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[The Rocker]

Hi I've been recording for a while and I've dumped some of my stuff on myspace its just a showcase of my playing which is intermediate level.

I want to develop some tapping and sweep picking stuff now so I'm going to try and develop those tecniques.

Have a listen and let me know what I should start working on.

I've got a thick skin so please be honest, just don't be brutal lol

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=522835065

[Smoking Guns]

Listening to the Rocket now, pretty damn cool, sounds like blues pentatonic heaven!

[Jack V]

I like what I hear so far, but I think you have mixing problems. Seems like my ears are trying too hard to focus on what to listen to. Maybe that's a levels thing?  Bass is too loud?
Apart from that, nice playing and some catchy stuff going on!!

[Smoking Guns]

I forget the name of the last song, but that song has really nice playing!  I like all of it and you had some really nice tones as well.

[Jack V]

I forget the name of the last song, but that song has really nice playing!  I like all of it and you had some really nice tones as well.

AGREED
I like the chorused cleans. Pretty sweet.

[The Rocker]

Thanks guys,

My production has holes in it and it was a major going down the pc route with a daw and plugs etc, maybe I could get a third party to run them through some mastering software or sumink, and I lost the masters in cubase cause a drive died so I'm stuck with some of the nasty stuff.

But overall I think ive learned quite a bit about recording, it's a huge learning curve and quite daunting.


The tripping song is a bit later than some others and it shows production wise I think.
 

[inmyhands]

Many of your tunes are screaming for a good vocalist. "Mosh Pit Metal Jam" has all the right elements minus the vocalist. "The Tripping Song" would sound great with "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band" type vocals.

"Say It Like It Is" works nicely as an instrumental.

"Main Street Blue" is a go just like it is.

"Frost Bite Blues" messes with me on two levels. First...... It's not blues. Second...... I truly like this style of country playing, but, the tone is too thin and ice picky. I say this and I'm a Tele Player. The addition of a bit of crunch and compression, (Check out Brad Paisley's tone), would greatly benefit this tune.

I like "Funk Attack Black Jack", but, again.....I don't hear Funk. This tune has a lot of Aerosmith type guitar vibe going for it. "Toys In The Attic / Walk This Way" for example.

"Learning To Fly" doesn't sound so much like a song as it does an excursion into technique demonstration. Kind of a "Look what I can do" thing. It really doesn't have a melodic theme for everything else to weave around. While the guitar work is impressive the song structure itself.....well.......let's say this is more of a skill demo than a song.

"Rocket" is a nice instrumental that might benefit from more variances in technique and touch. Again, a little thicker tone would add to the richness of the lead guitars voicing. This type of tune thrives on a mid-rich tone.


Overall you've pretty much demonstrated a more than average skill level on the instrument as well as some nice backing arrangements. You strike me more as a player trying to write rather than a writer trying to play. Finding a position in a band with a good lead vocalist and the added members input into your song creative process would work very well for you. Your writing needs a firmer path that fellow band members could help you with. Your good to go on the role of guitarist.

Rick

[The Rocker]

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to my playing inmyhands,  I really like you're idea about listening to Brad Paisley, he's a fantastic player with a tone to die for.

Respect

Mike

[maybeyes]

I like this.  Nice work.

The Tripping Song - would be an awesome song with some witty vocals.  Yeah I agree with Rick about the "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band" type vocals.

Rocket Song - Nice energy.  Some nice guitar work in there.  I really like this.  Could also work as a vocal track, but great as an instrumental.  A more mid range tone would make the lead stick out more.  I would have used a middle position between the two hbs on my guitar which would still allow for nice highs with more body, but still get into the mid range area

Mosh Pit Metal Jam - Some rocking vocals would be great here.  It is good as an instrumental too.

Say It Like It Is - A nice blues rock piece.  Reminds me of some bluesy hard rock pieces I have heard.  This would work with a nice female vocalist and the guitar playing counterpoint.  Some really nice playing on this that caught my attention

Main Street Blue - This started up and I was thinking of some early Johnny Winter I have heard.  This has a nice feel to it.  This works really well as an instrumental.  No need to change a thing.  This is a really nice piece.  I am still bopping after it is done.  Well done.

Funk Attack Black Jack - This is very much as Rick said an aerosmith feel song.  A good vocalist and this would be an awesome tune.  Some nice tongue in cheek lyrics and you're good to go.

Frost Bite Blues - I agree with Rick that this is more of a country blues tune.   However, I like the ice pick tone here works well.  A little extra warmth may help as Rick suggested, but I like it like it is. 

Learning to Fly - Nice guitar playing.  This is well done.  I like what I hear.  I think this is a song that would be great with a vocalist and some really soul wrenching lyrics followed by a really cool building solo which you would be able to do quite well judging by how you have acquited yourself on all of these songs.   

Have to say very well done.   There wasn't a piece that didn't engage me in some way.  As Rick says a lot of these songs are begging for a good vocal.  It would be interesting to hear these as finished pieces with the vocals.  I would wager that would raise the bar several notches.  Thank you for the enjoyable time I had listening to these tunes.

[otcconan]

Agree that you need a good remix and master.  But aside from that...

Intermediate?  You sell yourself short.  While you are no speed demon like guys on this site like Nobby, you definitely have serious feel and a nice vibrato.  That in itself is going to take you much further than feel ever will.  Concentrate on what you are good at and make yourself the best at it.  I am serious.  Paul Kossoff never got raves for his speed but he is worshiped here for good reason.

[Breakfastime]

Been listening to this all morning-great stuff!  Lots of tasty playing for sure, the mixes are what they are-but that's just part of the learning process.

What you have here is certainly master-able enough to make it sound even better. 

In any event, the music/arrangement/performance aspect is really really good!  And yes, I agree with everyone else that if you could find the right vocalist these cool instrumentals tracks would easily transform into cool songs.

Sure you could remix but I bet that instead of doing re-mixes, you'd rather be (or already are) working on more new stuff! 

[Jack V]

Happy I stumbled upon this again. Dude you RULE.