Moment
Mar 17, 2024
stonewindow
Mostly Melody
First, I thank Julia for this specific challenge. I was excited and confident when I initially saw it. It was a real challenge in the end. Only three different melodies…. Not sure I achieved that. Some drone here and there.
My submission is a live demo. Acoustic guitar, a microphone through a PA and recorded with GarageBand on my iPad. I made many recordings to get to this one. I see more work to tighten it up. Vocal phrasing is a long process for me.
I’m feeling a bit stuck in a poetic lyric structure. I’m feeling the spring change in my neck of the woods. I do love spring green. I sang the melodies while hiking this morning.
Lyric:
The moment awaits
No one escapes
Now I’m late
Spring green Hellbore
Daffodils awake
Budding dogwood branches
Wait in the wings
We’re all sinners
We’re all saints
Looking for feedback on
1. Thanks for any feedback you have. 2. I think I need to work with a metronome more, be honest. 3. Any vocal phrasing feedback is welcome. How do you keep rhythm while finger picking?
Discussion
alechutson March 24, 2024 3:36pm
Great vibe to this song. I might try recording the guitar separately from vocals – you write very involved guitar parts, so unless you have it fully committed to finger memory then it’s going to be very difficult to play and sing it together in time, and that will also give you a chance to fully focus on vocal delivery and finger picking timing on separate takes.
stonewindow March 24, 2024 5:12pm
Alec? Is that your name? Thanks for your kind words and advice. You are on point. I’m a novice at recording, so I need to get to the point where I have the skill to record multiple tracks. Haha. All of these NCBC challenges are great training for me. Because of these challenges I learned the bare minimum of GarageBand. I’m ready to learn how to do multi-track recording. Thanks for listening and your feedback.
Carseat March 18, 2024 3:28pm
I like that you decided to keep this recording super homey, I think it totally adds to your vibe. Metronome-wise, yeah, there were certainly some moments in the song that could’ve used a bit more consistency in the tempo. You seem like you’d be a, “stomp the feet,” kinda player and I dig that for you. I do a little dance when I fingerpick too, it’s just what happens. For the fingerpicking question you had, it sounds like you’re really plucking at the strings — creates a nice timbre, but oftentimes I find that I can stay more consistent with the tempo when I soften up.
stonewindow March 18, 2024 6:07pm
Thanks you for this. I appreciate your feedback. Softening up is good idea.
stonewindow March 24, 2024 5:13pm
i took your softening up comment to heart. It’s really made things better for me. Thanks!
Carseat March 24, 2024 5:37pm
Oh fantastic!! Glad it’s helping!