I Try (COVID Blues)

[Alison]

So, I've been pretty busy lately. Doing YouTube videos, writing songs, doing live streams, and, finally, getting some recording done! All in an effort to stay alive musically speaking. To really stay alive, I don't go anywhere I almost think I'm busier now than before this pandemic hit!

This is the first mix of this song. I already hear things I need to change but, I am in need of some fresh ears. Still not terribly happy with the lead break (on cello, I'm afraid I'm only a rhythm player on guitar!) It's an original song mostly about how everything is starting to get to me. . . you might be able to relate. Thanks for listening!

I Try (COVID Blues).mp3

I Try (COVID Blues)(2).mp3

So, on one guitar, I increased the high's, added a tad bit of distortion to the cello break (just to one. . .the line is doubled) and I downloaded at a higher bitrate and kbps. I'm not sure I can really tell a difference, maybe you can?
One more version! Promise! I changed the eq on both guitars for more highs, boosted my vocals, I also omitted the vocals on some of the lead, and I imported the mixdown at a higher bitrate and kbps. Anything else?

I Try (COVID Blues).mp3

I have SO much to learn! Guess it keeps me young, right?
FINALLY!! Here is yet another version of I Try. Not only does it have [mention]JD01[/mention] Wonderful guitar on it but, another friend added some sax. I still might re-record the cello break using my acoustic (still not terribly happy with the sound) but, that'll be sometime in the future. . . time. . . Anyway, a thousand thank you's to JD for adding guitar, the difference is superior(I think so anyway!)

I Try (JD guitar).mp3

[rayc]

Alison,
pretty cool 1st mix.
The 1st thing I noticed was there's not much top end in the mix, (the chords being played make that the case).
I like the song, the arrangement and the melody.
I like the solo... little trick I used recently for a cello solo was to throw an overdrive effect on it - just a little bit - and it REALLY made the cello stand out and sound aggressive - jus for the solo as the cello sit well against the guitar afterward.

[Alison]

Thank you [mention]rayc[/mention]. I'm glad you like it. Great suggestion for the solo, I'll give it a shot!

[vomitHatSteve]

Can you upload a higher bitrate mp3 (or a lossless format like flac or something)? Your high end is getting brutalized by the 64 kbps mp3.

[Lt. Bob]

I find your vocals a little buried on this mix but that may have to do with the highs being MIA.

You shouldn't use anything lower than 128kbps for MP3's and actually I never go lower than 256 kbps

There's a big difference in sound

[WhiskeyJack]

Sorry i missed this entirely [mention]Alison[/mention] It is kind of cool that i did because i got to listen to a mix progression. Very Cool. this one came along way. Stoked to see you getting something out of the feedback!!!

Hmmm. So to chime in on the latest mix, i don't really have much that hasn't been addressed already. You've addressed the mud and lack of high end and that sounds good? Your cello solo sounds really good.

How did you capture the guitar that lives on the left?

I hear some tinkling in my left ear from about 3:32 to 3:36? possibly windchimes or something? It might be part of some backups you had done so it might be hard to pin down and get rid of if it wasn't supposed to be there? It might not be worth chasing because at first i thought it was supposed to be there. But i didn't really hear it anywhere else? I feel like it works though!!!

Also we do have a forum dedicated to sharing your videos if you were interested in sharing that aspect of your music? Up to you.

[JD01]

I'm listening to the most recent version.
The right guitar sounds good. The left guitar has a slightly unpleasant crunch to it, I reckon a crunch guitar would sound good here, but all of the crunch has a sort of wooly/muddy sound to it.

Vocal sounds great.

Agree with WJ on the Cello solo - cool sound.

Alison - who/how are you getting the electric guitars? I'd like to have a crack at the left guitar if you wanted, I like playing lazy blues but rarely record it.

The ending sounds good now.

[Alison]

[mention]JD01[/mention] I may have used too much distortion on the left guitar. I'm using my Epiphone Les Paul through the Orange amp. I'd totally love to see what you could do with it! I'm not really much of a guitar player especially on electric so, please have a go!

