MindTheGap
1780 posts
Sep 28, 2016
12:06 AM
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Just highlighting Killa's thoughts about the point of recording yourself, from the other place. Very well put!
"Recording yourself can do two things.
A) Make you see your better than you thought you were when your feeling like your playing awful.
B) Make you see that your not as good as you think, when your feeling invincible"
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Killa_Hertz
1787 posts
Sep 28, 2016
4:33 AM
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Lol. It's too true. Is it not?
I'm sure you all ride the same "Wave" that I do.
I will go weeks thinking I'm doing great and sounding pretty darn good. Then I'll record myself at a time that I feel I'm sounding ESPECIALLY good. And then realize I sound like crap. Man does that knock you down a peg or two. And that slump may last for a little while, but it's good because it sends you back examining what it is your doing. Helps you learn new skills and sharpen other skills which you may have let slip back into old bad habits.
I highly recommend recording.
Nothing Fancy is needed. I use the recording app on my phone. The one that comes with the galaxy. No fancy apps either. Just something to use to play back what you've done.
This also helps track your progress. I have tracks on my phone that are over a year and a half old. I can go back and hear them and see what great progress I've made. It's really an invaluable tool.
I also use it to record licks or rythms that randomly come out while noodling.
Currently I'm trying to improve my tone. So I have been A/B ing different ways of playing. for example changing the position of my tongue in my mouth or just trying to make my oral cavity bigger .... different ways of breathing while playing ... etc. and I can see instantly how it differs from my normal way of playing.
Again, It's invaluable.
Thanks for picking that out MTG.
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MindTheGap
1783 posts
Sep 29, 2016
1:12 AM
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Right on. Recording keeps you on the straight and narrow. Without a regular, in-person teacher, you can be your own, honest and technical, critic.
My tip is to not listen to the recording a few days, then come back to it. Gives a fresh perspective.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Sep 29, 2016 1:13 AM
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Harmlessonica
247 posts
Sep 30, 2016
4:15 AM
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I dunno... I was blissfully oblivious till I recorded myself.
Curse you, recording technology! !
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Killa_Hertz
1790 posts
Oct 10, 2016
4:37 AM
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Lmao. Sorry Harmless.
It really can knock you down a peg or two when you realise you have been slipping and playing not so great. (To say it nicely)
But what i do when i get that way is similar to what i do when things are getting stale.
Ofcourse #1 is tighten up on your technique. Play the next few days really practicing playing in proper form and try to build it into muscle memory.
Then after that i like to learn something new. That way you learn the new song or groove while using that proper form. Then beat it into the ground for the next week or so.
I know for me, listening to recordings of other players can seem like they are playing so effortless. So imitating that can get me playing rather loose and sloppy. It sounds good to me while im playing it, but not so much when listening back.
So I have found (Along with proper form, eg.proper embouchure, lowered jaw, opened throat, diaphragm breathing, good posture, etc.) Proper Annunciation and very intentional and deliberate notes are what sound best. Again while playing it, to my ear it sounds a bit dry and lifeless. But listening back it sounds very good.
So play around with different things and find what works best for you. I'm still searching for the magic formula ... lol..... but this is what has helped me so far.
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Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Oct 10, 2016 4:40 AM
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knight66
8 posts
Oct 14, 2016
10:52 AM
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I also laughed at Harmless, because I did exactly the same to the extent that I went around the house and recorded myself on everything I could find till I came to the obvious conclusion, I'm not very good.
Killa
I found the same when I thought I sounded good it came out crap, so I will try what you say and see if I can improve, believe me there's room.
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Killa_Hertz
1814 posts
Oct 15, 2016
3:39 PM
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The most important part is realizing it.
Makes you go back to the drawing board. And keep improving.
But best of all, if you keep recording yourself on the same device (your phone for example) when you get that kick in the gut telling you that your not as good as you thought ..... you can then go back a few months and see ... "Well atleast im better than i was. ." Lol. Softens the blow a bit . 8^)
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Spderyak
90 posts
Oct 20, 2016
3:44 AM
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I record myself frequently when I practice. Often I erase the ones I don't like...or keep one though I'm not overly fond of if it has a section or riff that I think is working well.
If I play a 3 minute song, then I will immediately listen to what I sounded like and if Ii like it or not.
or I will do a phrase or a riff many times.
I try to learn my songs, with and with out tongue blocking. Just recently putting effort with the tongue blocking, both on the right and on the left.
So in the course of say an 1 hr practice I might do 10 recordings...listen and erase..
As was mentioned sometimes things sound better than I thought, some times not as good...
Last Edited by Spderyak on Oct 20, 2016 3:45 AM
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Killa_Hertz
1824 posts
Oct 20, 2016
5:55 AM
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I highly recommend keeping some of your recordings. If you record THAT much you obviously cant keep them all.
I record either
A) when I come up with a cool lick or rhythm that I don't want to forget. So I will immediately take out my phone and record it. Because in a matter of minutes I will lose it. Or start modifying it and not remember what the basis of it was. Then after playing with that rhythm or lick for a while I will sometimes record the different versions or variations/flourishes I have some up with.
B) when I'm trying out new gear and want to see what sounds better. For instance just last night I recorded playing through my VHT with my Ultimate 545. Both WITH and WITHOUT the bulletiser. Trying to see which I liked better. And I'll keep them. Not only to remind me what each sounds like so I dont have to do it again. But also to hear what my amplified playing sounded like at this point in my playing. I played a Rhythm that I play often and I'm pretty good at so it's kindof a control point.
C) When I'm trying to improve a technique (Be it vibrato or even just embouchure and Tone.) and I want to see how small changes improve or hinder my goal. It's very helpful for things like that.
D) When I think im playing particularly good. It's funny because sometimes when you think your playing especially good, your actually playing your worst.
The thing is, even if its just a technique, its great to go back after a few months and compare your recent recordings to your old ones.
I have a recording from when I first learned to bend. And im trying to do the 4' 4 5 triplet. It's all blurred together. It sounds like 445 because my bending wasn't strong and defined.
I also have recordings of myself trying to learn tough licks. They sound awful, but now it's a lick I do without thinking about it.
I just think that keeping a track record for yourself is very important. On my phone it keeps the date for when the recording was made, so I can easily follow my progress through a timeline.
Even if you only keep your best stuff, you still will have something to compare to as you grow in your playing. Recording has been one of the key factors in me improving as fast as I have. You dont have to Keep a TON of recordings. Even if you only do one a week, you will still be able to clearly see you improvement. (Or areas where your not improving or need to improve, etc.)
Just my opinion.
Sorry if I'm repeating myself. I just think it's a VERY important topic.
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Spderyak
91 posts
Oct 22, 2016
1:51 PM
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Of course I would recommend keeping some of it. Sometimes on u tube or digital recorder, I think Sound Cloud will keep some for awhile etc.
but a fair amount is not anything special or interesting, so it's deleteable no big deal.
Kind of like deleting a photo or something like that.
I usually put the better ones on my 'desktop' that way I can just hit the icon and it plays.
Better versions replace older ones
or you can go back to it latter and see if you are playing better...or the dreaded.. worse.
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