November 2012 - SOTW Update

Another good month.  These songs all required learning new techniques, and where quite time-consuming work-ups.  They were alot of fun to do, though, and I got alot of joy out of sharing them.  Among the feed-back received was that there was good emotion in these songs.  Finally.  I'm not so sure why, but it might be in part because I was more comfortable and really enjoying myself.  Some other suggestions were to not be afraid to belt out the voice, and to try singing a little bit higher in key, because my voice sounds better in the higher register.

Here are November's songs: 

Week 44: Stand By Me, Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, 1961
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maw-GBbOvPA

Week 45: I Loved Her First, Walt Aldridge, Elliott Park, 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L577uFRRMU4

Week 46: When I'm Sixty-four, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, 1967
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTy_moe71ag

Week 47: House Of The Rising Sun/ Amazing Grace Medley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3HgDT_q-jU

Crazy.  Now this song-of-the-week challenge only has three Christmas carols and a New Year's eve song left to complete.  Wow!  What'll I do next?

October 2012 - SOTW Update

Wow - a very wide range of genres this month indeed.  All are challenging in their own way: the oldies start to sound boring quickly, so they need lots of variety.  The Rock n Roll song is really hard to make it sound RnR without the back-up band and electric guitars, and all.  The Rich Mullins song has both an almost impossible range from lowest to highest notes, plus fast tempo and almost no place to catch a breath, and on top of all that rather odd timing and phrasing issues.  What a workout!

One comment that I got that I think I need to give some thought to - my Diction is quite precise - perhaps I could sacrifice some precision for passion.  I'll have to think about that a bit.

Here are the songs for October:

Week # 40: When The Saints Go Marching In, Luther Presley, Virgil O. Stamps, 1937
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3JIrGb08-Q

Week # 41: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams Sr., 1949
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n8618NzE9M

Week # 42: Hanky, Panky, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, 1963
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3V53DbTzgk

Week # 43: If I Stand, Rich Mullins, Steve Cudworth, 1988
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whr0tYbFg5c

Amazing to think that snow and Chrismas carols are only a few weeks away!

September 2012 - SOTW Progress

Busy month.  Lot's of things going on, like my eldest daughter's wedding.  Where did those 28 years go to?  Anyhooo, the song-of-the-week project moves steadily along...

I posted quite a bit of fingerstyle material this month.  The consistent feedback was that I should focus on developing vocal independence from the guitar work.  Some of the right-hand work could be a bit smoother - mostly a case of 'practice makes perfect.'  I think it is the price for working hard to try and introduce variety, complexity, and interest into the performance


Here are September's songs:

Week # 35: The Water Is Wide, traditional English Folk Ballad - author unknown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Gv4xyPWmo

Week # 36: King Of The Road, Roger Miller, 1964

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWuBTkCKNmw

Week # 37: People Get Ready, Curtis Mayfield, 1965

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FojPLz3BMTk

Week # 38: Where Have All The Flowers Gone, Pete Seeger, 1955

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD5Dy1bCz_k

 

Week # 39: I'll Fly Away, Albert E. Brumley, 1929

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob8O_uK6dX0

August 2012 - SOTW summary

Still struggling abit with the vocal/guitar mix here and there, but just a little tweaking needed.  I'll have to learn to be more aware while I'm recording.

I took on a couple songs this month that really needed a signature intro riff - now that was a really BIG challenge for me to learn, let alone get anywhere near smooth, let alone get it anywhere near smooth WHILE recording.  Lots of takes, lots of takes!

I've been getting quite a few comments lately that folks are starting to see more expressiveness.  Interesting.  I certainly know that as I listen to the recordings, I am less frequently repulsed and embarassed - I guess it's all good.  

