Critique this lead break

[FretFire]

The worship band I play with had our first jam session last night to prepare for our next recording project. We worked on an arrangement of Psalm 20 that is built around F harmonic minor. It's definitely got a strong middle eastern feel to the vocal melody, and I wanted to carry that over into this lead break.

So, what you'll hear is a 16 measure segment. We change from our chorus progression to a Bb -- Ab -- C -- Csus - C instrumental, and that will drop right into a breakdown/outro (C, Db, Bb). I'll build into this lead from the chorus progression, so it starts right up front in this clip.

Ignore the tone, I laid down all these tracks myself at home with a POD GX just to get the idea down. I was off in a couple of spots when I doubled the track, but it's close enough for this purpose. I'm looking for critique/comments on the phrasing, etc.

 

[CTN]

Re: Critique this lead break

Sounded good man... although weird at times cuz of it being double tracked. But from what I can tell of what you were going for, you pretty much hit all the right moods.

good job!

 

[Guston7]

Re: Critique this lead break

I dig it. If I had to be critical, I'd suggest changing up the repeating lick that starts at 0.29. Maybe go a few notes higher (or lower) through the scale at a couple of points to keep it interesting? I really like the way you come out of that lick at 0.40!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Critique this lead break

I really like the part at ~29 seconds. Great exit.

I was looking for just a touch more melody...Something thematic to connect the phrases in the early part.

Ovrall great job!!!

 

[FretFire]

Re: Critique this lead break

Thanks for the comments guys. The repeating part around 0:29 is probably my blues influences shining through, I can definitely see where tossing in another interval to that first third of the lick could make it more interesting.

Ace, that's a good point, and something I struggle with in general when it comes to writing leads. I think it would make a *bit* more sense if you were hearing it in the context of the full song, but I'll see if I can work up a more memorable melody.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Critique this lead break

Our drummer sent the recording from our jam session last week, so I took the scratch track that only had drums/acoustic guitar/vocals and laid my lead down in the appropriate spot. I think it's going to fit nicely.

Here's a clip from the last line of the final chorus out.

 

[CTN]

Re: Critique this lead break

Listening to this again, I'm hearing a lot of Alice In Chains influence...dunno if that's intentional or not, but sounds really cool

 

[FretFire]

Re: Critique this lead break

Not intentional, but I'll take it!

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: Critique this lead break

Hey FretFire. It's already good, and my suggestions are completely preferential.

There were a few notes that landed not on chord tones. For example: 11 seconds (you play a 9th). 23 sec (you play a 6th). These are just examples, of where I would put stronger chord tones. And also, what i'd do is target each chord more as it's passing by to outline it (targeting the major/minor 3rd, or 5th). Targeting the root can be OK, but sometimes a bit obvious. I would probably also play more "in bursts", with some long sustained bends with lots of vibrato and delay on them, and them some very fast shredding passages to create tension, then to return to long sustaining notes or phrases again. Ofcourse all preferential style based stuff.

I like it already the way it is though

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Critique this lead break

http://soundcloud.com/amcquay/psalm-20-solo-test

Sounds nice. Very cool.

I just thought that you might like the whole thing more if it were to be sorta more oriental from the very start. See what I am saying?

B

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Critique this lead break

I think it sounds PERFECT.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Critique this lead break

Hey FretFire. It's already good, and my suggestions are completely preferential.

There were a few notes that landed not on chord tones. For example: 11 seconds (you play a 9th). 23 sec (you play a 6th). These are just examples, of where I would put stronger chord tones. And also, what i'd do is target each chord more as it's passing by to outline it (targeting the major/minor 3rd, or 5th). Targeting the root can be OK, but sometimes a bit obvious. I would probably also play more "in bursts", with some long sustained bends with lots of vibrato and delay on them, and them some very fast shredding passages to create tension, then to return to long sustaining notes or phrases again. Ofcourse all preferential style based stuff.

I like it already the way it is though

These are great tips. Lack of theory is a HUGE hole in my playing, I've actually started lessons recently to address that but the things you're talking about are things I've never thought about before. I've made a few minor tweaks with your comments in mind, and laid the new take over our jam scratch. The lead actually starts around 0:32.

New clip:

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: Critique this lead break

These are great tips. Lack of theory is a HUGE hole in my playing, I've actually started lessons recently to address that but the things you're talking about are things I've never thought about before. I've made a few minor tweaks with your comments in mind, and laid the new take over our jam scratch. The lead actually starts around 0:32.

New clip:

That was really cool man. I love how your solo gives the drum fills room to breathe too. Thats a great drum track also. Great solo. sounds very planned out and melodic.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Critique this lead break

Listening to this again, I'm hearing a lot of Alice In Chains influence...dunno if that's intentional or not, but sounds really cool

+1