I'm working on a new song and I would like some feedback on the progression. I'm trying to incorporate a new technique I call "Top Fretting". Using the pads of the fingers directly on top on the fret gives a muted sound. It's toward the end of the song.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTABSY6JUg[/youtube]

Thanks everybody!

Hello Samson!

My first impression is that you might add melody instead of chords with the left hand in the first part much sooner if not right away. The chords sound big but don't define anything. Once you start playing melody in the left while arpegiating in the right I found the piece much more gripping. The set up was cool, but most listeners who are aquainted with the Stick may not "stick" around that long, if you know what I mean. Often I hear Greg Howard harping on tapping your foot, or something as an external time source. I think this might be helpful for what you are attempting here. I like the time signature change but it could be performed more smoothely. Over all, I think you are on to something here. Great idea! Keep refining brother! And keep us posted.

Mike

A lot of good stuff going on here. I like the change of rhythmic feels and the fact that you are not being driven by a single bass ostinato- nice variety.

a few suggestions
1. Tune up....a bit out of tune especially between the bass and melody sides.
2. Relax and move. There is a lot of tension in your shoulders and more large muscle movement would really help the timing and groove "Greg's techniques" Great stuff
3. Metronome - I know that you are doing some fancy polyrhythms and that it's supposed to bounce around, however I think if you practice and record with a metronome it can really expose otherwise unknown drifting, dragging and rushing. I have been using one more and more. It is very humbling, but effective. Man do I rush in some stuff, the device really helps me understand where I am going wrong.

Anyway great stuff.

Brett

Hey guys!

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I should have disclosed this was an impulse post I made while I was a little tipsy last night. That being said, you guys are spot on.

I tuned my Stick but I didn't adjust the truss rod. The recent cold snap with the light gauge strings caused a slight bowing that raised the action a bit causing some intonation problems. Awesome ears by the way!

The tempo is shifty because I'm still trying to find how this piece wants to be played. I wish I could say its because I'm trying to do something cool but alas I'm not that good.

I'm hesitating a lot because I'm not sure of the structure yet. Arranging it differently every time I play it until I find a good movement. So right now it's melodically absent. But, this is the process I go through every time I write a song.

I used to practice with a metronome but got away from it. You guys are absolutely right about the benefits of practicing with one. I will get back to using one.

I think I'm going to use this thread to show the songs evolution. I'll keep posting videos incorporating the feedback for myself and others to see what some of us go through in the songwriting process.

Thanks again for the help and don't hold back on the criticism. I need it to get me out of my comfort zone and it will keep me accountable!

Samson


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I like your approach 'cause it's different. Liket Brett wrote, you have to be careful concerning your tuning. Also I noticed you guitar part is higher in volume than the bass part...a better balance would give you a better result. I like these rythm changes. If you work these passages between these different rythms that will help also...you can use different tricks...a silence for example or just the bass part starting the new rythm you have in mind. Congrats...I'd like to hear more.

Yeah Samson.!

I firmly believe that playing when you're a bit tipsy, now and then, can be a good gauge of how well one is developing... Or at least the kind of confidence you might have.

Start moving your head up and down in the easy parts. 4:38 is a beautiful chordal melody theme, but yes, as folk have been saying, arpeggiate some of your themes, even just one.

4:21 Drop the bass arpeggio by one octave and use it as a solid theme/melody…

Practice the RH/LH parts separately, get the bass fingers moving with more hand motion.. = More personality.

1:37 Make the left hand more dynamic by moving it around between triad shapes and drones. Triad one bar, drone the next and keep alternating till your satisfied. Drones can sound fat and also get you out off the Stick-centric triads. If nothing more it gets you moving that left hand.



Your playing definitely has an overarching togetherness, you make the Stick sound like a solid instrument. As much as I like your overall musical feel, practice it slower to get more flow into the whole thing, then take it back to a tempo you like. Some random bits did have a certain appeal, celebrate the random.

I like the top fretting thing, it's a great device, the more sounds the better, yes?! Nice midi sounds as well, whatever you using.

Bruv Luv & Happy 2014

I can't say anything that hasn't been said already, so I'll merely add my encouragement for the development of this idea. It'll be good to watch the development! Thanks for posting and "putting it all out there"!

Thanks again everyone!

I've worked out a few arpeggiated parts to color it up more and given a theme to work towards.

I'm keeping with the typical triad Stick voicing for most of the song but I'm trying to elaborate on them with a 4 note sweep. There is one part that I may deviate from the "Stickical" sound during the melody at the end. It does deserve a more interesting supporting cast behind it.

My truss rod was out of wack. I had to go almost a full half turn! Everything seems to be in order now.

I'm going to work on everything tonight (except for the timing) to get the parts together and try to record and post it tomorrow so you can see the progression. Then finding the timing of it will be the final part.

Thanks everyone this is helping me grow as a musician. I am now accountable to the Stick community on this!

Samson

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Update:

I had some software issues so I couldn't record the whole thing tonight. I'll try again tomorrow. Thank you for your time!

Samson

This is the third iteration so far. I recorded some of the parts separate. Still working on the final arrangement. The timing will be next on the agenda. Enjoy!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob6X_fjPS6I[/youtube]

Samson