How to NOT sound cheesy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mambazo
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mambazo said:
Yep, see thats what I was thinking too.

I suppose its less of a recording issue, and more of a playing issue. lol

Its odd, because I'm told that when I'm just playing the guitar, be it in the trio, or tootling away on my own at home, its not cheesy. But as soon as I try to record something, it turns into a TV jingle :P
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try just playing over a simple bassline or something i dunno im no expert but i think it your backings
 
Does sound a little cheesy I guess, but not really...sounds more like just Jazz playing/nintendo music. :D I think the low quailty 64KBPS MP3 file gives it that low-fi/almost-nintendo sound.

I'm not a huge jazz fan. The tune itself could be called a little cheesy but it isn't your playing.
 
mambazo said:
How about...



Tis all just guitar. Two tracks.

Thoughts?
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I think you're playing is just fine in fact it is very good. The problem seems to be your lead sounds like a casio keyboard. What are you using for effects on it? You also might want to pan the bass center.
 
I put a little bit of chorus on the lead track. And took some high end off the rhythm track. A bit of reverb on the master channel too. :o

The bass isn't a bass, or on a track of its own, thats part of the rhythm track.



Maybe I should walk the bass on its own?
 
Yeah, the rhythm track sounds just fine on it's own. Having the bass off to the side sounds a little strange to me though becauase it's normallly centered.
 
Here's a version with the rhythm track centered, and the chorus removed from the lead track...

 
That helped quite a bit. Really I don't think having the rhythm track panned to the side had much to do with it, but getting the effects off your lead line helped tremendously. Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier or else I would have already suggested that. Sounds much better now. Has more of a Pat Metheny... circa Bright Sized Life, kind of quality on the lead.
 
How about...



I had it with Rhodes in the backing before. I switched to piano, and tried to reduce the high tones on the lead a bit.
 
Sounds much better but I still like to have the bass centered with the piano and lead off to the sides but that just my personal preference. Nice work.
 
Doctor's office music! Nah, just kidding. It's all about the scales you're using. But if it's what you like, I wouldn't worry about if it sounds "cheesy"
 
Oops. I meant to center the bass on that one also.

I should be heading to my father's recording studio (pretty much a room with a digital mixing desk) next weekend. I'll try and get a track recorded there, with the Tanglewood Semi-Acoustic. Perhaps I can get the old fella to put down a double bass track for me too. :D

Anyways. It will be interesting to see the difference.

Guitarer said:
Doctor's office music! Nah, just kidding. It's all about the scales you're using. But if it's what you like, I wouldn't worry about if it sounds "cheesy"
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Elevator music, exactly! lol

Can you elaborate on scale usage?

In Blue Bossa, I'm using C Aeolian in the A section, for the most part anyways. In the B section I change to C Locrian. (Tis the same as changing from C Minor for A section, and Db Major for B section).

What would you suggest instead?
 
mambazo said:
Here's a version with the rhythm track centered, and the chorus removed from the lead track...

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Nice!! That made a huge difference. I liked your original mix too, but this sounds really great.
 
mambazo said:
How about...



I had it with Rhodes in the backing before. I switched to piano, and tried to reduce the high tones on the lead a bit.
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I like this, but I think it's the percussion part that contributes to some of the cheesiness you're referring to.

Call me crazy, but I'm hearing some light latin percussion in the background instead. Maybe?

Great guitar work regardless.
 
fatstrat said:
I like this, but I think it's the percussion part that contributes to some of the cheesiness you're referring to.

Call me crazy, but I'm hearing some light latin percussion in the background instead. Maybe?

Great guitar work regardless.
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You're not crazy, there is some lite drums in there.
 
Well, sorry to bump an old thread, but, I finally got my sound sorted out. No more pingy-twangy hissing guitar tracks. I've got a VOX Valvetronic ToneLab pedal now, which has built in Amp settings, Cabinet settings etc. So I can finally use my line-in, instead of the mic-in.

Heres a quick test, improvisation over a dm9 progression...

 
Just chalk it up to experience. Determine what exactly is making it cheesy.

Stop doing that.

Rinse, repeat.
 
Hi,

Take your best song, then write another song preceding it which sounds nothing like it, but has enough elements in it to be picked up by the 2nd song. Create a clever join. Also, let other people have a free go on your music - dont guide them, just be open to opinion - it's surprising how different an approach people take on the same song - really surprising.
 
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