Dave Houck's project - a quick improvisation

[David Houck]

I was practicing this morning, basically just improvising on a scale, when I decided to record a sample of what I was doing just so I could hear what it sounded like.  The segment is only about a minute long; but I thought I would share it here.


Since I was just improvising, I didn't look at compression in my signal path; and while I tried to address the peaks using compression when editing the recording, I still don't do that very well.  So the peaks are a bit too much.  But otherwise, I like listening to it.


Here's the link.

[lbpesq]

Sweet!  I like it, Dave.

Bill, tgo

[David Houck]

Thanks Bill!

[growlypants]

Very Cool!  I usually "warm up" with some scales as well.  Different keys, ascending and descending, alternating notes, sometimes in threes...it's a more fun way to get there.  (But, then again, I'm 70 now.  So, getting there may be all the fun I have left in me!!!)

[David Houck]

Thanks Dan!  Practicing scales is more than a warm-up for me, as I'm still working on learning them; and this exercise today was quite helpful.

[edwardofhuncote]

"Friday Morning" was just as nice on Saturday, Dave. 


Say... a while back you were thinking of trying different strings... I seem to remember going from T-I Jazz Rounds to something else... did you ever settle on anything you liked better? Maybe it was just the ultralight .118 B you were trying to deal with?

[David Houck]

Thanks Gregory; and yes, in the past I've asked about other strings and about B strings in particular.


I'm still playing TI Jazz Rounds, except for the B.  I did a lot of reading, and a lot of comparing of string tension numbers, and eventually decided that nothing comes close to JR's.


For the past year or so, I've been playing with an Alembic E string tuned down to a D; so my tuning is D-E-A-D-G-C.  I never use the lowest string in chords, it's just too far of a stretch from the lowest string to the highest string; so the lowest string is only used for open bass notes, and I don't care for an open low B.


I do however find the open low D very useful; and because I use a partial capo, the same string becomes an open low F when capoed at the 3rd fret.  The other unexpected benefit is that the change in tension helped balance out the overall neck so that the C strings sits a little better with less tendency towards buzzing at the 13th fret.


I do wonder every once in a while about flats; the idea being that flats would eliminate finger noise.  However, I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to get the tone that I'm getting with my current strings, an immediate example of which is the recording linked in this thread.  And I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to manipulate the strings as easily as I can with these strings.


So to address the problem of finger noise I'll probably just have to keep working on technique.  Might not get there in this lifetime, but perhaps in the next one.

[edwardofhuncote]

Well, FWIW, (and I'm certainly not a qualified critic here) but I don't hear the finger noise as a particularly bad thing when heard in this context, Dave. I think it imparts a little of the human element to the recording, very much like that of a solo classical guitarist. Obviously you wouldn't want too much, as that would be distracting. I guess it's a delicate balance... you'll know where the middle is.

Believe it or not, when I track upright parts, the engineer typically mics not only the soundboard of my bass, but also the fingerboard extension, specifically to capture some extra fingers-on-strings *snap*.

*here lately, I've gone back to T-I Jazz Rounds on my old Distillate for a recording project, and can't get over what a huge difference it makes. I might leave them for a while, just for giggles before going back to my beloved T-I Jazz Flats. But wow, they sure are light.

[David Houck]

... I don't hear the finger noise as a particularly bad thing when heard in this context, ... I think it imparts a little of the human element to the recording, very much like that of a solo classical guitarist. Obviously you wouldn't want too much, as that would be distracting. I guess it's a delicate balance ...

Yeah, you're probably right.  But sometimes it's distracting to me, especially the tunes where I have to change chords quickly.   

[rv_bass]

David, that was really nice!  I love the little riff at 38 seconds and the low notes you throw in now and then.  I liked the overall sound and effects too.

[David Houck]

Thanks Rob!