PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase newbie going "Out On A Limb"

Hello to everyone.

Been "lurcking" here in the forum for several months. Following discussions,
listening to songs, gaining a lot of insight, getting a few chuckles.
Heard some really nice productions.
All the while, longing for the day that I could call on that stable of musicians
that you guys/gals "pal around with".

That day finally came.

Had BIAB back in 1993 (Version 5). My upgrade to version 6 came on 5 1/4 inch floppies (I still have them).
Never really used it except to verify chord placement and timing to write
Nashville Number charts or for a click track. (Never had a good synth).

So I've got a LOT to learn (though I have learned some tricks thanks to the folks on this forum).

So here is a first effort.

Out On A Limb

1877 Fiddle, Soloist CountryRob Ev 120
618 Fiddle, Background Allis Ev 120
1690 Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopPromise Ev16 100 Solo
Pedal Steel, Background Easy Ev 136
Pedal Steel, Background Ev 085
NashvilleEven8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
Bass - midi from C_90BAL.STY (Country 90's Ballad)

The fiddle and pedal steel parts were combinations (a piece here, a piece there).
I had already laid a couple of acoustic guitar tracks before "the band" came
(musicians are always late)

Harmonies courtesy of The BAIBettes.

Comments welcomed/encouraged. Can't learn otherwise...

floyd

I like it. Nice lyrics and hook. Excellent fills. Spot on mix for my taste. Yup...splits and joins are about the only way to get tasteful realtrack fills yours work well. Good job all the way around.

Hey Floyd and Welcome to the forum!

You're going to have a blast with the new BIAB - I imagine there's quite a bit of improvement over those floppies.

Great first song post. My suggestion would be to change your second verse to third person - in other words saying "her" instead of "you". That way there's no confusion who you're talking to after the collective "you" that you're using in the chorus.

Otherwise I think this is a terrific song. Really nice job with the BIABettes and the tracks. Nice voice you got there too.

Good job.

Mootsman

Thanks for the kind words. Always nice to have someone actually "like" something.

Josie -

There IS a LOT of new stuff. But the interface has remained pretty much the same after all these years. Of course, dealing with the Real Tracks is all new to me - and the reason that I "came back" to BIAB. Had no idea about these changes until I stumbled onto it a few months back (and was totally amazed! It was finally what I had always wished it would be).

An interseting observation - the you/her issue. It's the difference between singing/writing songs "to" someone as opposed to "about" someone. I tend to lean towards the "to". But you may be right in this case. I'll probably try that and see how that feels. Thanks for the suggestion.

The BIABettes are a great addition to the programs. Give 'em a chord sheet and they go to town....

Really nice, esp the lyric..and you picked a nice rhyming hook.

I'd second the advice about adding some instrumental in there..

Don -

Thanks for taking the time to listen. I know you are an instrumental-break-kind-of-guy... I've heard some really nice ones out of you. Like I said, I've been hanging around for a while...

But I spent a lot of time writing in an environment where the people listening wanted nothing to do with anything other than a short beginning and get-to-the-song. The lyrics/message/story/hook/melody was really the only thing that mattered and there was no time for sitting through istrumental breaks. So you get to the point where you no longer consider that... you get away from it because it "gets in the way"... minds wonder and songs get turned off, they move on... You are "trained" to "get to the point".

As I continue on, I'll try to throw a few in.

Good story - and I like how the second and first verses connect even though in one you're a child and in the second you're an adult.

Strong lead vocal and excellent backing vocals. The choice of instruments backs it up well - a couple of good hooks and I like the chord changes, especially in the chorus. Well done.

Cool Song! Love the lyrics!

Paul, Tommy -

Thanks for the comments (and for listening).

Well it

One fantastic song, great performance. Excellent lyrics. Thanks for sharing your God given talent.

My Music

Great lyrics, and a very fine first attempt. Welcome to the forum.

Good stuff!!! So good I wish I had "done writ it my damned self"!! I don't know if you meant "going out on a limb" literally or metaphorically but it works either way.

Nice BGV. Multi track of your voice or hardware?

I couldn't get it to play. Sorry.

MarioD, PgFantastic ,Robh - Thanks guys! Really appreciate the comments.

eddie - not sure a compliment gets any better than that. The BGVs were done in RealBand using the harmonizer plugin. Running my vocal through it and using the chords from BIAB. Used to use hardware (Studio Vocalist), but this makes it a LOT easier.

jptjptjpt - the page loads a jscript to provide the "play button" (quicktime). I would guess you have your browser set to block it (it's safe code - people use it all the time).

Man I love your style. I love the lyrics and the use of "Band in a Box" I love the Background vocals. When I first heard this song I was like "Alright" What version are you using? I have BIAB 2011.5 the everything pack. If this is a sample of the newest BIAB I am going to get it. I great song, vocals and tune. Wonderful hook, love it.

hi floyd another keeper there,s a lot of talent on this forum keep them comming thanks for sharing great mix and vocal and arrangement has pro sound eric

Well Mr Lurker, mark August 11th, 2023 on your calendar as the day you posted your first song here! You finally pulled the trigger. That’s a big first step. Welcome to the forum! My apologies for not responding sooner. I like to be REALLY on top of these things.

That being said, I think you’re going to find a lot of opportunity to grow and find new things to try. We are all here for the same things; write songs, help others do the same, and BS a little.

Now about this song of yours. I have to say it’s really a good song all the way around. I’m guessing this ain’t your first rodeo? There’s a lot of talent already there and I’m sure it will be fun to watch/hear where things go going forward.

Lyrics, arrangement, melodic choices, even that voice all seem right on point! Mixing is very nice too! You’ve got a lot going for ya. It’s not said often here, but that’s a radio ready sure hit.

Now my advice is to not be a stranger. I want to encourage you to keep writing and be open to new ideas. It can be easy to just keep doing things the same way, get bored, or frustrated and stop. Some people even walk away to do something like play golf or whatever. Like that would be less frustrating! I’m not sure if you’ve ever played? I’m guessing by the song you probably have never played. But who knows, I guess. You might totally surprise me and say you golf, or paint, or whatever. You never know with some people. Don’t laugh too quickly. They are out there.

Lastly, I would recommend steering clear of this new country you hear. There’s nothin’ there for you. Believe me when I say this, if it ain’t a cliche’ wanna be of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s country it ain’t real country. Stick with tried and true. They way things were is how it oughta stay. If it’s already been done, there’s a reason it was. The more times it’s been done, the better the idea. If it hasn’t been done, obviously there’s a reason for that. It’s a bad idea. Change is the enemy. The one thing you have in your favor is at least technology is at a stand still and will be for a long time. Possibly forever. We’ve finally arrived, as they say.

Anyway, I’ll stop rambling on. I usually don’t type this much as I don’t have much to say. So to summarize…
Good song
Welcome to the forum
Be open to new ideas
Stick to what’s already been done

Keep all of this in mind and you might find yourself here years from now having written a good number of songs. You’d be surprised how fast a decade or more can fly by taking that first step out on a limb. Did you see what I did there? I’ve found people like it best when you say something that’s not that clever, but point it out as if it were clever. They also like when you explain it to them.

Sometimes I wish we could get a glimpse of the future today to see how things turn out for a young buck like you. But, there’s no way around just having to wait.

This one truly goes to 11.