Various Musical Things
I’ve been really enjoying myself playing about with composing more music in between working on a new book. More on that shortly. I like the exercise of trying things out in different genres, it’s good for brain-stretching. I’m starting to feel like now I can have an idea for a piece of music and then “adequately” capture that sound, rather than noodling about on a guitar until I happen upon a riff that sounds okay. I’m starting to feel a bit like a musician, rather than just someone who can play guitar.
I did this one a little while ago, a pretty straightforward guitar/bass/drums kinda deal. I had been listening to The Cure and took a swing at landing a track in the same postal code.
My son (11) is desperate to make a video game and asked if I could make some music that sounded like the hero was on their way to fight a boss fight. He approved.
Then the other day, David Gaffney gave me an old Coronet parlour guitar from the 1950s (I think, maybe the 60s, not entirely sure) but it was in a bad way, so I fixed it up a bit and recorded this track to show him what it sounded like post-tinkering. It’s all a bit rough and ready, mostly first take stuff, but I really like the big squelchy bass alongside a nice sounding parlour guitar. It’s a pleasing combo to me. I called this song Cukunet as that’s how I initially misread the worn lettering on the headstock of the guitar.
Finally, I wanted to make a jazzy little number using chords I wouldn’t normally use and try to get something jazz-trio adjacent in terms of instrumentation. I’m no pianist by any means; I wouldn’t be able to perform any of this live, but midi sequencing is something I can do. It’s rough and ready, and mercifully short. The review from my kids - ‘it’ll be nice when it’s finished’.
I’ll get back to posting exciting book-drawing stuff once its ready to share.