|
|
|
|
#229181 - 12/18/13 08:28 AM
[User Showcase]
The Best Christmas
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
This is likely the last Christmas song I will post this year..... (did I hear a sigh of relief from someone?) This is a colab written, IIRC, around the end of 2011 using BB/RT for all the instrumentation. I am not the singer. All the tracks are real band renderings except the drums which are Jamstix and the bass guitar which is played by me as a sampled midi bass. THE BEST CHRISTMAS enjoy
Edited by Guitarhacker (12/18/13 08:31 AM)
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229196 - 12/18/13 09:34 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 12/08/11
Posts: 4934
Loc: Edmonton, Ab, Canada
Veteran
Registered: 12/08/11
Posts: 4934
Loc: Edmonton, Ab, Canada
|
Definitely a toe tappin, two steppin Christmas tune. Loved it...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229473 - 12/19/13 08:18 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
Thanks Scott...
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229704 - 12/20/13 06:57 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 1802
Loc: WEST MIDLANDS, UK
Expert
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 1802
Loc: WEST MIDLANDS, UK
|
Hi Herb
An excellent up tempo happy modern song with THE Christmas message.
Loved it!
cheers
ian
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229710 - 12/20/13 07:36 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 16474
Loc: Australia
Veteran
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 16474
Loc: Australia
|
Hi Herb,
This song is great; a really enjoyable listen. I have to hand it to you. Your songs are sounding incredibly professional. You've really developed the knack for writing, arranging and producing.
Below is just an aside. Please feel free to ignore it (in fact, you probably should) ...
Because I recently noticed that one of floyd's songs was a list song, it immediately stood out to me that verse 1 of this one, too, was a list song. One of the reasons that I find it difficult to use the 'list' approach is because I find verse development difficult. The question of "How do I make the second verse more emotionally intense?" always leaves me scratching my head. You've done it amazingly well here.
In her book, 10 Steps To Effective Story Telling, Andrea Stolpe talks about using more internal-based lyrics in the second verse as a means of development. I don't know if you're aware of it, but that's exactly what you've done here.
Using Stolpe terminology, in verse 1, you've used three 'external' lines followed by a fourth 'internal' line. (An 'internal' line is always great as a chorus trigger.) Then in verse 2, you've used one 'external' line followed by three 'internal' lines. Because you've set the scene so well with verse 1, the emotional intensity of the three 'internal' lines really lifts the emotional weight of the second verse. Very, very nicely done! In my opinion, these lyrics showcase the fine use of some great songwriting tools.
Overall ... it's applause all around from me!
All the best,
Noel
_________________________
LINKS TO MY BIAB/RB SONGS
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229718 - 12/20/13 08:06 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3080
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3080
Loc: Florida
|
Herb, Super job on this one! Well written, well arranged and edited, well recorded, and your singer did a nice job. I'm all in. Tom
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229722 - 12/20/13 08:25 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
Ian: Yes, the Christmas message IS all about loving one another.
Noel: I had to think about that for a minute to understand what you were saying. I agree. The hardest thing for most song writers is to write a second verse that is better, more dynamic, and lively than the first. Writing a good first verse is relatively easy.... it's that second one that kicks everybody's butt.
I'm not patting myself on the back (too much) but one thing I have found is that my best songs and best ideas are generally collaborations with other writers. There's a lot to be said for having another person with a different POV to bounce the ideas back and forth. The more experience both parties have in writing, the better the results will be. A simple case of the sum being greater then the individual parts.
We actually looked at that from the negative to positive viewpoint. I don't, I don't, I don't, to... I do..... Once the switch was made from negative to positive, a whole new world of possibility opened for writing and the second verse was mostly written with the positive viewpoint in mind.
In addition to writing with D. Martin... the song came from his idea but it really changed from the first draft which does not resemble the finished tune very much. I worked with several professional songwriters at the Nashville Songwriters Assoc to critique the song..... structure, ideas, etc. They offered no writing input just advice.... maybe you should look at this, explore that idea, or drop that verse and this verse, combine these 2 things into one, and get to the chorus faster here. That sort of thing. The advice they offered took this from it's original almost 5 minute song with 4 verses, chorus, and a bridge, down to what you just heard.
