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On 9/3/2024 at 11:55 AM, Philbo King said:

I still prefer to perform and record everything myself, for good or ill.

 

Same here. It's not about ego, it's about feeling I'm more like a "composer" than a "player." I can play the parts I want even though for some instruments, I may not have the chops to play a part in real time. There are also some instruments I just don't touch, like sax. There's no way I'll be able to program a convincing sax part. But given the type of music I do, if I want a solo, any of several instruments will give the notes I want.

 

I think the usefulness of what's described in the video would depend on the kind of music you do. If someone came to me and said "hey, we need a 50s-style pop tune," then I would benefit from being able to hire a sax player if needed. 

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I play in a duo and make my own backing tracks; drums, bass, and comp parts, leaving out the most fun parts for us to perform on stage.

 

Other duos buy karaoke tracks, and I suppose there is nothing wrong with that, but it's not my way.

 

Why? A number of reasons:

  • I can put it in the best key for us vocally - audio tracks can only be transposed a few half-steps before the artifacts become annoying
  • Rather than having backing vocals, I can play those parts with synth voices, so it doesn't sound like we are doing karaoke
  • Arrangement: I can get to the hook quicker, rearrange parts, put an ending on it instead of a fade out, a different intro, leave out parts that don't work on stage, and do a number of different things that make for a better live performance
  • Slow songs for my duo's target age group sometimes need to be more than 2.5 minutes, I can extend them. Same for an up song that the dancers want more time on the floor with.
  • Balance: K-tracks are balanced for recording level, and not live performance. Some of them are subdued and compressed to help the amateur vocalists. I can pump up the snare, bass, kick drum or whatever I want to inject more 'live energy' into the mix. I can also exaggerate the dynamic range, and that helps a live performance
  • I can exaggerate the groove for a better live feel
  • Because I do them myself, I know what chords and substitution chords are used, so when it's time to improvise a solo (I'm the solo hog) I know more what notes to use to create or relieve tension
  • Pride. I feel good, knowing I did it myself.

Sure, it takes a lot longer, sometimes a couple of long days per song. But if I'm lucky, I'll get to play that song thousands of times, and knowing it was the best I could do is worth it to me.

 

I own both the successes and the mistakes, but isn't that what playing music is all about?

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

  • Like 2

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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