Song-a-Day May: one take

Seriously, it was a long day, and we are really dead on our feet.

I did manage to ask good questions at work today.

It's okay, we'll just run on the awesomeness of yesterday.

Cheers!

Song-a-Day May: Star Wars Day

(May the fourth be with you.)

Okay, not going to lie, this one is my favorite so far.

Today's song features the click track (we talk about it so much, we figured we ought to share), keyboard noises from an old-school standardized IBM model M circa 1984 (Schmitty claims this is "the sexiest keyboard of all time"), and a voice mail that I hadn't listened to yet, dated March 17th of this year. I guess I ought to feel terrible about missing the ping-pong tournament.

But I don't.

Enjoy!

Song-a-day May: Triplets?

Today we experimented with scales and metronomes. Specifically, with a minor scale (I am still learning my scales, so I can't for the life of me recall which version of minor this particular scale would be labeled). The metronome part came in because we noticed how badly we kept up with yesterday's click track, and figured we could use the practice.

Schmitty tried desperately to convince me to add a second track of lead guitar noodling, but I just lacked confidence. You do get to hear the fella on vocals (finally), though.

Onward and upward!

Song-a-Day May: Secondary Infection

If yesterday and today are any indication, Schmitty and I will need to become far more efficient if we want to succeed in our compose-a-song-every-day-this-month venture. Well, that, or less particular. Regardless of the original cause, the effect is that we spent literally hours each day trying to put together these tunes. HOURS.

Today's endeavor builds on the continued inspiration from yesterday's bottle, though not as an instrument. This time, Schmitty got to thinking about how, back in the day, guitar slides used to be made from the necks of glass bottles like the one we were blowing across yesterday. Thus, today's song incorporates slide guitar on the lead track, as performed by the Schmitty. Day 2 also features a new guitar--you already met Josie and Gretchen yesterday; today we included Riot (short for the Red Riot). Riot is an electric guitar, which meant plugging directly into the computer for recording purposes, which was great except for the resulting super audio leveling win.

I got off easy today; I just played the baseline. Regardless, have a listen!

The idea was something like an old man on a porch noodling on slide guitar, dreaming of better times, pondering the choices he made such that he ended up sweaty and alone with his guitar. Or something.

(I really must apologize once again. But, you know, the point is learning. Maybe by the end of the month we'll manage something mediocre!)

Song-a-Day May: Mayday

Hi there!

(I'm on my way, I'm making it.)

Okay, not really. And, quite frankly, this isn't, strictly speaking, a post about something crafty. But it is a post about something art-y. I'm hoping you're all willing to accept a little deviation from the norm.

Anyway.

In keeping with the grand tradition of this blog, I once again find myself faced with a task that will likely fall by the wayside unless associated with a certain amount of peer pressure. Specifically, I am trying to teach myself to play guitar. Conveniently, my fella (hereafter referred to as "Schmitty") is also learning to play, which is really neat from a "misery loves company" perspective (truth be told, he is a far better player than I). In an effort to encourage regular practice, the Schmitty and I have decided to implement "Song-a-day May" - this month, we'll compose and record a song every day, and share it with the internets.

Yeah, I know. Why would we do that to you, our friends, on the internets?

I'm figuring this is as good a sign as any that we are complete weirdos. I am learning to be okay with this.

We recorded a brief explanation of Song-a-day May, along with some elaboration about the associated rules. You can listen to that here.

Today's song was inspired by our discovery that blowing across the top of the empty Honey Moon Summer Ale bottle produced a nearly perfect G. It incorporated the following chords: G, A minor, C, G major (4th position), this chord that is basically C moved up two frets, and a chord that Schmitty describes as "A, an octave up, and with the E root note," which could also (apparently) be tabbed as xx5588. Rad. Regardless, you can listen to the song here.

Dear lord, what have we signed ourselves up for? (Besides dangling participles.)

you know how some people just can't pull off elegance?

I consider myself in that category. Not that I wouldn't want to, mind. I mean, it's a lovely thing to have people walk in to your home and say, "My what an elegant foy-yay and such a fabulous patina on that armoire!" but these people are not going to be swinging by my apartment any time soon. I mean, first of all, apartment. Not exactly Auntie Mame, either. No, I find myself in a place that has white walls and beige carpet, again, with miniblinds, again. At least this one has a few fun details that make it distinct from my last place. Like stairs. But I do not own. I do not even rent to own. I just rent. And that means I know, with absolute certainty, that at some point all of my belongings will be packed up and moved out, and I'll need the place to return to its white and beige self.

People say I could repaint, but who wants to do that when they are moving out? I could put up curtains, but with the exception of my kitchen there are drywall issues involved. No carpets yet, but I know one day I'll be able to tie the room together. Until then, I'll just have to find other ways of adding a bit of color. Like this:It's amazing what you can do with temporary spray mount and old betty crocker recipe cards. And I can look at things like chicken salad in melon rings every day! Inspirational!

No, I haven't been just goofing off...

I had a shower to go to. I made a duck with matching hat. It also got wrapped nicely with a little hand stamped card. Now, I have to go to work.