A Morning Chill

Back, at least for a while. I've written very little original music since December. We've uploaded some instrumental stuff to Songtradr that I did when I was going through chemo, but that's about it. I wrote about 60 instrumentals during that time. I haven't posted many of them here as I feel you might get bored with nothing but instrumentals.

Anyway, here's one I put together yesterday. It's a guitar instrumental, kind of bluesy with a touch of sadness. There are several effects on the guitar.

PS: I did scratch one thing off my bucket list: I acquired a fabulous jazz guitar. It's a Stromberg Monterey. Been wanting one for years. If you're interested:





Di said to tell everyone hello - she's still recovering. Almost lost her in February and March to sepsis. She's hanging in there but very weak.

I'll be over to listen as I can. Best wishes to all.

File:A Morning Chill.SGU
Key=Bb , Tempo 80, Length (m:s)=3:24
4 bar intro, 20 bar chorus, from bar 5 to bar 24. Repeat x3 choruses
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _SOARING.STY (Soaring Ballad w/Guitar Solo)

RealTracks in style: ~2474:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~2505:Piano, Electric, HeldChords 085
RealTracks in style: 2914:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Folky16thsBrent Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 2690:Guitar, Electric, Soloist Slow16thsPopBrentSimple Ev16 075
RealDrums in Song: PopCountry16ths^01-a:Closed Hat, Sync-kick, b:Closed Hat, Rock-kick

** Just want to be clear that the lead guitar track is a Brent Mason RT, not me. **

Welcome back Alan! Song sounds great. That's a swell looking guitar too. My Best to Di!!

Alan,

Great sound and mix. Nice to see you posting again.

Congratulations on the guitar - looks great.

All the best to you and Di.

Bob

Hi Alan,

This is beautiful! You've managed to create a very haunting and memorable work of sound-art. I can see this being a perfect audio backdrop for a slideshow of family photos and memories. I hear the ambience more as wistful or nostalgic.

As I sat here listening, the feelings that I experienced reminded me of that first time I heard "Stranger On The Shore" with Acker Bilk. His playing and the melody captured my imagination and I sat there transfixed, just letting images and random thoughts drift through my mind. "A Morning Chill" had the same effect on me.

Thank you for the update on Di. Both of you have been very much in my thoughts and I've been regularly hoping that things are travelling as well as they possibly can for the two of you and your family.

Please let Di know that I think she is amazing.

All the best of everything to you both,
Noel

P.S. Congratulations on getting your guitar!

Thanks so much, David, It's great to be back, to the extent I will be able. I sure have missed all you folks. Thanks for the kind words! Wishing you all the best,

Alan

Hi Bob. Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Good to have something on the boards again. And yeah, it's a great guitar - but I've had so little time to play it. Best to you,

Alan

Noel,

You are always much too kind. But I'm learning to liver with it. I'm rather speechless after having read your comment. I hope a heartfelt "Thank you" will be adequate in return.

"Stranger On The Shore" was one the first songs I learned to play lead on. I sat in front of that cheap recorder with my Gretsch Tennessean and worked on that puppy for hours. Finally figured it our. I think I was 14 at the time - thereabouts, anyway.

Thanks for your thoughts for Di. She's holding steady. That's better than regressing.

Wishing you the very best,

Alan

Welcome back, Alan! Very beautiful song, great arrangement. Chords and melody surprise, difficult to guess where they are going next.

Janne

Great to see you back here, Alan! And very good to hear that Di is remaining stable.

Nice instrumental! I like the fx you added to that lead guitar track.

And speaking of guitars that Monterey is one sweet looking guitar! Looking forward to hearing you lay down a track or two with it

Alan,

Great to have you back - even for a bit. Good to hear that Di is on the mend.

This is a really nice piece. You really "show off" that Brent solo track. (Makes me want to try it in something). Really nice processing on it.

The instrumental is well put together. An excellent listen start to finish.

Congrats on the new guitar!

Wishing y'all the best, as always.

fj

Al,

I enjoyed this. Its very well put together with some interesting chord changes and sizzling guitar...and above all it flows beautifully.
Its good to hear from you again!

Robert

Al, first I'm glad that Di is hanging in there. You both are in our prayers.

Second, I green with envy about that jazz box you just purchased

Third, great song. Super chops man!

Fourth, no one gets tired of instrumentals!

Last, I know all about writing songs when on chemo. Been there - done that.

The very best to both of you!!!

And it's nice to see you back here.

We love your track. It's well mixed and as others have mentioned it really shows off Brent and what can be done with a RT. The processing is cool.

We hope you are able to drop by more often.

J&B

Hi Alan. Its all been said. I do like this. Really enjoyed excellent guitar work. Great chord progression as well. All the best to both you and Di. ob

Good to hear from you Alan. Wow such beautiful guitar work. Loved this tune. So dreamy and floating music. Well done.....

Alan, I hope you do a whole album of this kind of stuff. Wonderful guitar work. I am glad you and Di both are feeling better.

Glad to have you back, in any form!

I enjoyed the listen.

Thank you very much, Janne. Glad you enjoyed the song. And yes, I tend to use unusual chord patterns on occasion. Wishing you well.

Alan

Great to hear from you. I appreciate the kind words. The audio effects are reverb with extended decay and a bit of extra rolloff, mild echo (most of the echo is from the reverb decay) and moderate distortion. Pretty basic, I guess.

Thanks for the thoughts on Di. We both appreciate it. Wishing you the best.

Alan

Hi Floyd,

Good to be back. I've stopped in a couple of times for a quick listen but no time to post or offer much in the line of comments. Fortunately, today was a calmer day than I've had in several months.

