Andrymi, a collection of music nerds Tag: technique

Andrymi, a collection of music nerds Tag: technique http://andrymi.com/community/ Andrymi, a collection of music nerds Tag: technique en Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:22:44 +0000 vardi on "You can learn a LOT from just playing the same two chords all night..." http://andrymi.com/community/topic/you-can-learn-a-lot-from-just-playing-the-same-two-chords-all-night#post-514 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:20:55 +0000 vardi 514@http://andrymi.com/community/ yes i agree. coltrane used to spend days playing over only one chord, doing all the different inversions, and all the endless possibillities you can do over it Steelbones on "You can learn a LOT from just playing the same two chords all night..." http://andrymi.com/community/topic/you-can-learn-a-lot-from-just-playing-the-same-two-chords-all-night#post-510 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:32:22 +0000 Steelbones 510@http://andrymi.com/community/ I guess you've been putting those "keep it fresh" ideas into practice without even doing it deliberately. You've mentioned two of your ideas and one of mine at least in the above post. Breakfastime on "You can learn a LOT from just playing the same two chords all night..." http://andrymi.com/community/topic/you-can-learn-a-lot-from-just-playing-the-same-two-chords-all-night#post-500 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:37:41 +0000 Breakfastime 500@http://andrymi.com/community/ yeah, I know that's a long title... Last night at practice (the as-yet-unnamed soukous group) we worked on two 'reggae' numbers, a new one, and one from a few weeks back. Both these tunes are VERY similar, in that they revolve around just two chords, and the melodies are lifted from traditional African songs. One of the things about this band is-our singer doesn't play any harmonic instruments (he plays hand drums, but not in this group....by trade, he is a professional dance instructor-again, traditional African stuff)so how we work is-he sings the parts to us! VERY old-school! (reminds me of the old punk rock days..."NO! it goes do-do-do-do duh-do-do!...got that?") So, it's a long process to develop new material: he sings parts to us, we sort them out, and then the key usually changes several times before an arrangement starts to appear. So, these reggae-rhythm tunes we're working on, one of them has changed keys a few times, while the other has stayed in B minor. So I spent a long time last night just playing two chords over and over....not quite as boring as it sounds, actually... Gary (keys) at one point suggested substituting an F3minor in place of the A maj I'd been playing (in the Bminor tune, it was Bm, A maj) so...I tried THAT, and loved it! THEN, I started messing around with inversions of these two chords, working my way up the neck as the song progressed...interesting...I also came up with melodic lines derived rom the vocal melody to spice things up...but ultimately...it was just two chords all along. We've been doing this band for a while, and it's been incubating longer than anything I've done in years, we've seriously been plugging away for well over a year now...it's slow going, but it's actually starting to sound good. Steelbones on "ways to avoid musical stagnation...." http://andrymi.com/community/topic/ways-to-avoid-musical-stagnation#post-477 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:09:41 +0000 Steelbones 477@http://andrymi.com/community/ Here's a similar idea to changing the key. Change the key voicing. Say you've got a song in E minor, the third note of an E-min scale will be a G. So transpose all your Es to Gs, then transpose all the other chords/notes in the sequence to the third of what they were before. Technically you're still playing in the same key but you're re-voicing that key to it's own third. And don't do it to the whole song, change the verse but not the chorus, or vice versa. It really works. And then you can try the same idea with 5ths or 4ths, whatever. A very simple idea for power chord based songs also works using thirds. Standard power chords are just root+5th, so try them as root+3rd, and again don't change all the chords, just change a few, see what you like. Finally there's a little thing I do that I call "unresolving 3rds", (that's my name for it, although I'm sure it has another). Any given root note has it's corresponding 3rd within the scale, that 3rd will either be natural or flatted. Root plus natural 3rd tends to sound major, and flats tend towards minor. So ignore what the correct 3rd should be and play the other one. You might think it'll sound out of key, but as long as you don't have any conflicting notes playing at the same time, it might technically be out of key, but it won't sound out of key. You can try this idea with other note relationships but the root+3rd relationship is by and large the strongest. And one rhythmic idea you can try is to change the emphasis of the beat. You can play the same 4-4 beat 4 different ways, ie: one-2-3-4=emphasis is on the one, 1-two-3-4=emphasis is on the two, and so on. This idea works really clearly when alternating between damped and open picking, ie: open one-damped 2-3-4, or damped 1-open two-damped 3-4, and so on. Anyone else? Breakfastime on "ways to avoid musical