ETHEREAL (my best composition so far?)

Best thing I have yet done in my 11 months back playing again...
...learing programs...mixing...getting a decent tone.

I'm talking overall composition wise.

I've played much faster things...things I actually like better,
but only the few dozen or so people who never get tired of
guitar solos would.

==================================

Bad stuff...things I don't like are short:

The drum and intro I was going to use ended up just
sounding too thin in the end.

What do you expect from a 64k anonymous drum file, which was
found from a link...to a link...to a link times 100 in the bowels
of the web somewhere...

I couldn't get back there to find it again if I tried. :lol:

====================================

The Good:

Instead I used one of my old intros I had previously
stuck onto something else.

It fits this tune though.

There are a handful of slight blemishes here...

But it's...pretty tight. It won't put MacAlpine or Malmsteen or
Satch' in the woodshed...but...not bad for a part-time player.

Technically:

Swept and tapped arpeggios...

3-Octave 5 finger legato work...

Full chromatic scale played with the same
vibe as the falling intro to Flight of the Bumblebee.

Lots of fast scales...runs...etc.


Thanks to Matt...Da "Hammer"!!!...for the rythym and drums as
heard from the 1:13 to 1:57 mark.

I hope I don't wake up tommorrow and hate this.

*Yawn*

Originally Posted by: CW14Your leadwork is awesome!
I actually like Dreams Nihilistic Glides better though.

The only gripe I have with this (and with most of you others), is the way it changes between parts (eg. after the intro, it sounded like a different song was starting). I would suggest you make the parts fit together more smoothly.

Thats just my opinion, but overall its great!

I know what you're saying...and sometimes I agree.

But a typical pop tune structure is not what I'm after artistically.

Here is a link that describes what I am developing...

Think late period works by Scriabin...Prokovfiev...Trevisan.

Though I will write some familiar constructed tunes...when really
it gets down to it...that's not what my head is about.

http://www.artistcollaboration.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1632&sid=2228015070bd3257a37716f247f04b6d

As I get more comfortable with mixing....and get more tools to do what
I really want...I think you'll see what I was striving for a little better.

I don't care for writing tunes that are micro-wave popcorn freindly. ;)

Thanks for the compliments...and can't believe you actually heard and
remember Dreams in Nihilistic Glides. :)

Did I post that here? I hate that now. Well...hate the two or three
notes that were out of tune because I had the nut of my Strat
held together with superglue and some kinda tape. It was cracked
at the time...strings would slip after awhile as the glue and stick-um
would lose grip.

Hope you checked out alot of the post(s)...some very eye-opening
stuff in there if you are not familiar with Romantic period and
Early 20th Century composers.

I like the sound of minor, diminished, and what are sometimes called
altered scales. Be-Bop Hungarian minor is another great sounding
dischordant. There are times for upbeat stuff, but face it.

What is more beautiful...a sunset with perhaps red or dark clouds,
maybe a storm, or high noon and not a cloud in the sky?

High noon is boring. Just blue...and weeee...nerd arse skippy.

Maybe I'm just twisted...

To me, real artists, (not saying I'm a great arteeest, but you have to aspire)
don't go with formulas. How many songs out there are approx 3 to 3:45
long...intro...verse...chorus...verse chorus chorus...verse chorus fade
or fini?

Almost all of them...in any genre.

The average listener has been "trained" for this timing and structure.

It fits pefectly between commercials...consume...buy....song...
consume buy.

Not trying to get on a "hippie" trip, for one thing I'm not THAT old.

Just trying to find and create new forms of art/music, and explain
the reasons that everyone can relate to.

Take a look at that thread again, and listen to Trevisan, think it's
about the 2nd or third post.

Also, some things I want to add to music are loud and soft parts...

(I did this a little bit in the above tune..)

Not slow down and get soft....but same tempo...and maybe get soft
for a phrase or two...then same tempo...thunder back into something.

Change things up a bit...

Just my views....so....

No question that the tone and mixing are great. However, your song is, in my opinion, not very interestingly composed... It seemed like the melody just floated in and out and never really developed a theme. I felt like the whole thing was foreplay. In my opinion, man, it's not a very good lay.

Hi there,
I just checked it out. Nice technique. My only negatives are:
I don't like the tone... sorry it's just a personal matter of taste. The lead has too much delay/echo/reverb going on, for me it detracts from the overall clarity. It also sounds very ear piercing - kind of like Rusty Cooley. Personally I prefer a thick warm tone like Ziras or BAttio, very hard to reproduce though.
As far as the composition goes, I'm more into a thematic approach rather than a theoretical one. You have all of the ingredients there that showcase great guitar playing, I just prefer too have a feeling of where the piece is going. THen again, its a matter of taste, whats works for some doesnt for others. I'd like to to hear more and will check out your other links throughout the site.
That said, its quite original and the talent is obviously there.
Keep up the good work,
S

EDITED
Perhaps this will help a bit...

ETHEREAL, as impalpable or intangible as air;of the celestial spirit;

"figures light and aeriform come unlooked for and melt away"
- Thomas Carlyle

This one is done.

