Graeme's Wee Mad Mental Music Thread

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Came up with the first few opening seconds of this thrash-metal inspired riff yesterday after restringing and putting new tuners on my Les Paul guitar. Was messing about with today, and decided to record it, cuz ah thought it sounded somewhat decent.

https://soundcloud.com/song-connery%2Fmetal-riff-idea

So, my oldest sister has reposted this track on her SoundCloud account.

She laughed in my face today, because last night ah emailed her asking if she thought me going back to guitar lessons would be worth while.

"Eh, did ye listen to that riff ?! Ah'd say that's beyond the skill level of somebuddy who thinks they need guitar lessons.":LOL:
 
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Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Fuck it ! Ah think I might quit the guitar — writing really good metal riffs has gotten too difficult. And I’m not as a good a guitarist as I was 10 years ago. And that first riff idea wus a fuckin’ fluke anyways.... cuz I’m not well versed in the music scales to know how to write guitar riffs, anyway.
 

FountainandFairfax

in a VAN down by the RIVER
Fuck it ! Ah think I might quit the guitar — writing really good metal riffs has gotten too difficult. And I’m not as a good a guitarist as I was 10 years ago. And that first riff idea wus a fuckin’ fluke anyways.... cuz I’m not well versed in the music scales to know how to write guitar riffs, anyway.

I think you're just overwhelmed with your recent success. Take a break from what you're doing and work on something else, or just chill-out for a few days. We're sensitive artists Graeme, we don't do well under pressure. :D

Beethoven-gif-immortal-Beloved-gary-oldman-35238958-245-170.gif
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
I think you're just overwhelmed with your recent success. Take a break from what you're doing and work on something else, or just chill-out for a few days. We're sensitive artists Graeme, we don't do well under pressure. :D

Beethoven-gif-immortal-Beloved-gary-oldman-35238958-245-170.gif

Whilist ah agree with yer point...

Am still no a hunner (100) percent convinced that that riff won’t turn into a generic as fuck sounding metal instrumental. Then there’s the issue of going back to getting guitar lessons at a musicial instrument shop in my local area. Ah just feel mair than a wee awkward aboot walkin’ in there n’ going:

“Hiya ! I’m Graeme, ah took a few guitar lessons here — oh, it’d be well over 10 years ago. D’ye still do the lessons? Cuz ah’ve came up with this metal riff but don’t know how to turn it into a full song. Could’nae help me with it? It’s in Drop D...”

Then some cunt just had to comment on it saying that: “Hey, if ya slowed tempo a bunch, it’d sound like Pantera” :mad:
And am thinking: “Aye, awrite. But how am I gonnae do that without changing the way I’m playing the riff ?”
 
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FountainandFairfax

in a VAN down by the RIVER
Whilist ah agree with yer point...

Am still no a hunner (100) percent convinced that that riff won’t turn into a generic as fuck sounding metal instrumental. Then there’s the issue of going back to getting guitar lessons at a musicial instrument shop in my local area. Ah just feel mair than a wee awkward aboot walkin’ in there n’ going:

“Hiya ! I’m Graeme, ah took a few guitar lessons here — oh, it’d be well over 10 years ago. D’ye still do the lessons? Cuz ah’ve came up with this metal riff but don’t know how to turn it into a full song. Could’nae help me with it? It’s in Drop D...”

Then some cunt just had to comment on it saying that: “Hey, if ya slowed tempo a bunch, it’d sound like Pantera” :mad:
And am thinking: “Aye, awrite. But how am I gonnae do that without changing the way I’m playing the riff ?”


Just walk into the shop and say you can play guitar but feel you've hit a wall with your progress and need some technical guidance. They really don't care what the reason is, they mostly just want your money. :D

As far as that comment on your riff goes, there's always gonna be people with different opinions, morons, jerks, and haters. The better you get, the more there will be. Madonna only reads her positive reviews, she's never read a bad or critical one. She was being interviewed once and the person started to quote a bad review and Madonna shut her down. "I don't read those, I don't care." Your music can only sound the way you mean for it to sound, it's only wrong when you think it is. It could be better from a technical standpoint, you could do better execution, but other than that it can only sound the way you want it to, there's no "wrong" to it.

