new to forum; new to playing songs by myself

[aprilchangedme]

Hi everyone...these message boards have already been incredibly helpfull. I have recently started working on "solo" songs. I have around four rough drafts of songs on my recorder, and i am having a few confusions and need some good feedback...

A) i am not sure if anyone would actually enjoy listening to my songs. i feel like my melodies are very much in the instrument(s) and my vocals (what most people hear/listen too) are kind of backroundish and unsubstantial.

B) i am not sure if i should overdub, in other words, how much sound to actually put in the recording, or if an open-ness is better.

I will have the mp3s up mid next week. I am also curious what these songs might be classified as. In the meantime, any responses will be greatly appreciated! thanks alot

[joro]

Welcome to HR man...........

Can't answer either questions till we hear the tunes.....not honestly anyways....

I am gonna keep my eye out for em for sure...

BTW..........You should post them in the MP3 clinic...

Take it easy,
Joe

[stonepiano]

welcome, ACM...

let's hear the tunes!

Stone

[darwinsdoggy]

Hi...first things first...

In terms of whether or not someone will listen to your songs the best advice you can be given is this...Write them for yourself first. You'll find, more times than not, that songs which catch your own attention are liekly to catch someone else's as well. Post 'em in the mp3 clinic when they're ready. Would love to hear some.

[aprilchangedme]

thanks guys. I am posting the mp3 over on the clinic now. or at least trying too...my file is too big.

[James HE]

Originally posted by aprilchangedme

B) i am not sure if i should overdub, in other words, how much sound to actually put in the recording, or if an open-ness is better.

Back when I really started recording my solo efforts, I had a little "rule" that it all had to go down at once. Guitar, and vocal- and no overdubbs. It was a religious experience in a way. It also was a religious experience the first time i broke that rule! lol Just do what feels right for the song.

[Dani Pace]

Sometimes when I come up with a "good?" song I'll tape it and date it then come back in a couple of months and listen to it. I've discovered that lots of stuff seems to sound better when the idea is fresh, letting it sit for a while allows me to listen with a more objective ear. Sometimes I hear good lines in some of my older stuff that fits into a current project better than it did in the origional and occasionaly find things I had forgotten to incorporate into something new. Sorting out the lines to convey my ideas has allways been the tricky part of songwriting to me so a collection of recorded ideas serves as a good reference. I've even found old tapes of mine from years ago and after listening to them realized the songs really suck but there is this one line that grabs me, then a whole new project evolves. You can take it or leave it but reviewing your music after not hearing it for a while will change the way you hear it Dani