayed in the lower register on purpose. I wanted to play the entire piece on the same string. It was an experiment. I do sing those parts, yes. Muris got me to start doing that. It helps, as I can (poorly) sing what I'm thinking easier than I can play it on the guitar.

I can revisit some higher register stuff if you prefer.

Thanks for the comments!

Cheers!

This is quite the occasion for me. My first GMC Collaboration Upload ever!! I have said it before but I will say it again: I just love this backing track. It has really grown on me. Thank you Daniel.

Here is my take.

 DreamyBallad_NeurO_with_BT.mp3 ( 1.24MB ) Number of downloads: 224

 DreamyBallad_NeurO_Solo.mp3 ( 1.24MB ) Number of downloads: 163


Looking forward to hearing everyone's take and the final mix.

wow, nice effect at the end! that little melodic phrase on the delay really made sense to me,

The tone is good, not too bright, very full,

I think your picking is still a little noisy, focus on that,

That is just the way the picks I use are ... They bite the strings hard and give a pronounced pick noise. I switched over to using various V-Picks a few months ago and for this I used the Freakishly Large for a fatter tone. Most times I use a lot thinner pick ... the Screamer. I tend to not be light in my picking either which is kinda necessary with the heavier gauge 11-49 strings. So not really sure how I can tone it down? Any ideas?

Glad you like it and thanks for the advice. Appreciate it.

I'm a fan of picking the strings hard,

it has something to do with the pick and strings but really it's in your hand, tilt the pick just to see where it makes the least noise,

It could be that I don't really hear it on my end as being so prominent since I don't have studio monitors? I use P.A. speakers and a powered mixer fed by the audio interface/sound card. Good for a live band but not really for tracking and mixing ... I do have studio headphones with a very flat response and seems to sound fine on there using the 112dB Redline Monitor plugin on the master outs as a check which gives some kind of reference when using headphones. Of course, appropriate speakers would be better. That is next on my shopping list.

[EDIT] >> Actually, maybe they aren't so bad? The specs on the P.A. speakers say they have a frequency response of 60Hz-16kHz (-3dB) & 55Hz-18kHz (-10dB) so I am losing some definition at the high end. Although, that is probably where pick noise sits. They are built like bricks though at 25kg a piece pushing 200W RMS!!!

Still plan on getting some studio monitors to complement them in the near future. It is always a good idea to hear a mix on various systems anyway.

This post has been edited by Neurologi: Nov 19 2009, 05:19 AM

Great takes so far... I like the range of sounds. I want to try to earn the points...but I'll have to submit another take for that, this is pretty straight forward. Here is mine .

This post has been edited by Hammerhead: Nov 21 2009, 05:11 PM

good job Hammerhead,

I would encourage you to risk more, doing some vibrato, sliding,





If you feel like you have to adjust your picking depending on the strings, that's going to make it difficult for you to feel completely comfortable and use the best of your abilities. I recommend that you use the picks that make you feel the most comfortable so that you don't have to think about it, it becomes a part of your fingers almost.



I just imported your solo in my DAW. Make sure you follow the collaborations guidelines to consolidate the solos. The starting point must be an exact bar line so that it's in perfect sync with the backing track when importing it. In this case the exact bar line would be the first hihat hit.

Exactly. I have tried using other picks but I so much like the feel, playability and tone of the thicker picks and thicker gauge strings. It feels just right. An extension of my hand.

As you said before already, it is all in the fingers, there is no other explanation for it as I have pretty much tried everything else to try to cure the pick noise woes. It is just difficult for me to separate the noise from the playing. It is more than just a little distracting. I was aware of it before but even more so now. I chalk it up to just experience and practise. I need more of it!

Unfortunately, it seems, I can't think my way out of this one. I have made so many changes to pretty much everything in the last few months that it is bound to take time for the brain and fingers to catch up. Frustrated? For sure.

This post has been edited by Neurologi: Nov 22 2009, 12:50 AM

good job Hammerhead,

I would encourage you to risk more, doing some vibrato, sliding,


I just imported your solo in my DAW. Make sure you follow the collaborations guidelines to consolidate the solos. The starting point must be an exact bar line so that it's in perfect sync with the backing track when importing it. In this case the exact bar line would be the first hihat hit.

smile.gif

Daniel,
Thanks! Sorry about the recording... I just read the guidelines... so I'll take your advice and submit another take, and I will take some chances!

I know how that feels. The best thing you can do is analyse your picking by the smallest possible bits at a time. By that I mean, take a look at when the hand falls, when it hits the string, then when it passes the string, the when it raises again, you know what I mean?

you won't do this for hours but at least you'll do it sometimes to note what's causing some unwanted noise,

and of course be open to change at any time if it requires to hit the strings hard so that you "shake" your old habits do it, or whatever it takes,

Daniel,
Here is another take and I went for a whole new sound to mix it up. I can also record my last take properly with the Ballad track lined up on the proper beat if you like (not a problem to do). I took more chances here and it felt good. I think I might mix it up one more take and shoot for a completely new sound again. It felt like I had to stretch to rethink my relationship to the music. At first I wasn't sure I could do it... then Bam! I could hear the new music, (in my head) with the same backing track.

Great job, Hammerhead! Much improved over the last take. Likin' this one a lot man! I had exactly the same experience as you. I thought why not? Do something I might not necessarily have done otherwise. Liberating is it, not?


I know exactly what you mean. This was kinda inevitable. I did much the same thing analysing my right hand technique, in particular, for flamenco not so long ago. Took me about 2-3 months to get the mechanics down solid for good tone, projection and articulation. Therefore, I expected much the same thing taking up the electric again for the first time in over four years!

It is a little disconcerting though that I can plainly hear the pick noise even when playing simply, deliberately and slowly. It is always there. All the advice I have gleaned from the net points to the fact that I do everything in my power to "enhance" the noise by using high gain, max treble and volume on guitar, thick picks, thick gauge strings, pushed mids and trebles in both amp and DAW, a hard picking style and the list goes on .... Am I doomed?!

[EDIT] >> Speaking of which I may just play Flamenco for a week to take my mind off things ... I have been spending too much time on the electric.

This post has been edited by Neurologi: Nov 22 2009, 06:47 PM

Let's see if you can figure out where this one took me..

Edit: Remixed...

This post has been edited by skennington: Nov 22 2009, 11:33 PM