I finally got around to watching your clip, BanjoBoog. I am open to
such experimentation, and would like to offer my opinion, if you
wish to read it (and if not, just skip past the rest…)
I think it’s interesting that the reverb being held acts as harmonic
structure behind the melody, but at the volume level you have the
reverb, the melody really gets lost. Is there a way to increase the
decay such that the reverb is just backing for the melody, rather
than overpowering it?
Also, what is causing the almost ultrasound-like “schwa-schwa”
sound? It reminds me of a brain-wave generator… I’m just curious
if that’s a result of the reverb, or some other effect.
Were it not for the video I would have guessed that it was a guitar solo from an 80’s movie montage . If that’s the sound you were going for then fair play to you. Otherwise, and looking at this clip objectively, I’d have to agree with fearfaoin that the reverb gets so muddy that it overpowers the melody.
If you are asking for advice to better your playing, it’s hard to do so with such an overly processed recording, you may want to post another one with raw footage if you are after an honest critique to improve your playing. By watching your fingers I can tell that you need to be a little more relaxed and fluid in your playing… that’s all the advice I can offer from what the video gives.
If you’re looking to sound more bagpipe-esqe, you may consider laying down multiple tracks, one with the melody and others with just a drone. I don’t know much about the highland bagpipes and how the drones are pitched (though I know the chanter is in Bb) but if you’re playing on a D whistle then perhaps try doing three individual drone tracks on D, F# and A to lay under the melody.
First of all, I wasn’t laying out any bait. I just signed up here because I’m a musician who is interested in the whistle. I’ve always thought it was a beautiful instrument, of elegant simplicity, and I have great respect for those who play it well; I do not. I thought it would be a nice way of introducing myself, and since I’d been messing with duct tape, a whistle and a pickup (Red Green would be proud), I thought I’d do that. That was my very first recording on a whistle at all.
No, what bothered me was Full disclosure:
As far as I’m concerned it is perfectly okay for you or any one else to say my stuff is absolute crap. That’s an honest opinion and that’s fine. If you want to tell me why, or don’t want to tell me why, that’s up to you.
I’m hostile to this sort of “music”
As one gentleman pointed out, it’s the the quotes that were the problem. I think it’s very bad manners to express hostility and denigrate what some one does because … I don’t know, you tell me … when that some one is to you a completely unknown quantity, and shows up for the first time for a bit of musical fun. I treat that attitude with contempt.
But I’m open to understanding the technical details, and why you think this clip is worth sharing.
Why I think this clip is worth sharing is none of your business.
Thanks very much for your comments. I’ve taken things quite a distance. I frail and play Scruggs style but I’ve developed a new style of playing using mizrabs (sitar finger picks), they allow me to do things you can’t do with standard finger picks. Anyway, if you’re interested I’ve got a YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BanjoBoog
… lots of Rock and Roll
I like to experiment with sound. I am completely deaf on one side and it’s half gone on the other, so I indulge myself
Hi fearfaoin:
I have no idea I can’t hear the “schwa-schwa” … deafness. I suspect it is just that I used the wrong tool for the job. I’ll take another crack at it with the lapel mic and post it as an mp3.
Hi Johnny:
Thanks very much. I actually had no idea what was going to come out. This was my first whistle recording. Yup, the reverb’s over the top alright I shall try again.
Thanks very much for the information on the drones - I’ve saved it to a text file.
Way to go with Bach Inventions!!! I’ve p*ssed (can you say pissed here? oops…) many a cellist by playign the “Bach Suits” on tenor banjo. Much more fun than on the viola!!!
I’ve listened to a bit of your banjo stuff, and I like it. It isn’t what I would expect to hear coming out of a banjo. But it’s obvious you’re at least a fair player (I don’t know enough about the banjo to say more than that) with a refined, unique, and intentional sound. If I have $15 to spare after hunting season is over, I intend to buy your CD.
The whistle clip is not pleasing to my ear, nor to most ears, I’d guess. That much delay and reverb obscures (I could come right out and say destroys) the sound of the whistle. I like a little reverb on my recordings, maybe even a bit of echo if I want a big, “outside” sound. But that much…eek. But hey, do your thing–you’re really the only one who has to like it, and if you accomplish that, you’ve had a success.
I think one reason some people react so strongly against this sort of thing is that we’ve all suffered through synthesized, “new agey” music billed as “Celtic,” featuring mediocre players and banal arrangements, covered up with lots and lots of studio effects to make it sound “mysterious.” Usually in a package with some sort of misty, castley looking crud on the front, under a name like “Celtic Journey.”
Plus, the reason most of us play the whistle is that we love its simplicity. It seems a shame so many effects that the simple beauty of the instrument gets obscured. Players who love the instrument and/or music for its own sake get annoyed at that sort of thing.
I might suggest that you turn off the processors for a while, and learn to play the instrument as it is. first things first. Then you can get goofy with it and it will be intentional.
I’ll vouch for Boog on not being a troll or trying to start a “wind-up”. I’ve been listening to his unique approach to music for a while at banjohangout.org (where I go by Tom Banjo) . Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but the fun is in the experimentation itself.
Having said that, I do think it’s important to achieve a certain level of competence on an instrument before taking it into left field. Keep working at it, Ian!
. If that’s the sound you were going for then fair play to you. Otherwise, and looking at this clip objectively, I’d have to agree with fearfaoin that the reverb gets so muddy that it overpowers the melody.
