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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ First Acoustic Vocal Tune
Posted by: Jim S. Jan 23 2015, 03:05 AM
This was taken from my iPhone but actually came out quite well for a practice jam. This song was very spontaneous. One day after playing and singing a similar chord progression I sang that whole thing with most of those exact words. A lot of nonsense too but I cut it out and tried finishing a story.
Btw this was years ago and seeing that now im really starting to practice my singing I started listening to old recordings and finding great little things about each of them. I like hearing old songs even if the lead guitar is crap to your ears. On the subject I found quite of good things about my playing that I may have lost a bit like letting go and not giving a crap but bend bend run around and bend some more.....
I'm going to redo this song and if you could pick areas to change or add some sparkle please fill me in. There will be a guitar solo in this too, Mark. My. Words.
Thanks!
http://www.reverbnation.com/jimseekford/song/12206290-missing-stages
Posted by: Jim S. Jan 23 2015, 01:54 PM
I'm not sure the link plays the song right away, scroll down its called Missing Stages.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 23 2015, 02:17 PM
Hi Jim! The songs plays perfectly. 
I have to say that this is a very interesting tune, I like it. Your voice sounds good, you have a good voice "colour" and it sounds really cool when you add rasping for the higher notes. Your voice also sounds perfectly on pitch so you have a well trained ear, I just hear 1 little issue at 3:06, the overall sound great.
Based on this track, I have to say that it would be cool if you continue exploring your voice, and work on old and new songs.
Keep going!
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jan 24 2015, 02:23 PM
0:40 - in this section it sounds to me like groove/guitar and voice seem to have trouble nailing or defining the rhythmic idea
1:12 - ending of the chorus sounds a bit weaker/non defined. If you like the long note idea on vocals, you could try to maybe add a few chords in there to support it.
2:08 - ending of the bridge seems to have a bit of trouble going back to verse
2:23-till going back to main chords idea: this section is interesting but comes in a bit too unexpected and slightly feels like a different song. Maybe try defining more the chord and vocals ideas in this section (or skip it?).
Overall - this is a great song man and I really like your singing and vibe you are getting here! 
To take it further you could mostly experiment with the way you connect different sections of the song. I'd also experiment with chords in the chorus and maybe play them in higher positions to add some sparkle. This song would probably benefit a lot from "singer-songwriter" kind of arrangement with some brushes drums, percussions and other acoustic instruments.
Looking forward to see where you take this song!
Posted by: Jim S. Jan 24 2015, 02:55 PM
I have to say that this is a very interesting tune, I like it. Your voice sounds good, you have a good voice "colour" and it sounds really cool when you add rasping for the higher notes. Your voice also sounds perfectly on pitch so you have a well trained ear, I just hear 1 little issue at 3:06, the overall sound great.
Based on this track, I have to say that it would be cool if you continue exploring your voice, and work on old and new songs.
Keep going!
Hey Gab thank you! Its funny you say that because my wife tells me I cant hear anything.....Haha what she talking bout anyway?
I shall keep going.
Listening to my old songs really reminds me of how determined I was at one point to just write music and have fun. Life put a damper on my guitar playing in general but time is coming back now and there are a lot of ideas in my old songs. I'll need to take them one by one and do something with them, finish them or save them for later....
1:12 - ending of the chorus sounds a bit weaker/non defined. If you like the long note idea on vocals, you could try to maybe add a few chords in there to support it.
2:08 - ending of the bridge seems to have a bit of trouble going back to verse
2:23-till going back to main chords idea: this section is interesting but comes in a bit too unexpected and slightly feels like a different song. Maybe try defining more the chord and vocals ideas in this section (or skip it?).
Overall - this is a great song man and I really like your singing and vibe you are getting here!
To take it further you could mostly experiment with the way you connect different sections of the song. I'd also experiment with chords in the chorus and maybe play them in higher positions to add some sparkle. This song would probably benefit a lot from "singer-songwriter" kind of arrangement with some brushes drums, percussions and other acoustic instruments.
Looking forward to see where you take this song!
Bogdan, very nice you breaking it down like that. Playing guitar and singing together has messed me up for so long and it shows here in this song. I am getting the hang of it though, sort of...
When I'm calm and having no technical issues and I'm jamming along by myself there are brief periods where it just sounds great and unlike anything I have ever sung before. This song is an example of that. The original recording with me sitting on my porch was near the best version. I could never quite copy what I did that day.
I have been talking to a lot of people and starting to get an ensemble together so I'm gathering tunes to play with them. This isnt quite there yet but maybe with the help of bass and drums this song could really sound great. There is a part of me that feels like as a guitar player I play too much guitar. Meaning that my playing is too busy during my singing and if I could feel the beat more or let other players take some of the pressure off I could pay more attention to the vocal.
