Hi everyone, I’m new round here. This is my 1st video on here. There are plenty of me on my Vimeo channel of me playing bass (studio and live) but this is my 1st on a six string. I’m keen for feed back.
I thought from some posts that maybe I am supposed to append to a post of the same song, but I couldn’t see any posts that did that. If am supposed to append to others let me know.
If you look at my bass videos you’ll see I usually do a bit of chat prior to the song. If you don’t like that my chat usually lasts 60 - 90s, so feel free to jump ahead.
If my understanding is right you just post videos under your own name and if you have more than one song a month you append to your own thread for the month. Maybe someone who does post videos regularly can clarify
Such a pleasure to find one of my favourite songs here.
I liked your performance a lot. Great playing and singing
And you are very lucky to have seen Green Day at Wembley. Must have been an incredible show
“Time of your life” surely is one of the (many, many) highlights of each concert. I love this song so much.
Thanks a lot for sharing your beautiful performance.
Well played Simon, … PRS in-hand, must be having the time of your life.
I thought your vocal was a wee bit overpowered by the guitar in places, but enjoyed it all the same.
Great 1st video post, have a look around the Community pages and seek out the Open Mics; you’ll fit right in down the line.
Look forward to more …
First time on a six-string? Well played! Can’t say much about the recording and or levels of the sounds, because i don’t know all that much about it.
What i did notice and what needs some work is your strumming. I noticed a slight “stumble” in your strumming pattern. Try to keep a smooth and even up - down movement going on in the rythm / pattern you want.
You’ll notice further on that this will help you in your overall performance, as it will make things easier, especially when the tempo picks up.
Well done on sharing your first video with us here, Simon!
Regards your question to append to posts: it is as Matthew @mattswain said. In case you post more than one AVOYP per month, you append the new song to the month’s topic.
I enjoyed your intro chat, it gives an idea where you’re coming from and where you’re at with playing guitar.
You played well, but I noticed your strumming hand is not moving consistently as also mentioned by @GrytPipe. It is worth to focus on that and try to keep it moving like a pendulum. In the long run, this will totally be worth it as it helps playing in time and keeping the rhythm solid. Other than that, your performance went very well and I’m looking forward to hearing more from you!
I’ve just seen a note asking me to write one reply, rather than individual ones so here goes.
Thanks everyone for watching and taking the time to respond.
@mattswain@Lisa_S I’ll have a look at how others have appended things - thanks for the info.
@Gunhild I’m glad you liked it. The Green Day concert was great - hearing all of Dookie and American Idiot at the same gig, as well as the best songs from Saviors, was special.
@Elixir1253 the PRS is great. I tried a few others but this was the neck and sound that I connected with. Having humbuckers and a coil split that sounds like single coils was a big selling point for me.
I think you are right about the guitar overwhelming my voice in places. I think at the minute I’m having to concentrate on a few things and don’t really have the control on dynamics for either my voice or strumming. I’ll work on it, but I’ll also pay a bit more attention to the mix and maybe experiment a bit with compression to even things out.
Part of the reason I picked up guitar again was because the Jam Night I go to has (oddly) an excess of bassists and is short of a couple of guitar players. So Open Mics are on my radar. I’ll check out the one in this community.
@GrytPipe@Lisa_S - thanks for the strumming tip. Even if I’m not singing I think it could be better, but it’s worse if I’m singing. It’s a good reason for videoing ourselves - it’s there in front of you when you watch it, and isn’t so obvious if just noodling away in the music room.
@Lisa_S - thanks for the feedback on the intro chat. Hardly anyone does it on the bass forum I’m on, but I would like to see people do it more often.
Hi Simon.
Welcome to JustinGuitar and the oh-so wonderful AVOYP area.
Kudos for posting your first recording and asking for feedback.
I think there is a lot of merit in the conversational opening and people will warm to it and to you.
Feedback …
Left hand chord formation is looking very good. Your fingers are landing together which is fantastic. Many beginners find that they tend to land their fingers in succession rather than simultaneously and it can be a hard task training them out of it.
You have the fingers 2, 3, 4 G chord working well too (Justin usually plays that without 2nd finger on the A string - which is muted - and calls it weak finger G).
You vary the fingering of your Em from fingers 1 & 2 to fingers 3 & 4. I don’t know if that is conscious or not but the ability to use either when you want or need is good. You definitely need 1 & 2 when playing Stuck 3&4 Em7 chord.
The song is usually played with stuck 3&4 chords - have you reached them in the course yet?
No worries if not - it works with regular open chords as you prove here.
Sound wise - for demonstration / feedback / learning I would recommend having less reverb / chorus in the tone. It can be hard to hear notes and chords with good clarity as the effect is making them ring on and blend together heavily.
@GrytPipe has mentioned your strumming hand.
If you want to get a really clear understanding of this I recommend that you watch your playing with the volume on mute. This can be a real eye opener and reveal the issue.
Constant down - up - down - up - down - up in smooth strokes is your aim.
Keep it up.
ps
You don’t need to link a song recording to others who have posted the same song, not to Justin’s song lesson discussion. It can stand here in its own right.
Very nice spoken introduction in your video and I really enjoyed your playing. I can’t comment on your playing as I am a beginner but I have also been practicing that song and finding singing and playing together very challenging. I still haven’t plucked up courage to post one of mine yet …
Useful advice from @Richard_close2u about putting the volume down on the video and watching the strumming hand. I’m going to try it tonight!!!
welcome to the forum Simon!!!
p.s. @simon_plays_bass I forgot to ask, what’s the name of your Vimeo channel? Also SimonPlaysBass?
You can ignore my last question. I just found it on Vimeo.
@Prof_Thunder I’ve learned a lot by videoing myself playing bass over the last couple of years. I hope you have the courage to video yourself soon.
@Richard_close2u thanks very much for the feedback. I’ve been experimenting with muting the A string when playing the G chord. My finger wants to go on the string (I’ve played it that way for a long time) but now I’m lifting it a bit. I’m not sure whether or not I agree with Justin that it sounds better muted or not - but it gives me another option.
It’s a conscious decision to be able to play Em with 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. Likewise with G (1, 2 and 3 or 2,3 and 4). I haven’t got to the stuck chords yet, but have looked them up following your prompt.
I’m doing the tone hunt thing at the same time as learning. The point on chorus and reverb is well received though as related to submitting videos for feedback.
Good tip about watching the strumming with the video off. Following the feedback from yourself and others on my strumming, I have also used the reverse camera on my iPad like a mirror. That way I can see my strumming as I’m doing it. As a side benefit , it also means I can see my left hand at the same time, so the temptation to stare at the fretting hand is removed.
Liked your bass videos on Vimeo a lot by the way. Very inspiring. Lots of different musical styles. Thinking of taking up the bass as well but it’s a question of time. I have my hands full (literally) with the guitar but it would be nice to try some bass.
Nicely played Simon well done! Soon enough you will be able to pick individual strings like in the original, just stick with the course and youll be fine!
Well done 