Also, Graeme, you can't stifle yourself. Artists have to get this stuff out of them or they'll go crazy. Don't ever let someone censor your music or make you feel like you're wasting your time. Even if you just pluck random strings into the atmosphere or pummel the keyboard in completely disjointed nonsense, you have to get it out of you. When I was a kid I'd fill notebooks with scribble because I had to relieve the urge to create even though I was completely blocked. My parents would chastise me for wasting the books but I would just tell them I had to do it. Eventually I'd draw something great but I never would've got there without clearing the lane of all that pent-up scribble first.

Just create, it's not all going to be da Vinci and it's not all going to be Clapton, but it all counts in adding up.
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Just walk into the shop and say you can play guitar but feel you've hit a wall with your progress and need some technical guidance. They really don't care what the reason is, they mostly just want your money. :D

As far as that comment on your riff goes, there's always gonna be people with different opinions, morons, jerks, and haters. The better you get, the more there will be. Madonna only reads her positive reviews, she's never read a bad or critical one. She was being interviewed once and the person started to quote a bad review and Madonna shut her down. "I don't read those, I don't care." Your music can only sound the way you mean for it to sound, it's only wrong when you think it is. It could be better from a technical standpoint, you could do better execution, but other than that it can only sound the way you want it to, there's no "wrong" to it.

Also, Graeme, you can't stifle yourself. Artists have to get this stuff out of them or they'll go crazy. Don't ever let someone censor your music or make you feel like you're wasting your time. Even if you just pluck random strings into the atmosphere or pummel the keyboard in completely disjointed nonsense, you have to get it out of you. When I was a kid I'd fill notebooks with scribble because I had to relieve the urge to create even though I was completely blocked. My parents would chastise me for wasting the books but I would just tell them I had to do it. Eventually I'd draw something great but I never would've got there without clearing the lane of all that pent-up scribble first.

Just create, it's not all going to be da Vinci and it's not all going to be Clapton, but it all counts in adding up.

That’s true. :)

I’m kinda unsure about the guitar lessons, though. Since I’m more than capable of teaching myself the guitar techniques I haven’t mastered, yet. It’s more the scales and using them to write riffs that I was never been taught. And I don’t know if it’s worth paying to be taught that? :unsure: When it’s like I’m completely unfamiliar with that concept, I just never got taught it or how to apply to writing my own guitar riffs when I was getting guitar lessons back in 2002, 2003.

I suppose ah could save myself some money n’ just binge watch Steve Stine’s YouTube channel? Since he uploads guitar lesson videos. And I’m assuming he covers everything, guitar-wise, from beginner to more advanced stuff.

As for the riff comment, what d’you think, Fountain? Should I attempt the suggestion and make my riff more Pantera-esque, and more or less rip-off Pantera’s Revolution Is My Name? Despite having listened to an absolute shiteload o’ songs by Exodus prior to me coming up with that first metal riff idea. Plus, the riff already sound a bit like Pantera’s Fucking Hostile. So... there’s that. Ah guess the guy who left felt the comment isn’t much a Pantera fan, then? :LOL:

Oh, I forget to mention this - regarding that comment. Right after that guy made his suggestion about slowing it down to sound more like Pantera he ended his comment telling me: “...but the direction you’re going with the riff is very cool”.
Which is.... Huh ?!
:confused:
 

FountainandFairfax

in a VAN down by the RIVER
That’s true. :)

I’m kinda unsure about the guitar lessons, though. Since I’m more than capable of teaching myself the guitar techniques I haven’t mastered, yet. It’s more the scales and using them to write riffs that I was never been taught. And I don’t know if it’s worth paying to be taught that? :unsure: When it’s like I’m completely unfamiliar with that concept, I just never got taught it or how to apply to writing my own guitar riffs when I was getting guitar lessons back in 2002, 2003.

