Mindless Acoustic Improv

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XLR

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Acoustic guitar improvisation

Two acoustic guitars, I'm on both. I play a few scales and arpeggios most days to try and keep the fingers in shape and I like to improvise as part of it...usually on nylon string but this steel str happened to be lying around today. I edited out a couple mindless-beyond-all-reason phrases, but otherwise it's just first take raw playing.

No EQ. Maybe it needs some. I put in a little short verb... maybe too much? I can't seem to resist overdoing it in the first round.

EDIT: fixed the edit pops

Tim
 
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Man, Tim..that first run was just way cool...and it stayed that way. I wouldn't mind hearing this with the rythum guitar a bit drier, just to see how much of a contrast there is. There's no problem with it now, but drier might give it a bit more of an edge, which would be more of a contrast with the lead. Just a thought. Playing is cool, as usual. I like it. Got more??? :D
Ed
 
Tim, I think it's safe to say that calling anything you play "mindless" is like calling New Orleans "damp"......(no offense to New Orleans).... ;)
Cool stuff Tim, thanks for sharing.
 
Now I know that in my round-about way of complimenting your playing I usually have some kind of smart-ass crack and tell you how much I hate you, but this time I'm just going to give it straight. No wise cracks, no hate, nothing but the truth.

You are one AWESOME guitarist! I am continually amazed at the things that you post here. And continually blown away by your talent. When you were born, God zapped your hands with a great ability and you have not wasted it. And the people that listen to your playing can and do appreciate the work you have put into your music. If you ever stop I will hunt you down like a sick dog. Please, sir, continue to amaze me!

Oh, ok ok... have I told you lately how much I hate you? :D :D :D
 
I agree, there is more than just good playing...there is almost a tangible personality within the music.

7string said:
...God zapped your hands with a great ability...
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Yes, but you probably don't know that Tim actually recorded this by using his feet. He's THAT talented. :D

Nice work as usual Tim. Keep 'em coming.
 
Hi

Another great piece of music from Tim. I like it a lot.

Great work.

Jack Real.
 
Dogman said:
I wouldn't mind hearing this with the rythum guitar a bit drier, just to see how much of a contrast there is.
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I think you’re right Ed. I took your suggestion, then replaced the uploaded file. I took all the verb off the strummed gtr, also took the delay off the lead and replaced it with a very short (.4 sec) verb that’s barely audible just to take the abruptness off the occasional staccato sounds. Thanks Dogman, good suggestions as usual. :)

Metalhead, thanks for the support. I guess what I was thinking with the mindless thing was that - since most of what I play is scored music - when I improvise I try to go the opposite way and shut off thought – to just wander with no planned harmonies and such.

7, wow, what can I say? Thanks buddy. I sometimes think God has zapped me, but not with talent, heh-heh.

Thanks for the listen David. …personality… hey thanks!.. I think that’s everything in music… maybe the only thing that’s gonna keep us all from eventually being replaced by synths. :D

Jack and apl, thanks for listening and the kind words. Apl, I like the word, “recordingly”. …gonna use that.

Tim
 
Good choice of words!

David Katauskas said:
I agree, there is more than just good playing...there is almost a tangible personality within the music.
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Well said!

Timothy Lawler said:
7, wow, what can I say? Thanks buddy. I sometimes think God has zapped me, but not with talent, heh-heh.
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A friend of mine just asked for suggestions to some well played acoustic music. He said he is really getting into that style lately and wants to hear some that is well-played. I was going to send him to MY site but there's really no well-played music there much less well-played acoustic music and besides he's already been to mine so I sent him to yours. :D ;)
 
Mindless eh?Wow I would hate to see what you do when you put your mind to something :D !I liked that little bolero type thing in there real cool,very nice tone and technique here...cool stuff man,I dig it!
 
