I think there’s enough chat in the video about why I chose this one.
It reminded me of why it’s important to video ourselves from a learning perspective. Although there’s plenty I can see I need to work on, I won’t say what - rather I’ll leave it open for you to make suggestions. So over to you for any improvement comments.
A specific question for the singers:
There’s an annoying frequency in my voice around 160Hz that I needed to cut using post eq (tbh I’ve been aware of this for a while and not done much about improving it). This time I added a 1DB boost from 2kHz - 5kHz using post eq to add a bit of sparkle to my rather (imo) dull sounding voice.
Are you aware of anything I can do with my voice to naturally tame the annoying frequency around 160Hz and add the sparkle in the 2kHz - 5kHz range?
In terms of improvements, I think you’d really benefit from changing up the strumming between verse and chorus for some variety. When you start the song you begin with all downstrokes on the verse (which I think it needs, but I’d be playing power chords and all eighth notes, with a lot of palm muting and some accents). However, you quickly morph into an down/up pattern that you keep for the rest of the song.
That said, I really enjoyed it - can’t wait to see you at the OM!
Lovin’ it Simon - the song is one of my guilty pleasures! I see you got some good suggestions already. Next step might be to arpeggiate the D and A sus2/sus4 chords.
That’s very nice Simon, you did a good job on it! I’m afraid I’m not able to offer much feedback as I don’t play the electric guitar. As Deborah says I would also expect power chords but since I can’t play them I really can’t tell! What an amazing song this one is! Thanks for sharing your progress
You’ve got the groove going with your guitar work Simon. As others have said I think your performance would benefit from introducing power chords, srumming variation and those great riffs that are in the song.
Well played and sung Simon! Lots of good suggestions already.
With regards to mixing strumming patterns and dynamics I’ve found that I tend to overlook that when performing “for real” - and my partial workaround for that has been to switch to one strum per bar or a strum and some picked strings (without focusing much on the particular string or rhythm). It adds some variety and hopefully is my gateway to the real kind! Sharing in case it helps you or others…
I enjoyed that. Thanks for posting Simon. If I had to suggest something, it would be to palm mute the two chords that make the verse and make it a bit punchier like Justin shows in his video lesson of this song. That will add a lot more dynamics because the verse uses arpeggios so then you get a nice change between the palm muting and arpeggios. The rhythm and palm muting in the verse isn’t difficult.
One exercise a friend suggested to me is to try to record yourself singing without the guitar then add in the guitar practice to match your vocals. You’re off to a great start. Add some dynamics to change the verse from chorus. Maybe turn up the mic volume and turn down the guitar sound if you don’t have a loud singing voice yet. Love the song and it’s on my bucket list to learn. Keep going🎸
Jeff
Thanks everyone for the improvement suggestions. They were helpful. I think I can categorise them under 2 main headings: “power chords” and “dynamics”.
Power chords
I used power chords in the bridge (not very well imo), but I think most of you mean elsewhere in the song. As I recall Justin plays the D and A as power chords in the same positions as the open chords and he’s either muting the F# (D chord 1st string) and C# (A chord second string) or just not playing those strings. Since your suggestions I have been trying with muting the strings - I can do it, but it takes a bit more concentration, so I suspect on a gig where I’m having to sing I will default back to open chords.
Dynamics:
Palm Muting in the intro. I did mean to do this and thought I was. I think it’s a good example of why videoing ourselves helps as it’s clear I wasn’t particularly successful .
Different strumming patterns between chorus and verse. I think this is something I could think about for many songs, not just this one.
Arpeggiating the sus chords. I suspect I won’t do this if I play it solo again (we’ll see). However in a band situation, particularly coming out of the bridge when I’m not singing, I think this will be a good variation.
Picked strings - I agree this is a good variation in some songs. I suspect if I did it playing solo I may lose the pulse (I’m not a great foot tapper - perhaps my piano background getting in the way), but for sure in a band situation with a drummer and bass player to lean on, I think this is a good variation to have in my locker.
Singing:
I don’t think volume is my current problem (though I agree having a stronger voice would be good). It’s more a frequency I could do with less of, and a frequency range I could with more of. I’m going to try working on a couple of things - hopefully they get me where I want to be without doing too much YouTube roulette, or going through a load of vocal coaching.
As for recommendations I would add to watch your strumming. Maybe it is the angle of the video, but it looks like most of your movement comes out of your wrist, probably because you are resting you lower arm on the guitar body for anchoring. But Justin always explains that the movement should predominantly come out of the elbow and the hand just being the extension of the lower arm with only very little additional movement coming out of the wrist, and that is also possible when you are resting your lower arm on the body. Give those videos another watch and experiment with less movement in the wrist. There will always be a bit more wrist movement when you are picking out individual strings on a melodic run, but when you are stumming you have both more control and better energy efficiency if using your larger arm muscles and not the smaller muscles around the wrist.
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