New recordings

Spyke

One new piece and a rerecording of one of the old abortions.

Once again, just quick recordings, playing around on Audacity. Still need to add drums etc but the idea is down. Any thoughts and comments appreciated.

one day it'll be finished songs worth listening to.

Longing (wt) (working title) and Deanoneato (wt) here -> clickey

AlanRatcliffe

Much better recording. Clean guitar in Longing is good, but the lead is a bit harsh in that context.

Similar sound in Deanoneato, but it works blended in with the second distorted guitar. Balance is rough, but you said it's a rough track, so that's fine.

Unless you are working to a click track (metronome), it's always better to do the drums first and ideally bass second. It's almost impossible to put drums in accurately after the fact if the guitar's timing is even slightly off. Even the best drummers will struggle with this. It also means you can set the right tempo in Audacity and lay down the drum track and everything will line up measure for measure, note for note. This makes it easier when you are doing other production oriented things later, like punching in, copying and pasting, fixing bum notes or synchronising delays with the tempo - this is why most studios will make the drummer play in their part to a click, so everything is as close as possible to perfect time.

If you're planning on programming or looping the drum stuff, you can do a lot of it later as long as you have something simple to record the guitars to. I often lay down a simple kick, snare and hat beat (or import a simple loop) for one measure and then copy and paste to the next 100 measures or so. Quick and easy. I use that as the "metronome" to record all the other parts. Then I can go back at any time and start building drum tracks measure by measure, drum by drum, 'cos I know all the other instruments are in time.

NorioDS

Great advice, thanks Alan ?

Any recommendations on "learning" how to play decent + basic bass parts for our recordings? I find building up rhythm to be difficult while playing lead to kinda come naturally (once the rhythm section is happy and taking inspiration from their bits)

AlanRatcliffe

Maybe Gareth will chip in too. Best way to learn is get yourself a bass and play along with drum loops or a drum machine - that's what I did. You don't have to get fancy, IMO - root notes, 5ths and octaves go a long way - just get the timing right and learn to lock in with the drums. You'll find it makes you a better guitarist too (especially as a rhythm player - you'll learn to lock in with the rhythm section).

Of course, as a guitarist, the temptation is always there to riff and add in frilly bits, but the real skill to a good bassist is someone who can do that while still holding down the roots (or implying them) and keeping the timing rock solid, so it's better left to the pro bassists at first.

It's even possible that you find yourself a gig as a bassist. Especially among the younger rock bands, bassists are always a relative scarcity and if you can at least hold down the low end, it's pretty easy to find a position (or two) if you own a bass, an amp and transport. Then spend the time as a learning experience, learning to work with that unusual animal, the drummer. I did a similar thing, working as a drummer in a rock band for a few years which, while I never became a great drummer, taught me a lot about drums and bass.

Spyke

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: bassists are always a relative scarcity

You're not going to believe this - but at the moment the 'band' has two bassists with a third available and begging for practice time... two bass, three guitars, one drummer and zero vocalists... (for the moment. 'Music first, lyrics secondary')

AlanRatcliffe

;D Is that a modern trend, or are you just lucky? Maybe all the old guard like me have been encouraging all the up and comers to go out and get gigs as bassists and it worked - too well ?

Is it time to start forming a band with a bass bassist, a rhythm bassist and a lead bassist?

Spyke

Just (un)lucky... ?

Funny you say that, as for the track Deanoneato (that's just a working title, i laugh every time i type that!) we were contemplating using the second bass and mimicking the lead lick.

Having the two basses play in different octaves might work as well, but this is something that i know will be very tricky to pull off. Either that or the one guy's going to become a stage hand - someones gotta carry the gear from the car! ;D

Dedicated drummers are still scarce...

AlanRatcliffe

Just (un)lucky...

;D I wrote "unlucky" first, then put brackets around the "un" as you have then deleted it for fear of making enemies (after all, their guitars are bigger than mine). ?

Lol! That's the way to do it - don't look at them as three bassists, rather look at them as a bassist, a roadie and an unsuspecting drummer in training! At least with so much competition in the wings, it'll keep your bassist on his toes, practising furiously until his fingers bleed and he'll never be late/drunk/stoned at band practice.

NorioDS

Well bass guitars ARE sexy so maybe I'll give that a go ? Thanks!

Spyke

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Lol! That's the way to do it - don't look at them as three bassists, rather look at them as a bassist, a roadie and an unsuspecting drummer in training! At least with so much competition in the wings, it'll keep your bassist on his toes, practising furiously until his fingers bleed and he'll never late/drunk/stoned at band practice.

Not meaning to dig up an old thread but you'll be surprised what has happened.

Just like you said, the one bassist (Warren) is pulling out all the stops. His skill and experience level is a fair amount lower than ours (which isn't that high anyway) but he's working his fingers to the bone and pulling out all the stops.

guess all's well that ends well... ;D