[JD01]

@JD01 I may have used too much distortion on the left guitar. I'm using my Epiphone Les Paul through the Orange amp. I'd totally love to see what you could do with it! I'm not really much of a guitar player especially on electric so, please have a go!

Sounds like you've used the neck pickup, which is dark, into and orange, which is also dark, and its a humbucker, so its a bit muddy. And you have a little too much gain.

What's the BPM/tempo and chord structure. Ill try and have a crack using a telecaster tomorrow.

[Alison]

[mention]JD01[/mention] That would be wonderful! BPM is 72. The chord structure is really very simple but difficult to analyze as I used open G tuning so, the chords are all based around G. . . Main body is G (F#/C# slide) to F (E/B slide). Chorus is just D and C. Bridge is a G/C/D to a C with an augmented 2nd that resolves to the third. As I said, it's tricky to analyze since I did it mostly by ear! I'd be happy to send the stem of the main guitar line if that would help!

[rayc]

Alison, this keeps getting better new versions - as many as needed.. I hold the record I think. That distorted cello in the solo could come down just a bit so that the distorted one is JUST "colouring" the clean one. As it is it matches the left guitar well but the clean cello goes MIA.

[JD01]

@JD01 That would be wonderful! BPM is 72. The chord structure is really very simple but difficult to analyze as I used open G tuning so, the chords are all based around G. . . Main body is G (F#/C# slide) to F (E/B slide). Chorus is just D and C. Bridge is a G/C/D to a C with an augmented 2nd that resolves to the third. As I said, it's tricky to analyze since I did it mostly by ear! I'd be happy to send the stem of the main guitar line if that would help!

If you could send me the guitar track that would be helpful.

[Alison]

@JD01 That would be wonderful! BPM is 72, (correction, 62 in 2/4). The chord structure is really very simple but difficult to analyze as I used open G tuning so, the chords are all based around G. . . Main body is G (F#/C# slide) to F (E/B slide). Chorus is just D and C. Bridge is a G/C/D to a C with an augmented 2nd that resolves to the third. As I said, it's tricky to analyze since I did it mostly by ear! I'd be happy to send the stem of the main guitar line if that would help!

If you could send me the guitar track that would be helpful.
[mention]JD01[/mention]
Okay, here you go!

I Try - 01 Start - Guitar 1.mp3

sorry, my skills on guitar are a bit lacking!

[JD01]

If you could send me the guitar track that would be helpful.
@JD01
Okay, here you go! I Try - 01 Start - Guitar 1.mp3 sorry, my skills on guitar are a bit lacking!

Cool - I've just PM'd you the download link for the .wav file of the guitar part.
Should be able to just drop it into the mix and adjust the volume and reverb.

[Alison]

Just loaded a new version of I Try up there on my original post. It features [mention]JD01[/mention] on guitar and is a HUGE improvement if I do say so myself!

[JD01]

Cool. I’ll download and have a listen in the car in the morning.

[vomitHatSteve]

Is it two guitar parts? I hear the one JD posted here on the far left, but there seems to be a higher guitar on the right?

I like the addition, but the panning is a little unbalanced now. I'd put both guits a little closer to the center.

[Alison]

Is it two guitar parts? I hear the one JD posted here on the far left, but there seems to be a higher guitar on the right?

I like the addition, but the panning is a little unbalanced now. I'd put both guits a little closer to the center.

Yes. I played the other guitar part. JD replaced my muddy part! Thanks for the input, I will look into setting them closer together!

[rayc]

I like the difference between the two guitar parts...evening the levels between them would reinforce the difference and create stereo balance...the sax, being mostly left leaning, may have been a candidate to augment the right side guitar.

[JD01]

OK - listening properly on reference cans now.
I think the guitars are fine hard panned as they are.
My guitar is a bit too dry and a touch loud on the left like that - add a hint more reverb and turn it down a tiny bit.
Solo the left and right guitars so you're just listening to the two of them - this will help you get them in balance a bit better.
I think it would be better if the sax was slightly panned to the right instead of the left 'cos the right guitar is doing a bit less. Sax parts sound ace to me! Got a lot of verb on it, but its cool.

Nearly there, mate