Beginner recording Recording Progress

[LostCircuits]

Or 'I started on the wrong fret'.

If a closed practice/jam....send them home right there.

If actually a gig, finish the set....then you got a 15 min break to phone up someone else and another 15 for them to get there....

The guy is 77 and best friend with the "bandleader". But you are right, except that I was the one who got fired ... and now they want me back, Awwwww

 

[LostCircuits]

That's not a 'version'....it's a different tune....

am sure the title made wonderful clickbait tho....

Like All of Me.....and Black Coffee......a sad current modus operandi - re- use a classic songtitle for your pop trash song....

It's like asking Alexa for Gary Foster, try it if you dare

 

[MikeMorrell]

Hi @AlonW,

I've responded a couple of times about how much I like you 'breathy' sound, tone, vibrato etc, All of these 'compliments' remain true for this recording too.

One thing I noticed is that your 'timing' on sax was often not always 'in synch' with (and often 'ahead' of) the 'beat' on the backing track. I don't know the tune but just from listening to the backing track, my gut feeling is that a 'lazy, 'laid back' and very slightly 'after the beat' playing style might suit this tune better.

T.BH. what I hear is a slight 'disconnect' between the 'relaxed, laid-back' tempo' of the backing track and your 'driving' (slightly ahead of the beat) solo. These often get of of synch.

TBH many (very experienced) members of my (amateur) Big Band are still learning the differences between playing (for some pieces) in a 'lazy, laid back style' versus playing (or other pieces) a 'driving', ahead of the beatt style.
So my only suggestion is that you learn (more) that your backing track determines both the tempo and style (laid back/driving) of the tune. And that you gradually learn to a) listen more closely to your backing tracks (tempo, style) and b) gradually learn to adjust your playing tempo and style purely based on what you hear on the backing track

I appreciate that this is a 'big ask'. It might well mean 'giving up' (or adjusti) long-rehearsed solo's. The only 'plus points' I can offer you is: gradually increasing your sensitivity to - and adjustments for - 'background music ' will always help you move forward.

Mike

 

[wakyct]

I agree with @MikeMorrell that the time feel of the solo and the head don't quite match up. It's not 'wrong' artistically it just sounds a bit off IMO. I did listen to the Frank Sinatra rendition first (whose take is about the same as the head as @AlonW does it I think and was known for singing behind the beat I believe?).

 

[AlonW]

I agree with @MikeMorrell that the time feel of the solo and the head don't quite match up. It's not 'wrong' artistically it just sounds a bit off IMO. I did listen to the Frank Sinatra rendition first (whose take is about the same as the head as @AlonW does it I think and was known for singing behind the beat I believe?).

Ah, but how little it matters!

 

[JayeNM]

The guy is 77 and best friend with the "bandleader". But you are right, except that I was the one who got fired ... and now they want me back, Awwwww

Tell them your price went up 15%

 

[JayeNM]

That's so bad it's hilarious 😂

Wait....this could be referring to a number of posts on this thread....which one were you referring to ?

 

[JayeNM]

Ah, but how little it matters!

If the goal is to just get thru the tune and make it sound half decent, then it doesn't matter...because you did that.

But if the goal is to create a consistent vibe/sax feel thru all the tune, it matters. But this is, admittedly, a pretty intermediate-advanced sorta goal.

I will reiterate...you note choice on the improv was good...gone are the clunker notes and out-of-time phrasing of your bygone days....

 

[LostCircuits]

Tell them your price went up 15%

Heyll no! Add a zero and I might reconsider. Point is, I rather play for free with Koko Ray (he needs the money worse than I) than getting paid for a gig that I am suffering through.

With Ray, there is such a positive energy/synergism, it's all improv but when you find yourself listening to yourself and thinking "I wonder where this is going" but every note hits the spot it's worth more than anyone could pay me.

Eventually somebody will anyway

 

[JSL]

I do this a lot (play in the wrong key.) It's weird that I can't tell sometimes.

Assuming you aren't joking, this is a real problem. When I'm learning/transcribing on my horn a tune, a phrase, a lick, or anything, the very first thing I do is to determine the key (tonic center) of the tune. For some very obvious reasons. The first of course, being in the wrong key sounds terrible! Also, knowing what key you're in can help find the right notes (it limits the note choice to a certain extent) and identify chord progressions. To determine the key, listen for the tonic. Often, a tune will end on the tonic, but also there will be resolutions to the tonic (cadences) that you can hear. I find that playing along I can immediately hear if I'm in key or out. If you can't hear that, you're in a world of trouble.

 

[Dr G]

@AlonW Try just playing guide tones or melody. Listen as you play to hear how your horn compares to the tune.

I see you pause while the intro is playing. What are you thinking? Do you hear the notes you want to play? Are you listening or just counting? The correct answer may be “both”. The alternative correct answer is that you are familiar with the intro and are just waiting for the correct measure to begin playing.

For an exercise, stop the backing track where you would begin playing. Sing the notes of the beginning phrase. Then match those notes with your horn.

Edit: Listen to JSL.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Portable Key Finder.
No batteries required.
With the musical devices, available these days, easy, if it really matters, even a little bit. 🎶🏴‍☠️🎶

 

[Dr G]

Portable Key Finder.
No batteries required.
With the musical devices, available these days, easy, if it really matters, even a little bit. 🎶🏴‍☠️🎶

View attachment 35110

What’s the use of adding another instrument to the mix?

 

[EdJ]

So ...seriously, now...other listeners please...is the backing track same key as Alon is playing ? Or is it me ?

I have been keeping tabs on my Slow Descent Into Madness....the answer to this would be important to me (clinically speaking)...

The entry sounds like it is in a different key to the backing. While the saxophone sound is good it seems not to fit. I suspect you are correct but I cannot work out what the difference between backing and solo is.

I have that problem sometimes with iRealPro I can tell something is wrong but can’t work out if I am a 4th or a tone out. I just know I am playing in a different key until I check against the App and change it.

I have had similar with bands usually confusion between C, Bb or Eb instruments. Though there are some tunes where versions a tone apart are floating around etc

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Are Alon's first two notes, D then G?
If so, what key is he in?
Does F# to B work with the piano track?

If you don't have Deagans handy, try Keys.
Sing it to internalize, then search with what's available.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Alon has gone on to another tune, hope he'll be back, with this one.

Click bait pop trash?
Is she single?
Asking for a friend.

 

[AlonW]

Not sure what to say about this. But yeah.

View: https://youtu.be/IgPgavmY99U?si=l81MB6PxJduy9GhT

 

[AlonW]

I went back to my Vandoren Leather ligature. I used MrSunnyBass's backing track for this.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkDRnks8egA

 

[AlonW]

My starting note is E. The first chord is A6. The backing track comes from the Natalie Cole version, whatever key that's in (I thought it was G, that's why I got music in the key of A to read from.) What did I do wrong? And what is going on in my brain that causes me to believe it's in the right key when it's not?

 

[PiccoloPirate]

I was talking in Concert.
Your sound is D, then to G,
The track sounds like concert B Major.
Would start F# to B.

Meds, like antibiotics and many others, can cause hearing issues.

I could be wrong,
so others might check us both. 🎯

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E171gIRfWNw