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Post subject: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 3:32 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:44 am
Posts: 604
Location: Richmond, VA
I saw another thread where someone put up a really nice tune and used the website/app called http://www.box.com - so I created an account and uploaded one of my original tunes.

The song is called Vietnam Heroes and is a tribute to all the Vietnam Vets out there. I wrote the song from the heart, being that I was only about 8 years old during the heyday of Vietnam and have two older brothers-in-law who served in Vietnam and made it back home safe and sound. The whole theme of the song is me reflecting on the whole Vietnam War from a young kid's perspective, and from stories my older brother's-in-law have told.

https://app.box.com/s/om60tl8kpmjrldvgrwr1

Drums: Composed and manually written by me, by using Finale on my laptop and saved to Track 1.
Bass: I played my beatup Samick 4 string bass (Fender P Bass copy)
Guitar: I played rhythm guitar using my '95 Fender Strat on the clean channel.
Trumpet: I played my old trumpet from my school band days back in the 60's & 70's.
Trombone: I played my old trombone from my school band days back in the 60's & 70's.
Keyboards: I played my Yamaha DGX-505, full size 88 key, keyboard in "rock organ" mode.
Guitar solo: I played my '95 Fender Strat through my BYOC Classic OD (Ibanez Tube Screamer clone) and Dunlop Cry Baby Wah pedal. I did the solo in one take, and just winged it on the fly, right off the top of my head.
Vocals: I sang the lead vocals. (my voice isn't the greatest - I can't sing rock. I sing bass & baritone normally, like Johnny Cash or Ray Price or even like a wannabe Bing Crosby crooner)..
Harmony Vocals: I also did the upper harmony vocals in the chorus, and had to do them falsetto like the Bee Gees. (it was too high for my normal range from my gut).

Main chords:
Am, G, D/F# (basic D chord with an F# bass (thumb)), F, G, {repeat back to Am}

Chorus:
D, F (D formation on 5th fret), G (D formation on 7th fret), and back to D.

Thoughts? Opinions?


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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:08 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:27 am
Posts: 396
I'd put the volume of the vocals up to make them stand out from the mix nicely. I also think the song needs a proper intro and the drums sound kinda weak (but I suppose that can't be helped seeing how they were comp-generated).
I really like the bass line, but in some parts it should be simplified imho (mostly the parts where the trumpet and trombone join in).
I like the tone of your solo sound, but I think you should record it again, you're a bit off (time-wise) at some parts.

I was pleasantly surprised by your voice (upon reading your post, I thought it was going to be a song with the vocals way off :P ), I like your color. I just think the vocals have to stand out from the mix a bit more :)

But a catchy tune otherwise 8)

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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:31 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:44 am
Posts: 604
Location: Richmond, VA
Thanks... I am very self conscious of my voice when it comes to trying to sing rock 'n roll. I can do a mean "Folsom Prison Blues" though! 8)

My wife won't let me have a real set of drums in the house ($*#$%&!!!! :evil: ), so I have to do the best I can, and mostly just compose my own drum tracks by hand on Finale. I might try the percussion modes and built in rhythm sections on the Yamaha keyboard.

All the tracks were recorded using Audacity on my laptop. The horns were seriously EQ'd and compressed, because they were blasting so badly (recorded live straight into a mic).

Since I have all the individual tracks saved on a big thumb drive, I can easily go back in and change them, redo them, remix them, etc...etc...

Thanks again! :D


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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 7:34 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Posts: 864
That was awesome, good job on the harmonies and I'm downright jealous of your horn section. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:10 pm
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Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:08 pm
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Very nice. Music sounds period correct. Subject does not.ha Really enjoyed the horns and solo. :D


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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:41 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:44 am
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Location: Richmond, VA
Thanks for all the great comments... 8)


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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:57 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Posts: 396
Np, I don't consider myself as a great musician, but when I hear the mixes of our band's songs, I always go through them and worry about all those little nuances that aren't necessarily even heard at normal volume level and keep nagging our guy to change this and that and yeah :lol: That's why often our songs take 2 months or more before a final mix is made :lol:

I am very self conscious of my voice as well, but as my GF puts it, when you sing (or in my case until recently, produce some weird noises :lol: ), do it loudly. It will sound a lot better. Having spent a bit of time on my vocals as well, as part of an ear training exercise, it turns out she's right :lol: So while you might have sung loud enough, don't be afraid to take the vocals out of the mix a bit, to make them stand out more. It will sound better :)

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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:03 pm
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That was great, well constructed song and good sound. I really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Here's an original tune from me...
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 2:28 pm
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Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:13 pm
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Location: Illinois, USA
Cool song ButchA, thanks for posting!

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