Thanks again Bogdan! Ill be happy to post an update on this song.
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jan 25 2015, 02:44 PM
Jim - lots of potential here, I liked it a lot.
Keep evolving and you will be able to take this far!
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jan 25 2015, 09:15 PM
When I'm calm and having no technical issues and I'm jamming along by myself there are brief periods where it just sounds great and unlike anything I have ever sung before. This song is an example of that. The original recording with me sitting on my porch was near the best version. I could never quite copy what I did that day.
I have been talking to a lot of people and starting to get an ensemble together so I'm gathering tunes to play with them. This isnt quite there yet but maybe with the help of bass and drums this song could really sound great. There is a part of me that feels like as a guitar player I play too much guitar. Meaning that my playing is too busy during my singing and if I could feel the beat more or let other players take some of the pressure off I could pay more attention to the vocal.
Thanks again Bogdan! Ill be happy to post an update on this song.
You're welcome Jim! This song is a really good starting point to turn it into a "full song" when you get your band together. You have all the ingredients in, now is just a matter of other band mates adding some input and ideas to round up the idea and start practicing the song in its final form. Singing and playing guitar is hard, especially in such involved guitar playing and singing this tune has. Do you think you could capture your guitar performance (record it) on your computer? That way you could work on polishing up the vocals and everything without the need to actually play the guitar at the same time. I do imagine this being tricky as playing and singing feels integral in this song
When it comes to complexity of playing, I usually start with more complex (busy) ideas at the beginning of the song composing and then find myself constantly working towards less. I'd guess this could be pretty common with musicians when composing? I do find that some also just fear to go for "less" as they think they'll lose originality or play something "too easy" or "common". In my opinion the only thing that matters in the end is the song and emotions it brings upon the listener (unique for everyone). There are some complex and really simple things we can play, chord progressions have been re-used thousands of times - it is the final song and "sum of all the song notes" and how they work together what matters in the end, I guess?
Again, can't wait to hear this develop towards final version as it has all the right ingredients of a powerful song.
Please send me a PM (if you don't forget), when you have new recordings of it
Posted by: Jim S. Jan 26 2015, 05:46 AM
Keep evolving and you will be able to take this far!
Hey Kris thanks for your encouragement! Sometimes you just need some encouragement. The other night I got blown off by a drummer I was trying out and I stayed and played by myself and after an hour of singing and playing and sounding like crap I felt pulverized. Just sick. But luckily I have a terrible memory and forgot about it in an hour or so. Haha. Thsnks
When it comes to complexity of playing, I usually start with more complex (busy) ideas at the beginning of the song composing and then find myself constantly working towards less. I'd guess this could be pretty common with musicians when composing? I do find that some also just fear to go for "less" as they think they'll lose originality or play something "too easy" or "common". In my opinion the only thing that matters in the end is the song and emotions it brings upon the listener (unique for everyone). There are some complex and really simple things we can play, chord progressions have been re-used thousands of times - it is the final song and "sum of all the song notes" and how they work together what matters in the end, I guess?
Again, can't wait to hear this develop towards final version as it has all the right ingredients of a powerful song.
Please send me a PM (if you don't forget), when you have new recordings of it
Bogdan thanks! I started working on this song again and I've definitely gained some timing skills since that recording. My overall sense of where the chords are while I'm singing is getting better. Softer and lower I start off and gain intensity toward the middle. It's funny how when you play a certain melody, the following melody seems to be already written. If you play the same notes but switch the order of 1 note, the whole phrase seems to change.
During the chorus I'm experimenting with new chords but keeping a similar melody. It's neat to switch the chords and how different the overall sound is.
I'll keep you posted!!'n
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 26 2015, 05:52 AM
I shall keep going.
Listening to my old songs really reminds me of how determined I was at one point to just write music and have fun. Life put a damper on my guitar playing in general but time is coming back now and there are a lot of ideas in my old songs. I'll need to take them one by one and do something with them, finish them or save them for later....
Keep going mate! It's always tricky at first because when we are at the "exploring/experimenting stage" we use to receive discouraging comments that can block us but there are two things two have in mind, you are already said one:
1. We do this because we have fun doing it.
2. We need to practice and experiment in order to find our voice, and during this process we will find things that we like, and things that we won't. We need to trust in ourselves and keep going until we are happy with what we found.
Posted by: MrUK Jan 26 2015, 09:22 AM
Nice piece of work man!
Posted by: Jim S. Jan 26 2015, 02:25 PM
Hey hey..... Thank You!
Posted by: Jim S. Jan 27 2015, 02:28 AM
Hey guys I got to practice this song once after work today and think I made a little headway on this. Whatcha think?
The end solo is pretty rough and spontaneous because I forgot the lyrics. Haha. http://youtu.be/QKOC_Ak4j1I
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