Any goals for 2007??

[rjgoos]

I suppose the term "new year's resolution" carries too much cultural baggage of vows made and subsequently broken, but what are your musical goals for 2007?


Jay

[jamsire]

:) I plan to become funkier!:D

[rjgoos]

Originally posted by jamsire
I plan to become funkier!


Is that possible, Jamsire?


Jay

P.S. My son really likes Fingerstyle Funk, which he got for his birthday a week or so ago.

[jamsire]

That's humbling indeed.

Thank you Jay.

Nice way to end my year.

All the best.

[K Rex]

I will grow my hair longer.

I will practice 19 hours a day.

I will improve my bad attitude, unless I am annoyed.

I will invent a new, hitherto undiscovered time signature, and play it standing on my head while chewing bubble gum.

I will tolerate the opinions of others, unless I am annoyed.

I will finally disfigure the smug face of popular music once and for all.

I will never shave my face again.

I promise.

2007, baby!!! Yeah!!!!!

Kevmodeus Rex

[glints-collide]

to go further into poly rhythms and be able to play 3 rhythms at the same time (5 ag 4 or 3 ag 4 with one hand works already :-) )

use them in songs in a musical way

improve my knowledge of theory and scales

improve my hand independence

write really exciting music and push the possibilities of
composing further

and of course just get groovier, tighter and faster!



All the best!

Alex

[rjgoos]

Originally posted by K Rex


I will finally disfigure the smug face of popular music once and for all.






Go for it...PLEASE!!!

[jamsire]

Let us all do our best to change music for the better. No matter who is or is >>NOT<< listening

Watching the James Brown funeral yesterday showed me the impact one man had on music for everyone. I have never seen such a beautiful coming home service in my lifetime for one man in music. They didn't do it for Miles - and he changed the sound of music three times. But they did it for Brother James Brown and it was remarkable.

Regardless of who hears what we do or not, play it, record it and make it the best possible thing you've done up to date. One day, someone will discover it - and make it known that you were doing something new and different.

Indeed - my goal for the rest of my life is to get funkier and funkier - and share it with anyone who'll listen.

And I'm gonna beat up that Pascal guy stick player dude in the parking lot for being so damn ahead of the game amazing!!!;)

[K Rex]

"Funky President" is my favorite James Brown tune. I like Maceo Parker quite a bit, too. Saw him several times in the Virginia Beach area... years ago.

But that isn't really my thing... I'm a prog-rock goob. I love heavy, heavy, HEAVY prog-rock. Senselessly, mind-numbingly complicated prog-rock. Love it, love it, love it.

I've got a new sound card, and will be posting some new recordings (solo Warr Phalanx + drums/percussion) in the next couple of months.

I might just beat that Pascal guy up because he is so good, but sits down when he plays.

Happy New Year to all. May peace reign in the new year.

K Rex

[traktor]

Originally posted by jamsire
... Watching the James Brown funeral yesterday showed me the impact one man had on music for everyone. I have never seen such a beautiful coming home service in my lifetime for one man in music. They didn't do it for Miles - and he changed the sound of music three times. But they did it for Brother James Brown and it was remarkable. ... By chance, a couple of James Brown's bandmembers (the Famous Flames) told me, many years ago, how James Brown wrote those funky songs. If you would like to hear his surprising method, then visit the following entry from my weblog --

So Long -- James Brown (http://www.bloggard.com/blog/item/579)

And if you'd like to read my requiem for Miles, it can be found at --

Of What Use is a Song? (http://www.bloggard.com/blog/item/274)

A happy new year for all tappers of all persuasions, and may God Bless Us, every one.

[jamsire]

Originally posted by K Rex
But that isn't really my thing... I'm a prog-rock goob. I love heavy, heavy, HEAVY prog-rock. Senselessly, mind-numbingly complicated prog-rock. Love it, love it, love it.


DUDE!!!

Rush - anything (Free Will is funky)
Crimson - anything
Yes - obvious
Gentle Giant - C'mon, make me stop!

My point is - I'm with ya!

But it's all about Bootsy.

[rjgoos]

Jamsire wrote:

>Rush - anything (Free Will is funky)
Crimson - anything
Yes - obvious
Gentle Giant - C'mon, make me stop!<


I was not listening to popular music when these groups were popular. I was married by then, and my wife and I mostly listened to classical or folk music on public radio. Apart from "Roundabout", I can't say that I could name or identify a song by any of the aforementioned bands. I still have no concept of why people like Tony Levin and Trey Gunn are held in such reverence in the tapping/touchstyle world. I was mostly listening to the likes of Leo Kottke in those days.