Week # 31: Swing Low Sweet Chariot, traditional negro spiritual - author unknown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n33kXAzYL8

Week # 32: Cat's In The Cradle, Harry Chapin, 1974
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQOBkEazkc0

Week # 33: The House Carpenter, traditional English Folk Ballad - author unknown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2K3sKCNQV4

Week # 34: Redemption Songs, Bob Marley, 1979
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5fZOpl71T4

I'm ready for the cooler weather.  Hard to believe there's only 18 weeks left.  Wow.

July 2012 - SOTW Progress

A little news on the technology front - bought a new mic AKG D-5.  This is allowing me to capture my unplugged Taylor DN8 with the condenspor mic and use the new mic for vocals.  Still mixed into the Audiogram6 interface.  To my ear, and that of listeners, it seems the Taylor has a far richer tone.

A few weeks have been discouraging.  It's Summer - not as many comments from folks.  Oh well what can you do?  I have decided that I need to work to better promote the YouTube channel itself.  I've been relying on traffic from the AcousticGuitarForum, but I think it's time to do a little 'marketing'.

I've been adding more descriptive history and commentary, and people seem to be enjoying the backstory in YT.  I've also started adding lyrics and chords consistently.  In the long-run, it should result in more web hits.

Here are June's songs:

Week # 26: The Devil's Train, Mel Foree, Cliff Carlisle, 1947
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIuuoXDwVKs

Week # 27: Red River Valley, author unknown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6H1TFHNXMk

Week # 28: English Folk Ballad, author unknown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFndjjYy4_E

Week # 29: Puff The Magic Dragon, Leonard Lipton, Peter Yarrow, 1963
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGfXAlsgqDM

Week #30: Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg, 1939
1st try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6DL6IKCaoM
2nd try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W8I8nurx7Q

The dog days of Summer, here we come!

June 2012 - SOTW Progress

The Song-of-the-week project has certainly made the weeks go by more quickly than normal.  It seems like only a few weeks ago that I was feeling panicked about having 36 more weeks to fill up with songs.  Now, I'm thinking, "where did the weeks go?"  I can't believe I've only got 26 weeks left.  I'm going to have to start prioritizing songs for working up because I won't get through them all by year's end.

From the feedback I've gotten, it would seem that I'm slowly begining to capture more emotion in my performances.  I'm just impatient now - I want to be a master of emotional playing RIGHT NOW, darn it!  As I've been continually experimenting on new right-hand techniques, I seem to be playing with better control.  The dynamic ebb and flow seems more evident, and the music feels more interesting to me than it did at the beginning.  It's all encouraging, yet strangely discouraging at the same time.  Now, darn it!  I guess since there appears to be no 'magic pill' for developing emotion or feeling in the performance, I'll have to settle on trying to acheive better mechanical mastery for now - and trust that the 'feeling' will come down the road.

Here are June's songs:

Week # 22: This World Is Not My Home, American Spiritual in Public Domain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQ8xRgXRB0

Week # 23: Oh Come Angel Band, Jefferson Hascall, William B. Bradbury, 1862
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcjvBmJbaU8

Week # 24: Wayfaring Stranger, American Spiritual - author unknown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVPhJ9-jcvo

Week # 25: Wade In The Water, American Negro Spiritual - author unknown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1n5T6_el9A

Half done and ..... 'In the good ol Summer time'.... here we come, baby!

May 2012 - SOTW Update

It's been a great month.  It's really nice to be able to focus more on the music now that the technical difficulties have been sorted out.  Smooth out - right-hand work. I introduced the  'Scobie magically appearing pick trick' and am working hard to try and get more smoothness in switching between pick/no pick.  The feedback for the month seems to be to try and 'loosen up' the vocals, especially when fingerstyle.  Fingerstyle does not come naturally to me, and I tend to be much more vocally dependent on the rythmn when playing fingerstyle.  OTOH when I'm strumming, I tend to be much more vocally fluid and independent.  Crazy eh!

