Being a software engineer is a good way to burn off excess ability to imagine a better world.

2025-01-18

Life is a breathing exercise

Audio 2024-09-01

As I restore my Yamaha SA-5 guitar, I’ve been taking dimensions of some of the harder-to-find parts so that they can be more easily re-created by folks in similar situations. It’s hard to find these parts on auction sites, but you can 3d print a facsimile fairly easily or use the model as a reference for hand re-creation.

Today I made a CAD model and drawing of the base of the bridge. The bridge is a two-piece setup commonly found on archtop guitars, though the dimensions of this bridge are not common on modern guitars to my knowledge. This bridge is also pinned to the guitar with wood screws, which makes the dimensions particularly important.

Here’s a picture of the real bridge base with the adjustment screws + thumbwheel installed, as well as some dimensions from the CAD drawing. I recommend playing around with the 3d model in Onshape to get a feel for the various dimensions.

2024-04-26

I recently acquired a 1966 Yamaha SA-5. It can be hard to find parts for these guitars. In particular, the tremolo arm and collet always seem to be missing. Mine has the collet but was missing the tremolo arm.

I found that this 5mm push-in replacement tremolo arm is the proper dimensions, provided that the collet is well-adjusted.

I also made a CAD model and drawing of the dimensions of my collet, in case folks are motivated to make their own. I have zero experience with CAD drawings, but hopefully these dimensions will be sufficient information.

These videos are an excellent source of information about how these assemblies go together. In particular for the collet, it threads into the tremolo base and is held in place by a jam nut (threaded M8 x 0.75). The tremolo arm itself slides in and is caught by the bottom half of the collet (tightened slightly to keep it from passing through). The nut that holds the tremolo arm in place has an internal M8 x 0.75 thread, but has a draft/taper internally that causes the top half of the collet to tighten on the arm.

2024-04-14

Sparks from the fire twinkling in the vastness of the winter night

Audio 2024-01-28

Ears ringing in the forest

Audio 2024-01-22

Playing around with some new pickups.

Audio 2024-01-20

My brother got me a stylophone and this happened.

Audio 2023-12-27

I recently found this song that I wrote for an acquaintance who passed.

Audio 2023-12-29

Happy solstice 🌔

Audio 2023-12-21

I loved this

In a world where evidence and logic are not respected in public debate, Hinton imagines that systems operating without evidence or logic could become our overlords by becoming superhumanly persuasive, imitating and supplanting the worst kinds of political leader.

2023-11-23

Humans are just intelligent enough to be confident but not quite intelligent enough to have empathy and integrate with our world instead of destroying it. We are so self-centered and hubristic that we believe our intelligence is the apex of intelligence when it’s actually the modus operandi of a cancer at a larger scale.

Would a true intelligence destroy the world it inhabits? Would a true intelligence not integrate and create balance with its world? Would humans even recognize a true intelligence if we saw one?
2023-03-28

Output before Input EXTRA POST #301 - 2022.11.26

🎵 Output before Input #301 - 2022.11.12

Sometimes things just happen

Output before Input #293 - 2022.11.07

🎵 Output before Input #293 - 2022.11.07

(melody from my dream)

The slog it takes to make something look easy

Output before Input #294 - 2022.11.08

🎵 Output before Input #294 - 2022.11.08

Walking through a big empty skyscraper

Output before Input #295 - 2022.11.08

🎵 Output before Input #295 - 2022.11.08

Band of rats dancing

Output before input #296 - 2022.11.09

🎵 Output before Input #296 - 2022.11.09

All souls march

Output before Input #297 - 2022.11.10

🎵 Output before Input #297 - 2022.11.10

First time working the parachute

Output before Input #298 - 2022.11.11

🎵 Output before Input #298 - 2022.11.11

Light shining through the cracks in your carefully-built wall

Output before Input #299 - 2022.11.11

🎵 Output before Input #299 - 2022.11.11

The world inside

Output before Input #300 - 2022.11.12

🎵 Output before Input #300 - 2022.11.12

Reprise through new eyes

Output before Input #288 - 2022.10.31

🎵 Output before Input #288 - 2022.10.31

Scribbling in the margins

Output before Input #289 - 2022.11.01

🎵 Output before Input #289 - 2022.11.01

Gradually sinking into the earth

Output before Input #290 - 2022.11.03

🎵 Output before Input #290 - 2022.11.03

(This one came straight out of my dream)

You don’t have to stumble and trip on this path, you can actually fly.

