Jazz-Fusion Song Help?

Hey,

I'm new to this Young Composers site, so hello all! My name is Nick and I'm graduating from high school this year. I've been playing piano since I was 9 and have since been classically trained. My studio currently consists of just a Fantom X8, a MicroKORG and my laptop. I use GarageBand 3 (I know... pathetic right?) for recording tracks already arranged on my Fantom to the computer. So anyways, I've been trying to put together this Funk song... or whatever it is. I don't even know what genre it could be listed as yet heheh (suggestions on that too would be nice). I feel like leaving this song incomplete would be such a waste, because I love the beginning so much (I barely know how I managed to perfect that bass line), and especially the flute solo/upright bass part. I'm just looking for any kind of suggestions and comments, like effects to apply, instruments to add/delete or change, new chord progressions, etc. All interest and help is appreciated very much!

Funk-Fusion.mp3

Hey Nick! Welcome to YC!

That opening bass line is absolutely killer. This piece is a definitely keeper.

I have one suggestion for the flute right now. Extend the flute solo, and make the second half of the flute solo in Bb major. Here's my thinking. first half of flute solo is in g minor. Third quarter of flute solo Bb major, and then final quarter in G minor. What do you think about that?

I wouldn't worry about categorizing too specifically. If you want a specific genre, you'll describe it as NickDebergue does funk in (whatever city and country you're in right now). That's what this sound is.

Instrumentation: change the piano to a rhodes or an electric piano. Regular piano doesn't sound cool enough.

Other suggestions. How about keyboard solo? How about a melody overtop your keyboard and bass vamp? You have a lot of opportunity to do some crazy stuff with this Nick. I look forward to hearing what you come up with :)

-John

John, you're an inspiring song writer and very helpful when speaking about music, thanks for your help!

Instrumentation: change the piano to a rhodes or an electric piano. Regular piano doesn't sound cool enough.

Hehe, yah I've been thinking that myself, but whenever I bothered to change the patch and see what it sounds like I always end up putting it on some random EP and getting off task, trying to make a new bass line. I'm horribly ADD, but now that I think of it a distorted rhodes would sound nice with this :D I'll try that out!

Other suggestions. How about keyboard solo? How about a melody overtop your keyboard and bass vamp? You have a lot of opportunity to do some crazy stuff with this Nick. I look forward to hearing what you come up with :)

Yes, I was definitely planning this. Do you have any chord progression suggestions for a new part to solo and jam to by any chance? Otherwise, I'll have a somewhat finished product up in a few days hopefully. Again, thanks for your positive feedback and inspiring suggestions; I guess I'll be posting writers block tracks more often :)

-Nick

Anytime, Nick!

Chord progressions you say. Here's what I came up with.

Bb7 | Eb7 | Bb7 | Eb7 | Gm7 | C7 | Gm7 | C7 | Cm7 | F7 | Cm7 | F7 F#7 | Gm

The Gm would take you back to the opening key of your piece. It's a pretty conventional progression I'm using. I'm sure you can think up something better. I changed chords pretty often here

A simpler and possibly more effective progression would be to Bbm7 for 16 bars and at the end of every 4 bars you have quick little fill of something.

George Benson's Affirmation: Keyboard solo at 3:43. Not bad at all. Try to get over the intense 70's vibe you get from it.

Steely Dan - Do it Again Keyboard solo at 3:39. Also a good listen. This is one solo where the chord progression is very simple and changes only every 8 bars or so.

Hope that inspires you some more!

Peace on Earth,

-John