Here are the songs for May:

Week # 18: Waltzing Matilda, Banjo Peterson, 1895
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvbBPB42xO8

Week # 19: You Are My Sunshine, Oliver Hood, 1939
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jMV5p1Vs9o&feature=plcp

Week # 20: The Unicorn Song, Shel Silverstein,1968
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfKPqp1iqek

Week # 21: Could I Have This Dance, Wayland Holyfield, Bob House, 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-mvZCIm-xg


Summertime, here we come.  I'm wondering how things will work out - I've been spending alot of time over the Winter months practicing and working up new songs.  Hopefully I'll be able to manage the home maintenance tasks and projects along with the demands of the SOTW.  We'll see.....

 

April 2012 - SOTW Summary

This month has just been a solid 'getting in the groove' month.  It's become a production of sorts, and I've really been getting alot of joy out of both the recording evening and the posting-to-YouTube day.  Love sharing the songs, and eagerly waiting for feedback and comments.  The sadest times are when you've shared what you think is your best effort ever, or a song you're really excited about - then it just seems to fizzle, and you get very little interest in the video.

I'm really pleased with the progress with technology - a nice bright picture, and more importantly, an audio mix that works well.  I'm sure I'll upgrade again to a video camera + external mics at some point, but that will be more expense than I can afford right now (and it will involve another learning curve).

Here are April's songs:

Week #17: The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot, 1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7YCXCOqIyE

Week # 16: When They Ring The Golden Bells, Daniel (Dion) De Marbelle, 1887
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBZEGrLkSgc

Week # 15: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCHe7mq-xuI

Week # 14: When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder, James M. Black, 1893
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrGe2OyqQ9I

I've sure got alot of constructive suggestions, tips, and encouragement from the wonderful guys and gals over at AcousticGuitarForum .  If you haven't been over there yet, I'd highly recommend that you check it out.

 

March 2012 - SOTW Update

I am really pleased.  I've made significant progress on the technology front.  I ditched the old Dynex webcam, and replaced it with a new Logitech C920 HD webcam.  It gives a much, much better image, and the mics are pretty good too.  I got alot of improvement for $100.  I didn't like the webcapture software that came with it, so I first tried Debut webcapture software from NCH.  I liked it and paid the $40 for the licence.  I also bought an MXL770 condensor microphone to capture vocals - it does a remarkable job.  I had to admit defeat with trying to use the Samson Zoom H4N as an audio interface - not with Windows 7, at least.  Or maybe it just doesn't like me.  I've had a Yamaha Audiogram6 audio interface laying around since last Christmas (I know that's a long time, but I was crazy busy).  So I dusted it off, updated the drivers and gave it a spin.  It's miraculous the instant improvement in the vocal/guitar mix!  Looooove it.

Three months down.  I stopped to look around, and suddenly I realize that I'm getting alot more comfortable with the whole thing.  I do some planning to pick songs to work up that I can have ready to record in 3 - 4 weeks.  I put in alot of practice, but I'm not panicked about the weekly deadline.  And the red light, well it's still a struggle at times, but more and more I just don't think about it much.

Here are March's songs:

Week #12: On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand, Samuel Stennett, 1787

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0-oWs-o2bQ

 

Week #11: Do Lord, traditional Negro Spiritual

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hgjtyhRtq8

 

Week #10: The Only Exception, Paramore, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y2Bkuzj30k

 

Week #9: Are You Lonesome Tonight, Lou Handman, Roy Turk, 1927

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMOzhDJ2DHo

 

This is alot of fun and I'm really enjoying the journey. I'd like to work up more of the contemporary songs, but I find that they take longer to prepare.  Some of the older stuff is faster for me to prepare, so it is what it is.

 

It's a little hard to believe that I've only got 3 more seasons left! Now if I could just get to be more satisfied by my work on the songs themselves. I'd really like to get more emotion captured in the performances.

 

It's Spring, and there's music in the air.

February 2012 - SOTW Progress

I've been working on some more difficult songs and they're finally ready.  Still struggling with the technology, but I've got some improvement in the YouTube videos using Microsoft Live Movie Maker.  I've been trying to project my voice more, and I just can't get to a balanced guitar/vocal mix.  I guess I'm going to have to improve the technology.  It's funny, I never really even thought much in planning this song-of-the-week project that the technical issues would present such a barrier AND be so frustrating.  Growl.