Output before Input #291 - 2022.11.05

🎵 Output before Input #291 - 2022.11.05

Bad vibrations

Output before Input #292 - 2022.11.06

🎵 Output before Input #292 - 2022.11.06

Shock absorbers

Output before Input #283 - 2022.10.24

🎵 Output before Input #283 - 2022.10.24

Patterning

Output before Input #284 - 2022.10.24

🎵 Output before Input #284 - 2022.10.24

Riding a multidimensional bicycle

Output before Input #285 - 2022.10.27

🎵 Output before Input #285 - 2022.10.27

Receiving radio transmission

Output before Input #286 - 2022.10.29

🎵 Output before Input #286 - 2022.10.29

Titration

Output before Input #287 - 2022.10.30

🎵 Output before Input #287 - 2022.10.30

Feeling like a kid again

Output before Input #278 - 2022.10.18

🎵 Output before Input #278 - 2022.10.18

This side of discomfort

Output before Input #279 - 2022.10.18

🎵 Output before Input #279 - 2022.10.18

The edge of discomfort

Output before Input #280 - 2022.10.19

🎵 Output before Input #280 - 2022.10.19

Rehearsed decay

Output before Input #281 - 2022.10.21

🎵 Output before Input #281 - 2022.10.21

Sand going down the hopper

Output before Input #282 - 2022.10.22

🎵 Output before Input #282 - 2022.10.22

Devil on your shoulder

Output before Input #270 - 2022.10.10

🎵 Output before Input #270 - 2022.10.10

Choking on fear

Output before Input #271 - 2022.10.11

🎵 Output before Input #271 - 2022.10.11

I don’t understand the dance of this people

Output before Input #272 - 2022.10.12

🎵 Output before Input #272 - 2022.10.12

Birds flying overhead

Output before Input #273 - 2022.10.13

🎵 Output before Input #273 - 2022.10.13

Pulling a cart through mud

Output before Input #274 - 2022.10.14

🎵 Output before Input #274 - 2022.10.14

Who let the triangles into the square party?

Output before Input #275 - 2022.2022.10.15

🎵 Output before Input #275 - 2022.10.15

Walking by their window and watching them dance

Output before Input #276 - 2022.10.16

🎵 Output before Input #276 - 2022.10.16

Tumbling rocks

Output before Input #277 - 2022.10.16

🎵 Output before Input #276 - 2022.10.16

Kneading bread

Output before Input #264 - 2022.10.03

🎵 Output before Input #264 - 2022.10.03

When you keep having to take off your sweater and put it back on again because every time the sun goes behind a cloud it drops 15 degrees

Output before Input #265 - 2022.10.06

🎵 Output before Input #265 - 2022.10.06

It’s literally painful to cry

Output before Input #266 - 2022.10.06

🎵 Output before Input #266 - 2022.10.06

Do the same thing again but this time think “what if it were easy?”

