Michelle

[robjh22]

I know this belongs in the mp3 forum, but I know all you co-Fostex guys better and would not have been able to create this short (1:46) mp3 without your help. This is 1 track, and I won't be adding anything. Hey, if 1 track was good enough for Segovia, it's good enough for me.


https://home.comcast.net/~robjh22/Michelle.mp3


If it doesn't work, try this instead, or just cut/paste into your browser:

http://home.comcast.net/~robjh22/Michelle.mp3

[guitmartiman]

I liked it. I thought the recording sounded clean and rather noiseless. Your playing was very good, though I thought it didn't flow as much as it might have and sounded a little uncertain at times given the song, but that may just be your interpretation.

I had a little difficulty getting the file to play though. In fact it wouldn't play at all on my RealPlayer. I did get it to work on my Windows media player, but I don't think I got the whole thing because it cut off before you were done playing. Not bad, though. I'll try to get the whole thing later. I have a dial-up connection, so it's hard to wait for an entire mp3 to download, especially when there's no indication how much longer one has to wait!

I dabble a little in classical guitar myself, but I don't think I'm as good as you are. I'm more of a folk guitar player, with just enough influence from other genres (classical, blues, pop, gospel, bluegrass, old country) to make it interesting.

[robjh22]

guitmartiman, you are one perceptive listener. You're right, my performance is uncertain, or tentative. I was hoping no one would notice. The problem is that it's impossible to play it in fingerstyle during the bridge, becasue the melody notes are to high. So I try playing it in free jazz form to keep a consistent mood throughout, resisting the urge throughout to lapse into fingerstyle at the verse. But I'm constantly asking myself: is this right? And apparently it bleeds through and ultimately disappoints. You know, I've been working on this song off and on for 20 years, and that has always been the problem. I never recorded it before because I figured that sooner or later, I'd figure out a solution to this dilemma.

Thank you for that constructive comment and for convincing me that, like it or not, I need to set up the mike and try again to play with a little conviction at least.

[guitmartiman]

By the way, who made that guitar you're playing? It sounds pretty good to me.

[robjh22]

The guitar is a Hirade, which is to Takamine what Lexus is to Toyota. Very refined workmanship, very very good (I do not say "great") woods. 2" wide at the nut, very thin (shallow) neck reinforced with ebony. Very precise intonation up and down the neck. A little too bright, unfortunately, so I have to use eq to avoid the natural sound which is almost harsh in the upper registers. Price: $1,500 second hand (mint condition) from Solo Guitar in San Francisco.