It's been a fun month, and I've been learning alot.  First off, breathing.  Week #5 definitely required that I pay closer attention to my breathing.  Also, the fingerstyle was really a challenge - up to now I really haven't done much more than fool around with 'Morning Has Broken'.  I've also been experimenting to try and get better dynamic flow and interest in every song - using a variety of right-hand techniques and volume control.  I used to have only one volume, loud.  But now I'm learning that very often 'less is more.' 

I'm learning that the seemingly easy songs from the radio are often more complicated than they seem.  Challenging ranges from lowest to highest notes.  Difficult timing issues.  And of course, all the challenges are intensified 10 times, by that little red light.

Here are the songs for February:

Week 5: Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen, 1984

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijfZFwwTlIg

 

Week 6: Free And Easy Down The Road I Go, Dierks Bentley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcOcPt1QTSw

 

Week 7: Remember When, Alan Jackson, 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAv2OsyYA8Q

 

Week 8: Amazing Grace, William Cowper, 1772

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvnIj15HJaM

It's funny how the Song Of The Week is affecting my emotions.  I knew it would be a big time commitment and that it might be hard to keep up with the constant weekly deadline. But I wasn't prepared for the wierd emotions that would come along with this gig. At weeks #1 and 2 it was a big rush - new and exciting adventure. Weeks #3 - 4 were immense frustration as I seemed to spend more time fighting with broken computers and recording solutions than I actually did working up songs. Week # 5 - 6, I've been feeling like on a treadmill that's wound up full bore and I was afraid I'd crash and burn. I was thinking things like, "What if I get sick, and can't record for a couple weeks (I get bronchitis a couple times per year)? This is crazy busy - how can I possibly maintain this crazy pace for 46 whole more weeks!!!  Eeeeeek.

Well, I did a smart thing. I pushed myself to work up a few extra songs over the month instead of the 'required' 1 per week. Now I feel this wonderful sense of relief, and I think I will be able to get back into the fun of playing and recording :-) The other thing I did was to realize that I've finally got a video/audio that while it's not as good as I'd like, it's alot better than when I started and it's perfectly good for what I'm posting on YouTube. I'm going to not worry about perfecting the technical stuff right now, and that's relieved a lot of pressure from this SOTW process. Rock on baby.

Another thing that is funny is the stage fright that comes with recording YT videos. Somebody over on the AcousticGuitarForum.com made reference to the "red light fever" and how I would soon become more comfortable recording. Well it's sort of true - I'm generally feeling more at ease when the red light comes on, but it is amazing how the red light can make you go crazy. I was trying to start out another song with a simple 8 bar arpeggio intro - G///Em///C///D///x2. Do you think I could get it right - took me literally 20 takes. Then there's that sinking feeling in your gut when you get 7/8 of the way through a song and you panic and flub it up. I guess I'm used to making flub ups when I'm playing for a crowd live, I just cover it up, keep smiling, and keep going - alot different when you're under the "red light fever"...

Bring it on March, can't stop me now!

 

January 2012 - SOTW Update

So the first month of this song-of-the-week personal challenge has been quite the journey.

I started out this journey feeling afraid and inadequate. Perhaps 'terrified' would be a better descriptor.  I was feeling pretty insecure, I’d never submitted recordings up for public review on a regular basis, and I was feeling like my skillset was pretty limited.  I was also very aware that there are also a good number of folks in my audience that are remarkably talented musicians.  I had visions of being laughed off the forum (even though they are remarkably friendly and supportive guys and gals over there at the AcousticGuitarForum.. 

The technology has indeed been very much a challenge.  I was surprised at how nerve-wracking it was to pony on up to the camera, and press record - 'red light fever'.  I started out with very simple songs, so I felt pretty confident about the music - until I started playing back the video clips.  There were lots of things I had to go back and work on - like voice projection, cleaning up my fretting hand, strumming control and many other little details. 