You often hear me speak here about the need to rewrite a song when I critique someone else's songs..... I don't tell people to do things that I don't do myself. The secret to writing a good song is to rewrite it. Most people will not do that. Most are stuck with the notion that the first draft is the absolute best and they, nor anyone else is gonna mess with their perfect baby. Truth is.... there are very few.... very few song writers who can set down to write and the first draft is flawless and becomes a hit or a timeless classic. Sure it happens, but for most writers, it's a process of editing, adding, deleting, rearranging, and hard work to refine a song to the point where it is better than average. Of course, the more one writes the easier it becomes to get nearer the target at the beginning. You can't write 3 songs a year and expect to advance very much... it has to be an ongoing process... something you do on a regular basis. I have notebooks and now computer files filled with ideas started but not finished.
Enough on that.
I'm glad you liked the song. And I appreciate the in depth analysis of the verses. I just bought a new book on crafting better lyrics and have started to browse it before I settle in to read and digest the content of the author.
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229753 - 12/20/13 10:46 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2868
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
Veteran
Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2868
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
|
Hi Herb,
nice song. Good vocals and mix.
Merry Christmas.
Guenter
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229755 - 12/20/13 10:55 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 12/13/12
Posts: 958
Expert
Registered: 12/13/12
Posts: 958
|
Hi Guitarhacker,
Terrific! That you twangin' the git''tar? Man, it sounds so good. Tight harmonies, you nail all the pitches, tell a happy story and really drive that train.
Aleck Rand (aka Dean Clark)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229781 - 12/20/13 01:06 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
Boehm: thanks
Aleck: nope.... not me on the guitar. that is a composite of 5 guitar tracks from real band. Thanks for thinking that was me though.
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229848 - 12/20/13 07:24 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 16474
Loc: Australia
Veteran
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 16474
Loc: Australia
|
Hi Herb, I totally agree with the re-write concept. I don't do enough of it! I just bought a new book on crafting better lyrics... I'm curious. Who is the author of the book? If you want to do yourself a real favour, I highly - very highly, in fact - recommend that you get hold of Pat Pattison's three books. They're the books I keep on reading and re-reading. 1. Writing Better Lyrics 2. Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure 3. Essential Guide to Rhyming Pattison is a professor of lyrics and poetry at Berklee College. Perhaps his most famous students are John Mayer and Gillian Welch. His books are very different from EVERY other songwriting book. If you're interested, and on the off-chance that you mightn't know, Pattison also has a free course on https://www.coursera.org/. Many people on the PG Website have done this 6-week long course and all seem to highly value it. Over the years, I've been to around 15 or 16 of his weekend workshops. They're awesome! If ever you get the chance to attend a class of his, it's well worth going to. All the best, Noel
_________________________
LINKS TO MY BIAB/RB SONGS
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229873 - 12/20/13 11:01 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 4580
Veteran
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 4580
|
Nicely done collab Herb.
Merry Christmas.
Josie
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229893 - 12/21/13 04:59 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 4544
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
Veteran
Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 4544
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
|
Hi Herb,
I'm a newbie here...just signed up about an hour ago. I like your song. I played lead guitar in a Country band for almost 40 years and we did a lot of Country Swing and Western Swing...Bob Wills, Asleep At The Wheel, etc. You had my toe tappin' all the way. Thanks for a great listen! Merry Christmas...
Al David
_________________________
BIAB 2018 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win10*8GB DDR4*I5-6th Gen*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120 Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229909 - 12/21/13 07:42 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Noel96]
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
Hi Herb,
I'm curious. Who is the author of the book?
If you want to do yourself a real favour, I highly - very highly, in fact - recommend that you get hold of Pat Pattison's three books. They're the books I keep on reading and re-reading.
