A song with a string quartet!

[CrowsofFritz]

This has been my costliest song to date lol. I wrote it in tribute to my friend who died last month. I think I need to lower the strings a little, and I’m considering adding a guitar solo at the end.

What do you all think?

https://soundcloud.com/aarontaylorsmall ... -we-lost-1

[CrowsofFritz]

Added a guitar solo. It's the mp3 attachment. The Soundcloud link is without the solo.

[rayc]

Channelling She's Leaving Home in a few parts.
The 1st bass note seems odd.
Cool song though.
Why costly?

[CrowsofFritz]

Channelling She's Leaving Home in a few parts.
The 1st bass note seems odd.
Cool song though.
Why costly?

Yeah, it doesn’t mesh well with the strings, so I may have to change that note. The string quartet costed a couple hundred.

[rayc]

Channelling She's Leaving Home in a few parts.
The 1st bass note seems odd.
Cool song though.
Why costly?

Yeah, it doesn’t mesh well with the strings, so I may have to change that note. The string quartet costed a couple hundred.

Nice but expensive. Next time you want to audition an idea like that let me know & I can BIAB a roughie for you.

[CrowsofFritz]

Yeah, it doesn’t mesh well with the strings, so I may have to change that note. The string quartet costed a couple hundred.

Nice but expensive. Next time you want to audition an idea like that let me know & I can BIAB a roughie for you.

Thanks, ray!

[Tadpui]

I think it sounds nice overall, and it a nice sentiment.

The strings sound really well recorded and performed. I think that you got your money's worth out of that!

Right at 0:30 and for a few seconds thereafter, I hear some clipping when the strings stab and the vocals are going at the same time.

The guitar solo isn't quite a good fit yet, it sounds out of place to me. Maybe try crushing it with some fast attack compression to tame the attack and give it a bit of sustain, where the transients and the body of the sustained notes are closer together dynamically. it's kind of pokey and pointy sounding, to use what I'm sure are the traditional clinical terms for it

[CrowsofFritz]

I think it sounds nice overall, and it a nice sentiment.

The strings sound really well recorded and performed. I think that you got your money's worth out of that!

Right at 0:30 and for a few seconds thereafter, I hear some clipping when the strings stab and the vocals are going at the same time.

The guitar solo isn't quite a good fit yet, it sounds out of place to me. Maybe try crushing it with some fast attack compression to tame the attack and give it a bit of sustain, where the transients and the body of the sustained notes are closer together dynamically. it's kind of pokey and pointy sounding, to use what I'm sure are the traditional clinical terms for it

Thanks Tad! I’m going to cut the lower parts of the solo. Just leave the high parts.

[vomitHatSteve]

Right at 0:30 and for a few seconds thereafter, I hear some clipping when the strings stab and the vocals are going at the same time.

I'm hearing that too. There's also a bit at 1:42 when the guitar hits the big note.

[musicturtle]

Cool tune. I agree with Ray that the chorus is very "She's Leaving Home." I like it.

Some things that stand out to me:

• The bass is just kind of weird. In some places it rhythmically seems to be off, almost like there is some uncertainty to the timing. In other places the choice of pitch for the bass seems off as well(this may just be personal opinion), but especially in the chorus, the bass and the background vocals clash to my ear.

• The background vocals(oohs) sound good on the first chorus, but on the second chorus the timing is off when changing pitches/chords, almost a full beat behind the string changes(and one of them is a little pitchy).

[CrowsofFritz]

Thanks guys! I’ll work on these things!

[TripleM]

The strings sound nice. I agree they're a bit loud. They are competing with the vocal in spots, and occasionally they're winning.

Vocal sounds nice though.

The mix is distorting at :30-:33 on my speakers. Backing vocals come in right there, and that might be causing clipping? A little more at 1:07 and then again at 1:12-1:13.

I heard that loud bass note near the beginning too.

I like the lead guitar sound. I might try to work out a better take/part.

[CrowsofFritz]

The strings sound nice. I agree they're a bit loud. They are competing with the vocal in spots, and occasionally they're winning.

Vocal sounds nice though.

The mix is distorting at :30-:33 on my speakers. Backing vocals come in right there, and that might be causing clipping? A little more at 1:07 and then again at 1:12-1:13.

I heard that loud bass note near the beginning too.

I like the lead guitar sound. I might try to work out a better take/part.

Thanks! I worked on these things. The SoundCloud link might be broken, or it could link to my newest one. I’ll have to double check.

[TripleM]

Oops sorry. I listed to the version embedded in your post. I'll give a quick listen to the SC version.

[TripleM]

Yeah those problems are gone on the SC version.

The only comment I have on that version is the low end is a little muddy. For a song like that, I think a lighter low end would work better.

[CrowsofFritz]

Yeah those problems are gone on the SC version.

The only comment I have on that version is the low end is a little muddy. For a song like that, I think a lighter low end would work better.

Thanks, Triple! I’ll see if I can use some EQ.

[rayc]

The two bass notes at 55 seem oddly placed in time. How about some lyrics? I not entirely sure of some of the words.
I like the idea of the solo but reckon a) a nylon string would sound better and b) the timing seems slightly off in spots.
Good stuff though.

[Alison]

And you could have had a cello quartet for FREE:lollers2. Seriously though I think the string quartet parts were definitely well arranged and recorded. Got your money's worth for sure.

Your influences are upfront and center! Definitely hear, "She's Leaving Home". I hear a couple of timing issues and the guitar at the end, to my ear, should sound more mellow, it has kind of a "tinny" sound. Those are my only "nits".

Lovely song though, really, a very nice tribute to your friend!