Output before Input #267 - 2022.10.07

🎵 Output before Input #267 - 2022.10.07

Scrapbook of shame

Output before Input #268 - 2022.10.08

🎵 Output before Input #268 - 2022.10.08

Shivering even though its not cold

Output before Input #269 - 2022.10.09

🎵 Output before Input #269 - 2022.10.09

Passing through the relaxis

Output before Input #260 - 2022.09.26

🎵 Output before Input #260 - 2022.09.26

Being home after years away

Output before Input #261 - 2022.09.28

🎵 Output before Input #261 - 2022.09.28

Thrive on change

Output before Input #262 - 2022.09.30

🎵 Output before Input #262 - 2022.09.30

Pushing beyond limits

Output before Input #263 - 2022.10.02

🎵 Output before Input #263 - 2022.10.02

Hanging by fingers forgetting you have wings

Output before Input #253 - 2022.09.19

🎵 Output before Input #253 - 2022.09.19

Friends drop by when you’re feeling lonely

Output before Input #254 - 2022.09.20

🎵 Output before Input #254 - 2022.09.20

Taking off the old rags to wash in the river on a sunny day

Output before Input #255 - 2022.09.21

🎵 Output before Input #255 - 2022.09.21

Finger guns

Output before Input #256 - 2022.09.22

🎵 Output before Input #256 - 2022.09.22

Two to the eighth

Output before Input #257 - 2022.09.23

🎵 Output before Input #257 - 2022.09.23

Packing for a trip

Output before Input #258 - 2022.09.24

🎵 Output before Input #258 - 2022.09.24

The dragonfly’s dance

Output before Input #259 - 2022.09.25

🎵 Output before Input #259 - 2022.09.25

Walking through walls

Output before Input #244 - 2022.09.12

🎵 Output before Input #244 - 2022.09.12

Looking at the sky from under the water

Output before Input #245 - 2022.09.12

🎵 Output before Input #245 - 2022.09.12

It turns out you never had to hold your breath at all

Output before Input #246 - 2022.09.13

🎵 Output before Input #246 - 2022.09.13

Give the best you’ve got, even if it’s not good enough.

Output before Input #247 - 2022.09.14

🎵 Output before Input #247 - 2022.09.14

Doubts under the surface

Output before Input #248 - 2022.09.14

🎵 Output before Input #248 - 2022.09.14

Mysterious shimmer

Output before Input #249 - 2022.09.15

🎵 Output before Input #249 - 2022.09.15

Pushing everybody away

Output before Input #250 - 2022.09.15

🎵 Output before Input #250 - 2022.09.15

The dead rise just to dance down the street

Output before Input #251 - 2022.09.16

🎵 Output before Input #251 - 2022.09.16

Internet glory

Output before Input #252 - 2022.09.18

🎵 Output before Input #252 - 2022.09.18

Potential energy

Output before Input #238 - 2022.09.05

🎵 Output before Input #238 - 2022.09.05

Glitch pastoral

Output before Input #239 - 2022.09.06

🎵 Output before Input #239 - 2022.09.06

Stuck in the walls looking out

Output before Input #240 - 2022.09.07

🎵 Output before Input #240 - 2022.09.07

Going out for a run

Output before Input #241 - 2022.09.08

🎵 Output before Input #241 - 2022.09.08

My throat and breathing were stuck at E♭; singing along with this helped.

I’m here say to that I really love my Thinkpad X230, which at this point is 9 years old but is just so great.
2022-09-10

Output before Input #242 - 2022.09.11

🎵 Output before Input #242 - 2022.09.11

Grinding without ease

Output before Input #243 - 2022.09.11

🎵 Output before Input #243 - 2022.09.11

Balloon pop

Output before Input #236 - 2022.09.03

🎵 Output before Input #236 - 2022.09.03

Record needle dragging over aged skin

Output before Input #237 - 2022.09.04

🎵 Output before Input #237 - 2022.09.04

Juggling + people keep tossing you knives

Output before Input #228 - 2022.08.22

🎵 Output before Input #228 - 2022.08.22

Bees get aggressive late in the season

Output before Input #229 - 2022.08.23

🎵 Output before Input #229 - 2022.08.23

Loosen up the old knots

Output before Input #230 - 2022.08.24

🎵 Output before Input #230 - 2022.08.24

Downhill no brakes

Output before Input #231 - 2022.08.25

🎵 Output before Input #231 - 2022.08.25

Sewing stitches

Output before Input #232 - 2022.08.26

🎵 Output before Input #232 - 2022.08.26

Siblings working together

Output before Input #233 - 2022.08.26

🎵 Output before Input #233 - 2022.08.26

Bees!

