How to Prevent Guitar Track from getting Exhausting/Boring

  • Thread starter Thread starter prof.obsessor
  • Start date Start date
prof.obsessor said:
Yes, EQ and everything else is involved in this as stated very clearly in my original post. But whatever.

Thanks Mr. Clean, I'm sure that "fuck you" is not representative of Greg_L. I'm sure I deserved it, too. Right? My bad, end of story. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Okay, a couple of points:

1. Asking, "how do I make this less boring and annoying?" is like asking, "how do I write a good song?" There is no magic combination of EQ, reverb or other post-production tricks that will turn a mediocre song into a good song. Greg is dead right: write a more interesting song.

2. A "song" is a melody line and arrangement that includes a rhythm component, a bass component, percussive elements (not necessarily, but usually, drums) motifs, figures and counterpoint. If the arrangement is boring, the song will be boring. Without hearing your song, I can only generalize and say the problem isn't just strumming (or using a Tele), but what and how you are strumming. As an extreme example, a song that is just a 1-4-5 chord progression, without variation, without modulation, that uses a repetitive strum pattern is going to be boring no matter what you do.

3. Anyone new to a web forum should be very careful about what they post, who they criticize and who they decide to pick a feud with. I suggest you listen to some of Greg_L's cuts and then re-consider the excellent and very clear advice that he has given you. His stuff is absolutely NOT boring in any way - melody, lyrics, arrangement, etc. Listen to his work (and other really good composer/musicians) and analyze what they do to keep a song moving, fresh and surprising all the way through. EQ and the like are about recording technique. Composition and arrangement are about making a song interesting and compelling.
 
PTravel said:
Okay, a couple of points:

1. Asking, "how do I make this less boring and annoying?" is like asking, "how do I write a good song?" There is no magic combination of EQ, reverb or other post-production tricks that will turn a mediocre song into a good song. Greg is dead right: write a more interesting song.

2. A "song" is a melody line and arrangement that includes a rhythm component, a bass component, percussive elements (not necessarily, but usually, drums) motifs, figures and counterpoint. If the arrangement is boring, the song will be boring. Without hearing your song, I can only generalize and say the problem isn't just strumming (or using a Tele), but what and how you are strumming. As an extreme example, a song that is just a 1-4-5 chord progression, without variation, without modulation, that uses a repetitive strum pattern is going to be boring no matter what you do.

3. Anyone new to a web forum should be very careful about what they post, who they criticize and who they decide to pick a feud with. I suggest you listen to some of Greg_L's cuts and then re-consider the excellent and very clear advice that he has given you. His stuff is absolutely NOT boring in any way - melody, lyrics, arrangement, etc. Listen to his work (and other really good composer/musicians) and analyze what they do to keep a song moving, fresh and surprising all the way through. EQ and the like are about recording technique. Composition and arrangement are about making a song interesting and compelling.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your patience and effort to help. But why are you even bothering trying to reason with this bozo?

If he's not the same guy, he must be related to that Turtle Michael specimen. Same MO. Ask a vague, almost un-answerable question, start insulting people, and then play victim when you get called on being an asshole.

All that's missing is him telling me my music isn't as good as Springsteen's, which is completely ridiculous and fale. I write way better music than that phony pseudo-Americana, wrapped in an American flag bullshit. No offense, Steenamaroo. :)


Wait, that came put wrong. I didn't mean "no offense Steen" because of Steen's music. I meant it because Steen, in his never ending effort to pacify and be nice to people, actually agreed with him that my music isn't as good as Springsteen's and gave me a "no offense Rami". That's what I meant by "no offense Steen". :)
 
Last edited:
In general - and I'm sorry if this has been said already (I didn't read the whole thread) - excitement comes from contrast. The most fundamental way to achieve contrast is by riding faders and/or writing volume automation. Bring the guitar back when the overall dynamic is low or when the guitar is a supporting instrument and bring it up in the climaxes or on solos. It makes a huge difference.

YMMV but that's my philosophy and I believe it can be applied to all instruments. Feel the song and make appropriate volume automation moves to portray that feeling. That's all I really have to say.

Cheers :)
 
I'm flattered that you're tracking me so closely. I'm building a fan base already it seems.
 
prof.obsessor said:
I'm flattered that you're tracking me so closely. I'm building a fan base already it seems.
Click to expand...
Don't flatter yourself. It's not that hard to read a post, and then 10 other posts that contradict it after. Not everyone has as big a comprehension problem as you do.
 
Since this post is in the "mixing techniques" section, I won't even bring up the songwriting aspects that could help fix this. I don't have a clip to tell you what frequency, but you could try to find the nagging frequencies and bring them down a little. Also, a change of strings could help bring more life to the track. :thumbs up:
 
Greg_L said:
Write better songs.
Click to expand...

Echo...

Write better songs...
Write better songs...
Write better songs...
Write better songs...
Write better songs...
Write better songs...
Write better songs...
 
Write worse songs! If all of your songs are a 10/10 on the awesomeness scale those rhythm guitar parts will get real boring. Prof. Obsessor : I am sorry if people offended you. People are going to give you silly answer here if you ask very vauge questions. I am sure if you gave us a sound clip that shows what you meant by exhausting we could help you. This forum has really helped me improve my recordings over the past few years. I'm sure it could help you too. If you are going to be constantly butthurt then perhaps you should stick with the other forms you are using.
 
Mo Facta said:
In general - and I'm sorry if this has been said already (I didn't read the whole thread) - excitement comes from contrast. The most fundamental way to achieve contrast is by riding faders and/or writing volume automation. Bring the guitar back when the overall dynamic is low or when the guitar is a supporting instrument and bring it up in the climaxes or on solos. It makes a huge difference.

YMMV but that's my philosophy and I believe it can be applied to all instruments. Feel the song and make appropriate volume automation moves to portray that feeling. That's all I really have to say.

Cheers :)
Click to expand...
Yeah good point about dynamics. Even something as simple as strumming close to the saddle and over the hole can change the timbre and add some variation. But don't strum the neck. It just looks plain stupid.
 
prof.obsessor said:
What is your intention? You've repeated the same thing five times. If you would please leave this thread alone, I would appreciate it. Because while I agree with your point, I'm looking for a more diverse set of information and the other people are giving it to me. So, if you're not gonna say anything else, leave, would ya?
Click to expand...

dude, if greg wants to give you some advise and asks for a sound clip .. post one.. then be happy for any advice you get after that. I have to say it sounds like a boring genre any way, the whole vocal / guitar solo act is murderously boring.
 
I think the 'prof' has left the building for now.

Granted, all he had to do was post a clip and none of the banter would have happened. He asked an abstract question, and got the deserved answer.

This happens way to often:

'Tell me how to fix it'. -response: 'Fix what? Give a sample'. response: 'I don't have one'.

Nothing came from the OP because he was not willing to give the needed information (sample) to answer his question in the first place. I wish him luck in the future. Does not seem he cares to have honest opinions if he can't find a way to post a clip of the thing he recorded, that he wants advice about.
 
RAMI said:
He needs to write more interesting posts.
Click to expand...

Really, just a post that gives the needed info to reply to would have been sufficient.

We get a bunch of these abstract postings from new members lately. I wonder why...

It just seems obvious to me that one would post a link of a sound they are having issue with. How the hell else would anyone be able to give any opinion?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top