Check out an MP3 of mine

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Hey guys. Ok here is the deal. I got a song of mine on MP3.com. I want you guys to check it out and lemme know what you think. Lemme know what you REALLY think. Dont be afriad to hurt my feelings. Critisism makes me a better player. So please be brutally honest. This isnt my band (considering as of last monday im now bassist-less). I did this song with a keyboard, my guitar, and a four track. I HATE fake drums, but what can ya do. The sound quality kinda stinks so you probably want to do the Hi-fi play, and the improvised solo isnt me in my top form. I usually tend to try and show more chops, but in this one i tried to lay back and focus more on melody. There is a description of the song on the webpage im sending you too. Please respond, bad or good. Thanks guys.

http://mp3.com/fingerpickingood


[This message has been edited by FINGERPICKINGOOD (edited July 28, 2001).]

[StoneDragon]

On first listen, I think it sounds pretty cool. I want to give it a few more listens before I critique it, though.

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Much appreciated stone - tear that thing apart for me.

[JHtyler]

i agree, at first listen it sounds pretty cool, you obviously have talent

but id like to really listen to it a couple times. like you said rip that sucker apart.

p.s. how long have you been playing?? how old are you??

[JHtyler]

ok, i think i just listned to it 30 times straight.

its good music - although at some points the SOUND QUALITY isnt so good (think you already knew that) otherwise the music is deffinatly a catchy tune and the solo is quite entertaining.

i'm awaiting to see what stonedragon has to say.

[Deadchef]

I like your song. I cant wait till im able to play like that.

[Jag]

Sorry dude.. I really wanted to listen to it..But my pc wudn't let me. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/frown.gif

[owwdatune]

:http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif: way to go FPG....poor sound quality-good music-not a bad solo either. is that your PRS ?? did you do the keyboard also ?.how did you get it on MP3.com?
~T~ http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/cool.gif

[skubasteve120]

kinda too jazzy. your guitar playing was amazing! you should have focused more on that, and less on the drumming. that was a seriously awesome solo man... your a rocker, not a jazzman!

[Jag]

still haven't heard it

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

WOAH! Im totally blown away by your reactions to my song. You guys are gonna spoil me! Im truly flattered!

First question by JHtyler- how long have i been playing?

Got my first guitar in seventh grade. I was in a few punk and hardcore bands. Didnt really learn much, just power chords. Gave it up in 10th grade. In 12th grade i picked it back up and took it seriously this time. Learned some theory and actually practiced!!!
Its been about 2 years since then (i graduated in 99).

How old am I?
20

I awaiting Stones response myself JHtyler.

Deadchef - You wanna play like that? Dont give up and before you know it you will, and thats a promise.

Jag - Why wont your PC let you listen to it? whats the prob?

owwdatune: Yep thats my PRS. Not my normal tone though. I did that at my home out of a DOD practice amp. So thats why the tone sounds like its coming from a lunchbox. My normal rig is my PRS into a route66 compression/overdrive through my cry-baby into a Roland Jazz chorus 120 with a GNX1 processor in the effects loop. One word for my tone - BUTTER! I wish i had my equipment for that recording (i keep it at the drummers house). Overall, for a practice amp it doesnt sound too bad. And yes i did the keyboards on that. I did all the effects, the drum track, the piano, the bass track (which is also a keybaord effect). Its all me and only me.
Anybody can put music on MP3.com. You have to wait for it to be approved (takes about a week). But all you have to do is sign up and upload your stuff.

Skubasteve: I go for the jazzy off beat stuff (you should here me with my drummer he HATES straight rhytm). But this jam was very fun. My guitar playing is FAR from amazing, i appreciate you saying that. Its amazing what some mean distorion and a whammy wah wah combination can do. The drums being so high up in the mix was an accident. You said im a rocker not a jazzman - is that becuase you didnt like the jazzy parts, or did you say that cuz you liked my solo more than the jazzy parts? Be honest!!!! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Everybody - thanks for the positive feedback. You all made me want to pop that CD in when i get in the car on the ride home from work. Thanks again guys. More feedback is always welcome (dont forget i like critisism!) Anyone else got some music up for grabs?

[skubasteve120]

cuzz i like the solo man! was that all improv? sounded sweet!

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

I have yet to "write" a solo. So yes it was all improv. I find it has more feeling that way.

[Retro]

I've listen to it a several times. I like the jazz/reggae feel to it. It's a good groove to solo over. Kind of hard to critique the solo because the sound quality is ruff in several places and the solo needs to be brought forward in the mix. I think the solo could be a little more melodic. A reoccuring hook to glue it all together would help. I would suggest coming up with a strong melodic context for your solo and using that as a frame work to expand on as you improvise. I think you've got something good and with a little polish could be very, very good. Well, that's my two cents worth, take it for what it's worth.

Good luck and keep rockin'

[StoneDragon]

I think zbalz meant to post this here:

Wow...Im just surprised that you have done that in two years work. Ive just broke the 1 year barrier and I can barely solo OR even (as in other threads) play easier songs flawlessly...and thats with a lot of practice. Although its a bad habit, I end up deleting all my jams because I hate em' .
Anyway, I liked your song, definately digging the reggae riff in the middle and the solo sounds nice but like someone said, a nice melodic foundation would be nice if you are looking for a more jazzy style.

-zbalz

[StoneDragon]

I think you did a good job of taking several improvised elements and arranging them into a piece of music, but I also think you could take several of those ideas and expand them into full sections. As it is, it seems to be almost spastic in the way it moves from theme to theme.

I liked the opening theme. You can hear some Zappa influence pretty clearly here.

The funky reggae section is cool... would have liked to hear more of that (same goes with all of the sections, really... was just getting into the feel when you changed it on me.)


I like the way the solo section sounds like a whole band going for it. There are spots where it crashes and spots where it sounds brilliant. If you were to take and work out the rough spots in the drums and bass it would help your lead to sound less disjointed. As it is, it sounds spontaneous, and I like that.


Overall, and taken for what it is, I don't really have anything that I don't like about the piece. If I were on American Bandstand I couldn't give it a 10 though. It would have to have a good beat and be easy to dance to for that.

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Once again - thanks to Zbalz and Stone for their compliments. I never thought id get this kind of response for my music. Stone, all your advice (longer vamps, smoother modulation,etc) has definatley been taken to heart. I definatley agree.

This song was actually about 3 hours worth of my time. Turned out to have a lot of aspects that represent my playing and musical/melodic ideas.

I would personally like to thank Stone here. For real man, your lessons are a great factor in my music sense. After the opening theme, when the first full rythm busts in, and my guitar is following the bass line, and on the very last measure the guitar plays the fifth of the original line..... thats all you stone. A lot of the keyboard effects and paino parts are based off of fifths and thirds and full arpeggios. The music theory was very prevelant in this song (in my eyes atleast) and i couldnt have done it without yer lessons and guided help. Thanks again man.

[jewdo27]

i hope ill be able to play that well someday but im only 11 ive got a long way to go