Output before Input #234 - 2022.08.27

🎵 Output before Input #234 - 2022.08.27

Don’t be afraid of being alone

Output before Input #235 - 2022.08.27

🎵 Output before Input #235 - 2022.08.27

Running across the surface of the water

Output before Input #222 - 2022.08.15

🎵 Output before Input #222 - 2022.08.15

Journey’s end

Output before Input #223 - 2022.08.15

🎵 Output before Input #223 - 2022.08.15

Coda

Output before Input #224 - 2022.08.16

🎵 Output before Input #224 - 2022.08.16

Periods of quiet

I just realized reading Ben Thompson that the Young Girl’s Illustrated Primer from Neal Stephenson’s The Diamond Age is going to be the norm in social media in 5-10 years. It seemed so fantastic and unimaginable at the time.
2022-08-16

Output before Input #225 - 2022.08.17

🎵 Output before Input #225 - 2022.08.17

Taunts that still haunt

Output before Input #226 - 2022.08.18

🎵 Output before Input #226 - 2022.08.18

Pass the goddamned butter

Output before Input #227 - 2022.08.19

🎵 Output before Input #227 - 2022.08.19

Heat rising from the road

Output before Input #220 - 2022.08.08

🎵 Output before Input #220 - 2022.08.08

The night stares back at you

Output before Input #221 - 2022.08.12

🎵 Output before Input #221 - 2022.08.12

Journey’s beginning

Output before Input #210 - 2022.07.31

🎵 Output before Input #210 - 2022.07.31

River rocks

Output before Input #211 - 2022.08.01

🎵 Output before Input #211 - 2022.08.01

The food one universe over tastes different

Output before Input #212 - 2022.08.03

🎵 Output before Input #212 - 2022.08.03

Hovering around the edge of the slow dance

Output before Input #213 - 2022.08.04

🎵 Output before Input #213 - 2022.08.04

Repairing the phase shift array

Output before Input #214 - 2022.08.04

🎵 Output before Input #214 - 2022.08.04

Slow zoom out

Output before Input #215 - 2022.08.05

🎵 Output before Input #215 - 2022.08.05

Getting the chores done

Output before Input #216 - 2022.08.05

🎵 Output before Input #216 - 2022.08.05

Getting weird when nobody’s watching

Output before Input #217 - 2022.08.06

🎵 Output before Input #217 - 2022.08.06

Dockworker’s lament

Output before Input #218 - 2022.08.06

🎵 Output before Input #218 - 2022.08.06

Punching walls because it feels good

Output before Input #219 - 2022.08.07

🎵 Output before Input #219 - 2022.08.07

Restless lute player

Output before Input #204 - 2022.07.24

🎵 Output before Input #204 - 2022.07.24

In my dream this was a song I was singing called “On Thin Ice”.

Output before Input #205 - 2022.07.25

🎵 Output before Input #205 - 2022.07.25

Heat rising off the road melts your makeup

Output before Input #206 - 2022.07.28

🎵 Output before Input #206 - 2022.07.28

Turtle and rabbit

Output before Input #207 - 2022.07.30

🎵 Output before Input #207 - 2022.07.30

Stranded

Output before Input #208 - 2022.07.31

🎵 Output before Input #208 - 2022.07.31

Walking a new city before anybody else is awake

Output before Input #209 - 2022.07.31

Tumbling rocks

Output before Input #202 - 2022.07.19

🎵 Output before Input #202 - 2022.07.19

Each step on the sidewalk makes more sidewalk.

Output before Input #203 - 2022.07.22

🎵 Output before Input #203 - 2022.07.22

Shag carpet in really good condition

Output before Input #204 - 2022.07.24

🎵 Output before Input #204 - 2022.07.24

In my dream this was a song I was singing called “On Thin Ice”.

Output before Input #193 - 2022.07.11

🎵 Output before Input #193 - 2022.07.11

Projector malfunction at the theater

Output before Input #194 - 2022.07.12

🎵 Output before Input #194 - 2022.07.12

Riding a motorcycle away from an explosion and into the sunset

Output before Input #195 - 2022.07.12

🎵 Output before Input #195 - 2022.07.12

Groove virus spreads quickly and manifests differently in each host.

