Classical Jazz - Lydia

Well here is the second part of my project, the title should say enough as to why I wrote it

Well first off before anyone listens I want them to know that I meant for the piece to be a little quiet, a sort of soft graceful little melody accented by some improv and a second melody, and there are a few screw ups in the recording just in case anyone was wondering

I would appreciate ANY advice, good or bad from anyone, I'm trying to improve my composition and improvisational skill with this project so anything would be helpful

Well as to the piece itself

I use the main melody with the harmonics basically as a starter, the second melody begins with sort of a departure, and that's on purpose because the main melody is returned to after a short time. The improv is meant to lead back to the first melody, and sometimes the second

So I hope my intentions with this piece are clear, and I hope you enjoy it

SoundClick song info: Classical Jazz - Lydia by William Daniel Kirkland - Song info page with free MP3 music downloads

Cheers all!

I liked the beginning and when it returns again. But there were some parts in the piece that I feel was dragging. But it's an improvisation right, and it sounds realy good.

Also, you've achieved the soft gracefully melody effect quite well.

Thanks for taking the time to listen Nigel

Anyone else?

I like it when you arpeggiate the harmony, it is very nice. I don't have to much knowledge when it comes to composing for guitar so I will tell you want I can hear, which is either good or bad

First of all, I think that a slight tempo increase would lighten the piece a bit, make it a bit more lively - although that might not be your intention.

Even though you are improvising some parts, which I experience can get a bit hacky - nothing wrong just have to practice it away. You somehow do something to gain the listeners interest just when it is about to fade into a rather crucial moment.

Cannot say much more, since there is no score, but on the other hand it was an improvisation.

I think you should continue with such piece, it helps ones playing a lot. I am not a great improviser, just fairly good. What I do when I improvise, to have some writing material for later, I simply sketch down a harmonic structure which I will follow. I just read the chords and from there I develop a melody; it takes time in the beginning to know how too place your fingers (piano in this case) so that you can easily create a melody.

I guess same thing goes for your guitar improvisation, you need to be able to handle each spontaneous chord and know many different ways to play the same harmonic progression.

I hope it is sensible, my comment

Nice job

The melody was very well done - excellent phrasing and interpretation. Also, it flowed nicely into (and out of) the improv, which was pretty nice as well.

But, it still seems to need a little more.....something. The improvisation could still go further, evolve a bit more. It's a strange concept to try and grasp, I know, and the solo was well done. I'd have just liked it to develop, even a bit more. That said, the solo was still really nice - and this is just one man's opinion...perhaps you were going for an even sparseness throughout.

Your bass sound is really nice - excellent use of harmonics and chords and that fun stuff - you can tell you've been digging on Jaco!!

Keep it up!

Hey thanks for the comments guys

Robin: As to development I wasn't really looking to go "Way" out with this piece, if you know what I mean, but again, thank you very much for your review, I've found your insight on Jazz helpful

Saiming: As to your suggestion on an increase in tempo, I wasn't really looking for a "lively" piece, I wanted it to be kind of quiet and serene

And out of curiosity did anyone notice the classical piece hidden in there somewhere?

Originally Posted by Will Kirk

Robin: As to development I wasn't really looking to go "Way" out with this piece, if you know what I mean, but again, thank you very much for your review, I've found your insight on Jazz helpful

Okay, and I do see what you were aiming for with the solo - you kept it pretty sparse and chill throughout. It is possible to maintain that sort of flow and contour, without resorting to more/stranger/louder note choices. It's a very hard concept; one that I, and every other improvisor out there struggle to comprehend on a daily basis. It'll come with experience as your ears develop.

Nice use of harmonics. Keep practicing and it will get a lot cleaner. I think the tempo is fine, it may help if there was an accompaniment of some kind. something to just blend in the background.

Originally Posted by rolifer

Nice use of harmonics. Keep practicing and it will get a lot cleaner. I think the tempo is fine, it may help if there was an accompaniment of some kind. something to just blend in the background.

Glad you like the harmonics

As for accompaniment I would be writing all kinds of things for bass and another instrument if I had someone to play it with

But the idea behind this project is to have one instrument, sole concentration on sound and feeling from a single source

That's the idea behind having only one instrument, and plus it's a chance for me to improve my own skills on the instrument

Hey Will,

This piece didn't impress me very much, to be honest. It sounds very meandering and hesitant.

I can understand that the idea was to have it sound like it was being played with feeling, but the result (to my ears) sounded more clumsy than it should have.

Your playing was mostly okay; nice use of harmonics, as someone mentioned, and you were fairly consistent with your tempo, slow as it was. The tuning made me cringe once or twice, not sure what happened but the odd note sounded extremely flat.

The recording I won't comment too much on because I assume you can't produce a cleaner one, but I would like to point out that the volume was too low and the whole thing was kind of hissy - not a good mic, eh?

Either way, this is a good effort - hopefully you honed your skills in producing it.

Thanks for sharing