short little country/pop tune.

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wes480

wes480

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I was tossing this melody around in my head...it's very overtly country...but, it kind of grew on me.

This is just my brother and I on guitars on one track, sitting in front of mic - so not exactly looking for mixing advice ;)

I am wondering if anyone would have any ideas for how I might produce this song...something I could add to it...to make it sound cool as just a little track on an album...kind of bridgeing together the "first half" and the "second half" some kinda conept thing..I dunno. Not sure what kind of percussion would work well here...if any. I'm playing with the idea of picking up a violin player from the college I go to for an afternoon...to do some overdub work...maybe some fiddle would work here.

the stuff I am mostly working on right now isn't exactly "country"...but, it has kind of that flavor to it. But I think this track could possibly gel it a bit...I dunno, anyone have any ideas or maybe I should just scrap it?

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1591&alid=-1

Called "Darling"

-Wes
 
Hey Wes, very nice tune. For me, with country music, I always like the traditional stuff. So fiddle, maybe banjo, slide, all those things. Real organic would be good, I would think. As far as fleshing out the song, ummm, well can't help you off the top of my head!

Funny, your music doesn't match what you talk about. I would guess your music would sound like a cross between U2 and The Strokes or something. I think that's cool, though, I like all different kinds of stuff.

Macle
 
nice...macle with the pity response ;)

heh...yeah...well, i guess ideally...i would *like* for my music to be more like U2 - but hey...gotta do whats in you i guess.

Plus, its just kind of a start....I think after I go on tour and become a drunken bastard I might rock a little more, who knows. heh.

-wes
 
maybe something with brushes on the drums....and have a bass (preferably an upright sound), do the single note line the gtr. is doing. Infact, that line could be incorporated into a main lick of the song, by having other instruments play in unision/harmony with it. The beat is the hardest for me to imagine, and my first instincts are to speed it up too....and quite possibly, speed it up substantially. I mean...you could go bluegrass, hillbilly, staight country, modern pop country. Making that decision first would make a lot of decisions right off the bat.

ok...no mix comments...but can I say it was really hissy though??;)
 
Dude, this is a wildcard song.

I dont think it needs mentioning that the recording quality is not all that it can be. I can hardly hear what the singer is saying.

The melody more than makes up for it. I was praying that it would be completed with some sweet harmony, so your harmony was very welcome.

This is the kind of song that I can listen to for an hour straight.

other thoughts.

This sounds like a killer chorus section, do you have verses?

I assume that you recorded the guitar and voice at the same time that is why much room in the voice. For a more upfront sound, play this back in your cans, lay down the guitar to it, then go back and lay down the vocals with less room. It should be noticeably improved.

I think that the harmony would work better if you sang "be" as 6 up from the melody.

This is the kind of melody that country listeners reward with CD purchases. I can totally hear a production of this on G.A.C

Funk on!

ps I have to disagree with macle. For me, the lyrics fit the song/genre perfectly.
 
I also noticed that this melody can easily cross over to rock. Just a different type of playing and different instruments.
 
mixmkr - thanks a lot...thats some good input. I was definately thinking brushes could be cool - but I might forgo drums and just try something like a hand drum...or a shaker...or something.

I kind of think the slow beat to it was kind of the charm....

cyan - wow...thanks a lot! what exactly do you mean by a "wildcard" song? I think thats a good thing? Hehe...I've heard that mentioned in various contexts...just not sure.

in terms of the recording - yeah, its actually two acoustic guitars, and two vocalists sitting in front of a rode nt3 about 2 feet back from us. (it's my brother and i)...

he had no clue what the hell he was singing really...so, thats why the harmony is less than ideal...but, yeah I think the "idea" there translated....(i'll definately work with the 6th...that could make a killer 3 part harmony maybe)

well, I was thinking this could be just more of a little "nothing" song stuck out there...like a little minute long thing...but, I dunno...I guess I might go back to the drawing boards on it and work out some verse...or..something to it.

your comment about "this is the kind of melody that country fans reward with cd purchases" - that is the ultimate compliment to me. I really appreciate that....

the majority of the album like I said...(well, the songs at least...not very far into the album process) has kind of a country "flavor"...without being really country (or, as country as this). So, I think maybe esp. with something like this on there...some country fans could get into it....even though over all i am kind of defining the album as "organic folk rock" - in my head at least.

We'll see how well my newbie producing/engineering skills can stand up to that...heh.

thanks again guys.
 
macle said:


Funny, your music doesn't match what you talk about. I would guess your music would sound like a cross between U2 and The Strokes or something.

Macle

oh, cyan...I don't think macle meant in terms of this actual song, btw. We chat about music every so often...and he knows I'm a big rock fan....he just didn't expect me to be doing country muzak ;)
 
nice wee melody indeed

I really was hoping a harmony would come, and spot on! I don`t think its that country actually, I just like it as a wee song. You could make it longer and add lot of verses but I liked it as a little signature tune. nice. My computer is buggered so I can`t check out more stuff, but yours was so petite that I couln`t resist trying
cheers wes. Erland
 
hey thanks erland.

that's awesome man, thanks for checking it out. sucks that you are having computer problems....glad you could squeeze me in though ;)
 
Hey Wes,

Nice core of a song that popped in your head. The first thing that came to mind for me was a fiddle. I think I'd keep the song simple on the production side. I'd incorporate the harmonies into the arrangement more and give a simple melodic solo to the aforementioned fiddle. A female on the harmonies would be a nice addition. A bass line (as mixmkr mentioned ) would free up the arrangment and, for me, that would be about it. Do you have access to a mandoline? That would be icing on an already tasty cake.

Post your full vision when it is done.


Theron.
 
Mandolin...hmm, I do not know...I'm sure I could come up with something.

The idea of "collaborating" is really growing on me. When I first got into this thing it was like "me and my band..thats it!" and anything else isn't a part of it.

But, now I am seeing the bigger picture....that getting someone to come do some piano that I can't do here and there...

Or fiddles....accordian...mandolin as you mentioned. All of those things can ice it, like you said.

I'm still kind of going back and forth on the female vocalist thing. i am basically 90% there...becuase I know a great one...who would love to sing on my stuff for the hell of it. Our voices match really well i think...could be cool. I'd want it to be sparse though.

Homerecording is all about collaboration...I guess that's what I'm starting to realize. Actually all of the stuff with Erland and the remixes got me thinking more along those lines.

thanks for the comments/compliments theron. I'll definately post the final...it'll be a little bit though ;)
 
wes,

Really nice tune!
I like the melody.

I agree with the mandolin,or mandolin pickin on your guitar.
Mabey a lead break with a capo way up would work.

Sounds great!.

Best to you,
Pete

BTW-I have a dobro and an acoustic if your interested in collaborating.
 
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