Output before Input #196 - 2022.07.13

🎵 Output before Input #196 - 2022.07.13

Multiple personalities prom

Output before Input #197 - 2022.07.14

🎵 Output before Input #197 - 2022.07.14

Juggling seven flaming knives

Output before Input #198 - 2022.07.14

🎵 Output before Input #198 - 2022.07.14

Skating on a lake

Output before Input #199 - 2022.07.15

🎵 Output before Input #199 - 2022.07.15

300-lb bruiser whose best friend is a rat named Twinkles

Output before Input #200 - 2022.07.15

🎵 Output before Input #200 - 2022.07.15

Boss level

Output before Input #201 - 2022.07.16

🎵 Output before Input #201 - 2022.07.16

Scratching fingernails on the wall looking for a crack

Output before Input #187 - 2022.07.04

🎵 Output before Input #187 - 2022.07.04

Rolling along the walls

Output before Input #188 - 2022.07.05

🎵 Output before Input #188 - 2022.07.05

Trying to play the concerto over the fireworks

Output before Input #189 - 2022.07.06

🎵 Output before Input #189 - 2022.07.06

Pulled in every direction

Output before Input #190 - 2022.07.06

🎵 Output before Input #190 - 2022.07.06

Foot on the accelerator

Output before Input #191 - 2022.07.07

🎵 Output before Input #191 - 2022.07.07

Sashaying through the thrift store

Output before Input #192 - 2022.07.07

🎵 Output before Input #192 - 2022.07.07

Snap-dancing to the ice cream shop with your crew

My kid really appreciates their Palomino Blackwing.

Output before Input #177 - 2022.06.27

🎵 Output before Input #177 - 2022.06.27

Starting the day with a lullaby.

Output before Input #178 - 2022.06.28

🎵 Output before Input #178 - 2022.06.28

Sunset over the landfill.

Output before Input #179 - 2022.06.29

🎵 Output before Input #179 - 2022.06.29

Don’t open your eyes or the dream will fade.

Output before Input #180 - 2022.06.30

🎵 Output before Input #180 - 2022.06.30

Swagger but then you slip

Output before Input #181 - 2022.06.30

🎵 Output before Input #181 - 2022.06.30

Hands on a typewriter

Output before Input #182 - 2022.07.01

🎵 Output before Input #182 - 2022.07.01

Wild blackberry patch

Output before Input #183 - 2022.07.02

🎵 Output before Input #183 - 2022.07.02

Regular guy on the beach

Output before Input #184 - 2022.07.02

🎵 Output before Input #184 - 2022.07.02

Mosquito under the net

Output before Input #185 - 2022.07.03

🎵 Output before Input #185 - 2022.07.03

Going back into the house because you forgot your keys montage

Output before Input #186 - 2022.07.03

🎵 Output before Input #186 - 2022.07.03

Conducting the honking duck orchestra

Output before Input #169 - 2022.06.20

🎵 Output before Input #169 - 2022.06.20

A meditation on pacing.

For those who may be curious, this is my main guitar setup - the rig I’ve used for all of the Output before Input recordings.

The guitar is a Valley Arts custom Strat clone. The amp is a Yamaha THR-10C with a chip-modded TS-9/808 tube screamer in front. I love this setup because the amp sounds amazing and I can record it direct to the computer using the “voice memo” app with minimal fuss.

2022-06-20

Output before Input #170 - 2022.06.21

🎵 Output before Input #170 - 2022.06.21

One of the things I love about guitar is how much you can do/imply with just three notes (in this case, one melody and two harmony) and two hands. I used to be a maximalist with harmony but lately I’ve been exploring how much the ear will fill in by itself.

Output before Input #171 - 2022.06.21

🎵 Output before Input #171 - 2022.06.21

Walking around town on a sunny day, waving to all the neighbors.

Output before Input #172 - 2022.06.22

🎵 Output before Input #172 - 2022.06.22

Hitting “snooze” when you get the day off.

Output before Input #173 - 2022.06.22

🎵 Output before Input #173 - 2022.06.22

I had a dream that my teeth kept falling out because they’d secretly been dentures and I hadn’t known. I think it influenced this sketch - centered around an unstable tonal foundation.

Output before Input #174 - 2022.06.23

🎵 Output before Input #174 - 2022.06.23

Circular breathing

Output before Input #175 - 2022.06.23

🎵 Output before Input #175 - 2022.06.23

This rhythm seems to be stuck deep in my hands.

Output before Input #176 - 2022.06.26

🎵 Output before Input #176 - 2022.06.26

Waiting for appetizers

Output before Input #162 - 2022.06.13

🎵 Output before Input #162 - 2022.06.13

This one feels like it’s about the struggle to keep things simple.