Thanks for the kind words on the arrangement and production. And yeah - Brent is almost superhuman when he picks up a guitar! To have even one fourth of that talent!

Di says "Hi!". Wishing you and yours the best.

Alan

Thanks so much, Robert. This came together in about 3 hours - start to finish. The concept (chord pattern, style of backing tracks, etc., were pretty much in my mind when I sat down to start this. Glad you enjoyed it - thanks so much!

Alan

Hey Mario!

1. Thanks for the well wishes for Di - much appreciate by both of us.
2. I've been wanting this or another ES-175 (had one back in the 60s). This was in my price range! The neck is so comfortable and great sound from the box.
3. Thank you. A very nice compliment from an accomplished instrumentalist.
4. I don't get tired of instrumentals, but some folks do. A matter of personal likes & dislikes, I guess.

And yeah, that chemo can slow ya down real fast! But we're here to complain about it!!! best to you,

Alan

Hey Ya'll!

Hope all is well in North Georgia. Things are slowly getting better here in Northern Alabama. Thank you for those nice comments. I appreciate them very much. And thanks for the well- wishes directed to Di. I doubt she'll sing again - so damned sad.

Can't go wrong with A Brent Mason part! Wishing you two the best.

Alan

Hi Rob,

Thank you so much. I'm delighted you enjoyed your listen. Thanks for letting me know. Wishing you the very best.

Alan

Hi Scott,

Thanks for dropping in for a listen. Glad it was worth your while. I wish that were me playing the lead - but it's Brent Mason. What a picker he is! Best to you,

Alan

Howdy!

Thank you for those very kind words. I could put together an album of this in a couple fo weeks if I worked real hard at it. Might do that! Many thanks. Wishing you well,

Alan

HI David,

It's great to be back. Hope I can show up fairly often. Thanks for the very nice comment. I appreciate that. Wishing you the very best,

Alan

hi alan welcome back i like this peace well mix and arranged brent is a awesome player glad to here di doing better wishing you both well and keep the tunes coming thanks for sharing eric

Hi Alan,

Not had a lot of time on the forum myself recently, but nice to see you back and
I hope both you and Di are going on well.

What can I say about the track. You write from the heart, just like you sing. That says
it all really - you can't ask for more. Fabulous.

Take care, my friend.

All the best, ROG.

We could have sworn that lead guitar was you ;-)
Really sounds great!
Very well built up instrumental.

Best wishes to both you and Di

Rob and Anne-Marie

Hello, Alan

Welcome back! Very beautiful song!
Especially nice melody on the bridge part.
Nice to see you posting again.
Congratulations on the guitar - very sweet and nice playing!

All the best to you and Di,

Shigeki Adachi

Hi Eric,

Thanks so much for the kind words and your well wishes for Di. We sure do appreciate both! Wishing you the best,

Alan

Hi ROG,

Thanks so much for your really nice comments. Di says "Hi" and thanks you for your well wishes. We both appreciate you very much. Wishing you the very best,

Alan & Di

So glad to see you back Alan! That guitar sounds awesome! Really like the stuff starting around 1:40! Best wishes for full recovery for your wife! Thanks, Torrey

Thanks so much, Rob & Ann-Marie. I wish I could still play like that! In a couple of months, gonna post a video of me actually playing a jazz tune on my new guitar. Anyway, I appreciate your very kind words for the song and for Di. Wishing you both the very best.

Alan

Thank you, Shigeki! Those are some very nice words. But that's Brent Mason playing guitar - he does a pretty good job, eh?! Thanks again.

Alan

Thank you, Torrey. It's great to be back! And I appreciate all those nice words about this one. I mentioned earlier in a reply - I'm gonna post a video of my playing an original jazz tune on the new guitar in a couple of months. Again, many thanks!

Alan

Trying to get to everyone I can for a listen. I'll be over every couple of days to try to do a little catching up. There's some great music on the boards!

Hi, Al !:))


Welcome back and best regards
to Di too, lets hope she´ll
recover her strength soon !

This is probably the best
instro I´ve heard from you
Al, not sure I´ve heard them
all, though ! This is superb
in every aspect !

Cheers
Dani

Sweet tune Al!! Brent's guitar always gets me. Nice mix too but drums seem a bit dry to me. Enjoyed!! Take care. Greg

Thank you very much, Dani. Those are very kind words!

Alan

Hello Greg,

Thanks a bunch. Glad you enjoyed it. I'll listen to the drums again and see what I can do. Appreciate the nice words and comments. Best to you,

Alan

Good to see you back Al!! Congrats on the new guitar. This is really sweet. I could listen to Brent play forever. Any success with Songtradr? I've thought about submitting something there. Welcome back! Take care. Greg

Hi Greg,

Thank you so much for those very nice comments! And it's good to back - to the extent I can. It's a terrific guitar - wish I had more time to play it!

I've had some success at Songtradr. I've had two placements and at the moment, I have two in the hands/ears of a movie musical supervisor. I've had several make the "Short List". It's a relatively inexpensive membership and the site gets lots of activity. Hope you join!

Again, many thanks! Wishing you the best,

Alan

Really nice work on this one guys The whole tune flows beautifully, but what really got me was those soaring guitar solos. The tune feels so free, epic, and huge. That aside, the mixing job is top notch and you really did an outstanding job making the entire tune flow nicely.

Not a thing i'd change - thanks for sharing!

Alan

You got the best out of your session player Brent there.
Nicely done.
Hope you are keeping well, nice looking guitar!

Peter

Deryk and Peter,

Thanks so much. I really appreciate all that! And yes, there's no way to beat brent Mason on guitar! Again, many thanks to both of you.

Alan