Going through the Beginners Songbook...

[JulieSun]

Hi all,

Not sure if its ok to do this, but Im going to do a full play-through (and record it) of the Justin Beginners songbook in the hope to be making good progress along the way.

I must warn you, it's probably sounding awful. But I hope you'll be guiding me a bit here and there to tweak where it's necessary.. because I realized that browsing the beginners lessons, there WERE things I did not memorize and things can be done so much easier.

Recording, rhythm, vocals, these are things I have to work on a lot. (I know that : ) )
Is it allowed to bump this topic whenever I have a new song? I wonder, any of the moderators think it's fine? Saves me from creating a new topic every time.

Thanks to everyone who is giving me new energy and curiosity to do this! I love music and I really want to learn how to write my own songs and to become a singer.



Here's the first two songs of the Beginners Course:
Three Little Birds https://soundcloud.com/danielle-vd-wijngaarden/dont-worry
Feeling Alright https://soundcloud.com/danielle-vd-wijngaarden/feeling-alright



I just realized that the guitar track on the first song is pretty low, sorry about that I'll try to fix it..

~ JS

[Andreas Fischer]

good idea to go through it and record it (dont forget to record it again later and see the difference yourself)
brave idea to link to your recordings

looking forward to see more of this thread

[knotworthy]

Great idea. So far so good. Keep it up!

[JulieSun]

Just uploaded the first song, its still not the new recording, but I'll post it asap

[digger72]

Hi Danielle,

The key thing for me is to focus on timing and phrasing. Try and get them as tight as you can. This helps bring the guitar and vocal together, and any other instruments you introduce later.
Try and play along to a drum track - honestly it makes such a huge difference whether singing or playing.
This doesn't mean you have to stick to the original - always nice to hear a new interpretation.

I like the idea of working through the book - and it will be interesting to hear how you develop as you progress.

Good luck.

Digger

[JulieSun]

Thank you guys,

Maybe I am making it a bit too difficult for myself playing without a drumtrack. I'll see and look up some tonight or tomorrow. This might help me loads

Thnx digger.

[Andreas Fischer]

just can speak for myself, and i have more questions than answeres ...
but a drumtrack would disturb me and it would be more difficult, wouldnt it?

i would try to get the guitar right
than the singing
and than bring it together

on the other side
why not first guitar with drumtrack or metronome
then singing with drumtrack or metronome
than all together .... i dont know

anyway what i was asking myself while listening the first song recording
do voice and guitar fit? is it the right key? wouldnt you need a kapo?
i dont know, but to me it did sound like the voice is to high or the guitar to low to fit

i think we all can learn a lot here, if we just find someone who knows ;-)

[JulieSun]

You must be right about the singing Andreas! Thanks for pointing that out... Ive yet to see if the drums will distract me. But Ive been playing along with Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Blur, Skunk Anansie and those songs were pretty fast. To be honest I dont hear the metronome when I play along with it, so maybe drums will be better. (plus I want to learn about drumming too)

So Ive just began creating my own drumtracks...

A fella who went to the conservatory (and also my colleague) helped me out with the track for Bob Marley, I went and created the one for Feeling Alright myself... they're both in 60 bpm.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31595434/JulieSun/ThreeLittleBirds-fbniels3.wav
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31595434/JulieSun/FeelingAlright.wav

feel free to use them!

[katja]

Hi Danielle,

I agree with Digger. You should focus on phrasing and timing. It makes a huge difference once you get them down pat. You need to get into the groove. Awfully important.

Drum tracks help a lot when you're playing. It is easier to play to a drum track then to a metronom. I like the fills in between. They help to keep timing even better. You don't even need to create drum tracks yourself. Just use a simple drum loop and change the bpm whenever you need to.

I'd love to listen to your drum tracks but I don't know what software to use. 

Keep it up! Can't wait to hear the next track.

Katja

[JulieSun]

Got it fixed i saved the files as .wav now you should be able to listen to them

[stifflittlefingers]

Very interested in your progress with this , keep it up , I thought it was great for a learner .

[mouser9169]

@ JulieSun

There's a reason you see singers (and musicians) wearing headphones when they record in a studio... 

[Andreas Fischer]

@ JulieSun

they sound nice to me
but i have a problem with them, its me not your tracks, and probably i shouldnt have this questions anymore after a year but ..... is it 3/4 or 4/4, where do i find my "1", "2",.... i guess its the louder ones ;-)
you see, there are to many beats/sounds for me, i get confused

i will try to play to it maybe that helps

....
You don't even need to create drum tracks yourself. Just use a simple drum loop and change the bpm whenever you need to.
....

do you have an example? what should i be looking for?

well, i feel stupid today :-(
but with your help i hopefully get smarter ;-)

[katja]

Hey Andreas,

where do i find my "1", "2",....

The kick drum is playing on beats 1 and 3. It is the louder drum.

do you have an example? what should i be looking for?

Well, there are drum loops in my DAW that I can use. I'm sure that you can search the internet for drum loops as well. JulieSun found a website recently, didn't you Danielle?

[Andreas Fischer]

...
The kick drum is playing on beats 1 and 3. It is the louder drum.
...

thats what i tought
yeah, i am glad to got that right ;-)
(feel less stupid now)

about the drum tracks, i am sure io can google them, but what for i should look in this speacial case/song? 4/4, or reggea...?