Hey all, I’ve been struggling to pluck up the courage to post my recordings, I’ve done tons of takes of them and not particularly happy with any but I’ll be here forever I suppose so I might as well just bite the bullet and post it and find out where I need to improve.
I, frustratingly, seem to do better when I’m not recording. But I am glad I have started recording myself, and I’m getting into the habit of recording all my songs in the effort that it improves my playing.
I know this is a simple one, I’m not fully happy with my chord changes and I used a simple strumming pattern here, down on the beat. I’m working on applying old faithful in a song and nearly there so I’m hoping to post my progress soon on a different song.
Right on rick. Belive me you are not the first to have the red light syndrome. I went my first year and well into my 3rd grade before even considering doing a video. So you are thinking very smart to get it going now. I have literally spent 8 hours trying to video a 3 mins song. It happens to us all. One of the best pieces of advice I recived was from one of our Justin approved instructors @Richard_close2u he said to just video everything. Practice, songs, soon you wont even realize you are videoing your self and it will become second nature. You might want to delete some of it it takes a lot of space. Its also good because if you come up with cool stuff you will remember it and it helps for seeing things you are doing wrong. Self assesment type ofnthing.
Your video hey joe was great. Killer job Rick. Seriously, it looks like you have your chords changes down really well. I noticed also you have you strumming hand in a real good rhythem that is super improtant even if you make a mistake with fretting most wont notice as long as you stay in rhythem so well done. I also noticed you have your foot tapping well too. That will come in handy once the strumming becomes more complex. Really good. If there was anything I see that you could do different would be wear your strap. Lol. Great job overcoming the dreaded upload. You put your self out there amd were succesful.
I think your ready for to add that cool bass walk down at the end.
I concur. Recording starts up and fingers go limp. It just happens. That said, I think just going through the motions of recording yourself and then listening to it and identifying what you did right/wrong just goes a long way no matter what the musical outcome is. You will grow so much more though that practice.
The one thing my wife told me early on (she is a long time performer), playing for an audience (which I include recording as well) is a whole different skill set, so you may as well practice that skill in addition to just the instrument.
If you just practice the song and you mess up in the middle or lose track of what comes next, you are free to just stop the song and start again at the beginning or play the bits you like etc. But when performing or recording, you don’t have that option. You have to keep going with the groove even if you mess up or lose track or whatever. Its excellent practice recording is and especially when you are playing through the whole song.
Great job @rick111 - I think you are absolutely on track. Your foot is going, your strumming hand is going (not stopping) and your chord changes are getting there - it just takes a lot of repetitions to get them up to speed! And to get over the “red button fever” is another skill you are practicing when you record yourself on top. Just keep going - very well done!
Looking forward to hear and see more in the future!
The fast chord changes work very well in the rhythm, from minute 2 you have relaxed a little and everything runs more smoothly, good work and congratulations @rick111 on the grade 1 degree
A lot to like here Rick. You are definitely on the right track. You have developed a sense of rhythm and I thought your chord changes were clean apart from a couple but that’s probably down to knowing that you were recording. That will clean up with time and experience. Thumbs up from me
Thank you all for the comments. I was really struggling initially with rhythm and strumming and I know there’s a long way to go but it’s good you all can see I’m doing good so far. I don’t think I’m totally on autopilot with it yet and certainly not with more advanced patterns but I’m getting there.
@Ontime thank you. I will remember to wear my strap, I don’t know why I’ve got in the habit of not using it especially as I know it helps stabilise the guitar.
Congratulations on you first AVOYP Rick.
Feels good to break the ice hey?
You locked into the tune after a little while. Keeping it simple is the way to go at the start; build a solid foundation, then keep building on it as you develop.
You were a little ahead if the beat mostly, but that was probably just early stage nerves. I did the same.
@sclay it really does feel good and it wasn’t as bad as I had built it up to be. I’m excited to post more.
I have noticed with my recordings I’m struggling to get into the song at the start. Often I’ll make a few mistakes then they’ll iron out and then towards the mid to end of the song I’ll be flowing nicely. Not sure what I can do here beyond practice more.
Hey Rick,
Well done for taking the plunge and getting this down.
The changes are much better than you think they are, really!
And congrats for playing along to the track, it shows you’ve got the rhythm down, and that’s proboably the most important element of all music
One little thing I noticed is your chair. You might find playing more comfortable and easy if you sit on something that doesn’t have arms. It looks to me that they re getting in your way.
Anyhow,
Good effort, and look forward to seeing your next one.
Cheers
Ruaridh
Thank you for posting your work Rick. It gives me new motivation to turn the camera on and suffer through some more red light syndrome. I sometimes play a song and find myself saying, “Damn! That was pretty good - I wish I had recorded it.”
@Eccleshall thank you for the feedback. You are absolutely right I am constantly fiddling with my position and adjusting the arms on my chair. I think the next purchase may have to be a stool.
@mfeeney0110 thank you. I know that feeling well. I’m glad I have inspired you to start recording.
Rick, well done for a first recording. You have steady strumming and reasonably fast chord changes for grade 1 and a clean tone. I also have red light syndrome and sometimes require 3 takes just to get the first chord sometimes I agree with looking for a different chair without arms. You notice in all of Justin’s videos, that he has his left leg angled out from the side of his chair. I use a cheap padded folding chair that I keep next to my guitar. I just move the office chair and replace with the folding chair.
That was nice show off what you are learning. Just from watching the D Chord seemed to be the one that was going to catch you otu here and there. Do you play G Chord with both b and e strings on 3rd fret? I find this chord gives you the ring finger already anchored on the 3rd fret b string, which helps with that G to D change. It is still a G Chord with just a slightly different configuration of notes. So it would be 320033 instead of 320003.
@tewker hi Jamie, thanks for feedback. You’re right I’ve been having trouble transitioning to it. When I recorded this I hadn’t moved onto Grade 2 and found out you could play the G like that so that’s something I’m working on now. The chord changes are feeling much cleaner as I don’t have to reset my entire hand.
I agree with looking for a different chair without arms. You notice in all of Justin’s videos, that he has his left leg angled out from the side of his chair. I use a cheap padded folding chair that I keep next to my guitar. I just move the office chair and replace with the folding chair.