5/6/17: About 5 years ago I was noodling on the guitar - a minor chord progression that was fun to play. It was something different for me - normally a "4 on the floor" kinda guy...major chords, 4/4 time, nothing fancy.
I saved the chord progression in my looper so I wouldn't forget it. Glad I did that, because I couldn't play the progression today if my life depended on it!
I then started fooling around with some melody lines. I had a mandolin at the time and was keen on adding a mando track.
However, with only a 4-track digital recorder at the time, and with less than stellar mandolin skills, I decided make it a guitar instrumental. I recorded the guitar (Breedlove C-20 with LR Baggs Anthem pickup) direct, and was surprised how good the pickup sounded.
After the rhythm and the first melody tracks were recorded, my intent was to create a harmony melody track. And to add a separate lead track.
Well, that didn't happen. But it might in the future when I have more tracks to work with.
I layered two additional melody tracks, playing the same thing. That's what makes it sound like a 12-string in a few places. I like the inconsistencies in the recording - reserving the right to "be human."
I chose the title "The Opening" because I was becoming more open to many different things...feeling positive or negative energy. Realizing this is a spiritual world, and that we are spirits inhabiting earthly bodies. Drawing healing energy from the earth as I hiked with Taffy Bear.
This music is meant as a reminder to myself to remain open...to other people, other ideas, to remain receptive.
Enjoy "The Opening."
Reply
Technology today is incredible, and allows us to share parts of our lives in ways that were unfathomable 20 years ago. Facebook, YouTube, the Internet in general, and advances in cell phone technology enable us ot be "wired" as much as we want to be, and to share ourselves with the world.
I remember when a 4-track cassette "portastudio" recorder hit the marketplace. For the first time, ordinary musicians could make multi-track recordings of their music in their own homes...that is, if they could afford the $1500 price tag. Today, a digital 4-track recorder costs $250. A person can create multi-track recordings, save it on their laptop and post it on the Internet on sites such as ReverbNation. It is incredible.
It is my hope to simply share my music. I realize I am not the most incredible musician on the planet, nor the most gifted writer, and certainly not a world-class vocalist. We all have experienced life's lows, highs, and the hum-drum ordinary times that are taken for granted. A truly great song will enable someone to identify with its themes and images and form a bond. I can't say that I have ever written a truly great song. But maybe someone will feel a connection with either the music or the lyrics. That is all I am seeking....to form connections through the life experiences I write about. It is about sharing.
Reply
I am the proverbial late bloomer. Been playing music seriously off and on for about 30 years. I have finally figured a few things out!
Recently, I gave this advice to my son...Don't Wait For Other People. If there is something you wanna do, don't wait for others to "get ready." Just go for it and don't look back.
I figured out that it is very possible to enjoy playing music, and do it on MY terms. I gave up the "rock star" aspirations before I was 30. But I was still misguided, greedy, very full of myself, and oh, so confident of my incredible ability.
Life will teach its lessons one way or another. It is up to us to be receptive and learn, or to ignore these lessons and pound our head against the wall.
Reply
GL Osborn / Blog
About "The Opening"
5/6/17: About 5 years ago I was noodling on the guitar - a minor chord progression that was fun to play. It was something different for me - normally a "4 on the floor" kinda guy...major chords, 4/4 time, nothing fancy.
I saved the chord progression in my looper so I wouldn't forget it. Glad I did that, because I couldn't play the progression today if my life depended on it!
I then started fooling around with some melody lines. I had a mandolin at the time and was keen on adding a mando track.
However, with only a 4-track digital recorder at the time, and with less than stellar mandolin skills, I decided make it a guitar instrumental. I recorded the guitar (Breedlove C-20 with LR Baggs Anthem pickup) direct, and was surprised how good the pickup sounded.
After the rhythm and the first melody tracks were recorded, my intent was to create a harmony melody track. And to add a separate lead track.
Well, that didn't happen. But it might in the future when I have more tracks to work with.
I layered two additional melody tracks, playing the same thing. That's what makes it sound like a 12-string in a few places. I like the inconsistencies in the recording - reserving the right to "be human."
I chose the title "The Opening" because I was becoming more open to many different things...feeling positive or negative energy. Realizing this is a spiritual world, and that we are spirits inhabiting earthly bodies. Drawing healing energy from the earth as I hiked with Taffy Bear.
This music is meant as a reminder to myself to remain open...to other people, other ideas, to remain receptive.
Enjoy "The Opening."
Reply
Sharing
Technology today is incredible, and allows us to share parts of our lives in ways that were unfathomable 20 years ago. Facebook, YouTube, the Internet in general, and advances in cell phone technology enable us ot be "wired" as much as we want to be, and to share ourselves with the world. I remember when a 4-track cassette "portastudio" recorder hit the marketplace. For the first time, ordinary musicians could make multi-track recordings of their music in their own homes...that is, if they could afford the $1500 price tag. Today, a digital 4-track recorder costs $250. A person can create multi-track recordings, save it on their laptop and post it on the Internet on sites such as ReverbNation. It is incredible. It is my hope to simply share my music. I realize I am not the most incredible musician on the planet, nor the most gifted writer, and certainly not a world-class vocalist. We all have experienced life's lows, highs, and the hum-drum ordinary times that are taken for granted. A truly great song will enable someone to identify with its themes and images and form a bond. I can't say that I have ever written a truly great song. But maybe someone will feel a connection with either the music or the lyrics. That is all I am seeking....to form connections through the life experiences I write about. It is about sharing.
Reply
A Late Bloomer
I am the proverbial late bloomer. Been playing music seriously off and on for about 30 years. I have finally figured a few things out! Recently, I gave this advice to my son...Don't Wait For Other People. If there is something you wanna do, don't wait for others to "get ready." Just go for it and don't look back. I figured out that it is very possible to enjoy playing music, and do it on MY terms. I gave up the "rock star" aspirations before I was 30. But I was still misguided, greedy, very full of myself, and oh, so confident of my incredible ability. Life will teach its lessons one way or another. It is up to us to be receptive and learn, or to ignore these lessons and pound our head against the wall.
Reply