[linux-audio-user] [music] First 3 tracks from me (gulp)

[Stuart Allie]

Thanks for the comments Luke.

> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 20:59:37 +1030
> From: luke at chipcity.com.au
> Subject: Re: [linux-audio-user] [music] First 3 tracks from me (gulp)
> > Comments, criticism, suggestions, chocolate; all are welcome.
> 
> I downloaded "Cant Beat Them" and "Feeling Slow".
> Pretty impressive guitar playing :-)
> I hope you don't mind me being blunt (I've just watched some American
> Idol),

blunt is good - I need the criticism if I'm going to improve.

> You need to cut down on the downward glissandos after every guitar
phrase.
> Control the glissandos and place them meticulously.

I'd never even noticed I was doing that! Now you've pointed it out, I
can hear them all over the place. I'll definitely keep that in mind for
the future.

> Scales and Arpeggios are fine but what do you mean? More precisely: it
> sounds like you are playing a whole bag of stuff but there's little
> 'intent' or INTENT or InTeNt. It don't mean nothin'.
> Obviously you are a very talented guitar player but LESS is MORE in
your
> case :-)

I do know what you mean - I don't know what to do about it :)

I can come up with (what I think are) some nice phrases, chord changes,
etc., but I have *no* idea about how to construct something that is a
*composition*, not just a bunch of ideas thrown together. 

Any suggestions or links to resources on composing/song construction,
etc. would be welcome.

> 
> I like the chord changes, unexpected->non-predictable
> I like the timbre changes in the organs you use, but they are a little
> random and could do with some cohesion: that is, they need to be
related,
> have something similar

Yep, I need to think a lot more carefully about the specific sounds I
use, rather than just using the first sound I happen to come across. 

> 
> composition contains 10/8 or 5/4 which is refreshing. However there
needs
> to be a bridge in that piece that airs the congestion built up in the
5/4
> bars, we are left unrewarded and you didn't do the work :-), read:
there's
> more to do on that piece!

Thanks. I've listened to that piece with that in mind, and an idea for a
bridge section is floating around in my head now... :)

> 
> Hope this is constructive, if not true :-)

Definitely helpful. *All* the feedback I've had from people has been
useful. 

Working in isolation makes it really hard to notice everything, and
limited experience means there are things that simply don't cross my
mind until somebody else points them out. 

All these comments are going down into a list that I'll read over and
think about with every piece I write until they become second nature to
me.


> 
> I was captivated.
> 
> kind regards,
> 
> Luke

Thanks for taking the time to listen and respond Luke. It is most
definitely appreciated and encourages me to keep trying.

Regards,

Stuart