| Adam Baboolal 22.04.2008 11:28 |
Hey folks. Calling all Queen/Brian May musicians who can help me out with something. In recording some recent tracks, I sometimes find little noises that Brian makes with his guitar, but I can't quite figure out how to reproduce them. As a semi-guitarist, I find it a little difficult to reproduce these little things that make his playing gel between one thing and another. I have recorded a cover and find that it needs those little nice-ities to make it all fit right. Can someone help me with some tips? Or places to find out where I can work out what these little details are? I'm talking about "Too Much Love..." and the growling guitar before the solo or just little noises. I know that's a tremolo dive/rise noise and I already scrape along the strings with the pick. But there are more difficult noises to figure out. Forgive me if I'm being vague. If anyone wants more info, I'll try and provide it. Thanks, Adam. P.s. thought it'd be nice to have a proper topic and push the rubbish down the page! |
| john bodega 22.04.2008 12:32 |
I guess.. maybe this counts as uploading official material, but if you could show us snippets of the sounds you're trying to pull off? Alternatively I guess you could tell us (in '3:45' style) whereabouts in the song to find the things. |
| redspecialusa 22.04.2008 14:12 |
Definitely tell me where to find them...and I'll try and help you too. |
| Adam Baboolal 22.04.2008 14:28 |
Thanks guys. Okay, I think I've got it right: TMLWKY - MIH version 2:46 = a string grind I try this by running my hand across the string cause I can never get it right with the pick. But this is less about what I'm getting at... 3:01 = tremolo rise?? It just sounds so nice. But everytime I try it, it sounds a bit off. Dunno how to describe it, but maybe just a bit wimpy sounding. Now I'm lucky enough to run my AC30cc2x at full volume, so that's not the issue! Maybe I need to be more subtle with my volume on the guitar... That's kinda what I'm looking at right now, but hey, maybe I'm missing something. I just find these to be simple, but not! Oh well... Cheers guys, Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 22.04.2008 14:51 |
Adam, maybe Im hearing things, but just before the solo starts it sounds as though Brian has turned the volume down, plucked an E note (maybe on the 9th fret of the G string), turned the volume up so that you can hear only the trail of the note and then did the tremelo dive thing. Just my tuppence worth I based it on this youtube clip (not the best source, I know, but I dont have the CD to hand at the moment) link *edit* I got the wrong starting note for the bit just before the solo - DOH! |
| Adam Baboolal 22.04.2008 15:43 |
Interesting thought - could you demonstrate this with a sound file of your own? Thanks, Adam. |
| mooghead 22.04.2008 16:26 |
Adam Baboolal wrote: Interesting thought - could you demonstrate this with a sound file of your own? Thanks, Adam.Don't want much do you?! |
| Mr Mercury 22.04.2008 16:29 |
Adam you might have to wait till after the middle of next week for me to do an attempt at a sound file for you as I dont have a guitar in the house with a tremelo on it. Is that ok? |
| Adam Baboolal 22.04.2008 17:26 |
No probs man - much appreciated. I'll get this cover to QZ sooner than that so I'll miss out on adding this new guitar trick(!), but hey, it'll be great to add to my playing. Look forward to it! Oh well, better get back to mixing it! Adam. |
| Adam Baboolal 30.04.2008 06:30 |
Right, I've got some time to myself today and want to finish my cover at last. Mr Mercury, dunno if you have done that sound file, but I am going to try doing some guitar noises on my own. But if you do have that file, please post it as I would love the help! Anyway, too-del-oo! Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 30.04.2008 08:16 |
Adam, Im gonna get cracking on this right away. Hopefully it will done asap, ok By the way I should also point out that I am not normally a user of tremolo systems to be honest as I find them a pain in the arse usually. But I will give this my best shot. |
| Mr Mercury 30.04.2008 12:14 |
Stuff sent Adam. Check your email when you get the chance. |
| Adam Baboolal 30.04.2008 21:42 |
