tookatooka
888 posts
Dec 19, 2009
8:03 AM
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A cold has forced me to leave the harp for a while due to blocked nose and breathing problems so I have been busy trying to create some backing tracks.
This is my latest soundfile that I thought you may like to hear. Peculiarly, it became more than a backing track and developed into a fully fledged piece of music in its own right.
It is in the key of E (intention was for second position A harp) and follows the 12 bar formula very closely. I must admit to being surprised how it turned out and rather pleased.
Would be delighted to get any feedback/critiques from you guys before I get into the serious work of creating some proper backing tracks.
Much obliged for any responses.
Whoops! forgot to say it was created using Fruity Loops (an old 3.5 copy). It's a good bit of software.
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Last Edited by on Dec 19, 2009 8:08 AM
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nacoran
568 posts
Dec 19, 2009
2:50 PM
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Just a month ago I had a plethora of great A harps I could have played along with, but my Special 20 is acting all wonky and I've misplaced my Piedmont (which was actually pretty good).
Very catchy, although the final bass note seems to cut a little short. It seems like it should echo out a little bit, like a timpani. There seems to be a little more bass to it than it seems. I kept 'hearing' something just below my hearing range that seemed a lot louder than the rest of it with every beat, or maybe the tinnitus thread has just got me hearing ghosts.
Maybe I should look into a program like this. I've had the same piano piece running 'round my head for 20 years and it's always just more or less stayed there because I can't play it on anything well. (I tried figuring it out on harmonica. I even ran it through a key recognizing piece of software but it's just got too many accidentals for my current level of play.
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Micha
49 posts
Dec 19, 2009
4:16 PM
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Seems like a nice piece Tooka. It creates a little psychedelic atmosphere :-).
I share the opinion of Nacoran however that the bassline should be improved. The drums could use some variations as well I think.
Bottom line: I like it, but you should work this out and let some time and thinking get over it to make it better.
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tookatooka
893 posts
Dec 20, 2009
3:26 AM
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Thanks very much for your input fellas. It means a lot to me and I will certainly take on board your suggestions for my next endeavours.
Two years ago, I took up harp as a complete novice. I had absolutely no musical knowledge and still find the theory very difficult to understand. It's by learning and playing harp that I have been able to get a slight understanding which has been sufficient to enable me to at least make a fairley reasonable piece of my own.
The reason I put this up for critique and comment was obviously to get feedback but also for others to see how by learning and playing the humble harp it can be a gateway to more ambitious musical experimentation and enjoyment of music. The little bit of experience and theory I have been able to grasp has opened up a whole new world for me. It will be an interesting journey.
Thanks a lot for your input, it is very much appreciated.
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mickil
733 posts
Dec 20, 2009
6:23 AM
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tooka,
That's a really nice piece of work; it reminded me very much of the American minimalists, whom I studied at muso college.
I don't agree with Micha's comment that you need to improve the bass line; it does what a bass line is meant to do: punctuate the underlying harmonic structure. In some of the most complex music, that is often achieved with quite a simple pulse in the bass.
No, the musical interest is kept alive because all three parts go well together as they are. You kept them on a tight leash, which is what many composition tutors would urge you to do.
What I would tend to do is add subtle layers as the piece progresses: maybe a simple part an octave lower than the bass (maybe just on the tonic; that's known as a 'pedal') or, something in the upper register.
But, try to base them on your existing material, both in terms of melody and rhythm. Otherwise the piece will probably get too messy and jumbled.
Good stuff, tooka.
EDIT: As for the ending, quite often, music like your piece just ends very suddenly and unexpectedly on beat one of a bar, frequently after a crescendo. It's a very powerful device, and, when done live with people instead of computers performing, usually brings the house down.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2009 6:43 AM
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nacoran
574 posts
Dec 20, 2009
11:17 AM
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Mickel- I liked the ending, I just wish the tone on the final boom had rung out, and I liked the simple drum, except something about the low undertones was bothering my ears, even although I was enjoying it, even with my speakers pretty low. The graph of the sound probably shows a big spike with each beat. (Of course, maybe it's how I have my speakers configured. I have the bass cranked. A lot of what I listen to has the melody down on the low notes.)