I suppose ah could save myself some money n’ just binge watch Steve Stine’s YouTube channel? Since he uploads guitar lesson videos. And I’m assuming he covers everything, guitar-wise, from beginner to more advanced stuff.

As for the riff comment, what d’you think, Fountain? Should I attempt the suggestion and make my riff more Pantera-esque, and more or less rip-off Pantera’s Revolution Is My Name? Despite having listened to an absolute shiteload o’ songs by Exodus prior to me coming up with that first metal riff idea. Plus, the riff already sound a bit like Pantera’s Fucking Hostile. So... there’s that. Ah guess the guy who left felt the comment isn’t much a Pantera fan, then? :LOL:

Oh, I forget to mention this - regarding that comment. Right after that guy made his suggestion about slowing it down to sound more like Pantera he ended his comment telling me: “...but the direction you’re going with the riff is very cool”.
Which is.... Huh ?!
:confused:

You're probably adept enough to use the YouTube videos, it's just a matter of confidence in believing you can learn that stuff, I think. You're gonna have to stick to it, even through your bouts of self-doubt.

I wouldn't worry about the riff sounding generic, you're progressing creatively and developing your own sound. And just because two artists have similar styles doesn't mean one's aping the other. Besides, you always have to consider the source in these matters, too. I doubt Butch Vig was the one who left that comment on your riff. :LOL:

Incidentally, Kurt Cobain said himself that the riff to "Nevermind" was inspired by Boston's "More Than A Feeling." Imagine if he'd let comparisons between his track and that one keep him from going forward with his song. :eek:
 
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Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
You're probably adept enough to use the YouTube videos, it's just a matter of confidence in believing you can learn that stuff, I think. You're gonna have to stick to it, even through your bouts of self-doubt.

Yeah... I’ll probably just go with the YouTube videos. As I think those video will basically be what my paid lessons would be like. Me having something explained to me, then shown how to play it. Plus, with the YouTube videos, I can go at my own pace, in terms of both practising and learning. And, as you said, stick with it through the self-doubt. I’ll see how it goes...

I wouldn't worry about the riff sounding generic, you're progressing creatively and developing your own sound. And just because two artists have similar styles doesn't mean one's aping the other. Besides, you always have to consider the source in these matters, too. I doubt Butch Vig was the one who left that comment on your riff. :LOL:

That’s true... :LOL: Butch Vig, or someone like Bob Rock, would’ve likely offered a more detailed critique of that riff.

Incidentally, Kurt Cobain said himself that the riff to "Nevermind" was inspired by Boston's "More Than A Feeling." Imagine if he'd let comparisons between his track and that one keep him from going forward with his song. :eek:

I doubt he’d have written it, to be honest. But then, Cobain did, mockingly, knowledge the comparisons between his song and Boston’s by partly playing More Than a Feeling before Smells Like Teen Spirit live. I think he did that during Nirvana’s set at Reading Festival in 1992?
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Well, that metal riff idea - the first one - is slowly creeping up SoundCloud’s Top 50 Most Played Metal Songs of the Week. And... it’s absolutely surreal, and humbling, seeing my moniker there amongst names like Metallica, Slipknot, Sabaton and Nuclear Blast Records. o_O;)(y)

Especially considering that that riff was my first attempt at writing a metal guitar riff where I didn’t just play power chord slides under the pedal note. :LOL:

Though. I probably won’t keep track of the song’s progress on SoundCloud once I’ve finished and uploaded it. Cuz just lookin’ at tha fuckin’ Top Cities n’ Countries stats are mental enough... :eek:Fuck ! Even the indie record label interest I’m getting about having them share my songs is, like... WTF?! Anyway, I think ah’ll take a wee break from songwriting for a few days. Get my room uncluttered, to take my mind off things. :LOL:
 
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Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Since I’m recording my music with a laptop, and everything going directly into a USB interface... does it really matter where ah actually record it, especially my guitars ? :unsure: Or does the size of the room only affect the sound a guitar when ye running sound from yer amp and need to mic it to record the sound of the guitar? And the guitar/amp modelling software I’m using already emulates the sound of recording from an amplifier into a microphone...
 