I've been recording with an older Dynex webcam.  The audio has been passable but the video resolution has been very poor.  I think a new webcam is on the horizon.  A very serious issue has been that the voice-guitar mix is not good.  Using the webcam results in a very guitar-heavy mix, leaving the vocals straining to be heard.  I spent some Christmas money on buying a Samson Zoom H4N.  It is advertised as being capable for use as an audio interface as well as a recorder.  I'm happy with it as a recorder, but I can't get it to work with Windows 7 after weeks of trying everything.

I got a lot of suggestions and feedback from my friends at the AcousticGuitarForum.com http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php  in the 'Show and Tell' sub forum.  It was all very helpful, and is helping me 'tighten up' the performance.  It was fun experimenting with the Esus capo on a couple of songs. By the fourth week, I was starting to become a bit more relaxed about the recording and a little less 'red light fever'.  I think it will really begin to turn around when I can get a better mix consistently.

Here are the songs for January:

Week #1: The Old Log Train, Hank Williams Sr, 1952

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRjtysZbJWk

Week #2: Ain't No Grave, Claude Ely, 1934

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOTdPGcbVXE

Week #3: Blessed Assurance, Fanny Crosby, Phoebe Knapp, 1873

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuEWpaNkfas

Week #4: Hallelujah, I'm A Bum, Harry McClintok, 1928

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8N3GHRvAWA

I think I've met a couple of my stated goals with these songs.  Although they are all kind of in the Country (or gospel) genre, there is quite a bit of variety here.  They are also songs that are not exactly common place.

I have found the weekly deadline to be challenging.  I have often felt rushed to get the song worked up, practiced, and recorded in time to meet the weekly deadline.  Oh, and for a little extra drama - immediately after posting song #2, on January 14th, the computer completely dies.  It was a panic for a while, but we were able to replace the pc quickly, get all the necessary software re-installed, all in time to record week #3 - barely in time!

I do hope this time deadline part gets better, because other than this, it has been LOTS of fun, and I've been learning lots and growing in guitar skills, vocal skills, and performance skills.

Come on February!

Song Of The Week - New Year's Resolution

I'm most probably going crazy, but I've been following a virtual friend of mine, Kyle Scobie, on the Acoustic Guitar Forum.  He faithfully posted a new song each and every week for a year.  It's been an interesting ride as I've followed Kyle's musical adventure.

So I'm thinking that I will make the same resolution.  Researching and developing a new song every week and recording it to YouTube will be a great way to grow my repertoire for busking quickly.  Working through the technical aspects of recording and working up something that is worthy of presentation to the public will help me 'step it up a notch' in my playing.  I'm hoping that my fellow musicians will be able to offer up suggestions, tips, and feedback that will help me grow as a musician.and increase the speed with which I am improving.

As I post each week, I will be aiming to provide a variety of different types of music from a variety of decades and genres - I'd like to have some folk, some country, some classic rock n roll, some modern pop, some old-tyme gospel, and some modern praise and worship selections.

My over-arching goal is to improve my presentation skills - you know - getting good vocal projection, achieving a good variety of techniques and dynamics, getting a good vocal/ guitar mix, making good eye contact and positive connection with the viewing 'crowd'.  My second goal is to make a better connection with my music and to be able to better communicate that feeling, or soul, to the viewer.  My friend Kyle talks about it as 'guitar face' - you probably know what I mean - but it's really about putting lots of feeling into the playing.  My third goal is to introduce new songs to folks, like others had done for me, and to provide them with some back story with each song.  Another thing I had found frustrating in some YT posts was the lack of lyrics/ chords, so I was hoping to add this material, as well.  And I hope I can have fun with this along the way.

So wish me well, and I'd like it if you came along for the ride with me - post  some feedback and let's walk a little bit of this road together.

Crazy ride, here we come!