stagnation...." http://andrymi.com/community/topic/ways-to-avoid-musical-stagnation#post-475 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:21:31 +0000 Breakfastime 475@http://andrymi.com/community/ henry, your birthday post got me to thinking about musically feeling 'stuck'... Good ways to avoid musical stagnation? I mean besides learning new songs? How's about: 1) playing songs you know in different keys? This is a GREAT way to tickle your brain and make your fingers 'think' a little harder. Try it! C'mon...pick a key, any key...how about a flat key? I dare you! 2) play a song you know with a different rhythm. Just heard a great SKA version of Ellington's "Caravan" and it kicked my ass! Try a different rhythmic feel...go ahead...try that favorite song in waltz time...i dare ya! 3)learn to playe the melody of your favorite song! You already know the chords, right? How about the melody? Can you play tyhe melody on guitar? Once you get THAT...then strip the chords down to just the bass notes...and try playing the melody with a simple bassline accompaniment...c'mon! you already know how it SHOULD sound...work with it! Okay, what else? Anybody got any other suggestions? henry on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-255 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:37:34 +0000 henry 255@http://andrymi.com/community/ Whatchatalkinbout. This is the main spot! ;D steinn on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-254 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:46:36 +0000 steinn 254@http://andrymi.com/community/ For most people I would've thought this was "the other place" ... but I guess that could soon be about to change :-P Steelbones on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-253 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:35:34 +0000 Steelbones 253@http://andrymi.com/community/ The last time I talked about "the other place", the girl I was with said "Uh-uh! You make do with the usual place, and don't be so damned filthy!" solar on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-248 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:51:47 +0000 solar 248@http://andrymi.com/community/ This place will do just fine.... Breakfastime on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-246 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:55:47 +0000 Breakfastime 246@http://andrymi.com/community/ What 'other place'??? There's another place? HonkyTonkSamurai on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-245 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:38:47 +0000 HonkyTonkSamurai 245@http://andrymi.com/community/ lol, the "other place" is that what we're gonna call it from now on? I think it desereves a lil respect seeing as how we all met on there :) solar on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-220 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:04:53 +0000 solar 220@http://andrymi.com/community/ Yeah... Barney was some Hot Stuff... I posted that clip at..... "The Other Place".... Hey Man, I bet you'll dig these.... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ff6098PAhc" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ff6098PAhc</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZLAwuKlAQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZLAwuKlAQ</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q23LimQkvc" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q23LimQkvc</a> Steelbones on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-209 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:14:01 +0000 Steelbones 209@http://andrymi.com/community/ Just a touch more reverb, and maybe some slap-back delay................... henry on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-204 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:38:51 +0000 henry 204@http://andrymi.com/community/ Damn I like those Chet Atkins vids.. The runs looked so natural.. I kinda hated the guy in the white pants with the harmonica in the first vid though ¬_¬ Thanks BT and solar, you guys never fail to expand my horizons. I saw that Barney Kessel clip before, but I'm pretty sure you gave me that link solar =) steinn on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-203 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:36:23 +0000 steinn 203@http://andrymi.com/community/ henry: POST A LINK! We're gonna be rich! henry on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-202 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:31:09 +0000 henry 202@http://andrymi.com/community/ I turned the reverb up to 9000. The last ripple of echo will die out around the time the sun goes supernova. Although you can't really hear a single chord or word (it all sounds kind of like seamonkeys mating), I expect it to chart. :P Breakfastime on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-201 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:28:38 +0000 Breakfastime 201@http://andrymi.com/community/ Oh yeah-the great Barney Kessel! Steelbones on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-200 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:28:06 +0000 Steelbones 200@http://andrymi.com/community/ Try turning the reverb up................ Breakfastime on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-199 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:25:20 +0000 Breakfastime 199@http://andrymi.com/community/ So many singer-songwriters forget this stuff and leave the reverb out. They have a lot to learn! steinn on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-197 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:12:46 +0000 steinn 197@http://andrymi.com/community/ Don't forget the compression =D henry on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-195 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:52:52 +0000 henry 195@http://andrymi.com/community/ Heheh. That's what an engineer would say.. "EQ and reverb make hits" :D Steelbones on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-189 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:41:44 +0000 Steelbones 189@http://andrymi.com/community/ Lots of reverb............ solar on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-181 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:45:47 +0000 solar 181@http://andrymi.com/community/ Chet's amazing! This Cat was Sweeping it back in the day before shred was shred too. <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=FQsBuaSLHqw" rel="nofollow">http://youtube.com/watch?v=FQsBuaSLHqw</a> Breakfastime on "Chet Atkins steals the best licks!" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/chet-atkins-steals-the-best-licks#post-171 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:20:00 +0000 Breakfastime 171@http://andrymi.com/community/ Okay, maybe not...but just watch this and see what he does at 1:51... <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=7Svm_Vnntyk" rel="nofollow">http://youtube.com/watch?v=7Svm_Vnntyk</a> Yep that's right...VH-style hammer-ons! check out ths sweep picking in this vid...(around 1:15) <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8KBhnebwE" rel="nofollow">http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8KBhnebwE</a> Remember...this is all before Uli Roth and EVH hit the scene, mind you... which makes Chet the Grandaddy of SHRED! Breakfastime on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-146 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:17:23 +0000 Breakfastime 146@http://andrymi.com/community/ There's plenty of songs that I would consider 'good' even though they're not in a style that I like, or would want to listen to. So...what makes a song 'good'? THAT is a good question. It's gotta register with the listener somehow-melodically, lyrically, something. I don't even think it has to be 'catchy' but somewhere in there should be something-a single lyric, even just a brief melodic moment, something-that hits you. solar on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-134 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 05:57:01 +0000 solar 134@http://andrymi.com/community/ Good songs need to have something that GRABS you... Emotion is very important as well. I agree that the Coda is effective. The almighty A-B-C structure works exceptionally well. Example: On my MySpace Profile... I currently have a song there called "Money And A Sense Of Humor". It utilizes A-B-C structure... There is a "Tension and Release" going on with the Chord Choices passing between Maj, Minor and Dominant voicings. Being able to use these types of chord combinations skillfully within a set "Song Strucy=ture" will definitely increase a songs potential for making an impact on the listener. Good lyrical content that tells some type of "Story" or makes a "statement" will help also. henry on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-85 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:45:34 +0000 henry 85@http://andrymi.com/community/ I think it's a song that stays with you as soon as you hear it. I hate the middle of the road. A good example, whether you like the guy or not, is Robbie Williams. It seems he has a good writer and producer. And even if it's pop, just listen to Mandalay. It has a good melody, a lyric that fits the melody, and a nice counter-melody aswell. I think that alot of good music these days would benefit from having a coda. Hardly anyone does that these days but it's a coda that has made some rather mediocre songs into epics. Like Derek and the Dominoes' Layla, and turned good songs into excellent ones, like The Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever. To make sure the emotion of the piece comes through, often you have to revisit their highlights and seduce the listener with them. Pop today is such a nooner. steinn on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-83 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:00:15 +0000 steinn 83@http://andrymi.com/community/ Even for me (one person), this question has too many different answers.. HonkyTonkSamurai on "what makes a song good?" http://andrymi.com/community/topic/what-makes-a-song-good#post-81 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:06:28 +0000 HonkyTonkSamurai 81@http://andrymi.com/community/ just curious as to what you guys think, I know the obvious "its a matter of taste" argument will arise but still, give example n stuff for me its gotta have some aspect of creativity and love of the art to it (which is why i have such a hard time listening to "alternative" music for too long) example: 6 Underground - Sneaker Pimps, catchy, easy to listen to but still outside of the main stream digg?