Category: Guitar

2024 NaSoAlMo Day 3/30

I added another song yesterday. MIDI bass and drums are done. That’s all I had in me yesterday. I don’t expect much different today. I had a covid shot two days ago and it kicked my ass yesterday. I still feel less than wonderful today.

2024 NaSoAlMo Day 2/30

I did not play any guitar yesterday. I did try to fix a problem with some buzzing on my ES-335 and I think it worked. Once I actually plug in we’ll see if my optimism is warranted. In 38 years of guitar playing I had never adjusted a truss rod myself. Now I have, and I don’t think I broke anything.

Back on the main topic though, I did not record any real human being instruments, but I did add two more songs to the queue. Both have (midi) bass and drums and one has a (midi) guitar guide track. That brings me to three songs and strangely, they are all about four minutes long. Is that a trend this year?

We will see.

Neck Adjustment

I have been playing guitar since 1986. Today was the first time I adjusted a truss rod myself. Hell, it was the first time I even took off cover.

I think it worked. I had a nasty fret buzz on my ES-335 down around the second fret. I think it’s better now. Crossing my fingers.

63/365

I used this video and it was helpful.

DSC_3071

2024 NaSoAlMo Day 1/30

National Solo Album Month is underway. Write and record an album and do it all without any help. Fly solo on the whole thing.

I’ve had some vague ideas of a prog-like super long song or two but I think I am just going to write the usual batch of the usual length rock songs in 7/8 time (mostly) strung together in a big medley. I’ve done that before on one of these projects. Who knows.

I started one song. Bass and drums (midi) are done and there is a (midi) guide track for the guitar.

We are underway.

New Music Project Coming Soon

Today is Tuesday October 29th. This coming Friday is November 1st.

A new annual, internet based music project begins on Friday. National Solo Album Month, NaSoAlMo. Write and record an album’s worth of music all within the month of November, and do it all yourself. No collaborations. Just you.

I had a thought about trying to write two songs of approximately 20 minutes in length, like a good Prog Rock nerd. I said two 20 minute songs, not four. What do you think I am, Yes? Sheesh.

Something tells me that once I start rolling on this (assuming I actually start rolling on this) I will just do my usual 10, 2-3 minute rockers and call it a day. We will see how (if) it goes. I’m sure I’ll post about it 20-30 times a day, or some crap like that.

Monday

Welcome to Monday morning, friends and neighbors and readers and only friends… that’s a bit of a mixed metaphore/movie reference there, huh?

I’m working in the office today and I am ready to go but it’s too early so I am writing a post. Is that a little too inside baseball? Is that a little too much of how the sausage is made?

I’m in a fuckin’ weird mood this morning. Sorry. The Bruins season starts tomorrow. It probably has something to do with today being weird.

Anyway. I need a new guitar project. I’ve got a couple of things that were put on pause that I should probably get back to. We’ll see.

37/365

This Weekend’s Guitar Project

I have a guitar project for this weekend. I need to do some research first.

There is some nasty fret buzz around the second fret on my ES-335. Here’s hoping it’s something I can fix myself. I certainly hope so considering I had a professional work on it just a few months ago.

2024 50/90 Challenge Day 90/90

This year’s challenge is now officially over. 90 days in the books. Thanks for coming along on my journey through silliness.

The next internet based musical songwriting/recording challenge kicks off on November 1st. National Solo Album Month. I’m not sure if I am going to play along this year. 50/90 took a lot out of me. We’ll see.

2024 50/90 Challenge Day 89/90

This year’s 50 songs in 90 days challenge equates to more like 57 songs in 89 days. I am done. I mixed the last four songs. I didn’t mix them well (just quick and dirty) but they are done and now so am I. I hit all of my goofy little goals.

  • 50 songs
  • 10 songs started and finished within each calendar month
  • More songs than any of my previous 50/90 successes (my record was 52)

And there we have it, folks. My forth successful summer challenge. I guess the next step is to pick around 10 songs that aren’t as awful as the rest and edit, rewrite, and rerecord them into a sort of album-ish project. Maybe that will be my task for day 90. We’ll see.