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Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Came up with this wee ambient guitar idea today. Might see about getting it recorded after I get my guitar checked out, as I don’t think it’s setup right to stay in tune. I’d intonate it, myself, but I’d rather have my local musical instrument store check it over. Just to make sure the string height is correct and there’s no loose screw anywhere.

And a guitar idea with a harmony part, at that. Whit da fuck !? :eek: And I suck at lead guitar... kinda. :LOL:
 
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Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Ah think that fella that commented about slowing down that first metal riff idea might huv a point...

Only because it's going to be quite ifficult coming up with a drum accompaniment for it.
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Nearly a month... and I still can’t come up with a decent variation on that metal riff. :mad:

I’m also not sure whether ah should keep the riff as it is, or change it ? :unsure:
But then ah also risk losing what made it stand out to begin wae if ah try n’ change it. :confused:

Then there’s the fact ah don’t exactly huv a set song structure for it, so don’t really know what to do in terms of the arrangement. I’ve not really thought about what the bass or drum parts should be. Guess ah’ll just have to write those parts around the main riff ?
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
So... am kinda stuck as far as writing around that metal riff idea ah came up wae. :unsure:

https://soundcloud.com/song-connery%2Fmetal-riff-idea-wip-1
If anybuddy could gimme some tips on how tae write the bass and drums, it’d be much appreciated. ;)(y) More so the drums, cuz ah don’t know if ah should huv the drums mimicking that fast, string pedal note rhythm? Whatever the fuckin’ pattern is there.... cuz ah dinnae even know how am playing that top string. o_O
 

LoyalXenite

Well-known member
I'd give tips if I knew anything about music.. But sadly I am very lacking in that department though. I know enough to know I love what you create though :LOL:
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
I'd give tips if I knew anything about music.. But sadly I am very lacking in that department though. I know enough to know I love what you create though :LOL:

Thanks, Loyal. ;)(y) I appreciate hearing that because I do struggle with 2nd guessing myself a lot of the time.

Would've been handy if ye could've gave me a tip, though. :LOL: Cuz I've hit a wall with that metal riff. Ah mean, ah know kinda what I want the guitar to do, it's just what the bass and drums should play that's got me unsure of the direction. :unsure: Everything's probably there within that first riff idea, I just need to figure out an arrangement that works.
 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
I really need tae git back intae the swing o’ things... Been so bored n’ pissed off, lately. :mad:

Though, ah‘ve got a rough drum arrangement idea for that metal riff, using this song by Trivium as a point o’ reference.


Also, just discovered this MIDI Guitar software by Jam Origin which I’m seriously considering buying.

 

Graeme1988

Hie yer hence from me heath!
Well, today wus... interesting. First ma oldest niece, who’s 4 years old, comes upstairs to show me a video on her wee tablet. Which turned oot tae be this... :LOL::cool:


She asks if I’ve heard it, to which ah respond telling her that I had and that I’ve got that AC/DC album of the same name. All the while thinking tae masel’... “F__k yes !” Then she asks me if I knew how to play the song on the guitar, which I said I did but could remember it to play it there n’ then and would need learn it again. Oh, but it gets funnier...

She goes: “Let’s listen to that again, Graeme”. My niece is sitting in the doorway of my bedroom. Her tablet half facing her, half in my direction. I’m sitting in ma chair, working on my laptop, nodding along to the song. When, oot o’ naewhere, my wee 4 year old starts belt oot the song, word for word ! :oops::LOL:
 
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