Well, tomorrow I'm going into the studio for my first official session in a professional studio with producer and all. We're going to record two songs total. It's an alternative rock band, but the singer/songwriter wants them to have a classic rock vibe so she wanted me to play some solos in them too. I wasn't nervous until now, since it just hit me that when it's done I can't go back and edit anything like I can on my home recordings. In a year I'm probably going to listen to these songs and cringe at myself like I do with some of the records I've made a year ago.

Does anyone have any last minute tips that might be helpful? I'm bringing extra gear and there's only so much more I can do practice wise (I'm leaving in less than 12 hours, and I have to sleep at some point), but I'd still appreciate any little bit of advise from y'all.

And I didn't think it warranted it's own thread, but yesterday I played my first real gig in Dallas at Six Flags. I'm not much of a theme park person, but it was fun and we had a lot of people stop to watch us.

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Texas, how is your day job ? It is at a musical instrument store if I remember ( forgive me, I didn't look for that thread). Congratulations on the 'six-flags' gig. Glad you had fun and drew an audience, that is a very good sign when they stop and listen. Now for tomorrows recording session, you have all of your gear together, cords, picks, an extra set of strings, are you bringing any effects pedals?, playing wise, I'm pretty sure that you're ready for what ever the producer and your band mates will want from you. Once you get mic'd up in the studio you'll feel fine, work with the engineer when he/she is dialing you into the mix, I don't know how many tracks they will let you have so working with the engineer will give you that info. You are going to be so great Texas, we all wish we could be sitting in the control room when you're recording. . I'm just wondering if it is going to be a live set-up initially with all of the other tracks after, it's kind of exciting knowing you're going to get your guitar work recorded at a pro-level studio. Now, get some z's and try and get a copy of the days recording, I don't know if we can wait for the finished copy

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Thanks guys. I really do have to remember that it's supposed to be fun. The worst that can happen is that I'll hit a wrong note and they can fix that with pro tools or whatever they use.

The album this is going to be on is coming out this Fall, and it will be available on iTunes. I'll post a link to it as soon as I can. Just be aware that I'm the hired gun, I didn't write or arrange any of the songs and I probably won't get a cut of the album sales. And these two songs are probably going to be the only ones I actually played on, unless they decide to do a couple more between now and then.

I'm doing great at my day job, thanks for asking. Right now I'm basically just doing sales, but I watch the guitar tech whenever I get the chance. So far I've just been restringing guitars when it comes to repairs, but it's a start. And having some extra pocket change is nice. I'm probably going to use some to pay for some jazz guitar lessons. I need to learn to read music (I'm dreading it like you would not believe) in order to continue music in college. I'd rather learn now than while I'm actually in college.

Luckily I still have most of my gear packed up from the Dallas gig, so it's just a matter of double checking everything. I have all sorts of extra accessories from straps to strings, and I'm bringing a ridiculous two amps and four guitars. One amp is for the singer/rhythm guitar player since her amp is in the shop and I'm bring her a backup guitar too (my Michael Kelly) because her guitar has some tuning issues sometimes. For myself I'm bringing my main guitar (the Squier), my Gibson Les Paul BFG for playing lead in case something catastrophic happens to my Squier and my Fender Strat in case something catastrophic happens to my Les Paul.

I have five hours to sleep and eight hours until I have to be at the studio so I'm going to bed now, for real this time.

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Correct, if it's a pro studio with pro engineers and a good desk, they'll have several options including punch-ins, melodyne, time stretching, pitch stretching, antares, etc..

Just play as if you're doing a home recording and let them make it sound even better while you're having fun.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Very proud and happy for you TGS!! Onward and upward girl!!

Good Luck Texas... Im sure you will do great!

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

As bad as it may sound to some of you, I always have a beer or a mix drink of some kind to take the edge off. I've done studio work for years, and everytime I end up in a some studio I've never been in before, I'm always a bit nervous. I always have to explain to the producer the sound I'm after, and sometimes it pays to be a little pushy or insistant about it. After all, it's a part of you on that recording. And yes, you'll always think you could of done it better later down the line.

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

#1- Bring food. Producers love that. Maybe a party tray or a Pizza. It's a good ice breaker/tension breaker.

#2- A good producer will have you relaxed and joking around. They want you to sound good as much as you do. You're working together. If he hears something that's just no quite right, don't get flustered or frustrated. He'll guide you as to what he wants to hear.

#3- Although you won't be doing any editing, he will, and believe me, he's pretty darn good at it if he's legit. So once again, just work with him.

#4- Make sure your guitar is intonated well and stay on top of the tuning between solos. He'll dig you for staying on top of that.

#5- HAVE A KILLER TIME!! This will be a great experience. Having fun is what it's about and it will show in the recording.

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com

Nah. If you happen to hit a wrong note, he'll most likely have you punch in. Not a big deal. The worst that can happen is if you get frustrated and tense. Have confidence in yourself, and everything will go fine.

Good luck!! Think of it as going to Disneyland for musicians.

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com

sounds great, texas, good luck and have fun there.

cheers

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It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting - paulo coelho

Lots of luck with the recording TGS,it's just a matter of time before you will be the main artist on a recording.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement everyone! It went smoothly and in the end I have a couple of songs that I won't be embarrassed to let people listen to!

The session started out kind of slow and rough, but once we got the basic tracks down things started going much smoother. To record scratch tracks they had my amp isolated in another room and I wore headphones and stood in the same room as the bass player and drummer. Just from reading guitar magazines I know that some people like headphones and others hate them and I think I fall into the latter category. I couldn't hear what my tone really sounded like through them. I remembered hearing that in the studio SRV would stand in the same room as his amps, so I asked the producer if he'd be okay with me doing that when we recorded the real guitar tracks. He was cool with it, so I popped open the door and stood there with one headphone on so that I could still hear the band. It changed the way I was playing (for the better) because I could hear the real tone coming out of my amp.

I used my purple Squier Strat, my usual rock/praise and worship pedalboard setup and my Fender Deluxe VM for everything. At one point the producer tried to get me to play his partscaster (which was actually a really nice guitar, I didn't mind giving it a try), but after about four measures he stopped the recording and yanked it away from me and gave me back the Squier because his guitar didn't have the same kind of snarl. So I went ahead and told them about the Texas Specials. They all got a kick out of the whole $200 pickups and custom wiring in a $100 guitar thing. And they ended up liking my rig a lot, even though they weren't too sure about it at first.

The place we recorded at is one of Houston's most famous studios, and some legends in many different genres have recorded there. The producer is extremely good and he's had lots of experience sometimes working with some really big name artists. Everyone was really professional, but at the same time really laid back so it was all nice and relaxed. I had some mess ups initially, but it was nothing that a little overdubbing couldn't fix. I really had a blast, I wish I could get in the studio again soon.

It all went well and there's a chance that the producer could call me back into the studio in the future if he thinks my style would be a good fit for something they're recording. He was kind of surprised this was my first time because apparently everyone thought I was really relaxed. I wasn't at first, but once I got in there alone to focus on my guitar parts I really loosened up. I really like doing studio work. It may actually be something worth learning to read music for. lol And now I have some connections too, which is always a good thing.

I really can't wait for y'all to be able to hear the songs! Our budget isn't going to allow for another session at this particular studio again, but we're going to find a cheaper alternative to record two more songs to finish off the album. It's going to come out sometime before Christmas, and it'll be on iTunes and everything. It's kind of wild, I know everyone can get their music on iTunes if they want to but it still feels good saying that.

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Texas! Thank you. It felt good reading that.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Glad everything went well for you TGS, the circe around you increases further

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This young lady is going places, you keep on keeping on Tex.