Output before Input #163 - 2022.06.13

🎵 Output before Input #163 - 2022.06.13

When you feel tired + don’t want to wake up but your dreams keep getting weirder so you get up anyhow.

Output before Input #164 - 2022.06.14

🎵 Output before Input #164 - 2022.06.14

Felt better than it sounds.

Output before Input #165 - 2022.06.16

🎵 Output before Input #165 - 2022.06.16

Drawn to this sweet melody, dropped and deconstructed in tone.

Output before Input #166 - 2022.06.16

🎵 Output before Input #166 - 2022.06.16

Flirting with what might be called atonality - intentionally seeking the thing right next to the thing that makes harmonic sense.

Output before Input #167 - 2022.06.19

🎵 Output before Input #167 - 2022.06.19

There are actual power chords in there.

Output before Input #168 - 2022.06.19

🎵 Output before Input #168 - 2022.06.19

Guitar people love things that are tricky or sound tricky to play on the guitar. I think this piece is me making fun of myself for being that way.

Output before Input #156 - 2022.06.07

🎵 Output before Input #156 - 2022.06.07

Bells tolling on a distant planet.

Output before Input #157 - 2022.06.07

🎵 Output before Input #157 - 2022.06.07

A slow walk through the wilds of arpeggioland.

Output before Input #158 - 2022.06.07

🎵 Output before Input #158 - 2022.06.07

Sometimes you have to just, you know, do a friggin’ guitar solo on some blues.

Output before Input #159 - 2022.06.10

🎵 Output before Input #159 - 2022.06.10

This sounds like having a beautiful, enjoyable day with chronic pain.

Output before Input #160 - 2022.06.12

🎵 Output before Input #160 - 2022.06.12

Aggressively pastoral - like walking through a field and tripping on a bunch of stones.

Output before Input #161 - 2022.06.12

🎵 Output before Input #161 - 2022.06.12

Hipster dad rock.

Output before Input #142 - 2022.05.30

🎵 Output before Input #142 - 2022.05.30

There’s usually a lot of implied other music going on in my mind, but in the case of this sketch it feels particularly empty with the stuff that’s missing.

Output before Input #143 - 2022.05.30

🎵 Output before Input #143 - 2022.05.30

Just a taste of an idea. I get the image of some kind of twisted Newton’s cradle.

Output before Input #144 - 2022.05.31

🎵 Output before Input #144 - 2022.05.31

The melody came quickly when I sat down; this is a simple exploration of what else goes with that melody.

Output before Input #145 - 2022.05.31

🎵 Output before Input #145 - 2022.05.31

Riffing on a chord progression that kind of goes its own way after a while. It’s nice when that happens and I can roll with it. I’ve noticed that I often struggle to roll with it and trip over my own feet.

Output before Input #146 - 2022.06.01

🎵 Output before Input #146 - 2022.06.01

Sometimes searching out dissonance is just too tempting. It seems to happen for me a lot with this sort of decaying distortion tone - the beats between the waves are so juicy.

Output before Input #147 - 2022.06.01

🎵 Output before Input #147 - 2022.06.01

Total blank-mind improv - restless + searching but never landing really.

Output before Input #148 - 2022.06.01

🎵 Output before Input #148 - 2022.06.01

This is a friend trying to get you to dance at the party.

Output before Input #149 - 2022.06.02

🎵 Output before Input #149 - 2022.06.02

This has a bit of a Francisco Tárrega vibe.

Output before Input #150 - 2022.06.02

🎵 Output before Input #150 - 2022.06.02

This started as me playing along with #149
the first time I played it back. Listening to it now, it suggests “part 2” of #149 in a lot of ways.

Output before Input #151 - 2022.06.02

🎵 Output before Input #151 - 2022.06.02

I guess I had one more in me this morning - though it’s not some mind-blowing idea that just had to burst forth into being. It feels more like a coda - or an interlude - if anything.

Output before Input #152 - 2022.06.04

🎵 Output before Input #152 - 2022.06.04

This has a very Papa M / Album Leaf thing going on. It probably would have sounded less sloppy if I’d capo’ed it but that’s the price you pay for making it up as you go.

Output before Input #153 - 2022.06.04

🎵 Output before Input #153 - 2022.06.04

This idea took only a few minutes to conceive but I had to practice it a bit before it was recordable, even as a sketch.

