At Times Like This - original tune

[TallDrink]

Hi all
I've written this song, and recorded it with just a single guitar and vocals.
I welcome constructive criticism.
SoundCloud link:

Nice work!

[TallDrink]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Nice work!

Thank you Doug.

[Jonas - Lalaldd]

Hey this is groovy!

You got a very conversational vibe to it, it's easy and nice to listen too. A bit Bob Dylan ish

I like your use of the cords. You are using A and B alot right? with the two highest strings ringing out. I can hear an F# in there too, very open. I might be wrong. The rythm is nice too. Open strings are great when playing acoustic.

[Glennwillow]

It does have a nice groove. Nicely done!

- Glenn

[TallDrink]

Originally Posted by Jonas - Lalaldd

Hey this is groovy!

You got a very conversational vibe to it, it's easy and nice to listen too. A bit Bob Dylan ish

I like your use of the cords. You are using A and B alot right? with the two highest strings ringing out. I can hear an F# in there too, very open. I might be wrong. The rythm is nice too. Open strings are great when playing acoustic.

Thank you Jonas!
Yes, for this tune, and a couple other songs I wrote, I'm letting the two highest strings ring out for the whole song, I love the effect it gives, and it changes the fundamentals of the chords themselves a lot.
Again, you're right about the chords too, the verse goes in A, C#, F#, B in the verse, and G#, C#, F#, B in the chorus. Except, they aren't really straight chords, when I'm letting those same two strings ring out, the names of the chords are more complicated, but that's the way I chose to think about them... 😄

If anyone is interested, I've compiled a chord list for you:

[TallDrink]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

It does have a nice groove. Nicely done!

- Glenn

Thank you Glenn. It's great to get feedback on the song.
The groove is absolutely where it started, it almost always is for me.
It's the lyrics that hold me back. It takes me forever to get the right hook on a line to get started on the lyrics, and even then, it takes weeks to complete it.

The groove and melody, almost always comes within a matter of hours, or even minutes of each other..

I guess I'll just have to keep on writing, they say it gets easier with time, and I've only written songs for the last couple of years.

[Jonas - Lalaldd]

Originally Posted by TallDrink

Thank you Jonas!
Yes, for this tune, and a couple other songs I wrote, I'm letting the two highest strings ring out for the whole song, I love the effect it gives, and it changes the fundamentals of the chords themselves a lot.
Again, you're right about the chords too, the verse goes in A, C#, F#, B in the verse, and G#, C#, F#, B in the chorus. Except, they aren't really straight chords, when I'm letting those same two strings ring out, the names of the chords are more complicated, but that's the way I chose to think about them... ��

If anyone is interested, I've compiled a chord list for you:

Thanks for the cord info. You can get stuck using the sames shapes when you play, nice to see how you take different cords! On that F# do you use your thumb to push the lowest string down? Since you can't really bar if you want the string to ring openely

[TallDrink]

Originally Posted by Jonas - Lalaldd

Thanks for the cord info. You can get stuck using the sames shapes when you play, nice to see how you take different cords! On that F# do you use your thumb to push the lowest string down? Since you can't really bar if you want the string to ring openely

Yes, I use the thumb on the low E-string.
It's not for everyone, but very useful on occasion. [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TallDrink]

I was a bit unsatisfied with the sound on the guitar, but figured out what to do about it, and the recording has improved immensely!

I recorded the guitar with two microphones into a stereo track, which in retrospect was a mistake..

Since the sound of the guitar was a bit dull, and I couldn't get a wider sound, I tried to split the stereo track into two mono tracks, and it made a huge difference.
Right of the bat, I got a wider sound as I could now pan the tracks a bit left and right, and I can now process the tracks individually, as well as controlling the volume levels separately.

I learned a lesson here. Never record a guitar onto one stereo track..

The improved recording is uploaded to SoundCloud and has replaced the old one.

[agfsteve]

Holy crap, are you famous?!!

I love this, and your other stuff on Soundcloud.

[TallDrink]

Originally Posted by agfsteve

Holy crap, are you famous?!!

I love this, and your other stuff on Soundcloud.

Oh, Wauv, Steve, that's so nice of you to say!

Nope, I'm not famous at all, hardly even have any followers on, SoundCloud.. 😄
Everything is recorded in my living room on my iPad, so it's not professional level recording, but it's amazing what can be achieved with humble equipment.

And, being a member on this site for a couple of years, I'm a lowly amateur compared to many of the amazing guitarists here, but man, I'm so happy and proud that you enjoy the music my mate and I make.

Thank you so much Steve! A post like yours really spurs me on and give confidence in my abilities.
👍🙏

[agfsteve]

Originally Posted by TallDrink

Oh, Wauv, Steve, that's so nice of you to say!

Nope, I'm not famous at all, hardly even have any followers on, SoundCloud.. 😄
Everything is recorded in my living room on my iPad, so it's not professional level recording, but it's amazing what can be achieved with humble equipment.

And, being a member on this site for a couple of years, I'm a lowly amateur compared to many of the amazing guitarists here, but man, I'm so happy and proud that you enjoy the music my mate and I make.

Thank you so much Steve! A post like yours really spurs me on and give confidence in my abilities.
👍🙏

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