But, back to the subject of the thread...... I love it when people have big, audacious, impossibly big dreams. If K-Rex has a dream to kick the complacent world of popular music in the ass...I am the first to cheer him on.

[jamsire]

I'm all about the change in the way things could be.

For my birthday - this month, I'm getting a camcorder and getting Youtubed to the hilt!

Behold!

The onslaught of Jamsire Ernoir

[rpmartino]

My musical motivation and focus is at an all time high these days, with my Stick and particular tuning and musical influences all coming together in such a way that I've been getting more ideas than I can keep up with or physically play (unfortunately it also coincides with the busiest I've ever been, so free time is not as easy to come by).

Hope to expand my solo "setlist" (up to 6 tunes now!) and play out more (practice practice practice), as well as develop new arrangements/originals and possibly set the foundation for recording a CD (combination of solo Stick and other instrumentals).

Thanks to those who have provided positive feedback on my audio/video attempts, it helps to keep the motivation going...

[TheEclectic]

Goals for 2007:

Learn to play my Megatar. :rolleyes:

More electric guitar, less classical guitar.

Start playing guitar with a few fellow musicians from work. I hope to add the Megatar to the line-up later in the year.

Post a few YouTube videos of my MIDI-classical guitar style playing (mostly Steve Hackett pieces). Gotta get the video-to-computer thing down first.

Add Ghost Hexpander systems to my Megatar to use with my array of Roland MIDI devices. I already have one Hexpander system that I was going to add to an electric guitar, but have decided that the equipment is best used on the Megatar.

Record a Christmas CD using all my noise making devices.

[jamsire]

Originally posted by TheEclectic
Goals for 2007:

Learn to play my Megatar. :rolleyes:

More electric guitar, less classical guitar.

I used to feel that way too - but I definitely got into more nylon string action than classical with many Godin multiacs, but with an 11-string nylon, it's hard to get sexy!

Start playing guitar with a few fellow musicians from work. I hope to add the Megatar to the line-up later in the year.

Yeah I wish!! And I teach in the music department at TWO colleges! Phooey!

Post a few YouTube videos of my MIDI-classical guitar style playing (mostly Steve Hackett pieces). Gotta get the video-to-computer thing down first.

I agree with you there! I love your recording of Leyenda with both guitar and piano especially. Great stuff.

Add Ghost Hexpander systems to my Megatar to use with my array of Roland MIDI devices. I already have one Hexpander system that I was going to add to an electric guitar, but have decided that the equipment is best used on the Megatar.

Oooooh! You scary man! Which Meggy do you have?? I have spoken with the almighty Traktor about it in the past, but I gotta say that Guitar Rig 2 damn near take care of that stuff - unless you always want to trigger a sample. It's almost like the software version of the VG-8

Also - are you familiar with FreeAmp2? Go here - http://frettedsynth.asseca.com/index.html. Don't get mad at me!

Record a Christmas CD using all my noise making devices.

Dude, I'm gonna record a four disc CD set (mostly for Download). It's on!!!!!!

[rjgoos]

Rob wrote:

>My musical motivation and focus is at an all time high these days...


In all seriousness....strike while the iron is hot, Rob. Find the time, somehow.

The only advice I can give.....when you have a nice idea, record it....even if it is with an el-cheapo cassette recorder. I can't tell you how many times, I have come up with 4-8 bars of something that I think is pretty nice...and can't remember it the next morning (or can't quite remember it quite the same way).


Jay

[RocknDrTom]

I plan to finish the tapper that I've started building last year.

[TheEclectic]

jamsire

Thanks for the kind words. My Meggy is a standard Dragon with Bass Bottom tunning (I altered the intervals to be like a guitar).

I appreciate the advice on the guitar effects and have decided to go that route with my electric guitar (instead of going midi), but I like to trigger synth sounds. I am not familiar with some of what you suggested and will check it out.

I have a friend that is good at improv and has a George Benson / Earl Klugh style. We have been talking about getting together for a long time, but we have both have young kids which makes it hard.

Recently the bass player for the now defunct No Address (http://www.no-address.net/) joined our firm an the three of us are going to see what we can get going. (3 of thier songs are available on thier site) A soft-jazzer(guitar), a rocker (bass), and a syncopated prog-rocker (me). Should be interesting. The Megatar triggering some synth sounds would fit in nicely. ;)

There just is not much midi guitar on YouTube that is not wild and rock and roll. I feel a need to show a softer side of midi guitar and to help keep the midi guitar/tapper flame alive.