I get an image of a bird going crazy with its mating dance and the other bird hasn’t decided whether to join in yet.

Output before Input #154 - 2022.06.05

🎵 Output before Input #154 - 2022.06.05

Seeking shadows

Output before Input #155 - 2022.06.05

🎵 Output before Input #155 - 2022.06.05

Early morning jog, and maybe seeing some people along the way.

Output before Input #136 - 2022.05.23

🎵 Output before Input #136 - 2022.05.23

Improvised jazz melody. I just realized this morning that for an improv sketch practice, I don’t really play all that much jazz.

Output before Input #137 - 2022.05.23

🎵 Output before Input #137 - 2022.05.23

Bringing in a touch of the Wes Montgomery.

Output before Input #138 - 2022.05.24

🎵 Output before Input #138 - 2022.05.24

Today, this was more about the tone for me than the, you know, music.

Output before Input #139 - 2022.05.25

🎵 Output before Input #139 - 2022.05.25

It’s like secret room music from Mario Bros.

Output before Input #140 - 2022.05.29

🎵 Output before Input #140 - 2022.05.29

Try as I might this one got away from me.

Output before Input #141 - 2022.05.29

🎵 Output before Input #141 - 2022.05.29

This one’s a bit late for International Drone Day but I hope I’ll be forgiven.

Output before Input #127 - 2022.05.17

🎵 Output before Input #127 - 2022.05.17

I think the theme here is “maintaining consistency” and how some days it’s easy and other days it’s all you can do.

Output before Input #128 - 2022.05.18

🎵 Output before Input #128 - 2022.05.18

This sketch isn’t sure what it wants to be when it grows up.

Output before Input #129 - 2022.05.19

🎵 Output before Input #129 - 2022.05.19

A simple exploration, which nonetheless managed to jump the rails a bit.

Output before Input #130 - 2022.05.20

🎵 Output before Input #130 - 2022.05.20

Sweet + cinematic, tentative.

Output before Input #131 - 2022.05.20

🎵 Output before Input #131 - 2022.05.20

This one brings real confrontational energy.

Output before Input #132 - 2022.05.21

🎵 Output before Input #132 - 2022.05.21

Single-note slippery climb

Output before Input #133 - 2022.05.21

🎵 Output before Input #133 - 2022.05.21

Riff somewhere between AC/DC and Pinback

Output before Input #134 - 2022.05.22

🎵 Output before Input #134 - 2022.05.22

Sloppy and poppy

Output before Input #135 - 2022.05.22

I would say this is “out there,” but it might be more accurate to say it’s “in there.” The Hedvig Mollestad influence is strong.

Output before Input #122 - 2022.05.10

🎵 Output before Input #122 - 2022.05.10

Both hands on the fretboard this morning - I must have looked like Picasso’s guitarist.

Output before Input #123 - 2022.05.10

🎵 Output before Input #123 - 2022.05.10

Sometimes I have a plan when I hit “record” but this one was a “hit record + see what comes out” moment.

Output before Input #124 - 2022.05.12

🎵 Output before Input #124 - 2022.05.12

I love the style of outlining melody that guitarists like Celestine Ukwu, Ray Phiri, or Ebo Taylor play. It sounds upbeat, but I find it quite a challenge to improvise at tempo and keep that feeling.

Output before Input #125 - 2022.05.13

🎵 Output before Input #125 - 2022.05.13

Trudge through the sludge

Output before Input #126 - 2022.05.14

🎵 Output before Input #126 - 2022.05.14

Messy feelings this morning

Output before Input #113 - 2022.05.02

🎵 Output before Input #113 - 2022.05.02

A cinematic theme, only too aggressive-sounding to be in the background.

Output before Input #114 - 2022.05.02

🎵 Output before Input #114 - 2022.05.02

This is pretty much my default improv state - though kind of raw + sloppy today.

Output before Input #115 - 2022.05.03

🎵 Output before Input #115 - 2022.05.03

Sinister beachside / desert situation (or is it?)

Output before Input #116 - 2022.05.03

🎵 Output before Input #116 - 2022.05.03

I can’t stay away from the degraded I IV V harmonies.