Learned some more things, mixing and creative wise as well,
while doing this, that's why I could have gone on and on.

Otherwise....

30 day long tune anyone? :lol:

Anyway, this is, to me anyway, a fully realized idea.
Well, at least as far as my current knowledge and gear will allow....

There are some subtle things in here...resolvences...lines
from completely different moods and sections, though the
sections are short, that are done again, or fully realized.
Just in a slightly different context.

So, I recommend listening to it...3, 4, maybe even 20 times to get
the full effect. Like some things in life...a movie...painting...
it's not so simplistic as to be remembered or put another way.

The more times you listen to it, the more little things you find.
Things you didn't notice before.

One example:
The intro, which I have now added...just a tiny bit to...starts
out with an almost serene quality...a few simple notes on the
guitar are heard... and some synth made with Fuity Loops in the
background.

a Spirit...soul?

Then a more discordant "sound"...weird stuff I made with Fruity Loops
comes in...Malevolent/EVIL spirit?...

Who wins out in the end? This time maybe the bad guy?
The dark one that was cast down? :eek:



J/K...I don't favor the devil...

:lol:

If you do actually listen a few times...and still don't like it, or
still don't find a direction in it...then maybe this isn't for you.

I mean hell some people like opera...some don't.
I personally don't. But some people cry and go into fits
at La Boheme or something like that.

I know this sounds a little self-centered or whatever.

But I like this one...
Even the morning after...

That means more to me than 80 people saying...
"Great job BMG! That was some jamming! I got into the groove
on that one!" "That was fun!!!"

This has occured when I purposefully made and posted a run of
the mill, everyday Blues..Pentatonic based rock and roll tune.

I purposefully put up something that I made totally tongue
and cheek...knowing it was complete out and out mundane
common, everyday Bull5hi..., and people eat it up.

Incredible...:rolleyes:

(ANYHOO...UPDATED TUNE...CLEANED UP A BIT)
ETHEREAL_BY_BMG

Originally Posted by: SuperhumanHi there,
I just checked it out. Nice technique. My only negatives are:
I don't like the tone... sorry it's just a personal matter of taste. The lead has too much delay/echo/reverb going on, for me it detracts from the overall clarity. It also sounds very ear piercing - kind of like Rusty Cooley. Personally I prefer a thick warm tone like Ziras or BAttio, very hard to reproduce though.
As far as the composition goes, I'm more into a thematic approach rather than a theoretical one. You have all of the ingredients there that showcase great guitar playing, I just prefer too have a feeling of where the piece is going. THen again, its a matter of taste, whats works for some doesnt for others. I'd like to to hear more and will check out your other links throughout the site.
That said, its quite original and the talent is obviously there.
Keep up the good work,
S

It's not my favorite tone either. I like it ok..but...

As far as what I'm trying to get tone wise...

Listen to this...

This is a coupla' virtuosos.

Virtuosos not cheddar shredders

To me, and this is just my opinion, today's POD sounding "shredders"
have a tone that sounds like it was recorded in a very small place.

Like a Port-a-John...

It's too neat...almost cloying...claustrophobic.

They also make silly arse frog songs...or some goofy crap they heard
Paul The Dilbert Gilbert do. But that's another thing altogether...

Though POD's do have a nice thick tone...they don't sing imho.

Think of it this way.

When someone is talking to you...isn't it more pleasant to have them
3...4 feet away rather than talking directly into your ear?

Someone, not whispering, but talking at a normal or loud tone
sticking their lips right into your ear canal is annoying...almost
sickening. Makes you reflex and push them away.

Like I said...the tone I have for my present lead sound is not
like I want it either. But it's the closest I can get, after months
of tweaking.

Me=Boss CS-3...Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer...RP200...Audigy 16-bit card.

The above=Lexicon verbs...Eventide Harmonizers...Real 4x12 cabs...Mic's
and a real producer with real recording equipment.

But...like you said everything is relative. :)

BTW...Rusty is one of the few modern players I like. Texas boy too.
;)

I'm familiar with the word "ethereal."

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonI'm familiar with the word "ethereal."

That's good...:)

How about sesquipedalianism?

Don't hit that Google button!!! :tongue:

I'll save you the time...

It means roughly..."use of big words".

I wasn't trying to be condescending, if that was your inference
in my last post or two.Merely trying to let people know where I'm
coming from. (It's not a mainstream place obviously.)

If they know about it, learn about it, or don't care to take the time
...it's all the same to me. :)

Originally Posted by: BMG_SKULKThat's good...:)

How about sesquipedalianism?

Don't hit that Google button!!! :tongue:

I'll save you the time...

It means roughly..."use of big words".

I wasn't trying to be condescending, if that was your inference
in my last post or two.Merely trying to let people know where I'm
coming from. (It's not a mainstream place obviously.)

If they know about it, learn about it, or don't care to take the time
...it's all the same to me. :)

And sesquipedaliphobia is the fear of the use of big words! Haha, no, I didn't think you were being condescendinig, I just wanted you to understand that I knew where you were coming from.