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Hello Musical Friends UPDATE: Took onboard some advice from greater ears than mine and have posted v.2 below alongside the original. I've increased the vocals, removed one of the basslines from the quiet part, and put reverb on that harmonica (that made a huge difference). I did try some organs there as well, but nothing sounded right to me. If anyone wants to chime in on remaining niggly bits or give a thumbs up, thanks in advance. I'd like to share my latest song with you: Master on Soundcloud Version 2 This is one I wrote ages ago and it never went further than paper so I'm pleased to see it finally taking shape thanks to BIAB. The style is _EXALT but I changed the band around a bit: Real Bass 3119 Bass 2602 Guitar 1581 Guitar 2547 Guitar 3750 (Isn't it Davis who asks if there's such a thing as too many guitars?) Piano 4900 Organ 2692 Vocal Mms 3278 Harmonica 3291 Real Drums Gospel Cool W Swing 16 A slew of vocals with the usual treatment (compression, reverb, vocal rider) Lyrics: There’s a master watching over me as I go through life’s lessons a teacher with his hand on my shoulder giving me his blessings There’s a guide who stands behind me as I make all my mistakes There’s a force that surrounds me as I grow for Love’s sake Love fill me up, love fill me up Fill me up with just the courage I need Love give me wings, love give me wings give me wings to fly, set my spirit free There’s a power I draw from when I feel weak There’s a courage I gather when things look bleak There’s a source that won’t fail me when I’m ready to break There’s a love that surrounds me as I live for Love’s sake (chorus) When I feel like he’s left me and I can’t feel love there I sometimes forget the truth and start to despair And just when I’m stumbling and can’t right myself again I'm reminded Love’s carrying me right through to the end (chorus) (improv/jam) Just so I know, there’s a master watching over me (chorus) Thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts if so inclined. Totally open to constructive feedback.
Last edited by BYOBand; 07/09/25 10:12 AM. Reason: added link to another version
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Beth,
Nice use of BIAB.
Great that your songs from the past are getting their due...
The harp and organ.work well.
Nice vocals.
Nicely mixed.
A catchy chorus!
fj
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Hi Beth!
I like it - I like it a lot!
The style you chose (ideal for the theme - church organ sound etc.), and the melody and chord progressions, work really well together. The style has a bounce to it, and I reckon you've written good melody and chords to compliment the style - or vice versa. I love that guitar sound sitting behind the harmonica and continuing through to the end - I'm gonna have to look that up to see what it is. Your harmony and backing vocal are good, and I reckon there's an opportunity to double or triple the BV (with relevant harmonisation) - imaging you up front with a trio of gospel BVs behind to the left.
I'm always interested in what process you used to take the lyrics through to the completed song, especially since you said you had the lyrics on paper from a while back i.e. what order of development did you go through? Did you choose a style first to suit the theme, then chords, then melody, or in some other order? Rarely do I start with lyrics - which for me are usually informed by the style and melody, but I do have a title or tag line arising from the melody.
I've added this to my BIAB fav playlist - good work. Let us know when this moves from demo to finished project!
Andrew D
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Hi, Beth. Sounds good! I've have brought the vocals forward a bit - comparable to the harmonica - but they sit in the mix well, so that's just a matter of preference. I see you've got Vocal Rider - I've got to try that out some time. Your vocal styling works really well, and the chorus bop along like it should. Excellent work on the vocals.  All right, on to suggestions to ignore.  I'd be really tempted to pull the vocal forward a bit in time, especially in the verse. When you scoop into the word, like on courage and things, it sounds great, but feels like it softens the attack. You're hitting the beat on time, but (to me) it feels late. Pulling the vocal forward just a bit would cause it to anticipate the beat, and would also add a bit more punch to the attacks. Since the instruments are on the beats 2 & 4, it's up to the vocals to put the punch into the downbeat. Despite Vocal Rider, there are still a couple places where it feels that the vocal is being swallowed by the instruments. Bringing up the vocal would help that a lot. Around 3:30, the funky bass line is fighting with the vocals for attention. Maybe putting a "simple" bass on that part would be better, because the bass would give the steady beat that your vocals could work against. Plus, it would stop the bass player from stealing the attention, which should 100% be on your vocals.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Good gospel groove with a very soulful vocals. Reminds me of my favourite R&B records of 1960s. Very good arrangement; living and growing. One of the best songs I heard here.
