tf10music
25 posts
Nov 12, 2010
1:57 AM
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I just wrote and recorded a new song (instead of working on my Sappho essay that really needs to get written), and I was wondering if I could get any feedback on my playing/songwriting/composition/mixing? Obviously, harmonica-centric critiques would be very welcome:
http://www.macjams.com/song/64537
Thanks!
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Arnoud73
16 posts
Nov 12, 2010
6:28 AM
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Nice song, sounds a bit like Jack white.
I don't have real critiques, but to say that the longer you play the better you'll be !
So don't listen to much to critiques, but be critique to your one playing....good luck !
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http://www.myspace.com/arnoudbluesharp
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tf10music
26 posts
Nov 12, 2010
8:38 AM
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You heard jack White in that one? Interesting...though I'm flattered that you think my vocal phrasing resembles his -- his delivery is very unique. Thanks for listening!
Also on another note, I think I am going to change the title of this to 'North.'
Cheers
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nacoran
3218 posts
Nov 12, 2010
12:32 PM
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I like it. Very minimalistic. Nice lyrics.
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Nate
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ZackPomerleau
1269 posts
Nov 12, 2010
1:20 PM
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I like the chord changes a lot, but I don't hear Jack White, I hear more Neil Young. The lyrics are very 'poetic.'
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tf10music
27 posts
Nov 12, 2010
1:40 PM
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Thanks guys -- I'm glad you liked it.
Any comments regarding how I might want to go about improving my harp playing?
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kudzurunner
2028 posts
Nov 12, 2010
1:41 PM
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Sappho's most famous line, if I'm not wrong, is "Who do you love more than you love me?" Pretty damn bluesy.
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tf10music
28 posts
Nov 12, 2010
1:54 PM
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It's definitely one of her more famous ones. How about this one: "it is midnight and time is passing; and I lie alone." I swear that could be lifted out of a blues song.
I think it's remarkable that the same themes just recur and recur. I notice that, even in my writing, when I try to diverge from the beaten path, the path is always screaming somewhere in the periphery.
The blues is the same beast, just with different voices. That's why I started to write music -- why confine the expression to one medium?
I think it's awesome that we get the most erudite of poets, Geoffrey Hill, writing stirring poems in memory of Jimi Hendrix.
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toddlgreene
2108 posts
Nov 12, 2010
1:55 PM
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She had me hooked as soon as I found out where she was from.
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
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tf10music
29 posts
Nov 12, 2010
2:11 PM
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They did have one or two thing going for them, the people of ancient Greece...
But anyways, back to my mediocre attempts at harmonica playing/songwriting?
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toddlgreene
2109 posts
Nov 12, 2010
2:36 PM
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I gave it a listen. Voice-wise and style-wise, I hear a little of Chris Whitley going on in there-and that's a compliment! If you haven't checked him out, you should. One thing he was known for was coming up with his own alternate guitar tunings to suit certain songs.
Harpwise, I heard some intonation issues, and it's minimalist playing-no biggie though, as it suits the style you are playing. Also, practice on getting a deep embouchere witht the harp-this will help with some of the thinness of tone. Definitely keep it up, though!
Vocally, your phrasing can be tweaked a bit to not drag some of the words as much, and a little more conscious effort could be taken to annunciate. Also, work on singing from your diapraghm. A solid effort altogether, though-I like the dark mood.
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Nov 12, 2010 2:48 PM
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tf10music
30 posts
Nov 12, 2010
3:01 PM
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todd: thanks so much for the detailed feedback!
"Also, practice on getting a deep embouchere witht the harp-this will help with some of the thinness of tone."
this will be a huge help.
I've been working on my vocal phrasing, it's getting there slowly but surely. It still tends to plod a little bit.
I've never heard of Chris Whitley, but I will check him out. I also sometimes invent my own tunings, mostly to help me play things that would otherwise require an obscene amount of stretching. I tend to change tunings more in a folk context, though -- a great example of someone who does that fabulously is Kristian Matsson (aka the Tallest Man On Earth). I sometimes emulate his tunings and modify them to fit my voice. For blues, though, I tend to stick to good old standard tuning.
Cheers!
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nacoran
3223 posts
Nov 12, 2010
4:28 PM
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You did a nice job of leaving space. As to the thinness of tone, I think on this piece it works.
Sometimes, particularly on minimalistic things, I actually prefer a thinner tone. Like any part of your sound it's just important to know why you are doing it so you can switch when the occasion calls for it.
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Nate
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tf10music
31 posts
Nov 12, 2010
7:49 PM
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nacoran, I'm glad you liked what I did here. Unfortunately, the thin tone wasn't a conscious choice, but...
Thanks for the listen!
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