1. Writing Better Lyrics
Noel that's the one. I also have some others including Jason Blume's 6 steps
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229910 - 12/21/13 07:43 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
Thanks Josie...
Al,,, much appreciated and welcome
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229924 - 12/21/13 08:40 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 8202
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 8202
Loc: Florida
|
Herb,
A nice song. Good mix and a very nice vocal.
The guitar solos are nice - and the piano works well in this. - floyd
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#229952 - 12/21/13 11:04 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 12/26/11
Posts: 1835
Expert
Registered: 12/26/11
Posts: 1835
|
hi herb great job vocal mix love that guitar solo thanks for sharing eric
_________________________
AMD (TM) 8150 3.60 GHz Eight Core Processor 64 bit windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card delta 1010 pci card 500 ssd drive 3 other drives guitars 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100 pedal Carvin SRS Studio reference series
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#230062 - 12/21/13 08:27 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6911
|
Floyd & FMM Thanks for listening...
_________________________
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#230154 - 12/22/13 10:18 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 8791
Loc: GA USA
Veteran
Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 8791
Loc: GA USA
|
Nice production to end the year on for sure! Guitars solos are outstanding and backed with a fine mix.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#230373 - 12/23/13 04:22 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: The Best Christmas
[Re: Guitarhacker]
|
|
Registered: 07/15/12
Posts: 1726
Expert
Registered: 07/15/12
Posts: 1726
|
very nice work indeed! excellent choice of instrumentation. and extremely well crafted lyrics
(I also enjoyed the lyric writing discussion this song posting evoked)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW Add-ons for Band-in-a-Box® 2020 - Xtra Styles PAK 9 & Loops-with-Style PAK 2!
We're delighted to be adding 200 GROUNDBREAKING RealStyles to the Band-in-a-Box® collection with Xtra Styles PAK 9!
Our new Rock-Pop additions include neo soul with vocals, classic ska with a horn section, a psychedelic sixties pop ballad, heavier action-scene cinematic metal, post-punk folk rock, six-substyle gospel pop MultiStyle with vocals, and more!
With the latest Jazz Xtra Styles, we've added everything from quarter-feel jazz blues to New Orleans Gospel to jazzy disco funk and gentle bossa folk pop, and more! We've also included a brand-new (huge!) ten-substyle "changes" jazz swing MultiStyle with three different soloist options!
The newest Country RealTracks are a real treat! We've fused folk and Americana instruments with the country sounds you know and love: ethereal and songwriter country ballads, a country rock march, country pop with layered cellos, a country soul groove, and much, much more! The included six-substyle summertime country pop MultiStyle will help you create your perfect summertime hit!
Plus, we've added to our Folk & Beyond collection with our Xtra Styles PAK 9 release! There are 50 fresh new styles, including a Cajun jaw harp boogie, cinematic folk with strings, a modern Celtic folk reel, a gentle three-guitar folk ballad, delta blues with shaker - the list goes on! Add Folk & Beyond 2 and you'll also receive a brand-new eight-part mountain folk MultiStyle!
There are 50 new RealStyles in each genre - get them ALL for only $29 until June 30th! Learn more, listen to demos and order here.
But wait... there's MORE!
We've also rolled out 50 NEW Styles and 100 NEW Loops in Loops-with-Style PAK 2!
Use these new Styles and Loops directly in your Band-in-a-Box® songs to access all their B substyle loops, or load these acidized loops directly into your DAW that supports acid info! Genres include Electronic, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock, World, plus we're introducing two new genre categories - Gospel and Folk!
Add Loops-with-Style PAK 2 today for just $19! Learn more and purchase here.
Haven't purchased Loops-with-Styles yet? Get the entire collection for only $29 when you bundle Loops-with-Style PAK 1 & Loops-with-Style PAK 2 for only $29! That's 100 Styles and 200 Loops for Band-in-a-Box® for just $29! Order now.
Mac User? Click here for Mac details and purchase links.
Band-in-a-Box® 2020 for Windows is Xtra Ready!
