Practicing Lines - Do you need a backing track of some sort?

[danwaineo]

I suspect Jeff will deliver. Vintage did a nice little recording, but then again there was that backing track. Melody, rhythm, tempo and timing. You need to do it all yourself. Naked guitar, man.

After I do the game day recording, I'll do a second one with a vocal added. Just for the fun. A bonus from a "non-professional".

But I have to learn the song first.


Jay

Oh good. I was afraid you wouldn't sing. Please put some Sibelius on it too.

[danwaineo]

Thanks AlsoRan for making this thread. You seem like a really nice guy. I'm going try recording myself everyday with just a metronome. This is by far one of the best exercises I've ever found. I doubt I would have ever even tried it without this thread.

[matt.guitarteacher]

matt - what is up with you anyway? A snipe hunt? Look, if you have something to say to me, man up and speak directly.

I feel like I'm been fairly direct with you on many occasions. I wasn't actually speaking to you in this case. Yes . I'm slightly irritated at all of the talk of this upcoming event as if it's actually going to happen, and as if it actually matters.

Here are the facts as I see them:

1. You've made very bold claims about how to play guitar , improvise, and jazz generally which fall outside the consensus views of great players, jazz educators, and forum members.

2. You deliver these claims in a very offputting, arrogant tone that many people find offensive, and they've told you so.

3. When asked to demonstrate that you actually know what you're talking about, you put everyone off for weeks, or is it months?

Now, in the real world of academia and science , the standard is that a statement which goes against all convention is officially BS until it is proven otherwise.

Much of what you say doesn't pass the smell test. So, I'm calling it BS until you prove that you actually know something about playing jazz . Until such time, I hereby proclaim that the sun is actually a great citrus fruit hanging in the sky. That's my opinion and I'm sticking by it through many, future, long-winded posts. "Very soon" I will demonstrate this scientific fact. It's coming, and don't anybody dare question that, or you'll be eating your words when I squeeze the rich juicy goodness out of that orb in the sky.

Posting your playing is only a side issue though. It's a snipe hunt. It distracts from the real issue. It doesn't change point #2 at all.

The truth is that 99% of posters don't care that anyone demonstrate their ability. 99% don't demand it on a regular basis. It all goes back to point #1 and point number #2. That's the real reason why people are always asking you to put up.

My playing is easily found with search feature under my name and showcase I would presume. It proves that I am who I have said I am: a hobbyist. I would be more than happy to put my amateur version of "out of nowhere" up, but it doesn't prove anything. Likewise, Henry and other pros posting their playing on your demand doesn't change the facts I've mentioned either. Because it's ABOUT you and ON you to show people who YOU are.

[StanG]

again: backing track into keyboard amp, guitar into amp, windows sound recorder on laptop,

Not great, but willing to take feedback

[mr. beaumont]

I heard some nice stuff in the lines Stan...I like how it sounds you're hearing a melody and going for it, as opposed to just running changes. I'd work on rhythm, swinging...the track seems to be swinging in a pretty old school classic way, your lines are more floating above than locking in...it's tough, a track is not natural to "interact" with...

[mr. beaumont]

Here's mine. It was a great experience. I've never really recorded myself before and am very dependent on backing tracks so this was hard. I have a lot to work on (especially rhythm). I know I suggested this song but don't take that to mean I play it a lot. I wrote "out of nowhere" in the post, so that reminded me of the song.

This was an ovation acoustic, no pick, a crappy mp3 recorder, a phone metronome, uploaded with a chromebook.

Comments would be welcome!

Nice job getting out there...yep, rhythm is it, locking in, and variation too, a lot of your note values were "samey." Record yourself often, it's great practice...and as for the Ovation, I think they actually work great for jazz. Keep doing it, build your confidence...you'll be surprised how much better you sound once you go into recording believing you're gonna sound good, that you're gonna play "the right notes."

[danwaineo]

again: backing track into keyboard amp, guitar into amp, windows sound recorder on laptop,

Not great, but willing to take feedback

Hi StanG,
I'm the pot calling the kettle black, but I would work on your rhythm. You have some nice ideas.

[danwaineo]

Nice job getting out there...yep, rhythm is it, locking in, and variation too, a lot of your note values were "samey." Record yourself often, it's great practice...and as for the Ovation, I think they actually work great for jazz. Keep doing it, build your confidence...you'll be surprised how much better you sound once you go into recording believing you're gonna sound good, that you're gonna play "the right notes."

Thanks Jeff. I'll keep working on it.

[Skip Ellis]

Sounds like we're back to your basic 'cutting contest' which is why I don't do jam sessions. Personally I'm not out trying to impress other musicians - I couldn't care less what they think of my playing - they aren't paying me. What I am concerned with is doing the job I was hired for in a professional manner and delivering the music that my employer is expecting. Musicians don't hire musicians, except, I suppose, in the big city (never been there) where the leader is hired and expected to put together a group for a particular job. That's why I'm working toward being a solo act - I've been doing this for a long time and I'm tired of dealing with it. It won't be long before we have to audition and take a written test on compositional skills to become a member of this forum.

[danwaineo]

Sounds like we're back to your basic 'cutting contest' which is why I don't do jam sessions. Personally I'm not out trying to impress other musicians - I couldn't care less what they think of my playing - they aren't paying me. What I am concerned with is doing the job I was hired for in a professional manner and delivering the music that my employer is expecting. Musicians don't hire musicians, except, I suppose, in the big city (never been there) where the leader is hired and expected to put together a group for a particular job. That's why I'm working toward being a solo act - I've been doing this for a long time and I'm tired of dealing with it. It won't be long before we have to audition and take a written test on compositional skills to become a member of this forum.

Only one of us are posting for that reason. I was excited to have a new way to practice (recording a song with just a metronome) and to get some feedback.

We are just trying to become better musicians.

[targuit]

Matt - Pardon me if I am in error, but I suspect you did not see the Sound Click link I posted yesterday here. Dial back a page or two, put on some headphones for fidelity, and listen to two of my original songs. One is a bluesy, New Orleans style jazz tune I wrote for a stupid Roland Guitar Synth competition around four years ago or so. The other is a tune I wrote for another competition around the same time - an American Idol Songwriting deal. Within less than eighteen hours from start to finished recording not counting the normal hours at work. Anyway, I put the link up to help quell the derogatory claptrap that I don't play or even more absurd the notion that I would hang here for a year creating a fictitious psychotic fantasy. I'll leave that to our Ambassador of human empathy and jazz, Rich.

I actually learned the song Out of Nowhere last night, which someone else suggested would be a good standard to play in a little friendly enterprise I suggested yesterday to 'level the playing field' literally. That is, if I need to demonstrate my abilities to quell the fires of raging doubt consuming the souls of the acolytes, then maybe others should do so as well.

Some accept the 'challenge', some may choose to cower in the shadows. What will you do? I call it the Naked Guitar challenge - you get to record two guitar tracks as you like - I would suggest a rhythm and lead track - of Out of Nowhere. You might be amused to learn that tune is not in my repertoire and I spent time in the early morning hours today learning it. Of course, it has a kind of odd structure to the progression without a real chorus or B section, but it is a cool song to perform. No "backing tracks" allowed - just what you create with your guitar to a basic simple hi-hat click (so we can all hear your mastery of rhythm and timing), though you can choose the tempo and the style.

So, besides writing derogatory and inflammatory posts in my regard, perhaps you could consider taking the Naked Guitar challenge. I, for one, am anxious to hear your interpretation and that of Jeff, Rich, Henry....he's a bit bashful about the idea, but maybe he will come around. I feel we should have till Sunday night to do the deed, given that some of us don't have a recording studio and lots of free and quiet time.

Naked Guitar - it should be revealing. And as it is just a recording and not a video, clothing is optional as well. Of course, beyond pretensions and posturing in anonymity, it might be quite revealing....

Actually, I want to bring all this stupid speculation and knitting circle gossip to a close. I do not want to derail threads or sow dissent. Nor do I want to be the center of unwanted attention. But some comments in my regard and challenges as to my veracity and authenticity have rubbed me the wrong way. So, for better or worse, it is about Judgement Day - in a light hearted way, of course.

[matt.guitarteacher]

No high hat. Just my amateur living room style. It's rendering. I'll put up after lunch appointment. ...before 2pm....

You're all talk.

[mr. beaumont]

Naked guitar. That'd be a good album title

[targuit]

Skip, you don't have to do anything. Purely voluntary, of course. I understand your point and you have every right. The only reason I'm doing this is because some rude, nasty, derogatory, and unbalanced things have been said about my veracity. And I'm as tired of it as you no doubt are of reading my posts. I really want to go back to just expounding my cantankerous opinions about jazz guitar. But if you felt abused, I think you would say that if showing up on game day is required of me to stop that abuse, that I should have the right to hold others to the same standard.

I might be opinionated and too confident sounding, perhaps overbearing, but in truth it is one thing to talk the talk and another to walk the walk. I try not to attack anyone personally (Rich might be an exception, but you have to read his posts - not on this thread.) So I'm just inviting those who have been the most vocal to walk the walk that they require of me. And then I will STFU, to the relief of everyone. As I hope they will about this BS. Or at least they will know who is authentic and who is not. It is a kind of matter of honor, not pride.

Jay

[matt.guitarteacher]

No high hat. Just my amateur living room style. It's rendering. I'll put up after lunch appointment. ...before 2pm....

You're all talk.

Central standard time by the way. Physical therapy and a peanut butter sandwich first...
:-)

[ColinO]

Just saw that folks were posting versions of this tune.

Here's three choruses of me. Didn't know the song before and this is a first take so it's pretty sloppy. Just playing into the phone so see if it can be done easily.

[mr. beaumont]

Jay, my name keeps getting included in the "walk the walk they require of me" stuff...you are aware I've probably posted 100 clips here over the years, right, audio and video?

I hope you don't think I'm hiding. As for "Out of Nowhere," I'll have mine up this afternoon, when I get back to a good wi-fi connection ...it's a fun tune, one I haven't done before either.

Colin, you sound good man...nice phrasing, like hearing some of the "horn like" legato stuff as opposed to just picking everything. Great tone. I could hear the changes clearly. Good work.

[monk]

Naked guitar. That'd be a good album title

[targuit]

Jeff, you are right, but you did suggest more than a couple of times that my opinions did not jibe with the anointed experts here. You know, even if you are or were a doubter, I think you are an upright guy. Your ego is in check and you can play, but you are not overbearing. Maybe even a little humble and willing to take a chance. Not talking trash about others without being willing to back it up. I like that.

People here don't realize that the only reason I haven't been more out front about posting my stuff is that I have this horrible perfectionist streak that really is a bear.

I honestly did not realize that Out of Nowhere was the inspiration for the Star Trek theme, though I knew I had heard Sinatra sing the song in the past. I don't get to a lot jazz jams, so I didn't realize it is a jazz staple of sorts.

That sounded really nice, ColinO! Weird, but I don't see any of the "like" buttons on my screen. Odd. One of my basic problems is I have no idea how you recorded with your 'smart' phone. And I have one, though not an iPhone. But then again, tech backwardness is just one of my problems.

Now reassure me one more time that posting on Sound Cloud is going to be easy. I just signed up the other day, but I haven't tried it yet. And I won't have time to record really until Saturday. Work doth not allow it.

Jay

[mr. beaumont]

Damn you Earl!

(I was kidding in my earlier post...Earl's record above is a favorite of mine.)

[mr. beaumont]

I honestly did not realize that Out of Nowhere was the inspiration for the Star Trek theme

Jay

Well, son of a gun, if that ain't true. Never woulda thunk it.

[henryrobinett]

Protect your honor. I'm all for that. But you know, this is music. It's ALL ABOUT walking the walk. I rarely listen to what people have to say about music, when they speak authoritatively, as a musician unless and until I hear the, It's too easy to talk. So far pretty much all you've done is talk, talk, talk. You could have been recording yourself and could have started, finished and posted 10 songs for the time you've wasted here, complete with videos and Robert Palmer dancing babes. I suggest to you to turn off this forum. It's turned into a circus act. Nothing will ameliorate until you post some improvised jazz. Calling out other people is silly and childish. You are the one who has to put up or shut up here. This thread has become about you, just the way you seem to like it. And because the hot seat is now too uncomfortable, as you've been called to account, you decide to call out others. Misery loves company. Well BUD this is not about them talking the talk and not walking the walk. It's about you. Time to face the music. This is a tiresome sideshow.

[ColinO]

Colin, you sound good man...nice phrasing, like hearing some of the "horn like" legato stuff as opposed to just picking everything. Great tone. I could hear the changes clearly. Good work.

Thanks for the kind words Jeff. "Great tone" - not bad for a Strat eh?

[Vladan]

StanG,
What kind of effects do you use? It sounds like an organ.

Most of it comes from lossy audio compression codec.

[henryrobinett]

I would appreciate any feedback on this, thanks.

I like it! You definitely hear the changes and you hear the time and phrasing. Good job. You could work a little more on nailing those turn arounds and making some of the leading tones ring out more obviously. But good job vintage love!