First attempt at original composition

U

UberMetalDood

New member
This is a rough song idea I came up with. It needs work and practice but you can see where I'm going with it. I've never tried to compose a whole arrangement before so I'm tackling this piece by piece. I arranged it in 4 separate tracks; acoustic rhythm, harmony/solo, and rhythm accompaniment. Let me know what you think.

The Dirge
 
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Re: First attempt at original composition

I like your idea and where you are going with it. Right now something sounds a little off to me, but I can't explain exactly what it is. Keep at it, with some more work it will be great.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

JollyRoger523 said:
I like your idea and where you are going with it. Right now something sounds a little off to me, but I can't explain exactly what it is. Keep at it, with some more work it will be great.
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Thanks for listening. I think what is off is because I messed up trying to play in thirds. I should have used my M9 for a 3rds harmony effect but I didn't think about it. I'll go back and figure out the notes and make sure I have them right on my 2nd attempt at recording it... without the metronome either.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

It reminds me of something that Iron Maiden would have as a part in one of their songs.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

Thanks for listening everyone. I just uploaded a new version in which I fixed the 4ths issue and remastered it.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

I liked that a lot. Straight out of an old school videogame. It sounds like its just a verse from a larger work, though. Im guessing you plan to add more before and after it anyway. looking forward to it! your composition is really nice
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

rashayritto said:
I liked that a lot. Straight out of an old school videogame. It sounds like its just a verse from a larger work, though. Im guessing you plan to add more before and after it anyway. looking forward to it! your composition is really nice
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Thank you. I wasn't going for a video game kind of thing but people tell me that often when they hear my compositions. I guess that's the niche I seem to fit into.

Indeed it's part of a greater work. I wanted to make something really ponderous and melancholy but I ended up with 3 versions of the middle part which vary from sad to thrash. However, I'm trying to avoid the thrash thing because it always seems like metal bands come up with great ballads that start off with a really nice harmony and then break into thrash.

Testament does that in their ballads. I want to be able to make something semi-heavy but still maintain the ballad throughout the song without feeling the need to start chunking my rhythm.

I don't know if that makes sense but basically I hate it when I hear a ballad that becomes abrubt. If I get into it, I want to live in that moment throughout the song. That's what I'm aiming to achieve, but I guess we'll see when I post it with the 2nd part.

Thanks for listening and providing feedback. I'm looking forward to seeing what you thing about the rest of it.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

Bass_Medic_05 said:
I like it, I would like to hear some stronger (meater) bass line in it
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I don't have a bass guitar, but I've been thinking about getting one. All I could for the fourth track is emulate basslines on my E string. You gave me an idea though. Maybe I can down-tune my guitar for track 4 so that it sounds more like a bass guitar.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

That's a cool piece . . . I think the video game sound is coming from the gain levels that you're using. It sounds very hi-gain, almost synth-y. It's seems to fit pretty well for this song.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

GuitarStv said:
That's a cool piece . . . I think the video game sound is coming from the gain levels that you're using. It sounds very hi-gain, almost synth-y. It's seems to fit pretty well for this song.
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Thanks for checking it out. I wasn't using a lot of gain. My Rivera isn't necessarily a high gain beast. My gain stays set at 2:00 using the low gain input. I used a Gibson Les Paul traditional which doesn't have high output pickups either. Do you think what you're hearing is the reverb and compression I added in the software?
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

UberMetalDood said:
Thanks for checking it out. I wasn't using a lot of gain. My Rivera isn't necessarily a high gain beast. My gain stays set at 2:00 using the low gain input. I used a Gibson Les Paul traditional which doesn't have high output pickups either. Do you think what you're hearing is the reverb and compression I added in the software?
Click to expand...

It must be the compression then . . . I've just noticed a similar kind of synth vibe when using fuzzes with a fair amount of gain, just figured that's what you must've been doing too.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

I figured the video game sound (though I didn't really notice it until I read the comments) came from the harmonising. I remember thinking similar things several times while listening to Tom Morello play with his Whammy set up to harmonise with him. Not that your piece sounds anything like Tmo Morello.

Nice piece, though. I liked it. I can't wait to hear the full version.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

I can't say there was anything there that moved me. It seemed devoid of emotion, which relegates it to being a bunch of notes with a fizzy guitar tone. It's commendable that you've made a start, but I would suggest that you focus on an emotion and attempt to convey it, rather than just assemble notes. This is what discerns self expression from simply 'playing guitar.' Just playing the guitar is a ubiquitous skill of minimal interest. Depth of expression is what makes the greats, great. Composition is a separate skill again, not necessarily related to the ability to play an instrument. You've taken your first step on a long road, keep going!




Cheers........................................... wahwah
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

Well, I definitely hear a thrash influence on this piece, especially Testament's The Ballad.



I think it has a lot of potential and look forward to hearing it develop.

Just because it's metal doesn't mean that it's devoid of emotion.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

wahwah said:
I can't say there was anything there that moved me. It seemed devoid of emotion, which relegates it to being a bunch of notes with a fizzy guitar tone. It's commendable that you've made a start, but I would suggest that you focus on an emotion and attempt to convey it, rather than just assemble notes. This is what discerns self expression from simply 'playing guitar.' Just playing the guitar is a ubiquitous skill of minimal interest. Depth of expression is what makes the greats, great. Composition is a separate skill again, not necessarily related to the ability to play an instrument. You've taken your first step on a long road, keep going!

Cheers........................................... wahwah
Click to expand...

Thanks for listening and offering your opinions.

TwilightOdyssey said:
Well, I definitely hear a thrash influence on this piece, especially Testament's The Ballad.



I think it has a lot of potential and look forward to hearing it develop.

Just because it's metal doesn't mean that it's devoid of emotion.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. I have heard your stuff so it's a great compliment to me that you think it has some potential. The Ballad is one of my favorite Testament songs ever. I like all of their ballads actuallly. The Legacy and Trail of Tears are a couple of Testament ballads I enjoy listening to on occassion.
 
Re: First attempt at original composition

I redid it with Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates and my strat, but I don't think it did much for the fizziness of low volume tone. I'm still working on the 2nd part but I will post that when it get it all worked out. Thanks for listening everyone.
 
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