Tag: Music

June Music Continues

I’m up to five songs. Four were written on the Strat, one using MIDI on the iPad. One has vocals. I tried working on a second vocal tonight but didn’t have time.

You’d think with all this guitar playing I’d be getting my chops up. Nope. It’s the opposite. I’m getting worse by the minute.

I’ve got a goofy idea for this month. I’m going to do all the recording on the iPad then port everything to the Mac for mixing. But… I’m thinking of doing an actual mix on the iPad too, and then putting both mixes of each song onto the bandcamp playlist.

What do you think? Too lame?

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June Music

It’s June 2nd. I’ve tortured you by making you wait a whole day for a June Music update! I’m sorry!

Yesterday I stitched together three ideas. I don’t really have a theme this month, but so far everything is 100% iPad (that won’t last), 100% Strat (that probably will last), and almost, but not quite, bluesy. Well, 1.5 of the new things at least.

All three are ready for vocals. Can you believe that? I wanted to write lyrics for one of them before work today but I decided to sleep an extra 15 minutes and then leave a little early instead.

That plan fell apart as epically as most of my music plans do. I was in the car at 7:15 on my first day back from vacation and the damn thing wouldn’t start. I had to call for a tow, and of course the tow truck driver got the sucker running almost immediately. It was fine all the way to work and back. The turd.

Late Night Music Post

Done. Sort of.

All 10 April songs are mixed and uploaded to alonetone.com.
All 10 March songs are mixed and uploaded to alonetone.com.
The cover song I threw onto the list on Sunday is mixed and uploaded to alonetone.com.
The 12-bar I threw onto the list yesterday is… not. I still need a vocal for that one, but that is absolutely all that’s left for what is now the March/April/May music project.

Here’s the cover song. I’ll post the rest of the stuff tomorrow… or someday.

This is Robin Trower’s “I Can’t Wait Much Longer”. I believe it was written by Trower and Frankie Miller, but something makes me think it was just Frankie Miller.

I used the Jimi Hendrix Amplitube app for all of the guitars. I hope Mr Trower approves of that decision. I should have tuned down a semitone or two. My voice is able to hit everything in the melody, but I have to sort of push hard to get up to some of the higher notes. This song needs a softer touch than my lame shouting. James Dewar I am not.

I have freakin’ loved this song for ages upon ages and I do not believe I did it justice. It was fun playing around with it though. I had to install an AU plugin to get the flanger onto the cymbals. I also had to learn how to install AU plugins. I am sure that Garageband 6 had a flanger. Didn’t it?

I Did it Again

I did it again. I just added another song. It’s a vocal away from being finished. Why did I do that? Instead of having three vocals to record, I now have five. What a doofus.

It’s nothing but a goofy 12-bar. Aren’t there enough of those in the world already? Why did I suddenly have to add another one.

What a jerk.

More Music and an Oversight

Damn it!

I just finished the April music project. All 10 songs mixed. Now I just have to figure out a running order (I’ll probably just use the order in which they were written) and make a playlist on bandcamp. should I make an April playlist and a March playlist, or should I make one for both of them and mix them all up in the running order. I waffle back and forth on that one.

So I only have three songs left from March right? That’s what I said last night when I finished playing the gitter for the night, right?

No. Idiot marked one song as finished when it still needs to be mixed. Idiot. I have four songs that aren’t finished yet. I should get the un-mixed oversight mixed tonight though. I think.

More April Music in May

Was sticking with Amplitube for all of the guitars on the 10 April songs a good idea? This one used the Jimi Hendrix bundle for all of the guitars. The rhythm is my Les Paul and the lead is my Strat. All of the other April songs used the Fender Twin for the rhythm and Hendrix for the leads.

It’s okay, I guess. If I put a ton of effects on during the mix it might be all right. I don’t know. Maybe if I did everything on the iPad it might feel better, and be a little less noisy. I don’t know. I’m torn.

The lyrics are one of many songs about how much I love my wife, and how happy she makes me. I expect the list of such songs to grow steadily for the rest of my life. I’m kinda nuts about her.

A Little Cheating

I finished the last lead guitar part from April. Now all that’s left for the month is to mix the last two songs.

March still has three that aren’t finished. Two have lyrics written but only have a guide track. The third has nuttin.

I broke one of my rules tonight. Twice. I have a rule that states when I record bad rock songs the lead guitars cannot be recorded until after all the vocals are complete. That is the law. I broke the law. I recorded leads for the two songs that only have guide vocals. That means March now has two vocals to record, one to write and record, and one lead guitar to record. Then those three songs need mixin’. That’s all that’s left.

One other note. I am having a really tough time playing the Stratocaster. I’m just having a tough time getting the feel of it. The neck is so different from the Gibsons. I knew it would take a while, but I’m getting frustrated. A little. Not much. Just a little.

I also need to put lighter strings on it, and soon. Ouch.

Musical Baby Steps

Just like yesterday, I only had enough time for baby steps today. I wrote another song’s worth of lyrics and melody but I didn’t have time to record a proper take.

There are only five songs left needing work but I am doubtful I will get it all finished by June 1st.
One song is ready to mix.
One song still needs lead guitar.
Two songs have lyrics and melody but still need vocals and lead guitar.
One song still needs lyrics, melody, vocals, and lead guitar.

Considering that I will be on vacation next week and not in any sort of a recording mood, those five unfinished songs are starting to look like a mountain.

I’m not quite sure what I want to do in June. 50/90 starts in July but I don’t want to take the month off. I want to keep in the musical frame of mind, but I don’t want to run out of gas either. Maybe I’ll stick to songs that are already written. Maybe I’ll work on new songs but set the goal at five instead of 10. Maybe I’ll keep the goal at 10, but only work on one at a time instead of work on all 10 in bits and pieces.

I don’t know. We’ll see.

Minor Music Nerd Moment

I didn’t have time to record a vocal this morning.  I did manage to write a lyric and a melody though.  I used my Apple Ear Pods.  I listened through the headphones while recording a guide track with the built in mic. 

It wasn’t much of a nerd moment, but it sufficed for the day.