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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ New Song + Licks For You To Learn!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 29 2015, 08:56 PM

I'm super happy to finally get some new music out. This track "Cross to Bear" will be on my forthcoming solo album, "BARBARIAN", which will be my second solo album!



It again features Italian drum maestro Andrea De Carolis. Working with a real drummer is priceless as they will always bring something you never imagined to the process. I like my tracks when I write them but I love them even more after he's come back with his drum tracks.

Anyway, this post isn't just about self promotion, I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of lick sequences in the song.

During the chorus (the 1st chorus occurs at 1:16) I use the bleeding strings technique where you play two notes on adjacent strings and let them ring into each other. The key is to keep your fingers in the same position as you play the notes as you can easily rub a finger against a string and stop the note ringing.

Here's what the lower harmony sounds like on its own.

 Bleed1.mp3 ( 571.47K ) : 97


Here's both the lower and higher harmony. The higher harmony is simply using two notes a 3rd above. So, all in all, a repetitive two note technique but allied to a satisfying chord progression and it can sound wide and dramatic. Two notes!

 Bleed2.mp3 ( 574.11K ) : 85


But the real beee-atch in this track is the final cascading scalar sequence, starting at 3:50. Don't try this one with cold fingers!?!

 Cascade.mp3 ( 190.82K ) : 94


It can be hard to decipher what exactly is going on but it's a 16th note triplet sequence that uses alternate picking and legato to achieve its aims, whatever its aims may be. They're most likely to be unsavoury so it should be watched carefully..... err, back to the lick. Because I care for you all so much I've tabbed the first part of it out. All it does from there is move down to the next scale position and repeat its pattern so, once you've got the first part, you can figure out the rest of it without too much fuss. Just think modally, or scal-ey. If you know how to move through a scale, where the intervals are then licks like this can be taken and move all over the neck. What joy!

So, without further ado.. TAB! I'm gonna charge Guido Bungenstock 500 EURO for this later so don't tell him I posted it here ph34r.gif



The picking pattern is quite simple. If we divide the sextuplets into 6 then notice that you pick 4 times and then use pull-offs for the last 2 notes.

6 notes = 4 picked + 2 pull-offs

When you break it down, it's simple. It's speed that makes things hard.

So, I hope I've given you a little bit of inspiration if nothing else. You can make whatever scalar runs you like. Play to your strengths. If you find it easier to pick everything then do so. If you find it easier to pick some notes and hammer/pull the rest then you know what I say.

Posted by: Phil66 Mar 29 2015, 09:26 PM

Awesome, some cheeky behind the nut bends too, looking forward to the album mate. Diggin' the new hair too wink.gif

Posted by: Monica Gheorghevici Mar 30 2015, 06:05 AM

Awesome song, I love it!!! You have right, it's really priceless to use a real drummer. Even if a song sounds perfect will be more tasty with real drums.

BTW now I have the hair more longer than you laugh.gif
You look great in both versions, with long hair and short hair smile.gif

Posted by: Hajduk Mar 30 2015, 06:44 AM

Awesome song Ben smile.gif Really enjoyed it!

Posted by: bleez Mar 30 2015, 06:44 AM

jinkies ohmy.gif
Ben, mate this is killer. Quite possibly my favourite track of yours so far. Its got a fantastic vibe about it.
I know you've not watched 'Vikings' yet but if Athelstan the priest had a theme tune.... it would have to be this smile.gif

also.. will you be making this available to buy on bandcamp before the album? I kinda need to get this into my car stereo for driving to work.

Posted by: gitarcitolga Mar 30 2015, 07:36 AM

Sharing new song's anatomy with us - what a modest behavior. Congrats Ben! I feel a lot of sensation in this song. New album & new hair style just fantastic what can I say I wish you best success! cool.gif

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Mar 30 2015, 08:18 AM

Yeah!! Indeed I think this is one of your best so far.

Awesome to see you are renewing yourself on all levels cool.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 30 2015, 08:45 AM

QUOTE (Phil66 @ Mar 29 2015, 08:26 PM) *
Awesome, some cheeky behind the nut bends too, looking forward to the album mate. Diggin' the new hair too wink.gif


Thank you, good sir. It's a 'riff' I had lying around for a few years and I finally added a song to the rest of it. It was originally the open E string too but the low B sounds evil, let's face it smile.gif

QUOTE (Monica Gheorghevici @ Mar 30 2015, 05:05 AM) *
BTW now I have the hair more longer than you laugh.gif
You look great in both versions, with long hair and short hair smile.gif


The hair had to go. It was getting more camera time than me laugh.gif

Thank you !!

QUOTE (Hajduk @ Mar 30 2015, 05:44 AM) *
Awesome song Ben smile.gif Really enjoyed it!


Cheers, Duder ! smile.gif

QUOTE (bleez @ Mar 30 2015, 05:44 AM) *
jinkies ohmy.gif
Ben, mate this is killer. Quite possibly my favourite track of yours so far. Its got a fantastic vibe about it.
I know you've not watched 'Vikings' yet but if Athelstan the priest had a theme tune.... it would have to be this smile.gif

also.. will you be making this available to buy on bandcamp before the album? I kinda need to get this into my car stereo for driving to work.


Thank you, Senor !

Damn, I really do need to see that series. Better splash some cash on box sets on Amazon later this year tongue.gif

Yes, I'll upload it to BC... I did forget about that, actually rolleyes.gif

QUOTE (gitarcitolga @ Mar 30 2015, 06:36 AM) *
Sharing new song's anatomy with us - what a modest behavior. Congrats Ben! I feel a lot of sensation in this song. New album & new hair style just fantastic what can I say I wish you best success! cool.gif


Thank you Tolga, good to see you back here again too smile.gif

QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Mar 30 2015, 07:18 AM) *
Yeah!! Indeed I think this is one of your best so far.

Awesome to see you are renewing yourself on all levels cool.gif


Thank you, Mr Dahl. I was pleased with the level of dynamics captured on this track, particularly with the rhythm section too.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 30 2015, 09:54 AM

QUOTE (bleez @ Mar 30 2015, 05:44 AM) *
also.. will you be making this available to buy on bandcamp before the album? I kinda need to get this into my car stereo for driving to work.


K, sorted it !

https://benhiggins.bandcamp.com/track/cross-to-bear

Posted by: bleez Mar 30 2015, 12:42 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Mar 30 2015, 09:54 AM) *
K, sorted it !

https://benhiggins.bandcamp.com/track/cross-to-bear


nice one duder smile.gif I'll grab a copy tonight.

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