We never stop! The latest free patch update for Band-in-a-Box® 2020 for Windows readies the program for the just-launched Xtra Styles PAK 9 (on sale until June 30th - learn more here)!
Update to build 721 and you'll see that we've improved the step-advancing notes display, updated the key command criteria for looping bars from the chordsheet, fixed email client integration, and more.
If you are a Band-in-a-Box® 2020 for Windows user, you'll definitely want to update to the latest free patch update!
Learn more about Band-in-a-Box® 2020 build 721 for Windows and download it here.
#TBT Band-in-a-Box Finds!
I don't know about everyone here, but now that I've settled in to our "new normal" I've taken to rearranging and dusting off many things in order to keep busy and productive!
I'm picking up old hobbies, picking up clutter around the house, and as it turns out - finding forgotten picks!
We snagged these gems many, many, many years ago after The NAMM Show one winter. Check out the old Band-in-a-Box logo! Click here...
Have any of you come across something nostalgic like this these days? Let's see it!
(remember the first Audiophile version?!)
-Callie
Team Marketing
Review - Band-in-a-Box® 2020 for Mac … WOW!
"Dr. Dave" Walker (Dr. Dave On Music) recently received Band-in-a-Box® 2020 for Mac, and he absolutely loves it!
He's written his thoughts in detail, which can (and definitely should) be read here: Band-in-a-Box 2020 for Mac … WOW!
"Band-in-a-Box 2020 is a huge advance over even BB2019, with easier to use, more powerful features that give you more information while creating more musical results. You have never had more control of more features which are now much easier to find. The move forward with this version is astonishing. Again … WOW!
My very highest recommendation. Just upgrade! Or if for some strange reason you don’t have it yet, BUY THIS ONE! It will change your musical life!"
-"Dr. Dave" Walker
Thank you for the review, Dr. Dave!
Band-in-a-Box® 2020 Italian for Windows is Here!
Abbiamo lavorato duro e abbiamo aggiunto 50 nuove funzionalità e una straordinaria raccolta di nuovi contenuti, tra cui 202 RealTracks (il doppio dei 101 che abbiamo spesso pubblicato in passato), nuovi RealStyles, SuperTracks MIDI, Studi strumentali, trascrizioni RealDrums, stili Extra PAK 8 e altro!
ACQUISTA/AGGIORNA & SCARICA ADESSO
Interview: Eyes on Success featuring PG Music Inc., Band-in-a-Box® 2020, and the Updated JAWS Script
Take 30 minutes and make sure to listen to the latest episode from Eyes on Success, which focuses on the history of Band-in-a-Box® and using it with the screen reader JAWS, created by Peter Torpey. Hosts Nancy & Peter discuss our company history and Band-in-a-Box program with Tobin, our chief development officer, including how Band-in-a-Box is even more accessible with the help of their JAWS screen reader scripts!
Click here to download and listen to the podcast - you don't want to miss this one!
Eyes on Success is a weekly radio show / podcast geared to the visually impaired called "Eyes On Success" and that can be found at www.EyesOnSuccess.net.
Currently the scripts and associated documentation and resources can be found here.
You can watch Peter Torpey's video testimonial here.
#TipTuesday - Style Changes in Band-in-a-Box®
Head to our Tips & Tricks forum to read what other Band-in-a-Box users have discovered about the program!
Like mrgeeze's recent post Style Changes within a song.. another great BIAB feature.
...My arrangement's bass Real Track was 397 (bass Acoustic Paul).
Solid but not really what I wanted for a solo.
I hit the F5 key to bring up bar setting and poked around till i found the Real Tracks command button in the upper right.
Clicked on that & quickly change the bass to 452 (Soloist (bluesy).
12 bars later I did the same and switched it back to 397.
The results were excellent...
Did you know about this feature? Learn all about Bar Settings and how you can adjust them here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32166 Members
65 Forums
64331 Topics
545401 Posts
Max Online: 2537 @ 01/19/20 07:09 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous Topic
Index
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean
