Short Tune to Close Out an EP

[Mr. Blackwell]

When finishing a song that inadvertently got rather complicated, I wanted to write and record a simple tune, and in a short amount of time.

Kinda like Jani Lane did with Cherry Pie.

Unfortunately I have no double entendres, or single for that matter; nor is there a hot blonde.

But this is what I came up with; I recorded it in under two hours, last summer:

[Hey Man]

Dec 14, 2023 19:11:15 GMT -5 Mr. Blackwell said:

When finishing a song that inadvertently got rather complicated, I wanted to write and record a simple tune, and in a short amount of time.

Kinda like Jani Lane did with Cherry Pie.

Unfortunately I have no double entendres, or single for that matter; nor is there a hot blonde.

But this is what I came up with; I recorded it in under two hours, last summer:

I really dug that. It sounded like something that would be the final track on some more rocking instrumental album. Just a nice ditty to end things which I guess is why you chose it to end your EP.

[Mr. Blackwell]

Thanks!

That's exactly what it was. I had finished the title track (first song on the EP, last song recorded). I'm very happy with it, but it got a lot more intricate than I had originally planned. It took over two months to complete, so I just wanted bookend the release with something shorter and simpler.

I played classical guitar for years, so the ternary form (A-B-A) is something I feel comfortable working with. The middle section contrasts, and when I was just jamming around on the guitar fishing for ideas, I thought of Stone In Love by Journey, which I had heard on the radio downstairs. It's in G Major and then the ending starts on an unexpected Eb chord. So I just went there and the rest followed.

It sounds nothing like Stone In Love, but I did get some ideas from it.

[drmoorejr]

Dec 14, 2023 19:11:15 GMT -5 Mr. Blackwell said:

When finishing a song that inadvertently got rather complicated, I wanted to write and record a simple tune, and in a short amount of time.

Kinda like Jani Lane did with Cherry Pie.

Unfortunately I have no double entendres, or single for that matter; nor is there a hot blonde.

But this is what I came up with; I recorded it in under two hours, last summer:

Good music is good because the rhythm has a good feel.    Just inspired me to try learning some new stuff.  I just wished I could play without a pick... my style is close to the way Frank Vignola comps.. and no I am not as good...  still learning.

[drmoorejr]

 A lot of people go crazy over Eddie Van Halen's solos... but honestly for me his rhythm is top!   As much as I loved Allen Holdsworth's playing, guys like Steve Lukather made every song he played with way more infectious feel...  I think the reason modern music is has evolved and become so popular (yet lacks interesting harmony or melody) because it have good rhythm.   Same is true for much of modern Jazz,  Barry Harris identified the likely reason modern jazz doesn't have the same effect on people as older Jazz, he said its "because you cannot dance to it."

[Mr. Blackwell]

Dec 22, 2023 10:49:06 GMT -5 drmoorejr said:

 A lot of people go crazy over Eddie Van Halen's solos... but honestly for me his rhythm is top!   As much as I loved Allen Holdsworth's playing, guys like Steve Lukather made every song he played with way more infectious feel...  I think the reason modern music is has evolved and become so popular (yet lacks interesting harmony or melody) because it have good rhythm.   Same is true for much of modern Jazz,  Barry Harris identified the likely reason modern jazz doesn't have the same effect on people as older Jazz, he said its "because you cannot dance to it."

Thanks so much for checking it out!

There is a purity to playing without a pick. On this short tune I used the thumb to play a bass line sort of muted, or pizzicato.

And I'm completely on the same page regarding Eddie. My favorite thing about Eddie, in addition to his rhythm playing, is his songwriting. Guitar players gush over his lead playing, and rightfully so. But to me, his greatest attribute is he was able to write great songs to put his solos in.

And I also agree on rhythm. "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing," are probably the wisest words ever spoken.

I've read in history books that jazz music started as dance music. But as the players advanced, they wanted the audience listening, not dancing. So they jacked all the tempos, and bebop was born. It was likely a little more complicated than that, but I get the point.

Of course I admire Holdsworth and other "complicated" musicians; I just don't gravitate toward them. Part of that is the lack of simpler hooks, but also the sophisticated rhythms can be difficult to groove to.

I've never shied away from my love of dance music, even if it makes me a bit of a punching bag at these sites.

Thanks again!

[drmoorejr]

Dec 22, 2023 14:36:10 GMT -5 Mr. Blackwell said:

Dec 22, 2023 10:49:06 GMT -5 drmoorejr said:

 A lot of people go crazy over Eddie Van Halen's solos... but honestly for me his rhythm is top!   As much as I loved Allen Holdsworth's playing, guys like Steve Lukather made every song he played with way more infectious feel...  I think the reason modern music is has evolved and become so popular (yet lacks interesting harmony or melody) because it have good rhythm.   Same is true for much of modern Jazz,  Barry Harris identified the likely reason modern jazz doesn't have the same effect on people as older Jazz, he said its "because you cannot dance to it."

Thanks so much for checking it out!

There is a purity to playing without a pick. On this short tune I used the thumb to play a bass line sort of muted, or pizzicato.

And I'm completely on the same page regarding Eddie. My favorite thing about Eddie, in addition to his rhythm playing, is his songwriting. Guitar players gush over his lead playing, and rightfully so. But to me, his greatest attribute is he was able to write great songs to put his solos in.

And I also agree on rhythm. "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing," are probably the wisest words ever spoken.

I've read in history books that jazz music started as dance music. But as the players advanced, they wanted the audience listening, not dancing. So they jacked all the tempos, and bebop was born. It was likely a little more complicated than that, but I get the point.

Of course I admire Holdsworth and other "complicated" musicians; I just don't gravitate toward them. Part of that is the lack of simpler hooks, but also the sophisticated rhythms can be difficult to groove to.

I've never shied away from my love of dance music, even if it makes me a bit of a punching bag at these sites.

Thanks again!

absolutely