Output before Input #117 - 2022.05.03

🎵 Output before Input #117 - 2022.05.03

Full-on free-association. I was trying not to follow any of my patterns for too long.

Output before Input #118 - 2022.05.04

🎵 Output before Input #118 - 2022.05.04

This makes me think of riding on the train.

Output before Input #119 - 2022.05.06

🎵 Output before Input #119 - 2022.05.06

A chord study. I tried a bunch of stuff this morning but it all came out so unfocused that it was unusable. It’s interesting how much of a window into my psyche this process has been.

Output before Input #120 - 2022.05.08

🎵 Output before Input #120 - 2022.05.08

This makes me think of the old Latif Learned work.

Output before Input #121 - 2022.05.08

🎵 Output before Input #121 - 2022.05.08

Maybe it’s just me but I’m always amazed at how one instrument can play multiple sonic roles and the ear will fill things in with enough hints.

I’d like to see people talk more about pelvic floor strength. It’s critical infrastructure!
2022-04-24

Output before Input #105 - 2022.04.25

🎵 Output before Input #105 - 2022.04.25

I’ll call this one “Surf’s Up Sonata”

Output before input #106 - 2022.04.26

🎵 Output before Input #106 - 2022.04.26

I heard somewhere that The Books were so-named because their music evolved like a book instead of being repetitive from one end of a song to another. That idea really sticks with me, and influenced this sketch.

Output before Input #107 - 2022.04.27

🎵 Output before Input #107 - 2022.04.27

Harmony invented from the top down.

Output before Input #108 - 2022.04.27

🎵 Output before Input #108 - 2022.04.27

Countermelody invented from the bottom up.

Output before Input #109 - 2022.04.28

🎵 Output before Input #109 - 2022.04.28

I played a lot of Pink Floyd in my youth, so sometimes the David Gilmour vibe comes out a bit.

Feeling like a tech wizard for figuring out custom queries in Logseq that dynamically pull questions from my daily journals into meeting note pages for my team members. #thenerdiest
2022-04-28

Output before Input #110 - 2022.04.29

🎵 Output before Input #110 - 2022.04.29

Navigating a labyrinth and not ever really finding the center.

Output before Input #111 - 2022.04.30

🎵 Output before Input #111 - 2022.04.30

Something like a deconstructed/degraded Foo Fighters riff.

Output before Input #112 - 2022.05.01

🎵 Output before Input #112 - 2022.05.01

Somersaulting melody

Output before Input #96 - 2022.04.18

🎵 Output before Input #96 - 2022.04.18

I ended up recording three very different things this morning - I’m either feeling like a high achiever or can’t make up my mind where to sit in the breakfast hall.

Output before Input #97 - 2022.04.18

🎵 Output before Input #97 - 2022.04.18

Same “seed” idea + chords as #96 (same morning), but taken in a chunkier direction.

Output before Input #98 - 2022.04.18

🎵 Output before Input #98 - 2022.04.18

This is some kind of jazz rock outland/parallel universe version of #96 (same morning, different take).

Output before Input #99 - 2022.04.19

🎵 Output before Input #99 - 2022.04.19

Feeling a bit tender and humbled this morning.

Output before Input #100 - 2022.04.20

🎵 Output before Input #100 - 2022.04.20

I don’t know how many of these I thought I’d make, but 100 seemed like an outer bound when I started. How many ideas can one person have? I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.

I’m pleased today that I got to my 100th guitar sketch in the Output before Input project. I might celebrate the occasion by making some sort of interactive online museum of what’s come thus far.
2022-04-20

Output before Input #101 - 2022.04.21

🎵 Output before Input #101 - 2022.04.21

This is what the inside of my head sounds like this morning. So much going on in there, it’s hard to calm down - kind of all over the place.

Output before Input #102 - 2022.04.22

🎵 Output before Input #102 - 2022.04.22

Some guitar heroics for a Friday.

Output before Input #103 - 2022.03.23

🎵 Output before Input #103 - 2022.04.23

Let your body relax and let the changing meter just carry you awayyyyy

Output before Input #104 - 2022.04.24

🎵 Output before Input #104 - 2022.04.24

Getting some Don Henley vibes this morning.