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Beth,
Great song and love your vocal. I also think the mix is excellent here.
One of your best productions!
Bob
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Good song! Excellent write and strong chorus. Love the melody! Band sounds good as does the vocal.
I agree with David about maybe bringing the main vocal up a little in the mix, not much, maybe 2db.
Excellent!
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Love the style and your delivery/performance..really great. And a fine lyric, strong melody and nice chord construction. Overall very enjoyable track to listen to.
My one suggestion: I would not have used the harmonica for soloing--I think its sound is too sharp for this track, and it introduces an instrument not already heard on the track--I'd prefer to solo with the organ perhaps--it's already "there" in the band, and its sound is softer, more like the rest of the track.
Thanks for bringing "old" work forward--these projects are never really "done"..!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Love that convincing vocal, Beth. Wonderful song, and very cool background vocal. At first I thought the drum was a bit busy, but then felt it perfectly portrayed the uplifting feeling of the song. Very catchy chorus, a contagious sing-along.
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Thanks for your kind comments and playlisting. To answer your question, I always get the lyric download first. Once I have the words, I more often than not can hear the melody in my head and have a sense of style. If not, I have to sing little bits and pieces into my phone (or less frequently plunk around on the ukulele) until something clicks. That's when I open up BIAB. Then I have to figure out what the heck the chords are (the big gap in my musical knowledge). Where's the software that will do that for me??? So, it seems we have exact opposite flows!
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Hi David,
I was hoping you'd chime in. Thanks for listening. I won't ignore your suggestions as I agree with you on the attack and that the still softer places need boosting. I'll give a listen to that beat issue and bass element. I appreciate your ears.
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Marty, Dave, Bob, & Tom: Thanks to each of you for listening and encouraging. I appreciate the feedback. Tom, I might just see how it sounds with the organ solo. Though I too felt it was too harsh at first, it quickly grew on me, but I'll play around some more.
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Cool, gently rockin' spiritual...VERY NICE! Superb vocals/vocal arrangement. THINK you've really gotten the feel for the BiaB stuff, too. Great job!
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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… I have to sing little bits and pieces into my phone (or less frequently plunk around on the ukulele) until something clicks. …[regarding workflow] So, it seems we have exact opposite flows! Hi Beth! Have you ever featured ukulele in one of your songs? If so / if not, I’d be keen to hear it. The reason I ask about your creative flow is I have realised that creativity can be nudged when working outside of one’s norm (different key, different style, change of writing location, change of instrument, source of lyrics etc.), so I’m interested in others’ approaches that might trigger a new song in me. Andrew D PS I like the idea given to you about an organ solo - I think Tom suggested it.
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A good, strong lyric backed by a well-constructed band. Your voice reminds me of Evie Tornquist (I was a big fan back in the day). The harmonica was a good choice, although I would have added some extra reverb and perhaps moved it a few feet further back from the mic (but that's not a criticism - just my personal taste). Well done
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Beth, this is fantastic
Super groove and instrumentation; I liked the harmonica
Outstanding vocal and lyrics
Super mix
One of your best for sure.
Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?
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I'd not heard this first time around and now that I have I'd not have criticised anything, but then listening to the 2nd version, it's clearly a lot better from the start. The harmony vocals really add to it and the rhythm section is a lot clearer. Love the L.D. Miller harmonica, which also sounds better. The organ also fills it up towards the end, and of course I totally relate to the spirit of the lyrics.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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Beth,
Oh yeah. This (version 2) is very good!
Andrew
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"And just when I’m stumbling
and can’t right myself again
I'm reminded Love’s carrying me
right through to the end"
Great sentiment.
We agree with Ron, "Cool, gently rockin' spiritual."
The mix set up a nice live feeling soundstage on our monitors.
The type we are fans of.
Well done ... carry on your BiaB journey - fun isn't it!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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