🎵 Output before Input #72 - 2022.03.26
I seem to be really into these consistent quarter-note strum patterns lately - maybe as a result of wanting to fill the sonic space with a single take on a single instrument. And of course, any excuse to throw a major 7 or a minor 2 into a riff.
🎵 Output before Input #71 - 2022.03.26
All chords resolve to each other if you really mean it.
🎵 Output before Input #70 - 2022.03.24
I can’t escape the 90’s pop music with which I grew up. I accept that.
🎵 Output before Input #69 - 2022.03.23
Kind of an Album Leaf or Papa M vibe to this one.
🎵 Output before Input #68 - 2022.03.22
Jumping from one branch and hoping the next one will support my weight.
🎵 Output before Input #67 - 2022.03.21
This short, nomadic interlude was all that came by the window this morning.
🎵 Output before Input #66 - 2022.03.20
The tone is really beautiful in moments here - with a little development it could be really menacing.
It’s maple syrup season! My current favorite recipe is the spiced candied cashews from this Ottolenghi recipe: youtu.be/SiaQhK7TH… , but of course substituting maple syrup.
Today I made it with pecans, dried maras biber pepper, garam masala, black lime, and flaky salt. It’s magnificent.
🎵 Output before Input #65 - 2022.03.19
Listening back to this, I think I stole part of a phrase from R.E.M. (and probably others). The overall thing sounds about like I feel this morning - like there’s some ability for ease to exist, but I missed it by going the hard way.
🎵 Output before Input #64 - 2022.03.17
This riff reminds me of Pinback.
🎵 Output before Input #63 - 2022.03.16
I almost have an aversion to playing full-on barre chord shapes in traditional harmonic structures; this is me confronting that.
🎵 Output before Input #62 - 2022.03.14
This might sound weird or obvious, but it’s been an interesting challenge making something that’s improvised actually sound like things were planned along with any kind of consistent tempo. I can already see it having the effect of tightening up my guitar playing and composition in general - things are less rambly than they were when I was just playing this stuff by myself without hitting record. Which is not to say that there aren’t tons of flubs - don’t worry, there are still tons of flubs.
🎵 Output before Input #61 - 2022.03.13
Sort of a chord inversion study.
🎵 Output before Input #60 - 2022.03.12
Short, but I found the groove fun to play along with.
One struggle I’m having is the balance between wanting to make sure these ideas aren’t too rehearsed and the desire for them to come across in spite of not being practiced and occasionally stumbling while I’m improvising. I don’t practice enough to where my technique is flawless right now, and it makes me feel a bit self-conscious about sharing ideas with goofs in them. But I’m doing it anyway :)
🎵 Output before Input #59 - 2022.03.11
I’m always a sucker for synching delay decay with tempo. I’m also always a sucker for patterns that repeat in non-4-time.
🎵 Output before Input #58 - 2022.03.10
I think this is the shortest clip thus far.
🎵 Output before Input #57 - 2022.03.09
I only realized this morning that the riffier progressions have mostly been “two ideas, contrasted and expanded” and not just one idea. The threshold for hitting “record” on them is usually “Ok, I’ve got two things that work well enough together, let’s improvise on that now.”
🎵 Output before Input #56 - 2022.03.08
My first recording got corrupted and lost, so I guess this is my version of waking up and immediately being frustrated but trying to still access some calm.
🎵 Output before Input #55 - 2022.03.07
Trying to stretch into more interesting rhythm/chord progressions, but I don’t think I got there today.
🎵 Output before Input #54 - 2022.03.06
Minor seconds are some of the hardest intervals to play on the guitar, especially stacked (and sometimes even inverted), but the payoff is always interesting (to me, at least).
🎵 Output before Input #53 - 2022.03.06
Again challending myself to “hit record first” and just start playing.
🎵 Output before Input #52 - 2022.03.04
This was a relatively rare morning where I didn’t play a single note before hitting record.
🎵 Output before Input #51 - 2022.02.28
A chord progression that takes inspiration from Hendrix’ “Hey Joe”.
🎵 Output before Input #50 - 2022.02.27
I’m not sure how far I thought I was going to take this, but 50 seems like a milestone! I’m celebrating with this incredibly soft, rounded, understated melody. Look: I don’t control what comes out - when you roll out of bed + pick up a guitar, what happens: happens.
These garden ties are by far the best computer cable ties I’ve ever found. They can be cut to a perfect length, they’re easy on the hands, they clamp quickly, and they’re incredibly cheap relative to computer-specific ties.
