A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Almost Straits => Topic started by: JF on April 10, 2012, 03:04:14 PM
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At first I posted this in "general discussion" because it's not very MK's influenced, except maybe for the sound of the first solo.
But, then I posted here too :D
http://soundcloud.com/jfstrat/bolide
hope it works
It's not really a song, just a riff I had in my head. I jammed over it, trying differents sounds.
The gear used is : a Fender US strat (2005) into a Vox Tonleab ST, directly into my PC via USB
the keyboard sounds (organ and brass) are played on a Yamaha PSR60, I got for Christmas 1986 (!)
Of course it sounds a bit cheesy, but that's all I got....
the Yamaha is also recorded through the Tonelab
the drums are played by a friend of mine, on real drums, but "trigged" and recorded also via behringer unit / USB
thanks for your comments ! Smiley
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Some old school rock n roll! I liked it. Sounded a bit like a cool movie theme. The section with the neck pickup sounded the best, I think. Cuts better in the mix. BUT - 7:20 is waaaaay to long. You have to be an LSD-fueled Greatful Dead fan to appreciate so long jams ;D (I do the same though - record endless things on the computer to test out sounds and riffs. I like it, but it probably is not fit for a CD :) ).
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Many thanks Jackal,
yes I know it's too long, but it was just one take, and I didn't know whre to edit ;D
And well, if Grateful Dead's fans like it, I would be honoured ! ;D
I'd say it's more a compil' of ideas, of course not a final cut for the CD
It's just a demo, you know the kind of thing which became worth having many years later when you're become famous with a short 3' single, and all the fans want that the solo would be much much longer ;)
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Very cool. Lots of very talented people around at AMIT. I like!
LE
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Many thanks LE :)
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I listened to the first two minutes or so of guitar widdling! ;) I mentioned to Jackal a while ago, that he should find himself a local band - its MUCH more fun than laborious home recordings (not that I don't do it myself or enjoy others) and you'd be surprised how many bands want/need a competent rhythm player that can handle the odd lead/keyboard line.
Also, once you've made the step of fitting into one band it's amazing how many connections come your way, and gig opportunities. I've had to dump a duo, just to fit the two real bands I'm in right now. Evening rehearsals aren't always a bundle of fun, but turning up is 90% of the battle, and inevitably it's a good time when you're rehearsing/ jamming.
Sounds good JF, get out there mate! :)
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Was out last night for rehearsal with a church band. Sounded very nice, actually. There's a young sax player who may not have the widest repertoire, but he plays by ear and has a great tone. Lovely!
Playing in a band is great when after a lot of planning, fiddling, arranging, things fall into place, the groove is there and people know what to do. But until then, it can be a struggle. Especially if you're playing with less experienced people, younger people who don't even know what a shuffle or swing beat is, and people who overplays. Communication and psychology play a big part!
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I totally agree with you Fletch and Jackal.
I used to play in bands when I was younger in the 90s.....
But you know, then you have : job, children, family life....your life and money priorities change and you put your guitar in the closet for many years.
I waited until 35 years old to have my first "real" fender strat. It was in 2006.
I waited for my daughters to grow up a little, and I started to play again, first in my room, and then approximately 5 times per year, with my friend drummer.
We don't have any rehearsal room, so he trigged his drumkit, and we play with headphones !
yes I know, a bit tricky, but we can have fun sometimes (between my job schedules which change all the time).
we don't even have a bass player for now ! So what can we do ? just playing some riff, ideas, and so on.
recently, my daughter has begun to write songs, and I found some fun to arrange, trying sounds, compose song structures.
So I started home recordings. Of course, it's not the same feeling as playing in a band.
But I find that it fit more with my family schedule and life organisation, and I have fun in it.
Maybe one day, I will find the opportunity to play with mates again :)
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And here's a lesson, guys:
Unless you are very wealthy or marry a wealthy woman, make sure you buy as much gear as possible before you get married and especially before the children comes along.
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And here's a lesson, guys:
Unless you are very wealthy or marry a wealthy woman, make sure you buy as much gear as possible before you get married and especially before the children comes along.
+1
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Lol Jackal!
I must mention that I'm blessed in that, one band I'm in, the singer has his own studio AND some Roland TD-20 drums, so the sound is a delight and our ears aren't fatigued after two hours!
The other band, the girl lives on an acreage, so it's loud but no neighbours complain!!!
I can't speak highly enough of the Roland TD drum series, the sounds are great, the volume is controlled (great for cafes and smaller rooms) - the only negatives are the actual drummers who constantly moan that it doesn't feel the same as an acoustic kit!! Too bad, we say, ha ha!
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Speaking of ear fatigue, I just purchased a set of ear plugs (http://www.earplugstore.com/vater-percussion-musicians-ear-plugs.html - don't if they are the greatest, but that's what they had in the store), and that helped a lot. Actually, it wasn't the drummer's fault, but mine. I had hauled my gear to my office and sat one evening testing sounds, and of course I played too loud. Two hours of LOUD valve amp straight in my face. *RING RING*. But I'd say it was worth it - to feel the air pressure and hear the sound of a cooking AC15 is a delight.