Thanks for the clips. I've been doing all sorts today. I actually had a bad start with the cover as the entire song was somehow out of sync...everywhere! :( But, luckily, it was a glitch that I managed to overcome. Anyway, the clips were interesting. But not really what I was looking for. It is a hard sound to pin down. But tonight I've given it a few goes and have some bits and pieces that may fit what I want now. Thanks for the advice! I hope to have this done by Friday with any luck. :) Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 01.05.2008 05:54 |
Hi Adam, Yeah getting Brian's sound is actually harder than I imagined - especially his clean, bright sound that he used for TMLWKY and TGIC. If anyone knows then let me know, bearing mind that all I have is a Burns BM guitar and a PodXt Live guitar effects box. Cant wait to hear how you got on with the song, Adam |
| Adam Baboolal 01.05.2008 09:59 |
The clean sound is difficult, but I now have an AC30CC2x and it just happens very easily. Haven't quite figured how to record the sound the way I want, but it's something I'll look into. It might interest you to know that the Digitech pedal actually sounds really good for those kind of things - moreso the later sounds ala MIH clean sounds. But the earlier sounds are definitely there. Not exact, but close. I haven't used the Digi cause I have a good amp - but I used it for the solo guitar guide and it sounded very close to being right. The only thing it's missing is a smidgen more gain. Here's a sample of the Digi on the guide solo I mentioned - link Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 01.05.2008 13:19 |
The pedal was something I passed up a chance to get. DOH!! How I wish I hadnt now. On my PodXT Live box, it does have a mod for the vox ac30. But like most of these mod's they tend to be either nothing like the real thing or something close but not quite like the real thing. Luckily for me the other effects on my box are pretty decent. Brian's clean sound is, for me, just on the right side of "bright" without sounding to twangy or tinny. Thanks for the download as well Adam |
| Adam Baboolal 02.05.2008 07:27 |
This sounds and looks interesting - link |
| ludwigs 02.05.2008 13:13 |
Adam, I'd strongly suggest that it is a small trem vib without any pre pick(not large but just enough to let the notes start to come out on their own via the movement of the rocker block....same kinda way that coaxing a note out with gentle taps on the neck/body etc....) Then with your fretting hand pull-off a few of the strings....D,G,B work well. (No specific fretted note but just pull off the strings--mid length) Then quickly bend the trem a few semi-tones and allow the release to melt into the nicer sounding G chord (that you have made during the pull off.) It has the initial dissonance as each string changes pitch differently. Give it a whirl. I'm very confident that it is the tip/effect you are looking at....:) |
| Adam Baboolal 03.05.2008 19:08 |
I hadn't done that Ludwig, so nice thought you have there. Hmm...I've just finished most of it tonight and have some mere editing to do. I may have already recorded a little sound that fits what you're talking about, but haven't used it, yet. We shall see... Anyway, I'll get the track to QZ within the next 2-3 days now. Not long to go. :) Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 06.05.2008 13:37 |
Adam, how is finished product coming along? |
| Adam Baboolal 06.05.2008 15:49 |
lol - knowing me, still WIP (Work In Progress). Got a fair bit going on and thought it'd be nice to take a break. But I want it done asap, just like the other guys on this cover. Got so many things goin on at the moment, so, wanna balance things. However, Mr Mercury, if you can't wait, I've got a snippet of the solo uploaded. You'll have to PM me if you want a link. :) Otherwise, it'll be a few days. Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 06.05.2008 15:59 |
PM sent Adam. Hopefully the pm thingy on here is working properly |
| Adam Baboolal 06.05.2008 16:34 |
PM ain't working anymore. Oh well...you could email me if you're still bothered. Adam. |
| Mr Mercury 06.05.2008 17:57 |
Email sent Adam |
| Mr Mercury 07.05.2008 07:49 |
The solo sounds just fine to me Adam. Infact its nicer sounding than the one I sent you. More crisp sounding. Well done so far!! |
| Adam Baboolal 08.05.2008 06:03 |
Thanks. I just wish I could find some spare time to get back into it. I'm starting to think I do too much for other people, methinks. Adam. |