I have mixed a bunch of songs tonight. I’ve lost count. Four? Maybe? I keep thinking that once I get one that doesn’t suck I’ll post it. I give up so I’ll just post this dog just to share something.
Category: Song Writing
22 Down, 28 to Go
I checked blog posts from August 30th in the three years that I finished 50/90 to see if maybe I mentioned something about how far along I was. 2020 didn’t say anything. 2021 had a post saying I finished mixing song #31. 2014 had one too and I think it was song #34.
Here in 2023, this is song #22. I feel like I am eons behind the pace. Probably because I took a little more than two weeks off in the beginning of August. Dumb ass.
Anyway, I actually like this song. It makes me wonder if anyone’s ever had a hit single in 7/8 time before. Could this be the first?*
*No. No it cannot be the first.
Harry’s Guitar
I mentioned I used Harry’s guitar on one 50/90 Challenge song. Here it is. I wish I had used it on a better song, but there really haven’t been any better songs this year.
Guitar Playing Avalanche
Eight songs. I put lead guitars on eight songs this morning and it was all before 8:15am. My finger tips are a burning agony right now. I saved the song I am playing my step son’s guitar on for last. The strings are probably 7-8 years old and feel like barbed wire. I was hurting before I played that puppy, and I am hurting more now. Ouch babie, ouch.
Speed Mixing
I am speed mixing 50/90 songs tonight. I hope to crank out five before the new episode of Ahsoka comes out (in half an hour). I probably won’t finish quite that quickly, but one down and four to go.
One More Song
I have failed miserably on the 50/90 front today, but I did manage to sneak in a quick mix.
Polyrhythms for the win… or the train wreck, depending on your mood, I guess.
Mixing
I mentioned in a post the other day that the recording process for this year’s 50/90 challenge has been reduced to quick and dirty and it’s okay if things aren’t perfect, I just need them to be done. There isn’t enough time left on the game clock for nitpicking. That’s why I was able to mix three songs today in the hour and a half I spent struggling through lunch.
Of the three, one song is okay. One song is less than terrible. One song is almost terrible. Here I am sharing the one that’s okay. I am 90% sure I have written this song before but I am too lazy to go looking for it.
I now have 15 songs finished. 30% of the challenge is complete. Not bad considering I blew off almost three weeks this month.
Sunday Morning Car Music
Three days in a row. This is becoming a trend!
Car music this morning. I put vocals on the four songs I wrote lyrics for last night, and one extra that was left over from last month. At least I parked in a different spot today. You know, just trying to keep things fresh.
Here’s hoping I get a chance to record some lead guitars today. Maybe add another song idea or two and put rhythm guitars on them. We also need to start mixing some of this crap too. Time to start finishing these puppies off.
On the way home I took some point and shoot pictures, mostly stop light theater because I got stopped at almost every light in the city. Happy Sunday!
2023 50/90 Challenge Day 54 of 90
I’ve already written about most of this, but in the interest of completeness and transparency (why?) here’s an official write up of today’s 50/90 challenge activities.
I put vocals on five songs.
I wrote a new song including MIDI bass and drums, the full song form, all of the rhythm guitar tracks, the melody and the lyrics.
I put rhythm guitars onto an additional three songs, one of which was played on my step son’s guitar.
I put lead guitars onto five songs including a couple of the songs that got vocal tracks this morning.
I wrote lyrics and melodies to three additional songs on top of the one I already mentioned.
Looks like another car music is in store for tomorrow morning. Excellent.
Guitar Fun
I spent two hours recording guitars today. I got through so much that I can’t even remember it all.
I started by adding song idea #37. I threw it together on-mic, as it goes. I recorded it as I was writing the guitar parts. It’s super simple but it exists now when it didn’t before. Cool.
I then put rhythm guitars onto three more songs. There is a twist on one of them, I’ll share it in a bit.
I put lead guitars on a bunch of songs… I actually forget how many. Let me check my trello notes… five songs. I put leads onto five songs.
Add the five songs that got vocals this morning and it’s been a pretty cool day, music-wise.
How about some gratuitous guitar pics?
So what about that twist that I mentioned? Years ago my step son was taking guitar lessons. For his birthday I bought him a very inexpensive beginner/student guitar. Given that it was me doing the shopping, I of course bought him a Les Paul. Not a Gibson, but an Epiphone package deal that came with a tiny little solid state amp.
When he moved out we cleaned out his room and I saw the guitar sitting in his closet. He doesn’t play anymore. He’s a piano guy and a percussion guy. Guitar fell off of his musical map. I told him I wanted to play his guitar on my recording project thingie and he didn’t say no so…
One of the songs that got rhythm guitars was played on Harry’s Epiphone Les Paul Special II. Gratuitous photos, of course.
What’s left to do tonight? Hopefully more lyrics and melodies. Maybe a mix or two? We’ll see.
Inside the Red Head's Head 