Back to drummers - how I'd wish they'd learn that it doesn't have to be loud to groove! That's what I love about jazz. Those guys know how to make it groove and swing even at low to moderate sound levels.
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Hi!
Very very nice tune, and good playing ... congratulations!!! ;) I like it so much. You mix different sounds, sounds great.
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Many thanks trullols :)
I will try to upload new tunes, but I don't have much time, so it will be approximately 1 per month ! :-[
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[quote author=Jean-Fran
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[quote author=Jean-Fran
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Very well played :)
many thanks Pensa boy :)
I heard your playing and it's very very well played too ! :)
You have the tone, the style, the vibrato, and you managed to reproduce Mark's feeling.
I hope your wrist will going better :)
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[quote author=Jean-Fran
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The whole production is much better than what I had expected from your description! In fact it is above the average for such works. The drums are a bit in the front, but it is a matter of taste really. Half the songs end a bit suddenly, maybe a fade out would be better. No matter if you concider it a jam, it is more than good enough for people to enjoy!
Bolide is very nice! The riff is solid gold! I enjoyed it so much that I don't know how 7 minutes went by. Going to listen to it again and again! I liked the wah-wah part more since it had more memorable phrases. The only thing was that the solos were fitting but added to the texture/dynamics and not so much to the melody or as counter melody or seperate melodies (memorable catch phrases), not a bad thing itself, but just noticing. It is common in the post Pixies era, but is a bit unusual for lengthy "classic rock" tracks.
Relax Max was sorter, and pleasant but it lacked the driving riff of Bolide.
Paysages has a dreamy guitar (in the beginning it reminded me a bit of Bird of Paradise) and a Peter Green touch. Very nice! I don't have a clue about music theory (so excuse my ignorance and suggestions) but may I suggest a slower pace, so the etheral guitar can work to the maximum.
L'orage must be the one musical idea I liked best! It is short, has an intro, middle part-outro (and fade out!) the riff is grand and powerful, but the solo synth was sounding a bit like Vangelis in Blade Runner, and even though I love that score, it doesn't fit that well. After a couple of plays you get used to it though. The production here if it was a bit better would have helped. What about a counter guitar solo, instead or together with the keyboard?
Partir was sweet, and the repetition helped! It sounded like an interlude, but a sweet one.
Grandes escapes has a more solid production the synth solo has a nice sound, but it is away from adding a new counter melody to the track.
Your music is very good, and I guess if you add a few good ideas in for the extended solos and play a bit with the structure of the tracks, they would make a nice CD.
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Vgonis, many thanks for your comments and suggestions
the whole idea behind these recordings is :
I have several themes-ideas-riffs-melodies in my head that would fit to songs verses-chorus schemes, but my voice is horrible, I can't write good lyrics, and I don't know a singer/writer to collaborate with, so I can only play instrumental tracks
So, in order to vary the more I can, I try differents sounds/instruments throughout the chord progression, and that's why I try to not play a guitar solo on every "verse".
Of course, it doesn't sound like a song, it's most of the time just a jam, but I find sometimes that it could be a bit like soundtracks, at least music for documentaries or such things, very humbly of course
Bolide is very nice! The riff is solid gold!
thanks. it's a little bit like Stones's bitch, but unconsciously copied ;)
Paysages has a dreamy guitar (in the beginning it reminded me a bit of Bird of Paradise).
never thought of this song (anyway I hear it just 1 or 2 times on the net, when forumers said it has the same melody as BIA's middle 8 )
and a Peter Green touch
aaarghh... I wanted the riff sounding a bit like U2 (you know, clean sound with echo), and the end solo like early DS....missed ! :smack ;D
L'orage must be the one musical idea I liked best! It is short, has an intro, middle part-outro (and fade out!) the riff is grand and powerful, but the solo synth was sounding a bit like Vangelis in Blade Runner,
I like Vangelis too, but I must admit I had more Floyd or Genesis or Yes in head when composing/playing this tune
the problem is I don't have a Moog or a B3, so I can't sound like Wright/Banks/Wakeman, and my cheesy 80's keyboard sounds just like.....80s cheesy keyboards... :lol
Your music is very good, and I guess if you add a few good ideas in for the extended solos and play a bit with the structure of the tracks, they would make a nice CD.
many thanks again, but I think it's a little bit overestimated. Maybe one day :)
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I like modest people! ;) Only thing I can say and wish, is keep at it and you will create a body of work. And this is important because they are realised and not just ideas. Steely Dan were struggling for 4-5 years playing their songs before they got their break (out of chance, by the way,but they were ready to embrace it). And when they got it the first pieces they had were sources of inspiration up until their Aja album!