Well Hobostubs,trying to be a one man band,With acoustic/guitar/harp on rack/stomp-box,Well after the recording Hobostubs thought,Well it could be tighter,either get,a solid monotone beat,or get better at doing those stomp-box fills ,where needed,About that time the Split-Personality band arrived,Me,My Self and I,OH No,Said Hobostubs,this is a One-man band thing,Well
Cool, I like the groove and the talking blues approach.
One question, the rattle sound that happens now and then--is that a bit of overdub, or some foot-operated thing? If it's foot operated, what kind of thing is it?
Just asking because I'd like to add that to my one-man-band thing. . .
well to tell the truth,I didnt like what i was getting with just the stompbox,guitar and harp,Cause i only been using the 3 at once about a week,I had some gaps in the pecusion,so i wasnt even going to do anything with it,then i thought why not add some bass,on a seperate track,then after that i added some more percussions on a track, the rattle you hear is a gourd i grew a couple years ago,and been using for a rattle,its on a seperate track, after i added the extra tracks it kinda filled it out more,something im going to have to firgur out with out adding tracks but for now its just a learning project,I like some of it,some of it is kinda loose,I did everything in a couple takes.
Last Edited by on Apr 29, 2010 10:51 AM
Hobo, give us your raw stuff! Don't polish it up... If you're gonna do the one man band thing, you gotta bring what you got, not what you can add later.
true, Im new to using a stomp box i have two theory's,on how i should do it,Take notice ive never been a drummer,But ive noticed with people that use stomp boxes ,there either a constant monobeat that doesnt change,and sometimes there;s a type of beat that has fills,like a drummer does,What if the correct way,or is there?
Last Edited by on Apr 29, 2010 11:45 AM
I'm not aware of any "correct ways" to do anything in one man banding--you just go get the sound that you want.
A good example of this is Lightnin' Hopkins' cut of "Don't the Moon Look Pretty" where he just hangs on any chord he wants to for as long as it takes him to get ready to move--but it sounds great--he just gets the sound he wants.
I'll bet that Walter could tells us something about how to get a more standard drummer sound though??
cool i kinda like the hang where you want,idea,if i could make it sound better than my 1st couple attempts,I would hit a change and i just wanted to double tap or triple,but im not used to that,and im using a piece of foam for my spring in the cigar box,I think it could be a bit more responsive,but then it could be just me,But sometimes a steady beat seems like it would work better,but on changes i want to put some fills in and i cant hardly not try:-) thats tricky for a no drummer person that i am.Im hopeing walter will stop in and give some pointers
Last Edited by on Apr 29, 2010 12:12 PM
yea but on the split personalities bands part,I am a one man band when i run tracks,Im doing everything,not real good, but you work with what you got,and my main goal is make it sound better with whatever it takes,sometimes worse,But i did do the original track stompbox/harp,and guitar,half the vocals, i couldnt do the call and responce with the vocals as tight with 1 track,i like that the most,of the whole project,the rattle was added,and the bass, the rest of the percussions were just doubled.But eventually i will,have a total live version worked out:-)
"but you work with what you got,and my main goal is make it sound better with whatever it takes"
Exactly! I've been working on pretty much the same thing--with my homemade foot tambourines and drums. I am getting better at rhythmic fills by learning to control my foot wiggles--but it's hard to control that when you're full-out into a harp or guitar solo.
I think it just takes more time--and maybe better foot drums--I want a deluxe set of those Farmer Drums bad--just can't cut loose the thousand dollars to get them yet. . .
Last Edited by on Apr 29, 2010 2:05 PM
thanks guys ,im using my toe's cause its just a thin cedar cigar box,but my foot gets tired so i have to switch every few songs. when i practice.Its like a new instrument to learn,but if i can learn it,it will give me a different perspective to playing.
Last Edited by on May 01, 2010 2:17 AM
thanks,I just started the journey,as you can probelly tell:-) I had a drummer call me today,I played off and on with him in the past he saw one of the videos on,facebook,hes was like what foot are you tapping,your playing the upbeat,he said i think your making it harder than you need to,I said probelly so,hes like all you have to do is tap your feet,easy for a drummer to say that.lol
Hey fellow 1 man banders! Hobostubs,I listened to your video. For a week you are doing great! I would advise anyone working on doing the 1 man band to first figure out what sound you want to hear. For me,this is the journey. The gear To sound like drums, IMO, has to be real drums. I did too many gigs with real drummers to hear much of interest in stomp box like things. I like the sound of a real snare, cymbals, bass drum. I also like it all done live. I have dabbled in overdubbing, but it loses the meaning of the 1 man band concept.
Most 1 man bands I have seen and heard seem to be focused on making a wall of sound. It is full tilt, fast, lots of notes, bangs, crashes, etc. I find that interesting for a minute and then it is over because they showed all they know. Most people seem to be impressed with someone going a million miles an hour on all that stuff. It gives me a headache after a minute. I love space in any setup I play with. Jimmy Reed, lightning, slim harpo, guys with space are my thing. I approach the 1 man band the same way I do with a real bassist and drummer behind me - work my grooves from slow and easy, to rocking. It all depends on what is inspiring me.
Since I started messing with the 1 man band onstage with wilbert harrison back in the mid 70's (he would get too high to finish most nights and I would jump on it without fear, only joy and excitement) I envisioned a real band behind me. To me, this is the secret to the 1 man band sound. I really hear a drummer, bassist, keyboard (I do that with the 1 man band too), guitarist, harp, and singer, going all at it. I am more a spectator that goes into the song. When I start thinking about all the instruments going, it all falls apart. I never once tried to do certain beat or pattern. I just start playing and 35 years later, it is still the same routine only now I record the songs and put them up on soundclick.
Guitar - I use my thumb for the bass sounds, and my index finger for the mid and trebely sounds.
Drums- a beater pedal with a stick attached to it that hits a ride cymbal. I use to use a high hat, but tired of trying to get a sound of stick on a cymbal. I messed for a year or more hooking up sticks to the shaft that moves up and down on the stand with just 1 cymbal. It never worked right, and one day it just hit me, get a ride cymbal and hook a stick up to the beater pedal. I modified a double bass drum beater pedal to hit the snare and bass drum. If you go to my soundclick page, there is a video there with some footage of the pedal setups.
The main thing is to have fun. Let your joy lead you to the sounds you hear in your heart. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
nacoran: When keeping the rhythm without a pedal I always use my heel.
I am currently using a foot drum composed of a tom mounted to a bass drum pedal and am finding that it doesn't work as well as; the rhythm isn't as smooth and the motion of using my toes is not as comfortable as using my heel.
I'm rethinking my design but haven't figured out how to reverse the setup without the beater hitting my calve on the upstroke. ---------- Ozark Rich __________ ##########
Cool thanks Walter,You allways have inspirational stuff,Yea im not sure what sound i want,I kinda like the stompbox,acoustic old timey sound but with the kinda stuff,i play,Im not sure yet.But i have a idea kinda.Just getting tight with that box is a chore,I found out last night if your just a border at a house dont be stomping all night until morning,everbody,gets to hear you practice:-) oops
Last Edited by on May 01, 2010 10:37 AM
Hobostubs: Don't worry about the sound. You are having fun right? That is the sound for now and it will evolve over time via everything that you know, dream about, and will encounter in the future.
I feel like I am just getting to the good side of music. This is exciting because it is an ever unfolding thing. Always a beginner, never an expert, on the journey to self expression and awareness. that is a real artist! Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