Tim, can I have some of your Mindless mind???? :D
Listeneing to the new mix. Big contrast here. Has a very different feel. I really like this also. I'd take either version you posted. Very nice.
Ed
 
too tight, I like it looser than that, also too scalar for me, I can't remember any specific melody parts, except for that big 1½ step minor scale jump, i always confuse melodic and harmonic minor....but well executed and good playing.
 
7string said:
…so I sent him to yours.
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Thanks 7, and my stat chart thanks you too.

Variaxman said:
I liked that little bolero type thing in there
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Gracias xmam. It felt a little weird doing flamenco-type rasgueado rhythms on a steel string but I’m glad it came across OK.

Dogman said:
Tim, can I have some of your Mindless mind????
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yEs… aLL mY mIndLesSnEss aRe beLong tO dOgMan.

Listeneing to the new mix. Big contrast here. Has a very different feel
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Yeah, funny how much different it sounds with the delay taken off. Just the guitar in the room now from 4 ft away.

Supercreep, thanks bud.

Junplugged said:
too tight, I like it looser than that, also too scalar for me…
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Thanks for the listen, junplugged. Appreciate it if you could describe the too-tight aspect you’re hearing in it.. I think I might know what you mean but not sure. Know exactly what you mean about the scale-wandering vs crafted melody. I’m hoping to eventually be able to improvise with a more lyrical melodic quality but for now am just glad when I get through a phrase without stepping on my own feet, heh-heh.

Tim
 
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Very sweet, Tim.

I've never heard you play steel before, so that was a pleasure.

I really like the sound of the steel-string on this recording. I'm wondering what mic(s) were used on that, and what mic placement.

SC and I are tracking some acoustic this week, so it is uppermost in my mind. Hmmm. Maybe I should turn my mind off too. . . Nah, there's not enough there in the first place to make much of a difference!!!

Keep them coming, my guitar-genious friend.

-Steve
 
Incanus said:
what mic(s) were used on that, and what mic placement.
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Hey thanks Incanus. Well, I put up a pair of Schoeps MK41's in ORTF about 4 ft out out from and level with the soundhole. But I ended up only using one of the mic's - the one pointing to the left as I was facing them while playing. For a solo I'd use the stereo config but with the duet it just got too dense. (was doing some solo recording prior to that, that's why the ORTF config was up) So the mic that's on the track is pointed about 55 degrees to the left as you're looking at it while you're playing, out 4' from the 16th fret or so. If I was tracking with a different mic,like a 603 for instance, I'd make sure to put it on axis w/the gtr. The Schoeps is odd that way, where it doesn't get wonky sounding when it's pointing to the side, just gets more of the room.

I had lightweight foam gobos positioned 2 ft from the sides and rear of the mic's, with their Auralex foam sides facing in, and not quite parallel with each other, to reduce HF room reflections a little 'cause I wanted a darker sound. Pretty big room, about 30 x 20 ft, kind of L shaped, w/peaked ceilings. I keep the mic's closer when I'm tracking in my smaller room.

Good luck with your acoustic tracking. Looking forward to hearing it.

Tim
 
Wow Tim, this was really good. From the rhythm to the lead. I like the contrasting sound myself. I am curious what it would sound like with an acoustic bass line, and even perhaps a third guitar to duel with the first lead??? Interesting.

Your fingers HAVE been zapped with a talent...to carress and lead your guitar to the ultimate sounds it was meant to produce in the right hands. Yours.

I, on the other hand, am a geetar sadist. :eek: :D
 
:D Nice as always Tim. It is quite different than what I'm used too listening from you, but it was really enjoyable. Did you just finger pick the parts or did you use a pick in this piece? And if you did use a pick, do you find it as hard as I do to change from one to the other after you've been playing one way for awhile?

PS I screwed up my email address here too. :eek: That's why the new moniker. ;)
 
:rolleyes: Ha, forgot to mention that I loved your Brazilian Cançao too. :D
 
mm.mm. Mindless stuff is good!!
BTW-Sorry Tim, I can;t the flutist to record the bossa tune I mentioned a while back. :o

T
 
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