I hope to see your videos on YouTube soon :cool:

[K Rex]

Ernie,

I love all those bands... Bootsy is great, too. Ever heard Praxis? I liked that stuff, Bootsy is great on it along with Bernie Worrell. Speaking of Bernie, ever heard "Blacktronic Science"? Great album. Maceo, Bernie, Bootsy, and James "Blood" Ulmer. Can't go wrong with that line-up...

Rob,

A meeting between the two of us is inevitable... long overdue, seeing as we live no more than two hours apart. I'm in Virginia Beach.

Ever heard a band called "5 uu's"?

K Rex

[PhoBucket]

2006 was practically a haitus from music for me, so I'll keep the goals modest for 2007.

Complete my first prototype lap-tap instrument.

Be able to identify melody notes in relation to the root of a chord without pitch assistance in a live setting.

Join or form a new band.

[jamsire]

Originally posted by K Rex
Ernie,
Speaking of Bernie, ever heard "Blacktronic Science"? Great album. Maceo, Bernie, Bootsy, and James "Blood" Ulmer. Can't go wrong with that line-up...



Well no!! I can't say I've heard that record.

Now I will have to go and search. Thanks!

Ernie

[rpmartino]

Originally posted by K Rex
Rob,

A meeting between the two of us is inevitable... long overdue, seeing as we live no more than two hours apart. I'm in Virginia Beach.

Ever heard a band called "5 uu's"?

K Rex [/B]

Absolutely, I have Hunger's Teeth and Crisis in Clay and was recently having an email correspondence with Bob Drake about his music (his solo stuff is quite interesting... http://www.bdrak.com/ ) Would also like to expand my Thinking Plague collection.

Yes we should try to meet up at some point!

[K Rex]

I talk to Mr. Drake fairly often as well... A true freak, and a fellow H.P. Lovecraft enthusiast.

Crisis in Clay is a masterpiece of outfreakage. Nuff said.

I almost looked you up when I considered attending the Behold... The Arctopus show in Freddysburg in mid '06. Alas, I couldn't make it.

Kev

[K Rex]

"In Extremis" by Thinking Plague is also great. I didn't care for the new one so much... Some fine guitar playing, but it doesn't hold a candle to Extremis and I don't recommend it.

k

[Igos du Iskana]

I'm a bit into Rush latel. I recently got the Rush in Rio DVD and i absolutely love it:D , but it could be pink floyd or Dream Theater as well, gives me plenty of ideas to try out on my trusty Megatar, but not right now...... she's at the shop this week, the nut needed some adjustment, the bass strings were way to high, didn't even touch the zero-fret, so i brought it to a pretty good luthier nearby my place in Holland.
But the wait is terrible...:(
My goal for 2007 is just to get better and find some people to jam with for a bit

[PhoBucket]

Some progress has been made on my 2007 goals. I am now the bass player for Advent, a NJ based progressive rock band. Swell bunch of guys and good players to boot. :D

As an added bonus the new Advent album, Cantus Firmus, has been reviewed in the March issue of Guit*r Player.

Now I just need to buckle down on the ear training and tapping goals. Yikes! :( Hopefully I'll be able to incorporate some touchstyle into the next album.

http://www.adventmusic.net/

[rpmartino]

Whoa dude! I just read about the new bass player on Advent's MySpace page, so that's you... congratulations!

Cantus Firmus is a great album and some really heady stuff... one of most compositionally deep prog rock albums I've heard in a long time. I can imagine learning that music is a step up in difficulty from your average cover band. :)

Really look forward to what you guys come up with next... Advent is one of only a handful of modern "prog rock" bands that have really impressed me in recent years.

Originally posted by PhoBucket
Some progress has been made on my 2007 goals. I am now the bass player for Advent, a NJ based progressive rock band. Swell bunch of guys and good players to boot. :D

As an added bonus the new Advent album, Cantus Firmus, has been reviewed in the March issue of Guit*r Player.

Now I just need to buckle down on the ear training and tapping goals. Yikes! :( Hopefully I'll be able to incorporate some touchstyle into the next album.

http://www.adventmusic.net/

[rjgoos]

I thought that Jersey Ray would have been a good candidate for the Advent position, but unfortunately (for the world of tapping), his musical attention is focused completely on the accordion.

[PhoBucket]

Unfortunate for tapping, but fortunate for me ;)

Thanks, Jay and Rob. The warm sound that both of you get out of your tapping instruments has been a tapping inspiration to me .
Since much of the bass on Cantus Firmus is played by keyboards, I think the lines would lend themselves to touchstyle quite well. So far I have used fretless bass for eveything, but I think something like this might bring certain sections to life.

[PhoBucket]

tapper with blocks and binding