Recording My Christmas CD Part 5

90% there. I have now recorded all the other tracks for Greensleves. A very classical style piano part and Pink Floyd style organ track. I still need to add something like a sleighbell shaker for color but the track is basically recorded. Now I just have to do minor edits and make sure that the mix is right. I like the basic feel, I just have to make sure it sounds the best it can.

I am going to leave the rythm guitar part for the end half and not have it on the entire song because for some reason it makes it sound like a country dirge. I am also going to have a full instrumental section (without the lead) to fade out on.

God willing, it looks like I may meet my goal of finishing the song this week. Then on to the next track. Now I know what Johathan Coulton must have felt like doing his "thing a week".

It's December 6, the clock is ticking.

http://www.myspace.com/guitarforchristmas

Recording My Christmas CD Part 4

I have completed the basic tracks for my version of Greensleeves. I made it a proper 3/4 in the software and set the tempo at a comfortable 145 bpm. I have the drums, fretless bass, lead guitar and rythim guitar recorded.

For the basic tracks, I wanted to capture a similar sound/feel to "Murder by Numbers" by the Police and I am happy with the result. I still need to lower the volume on the snare click of the drum tracks and do some editing of the lead as well as rounding out the bass track, but the basic feel is there and I can build on it.

I now plan to add some piano, organ (church or jazz) and some percussion. That should be enough for this track, then it is just a matter of getting the right mix and doing a temporary master (when all the tracks are complete, I will do a proper master at Spazzoid studios).
Since I have done my version in A minor, at the end of the track I have added a little nod to John Lennon/Roger Waters (Working Class Hero/Pros and Cons) with the familiar folky strum of the A minor chord into the outro.

My goal is to have this song completed this week. I will keep you posted.

http://www.myspace.com/guitarforchristmas

Recording My Christmas CD Part 3

I start this blog at part 3 because the recording of my Christmas CD is already in progress. I will share the rest of the process with you as I race to finish it before Christmas Day!

Having completed The First Noel, I have now started my work on Greensleeves. I want a sort of 80's feel to the sound, lot's of reverb on the drums and I am putting on a fretless bass line with chorus on it. Back in the 80's many bass players actually put a chorus effect on the bass, that is almost unheard of now, but it can create a very nice effect, especially on a fretless bass sound.

My first tempo is a little slower than I am comfortable with. I like it but it can be boring after a couple of mintues so I am going to raise the tempo, which means I will have to re-do the guitar tracks (not a big deal since I already know the melody and have the perfect sound (again, chorus and reverb galore and possibly echo). I don't mind going a little overboard with the lush sound when doing something like a christmas album, a little fairydust is called for. Anyway, the tempo is tricky, because the song is technically a waltz (3/4) and I am setting a 4/4 tempo in the software which means I have to make it a very fast tempo to abuse it and fake the 4/4. Of course I could switch it to an actual 3/4 in the software, which I may do.

I had a really nice moment this weekend. My 3 year old daughter has been listening to my christmas songs and she really likes them. So now when she hears other people's versions of the same songs she says "that's your song daddy". That makes my day.

http://www.myspace.com/guitarforchristmas