Tooka- I really do like this a lot. How much control do you have with your software over instrumentation?
Something weird seems to be happening with the player. It's randomly paused a couple times.
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tookatooka
895 posts
Dec 20, 2009
11:31 AM
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@Mickil@ @naocran@ Thanks guys. It's good to get your feedback. I've only just started messing around with this software (Fruity Loops 3.5) and this is about the first thing I've managed to get to the mp3 stage. I don't have the manual, so have had to rely on reverse engineering some examples to see how to use it.
F*ck it. This editor has just chewed my long reply up. Will respond again later. B*llocks.
Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2009 11:33 AM
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mickil
735 posts
Dec 20, 2009
11:39 AM
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nacoran,
I suppose I listened to it with my 'composition major' ears on; that's what I majored in for my BA Mus.
Beyond subjective and, ultimately, personal preferances, tooka really did have a lot of the bases covered. He set up a fairly minimal groove, kept with it, and let the listener take their time to explore how the parts sounded together. It's lies behind a lot of what Philip Glass, Steve Reich and others have done. Trance music took its cue from that part of the avant garde. I did feel it needed to evolve in the way I described above, which is what Mssrs Glass and Riech would have done, especially the latter. Still, it was good stuff and well worthy of a listen. tooka, I hope you post any update.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
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mickil
736 posts
Dec 20, 2009
11:46 AM
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"F*ck it. This editor has just chewed my long reply up. Will respond again later. B*llocks."
I know that bl**dy feeling. AARRGGHH!!
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
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tookatooka
896 posts
Dec 20, 2009
3:13 PM
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I wrote a nice long response but it got screwed and I hate going over the same ground again.
In Essence:
@Mickil@ I really appreciate your input, I knew you were qualified in the music field and it's good to get a view from you. I will of course take on board what you said and try to implement those ideas. I'm a complete novice at this so I'm banking on my naivity to get me through. Sometimes the less you know the better otherwise complications can get in the way. It will be interesting all the same.
@nacoran@ I'm not sure about the instrument control you raised. Fruity Loops is a giant bit of software and I don't have the manual. I've had to learn it by reverse engineering examples. There are thousands of instrument and effect permutations that you can play with. There is a DB meter and oscillascope and I just try to keep them from going into the red (distortion) sectors. I've played it with windows media player and the Creative player and not had any problems that you describe.
Sorry to be so short with the reply.
Thanks again.
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Last Edited by on Dec 20, 2009 3:15 PM
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Gwythion
37 posts
Dec 20, 2009
3:58 PM
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That's a really pleasant tune you've created, Tooka. It sounds especially good through headphones or a stereo system as opposed to just the computer, as you move the music about in stereo.
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tookatooka
897 posts
Dec 20, 2009
4:19 PM
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Thanks Gwythion, it's very kind of you to say so. The stereo effects you mention are automatically generated by the software. You just apply effects filters to the tune and the software takes care of it for you. Clever stuff.
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nacoran
577 posts
Dec 21, 2009
10:24 AM
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Off topic, but since to of you said your post got eaten...
There is a plug-in for Firefox called Lazarus. It slows the browser down a little bit (not a lot), particularly if you are writing posts, but it keeps track of what you type and if for some reason you don't post successfully you can pull up what you typed with a couple of clicks of the mouse and restore it. It has kept me from chewing on my keyboard and throwing my monitor through the screen on more than one occasion.
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mickil
741 posts
Dec 21, 2009
10:33 AM
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nacoran,
I really appreciate that. I use Firefox, and, a few times I've lost really long posts, which are bloody hard to re-write. Now, when I type them, I try to remember to copy before posting, but don't always remember. Nice one!
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
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tookatooka
903 posts
Dec 21, 2009
10:41 AM
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Thanks nacoran but I use IE8 and have been happy with it. I'm reluctant to change at the moment.
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