How is this even possible?!?! How did y'all make this in a week??? I know you said this is an old idea from 2018, but DAMN!!!! This is really cool, you guys did a great job. It's fascinating to see you go from goth rock to this and a bunch of different stuff in between. The guitar and vocals here are really great, awesome job!!!

How is this even possible?!?! How did y'all make this in a week??? I know you said this is an old idea from 2018, but DAMN!!!! This is really cool, you guys did a great job. It's fascinating to see you go from goth rock to this and a bunch of different stuff in between. The guitar and vocals here are really great, awesome job!!!

I feel like maybe I've said this before but it must be really cool to resurrect old songs like that, especially with your wife, and breath new life and new context into them.  I have no context for bluegrass but this song was a fun listen, I was tapping my foot along and all.   

"Got a spooky season folk song planned…" sir, you have my attention.

I feel like maybe I've said this before but it must be really cool to resurrect old songs like that, especially with your wife, and breath new life and new context into them. I have no context for bluegrass but this song was a fun listen, I was tapping my foot along and all. "Got a spooky season folk song planned…" sir, you have my attention.

wow, great work, what a team! The harmonies are on point. Loved the mandolin break.

wow, great work, what a team! The harmonies are on point. Loved the mandolin break.

Thank you! We're having so much fun switching up styles, and getting to re-imagine our songs in a band style has been great - these older songs have all just been guitar/vocal frameworks.

The funny thing is that I ended up tossing a lot of the stuff I did this week - the guitar is from the scratch track, I tossed out all of the banjo and live bass I recorded, and 85% of the mandolin. I think I was working hard and not smart this time LOL

Thank you! We love doing music together, it's always been a central part our our relationship

The traditional Bluegrass combo is bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. I was hoping to edge towards that bluegrass sound, but the more I tried, the worse it sounded. Looks like we won't be doing that genre this year

The folk song is from a dream my wife had - in the tradition of Celtic ghost story songs. We're really excited to record it.

Thank you! We like creating together

[quote=jegasus]How is this even possible?!?! How did y'all make this in a week??? I know you said this is an old idea from 2018, but DAMN!!!! This is really cool, you guys did a great job. It's fascinating to see you go from goth rock to this and a bunch of different stuff in between. The guitar and vocals here are really great, awesome job!!! [/quote] Thank you! We're having so much fun switching up styles, and getting to re-imagine our songs in a band style has been great - these older songs have all just been guitar/vocal frameworks. The funny thing is that I ended up tossing a lot of the stuff I did this week - the guitar is from the scratch track, I tossed out all of the banjo and live bass I recorded, and 85% of the mandolin. I think I was working hard and not smart this time LOL [quote=lament.config]I feel like maybe I've said this before but it must be really cool to resurrect old songs like that, especially with your wife, and breath new life and new context into them. I have no context for bluegrass but this song was a fun listen, I was tapping my foot along and all. "Got a spooky season folk song planned…" sir, you have my attention.[/quote] Thank you! We love doing music together, it's always been a central part our our relationship <3 The traditional Bluegrass combo is bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. I was hoping to edge towards that bluegrass sound, but the more I tried, the worse it sounded. Looks like we won't be doing that genre this year :D The folk song is from a dream my wife had - in the tradition of Celtic ghost story songs. We're really excited to record it. :D [quote=SQF]wow, great work, what a team! The harmonies are on point. Loved the mandolin break. [/quote] Thank you! We like creating together <3

This sounds fantastic! I'm super intrigued by the smart tempo - is this the same tool you used for your washing machine track (which is still one of my faves, by the way)? The ability to build & multitrack while keeping an organic tempo is SO COOL.
Also, both of you are sounding amazing!

This sounds fantastic! I'm super intrigued by the smart tempo - is this the same tool you used for your washing machine track (which is still one of my faves, by the way)? The ability to build & multitrack while keeping an organic tempo is SO COOL. Also, both of you are sounding amazing!

Oh wow, I really like this feel-good folksy track. I could imagine myself sitting at a winery outside on a crisp fall afternoon, sipping on a pinot grigio, and listening to this live. This didn't need a banjo. Your wife's sweet vocals and your guitar rhythm were enough to carry this right along. Like the harmonizing on the chorus too. I remember playing elect bass in a family bluegrass band when I was a teenager, and most songs were in the key of G, never, ever G#. So, I'm truly impressed you pulled that off.  I think it made this tune a little brighter and even more cheerful.  Well done.

Oh wow, I really like this feel-good folksy track. I could imagine myself sitting at a winery outside on a crisp fall afternoon, sipping on a pinot grigio, and listening to this live. This didn't need a banjo. Your wife's sweet vocals and your guitar rhythm were enough to carry this right along. Like the harmonizing on the chorus too. I remember playing elect bass in a family bluegrass band when I was a teenager, and most songs were in the key of G, never, ever G#. So, I'm truly impressed you pulled that off. I think it made this tune a little brighter and even more cheerful. Well done.

Thank you!

Yup, same tool. Logic creates a tempo track which adjusts the project tempo to the recording dynamically. It's sorta cool to look at - I varied by about 8bpm while recording (I'm no Ringo). Smart tempo can then adjust the first downbeat to a bar line, and keep all other audio aligned. Magical.

My wife will feel vindicated (she doesn't like banjo LOL)

Thank you so much! We've played a few winery gigs, it's our kind of scene. And yeah, the G# is odd - it fits her vocals best at capo 1, as I'm using open G shape chords. So, G#. I just played the bassline on a keyboard, and then made some adjustments to be a bit more interesting on the MIDI roll.

[quote=MRDRCAT]This sounds fantastic! I'm super intrigued by the smart tempo - is this the same tool you used for your washing machine track (which is still one of my faves, by the way)? The ability to build & multitrack while keeping an organic tempo is SO COOL. Also, both of you are sounding amazing![/quote] Thank you! Yup, same tool. Logic creates a tempo track which adjusts the project tempo to the recording dynamically. It's sorta cool to look at - I varied by about 8bpm while recording (I'm no Ringo). Smart tempo can then adjust the first downbeat to a bar line, and keep all other audio aligned. Magical. [quote=Bunjigram]Oh wow, I really like this feel-good folksy track. I could imagine myself sitting at a winery outside on a crisp fall afternoon, sipping on a pinot grigio, and listening to this live. This didn't need a banjo. Your wife's sweet vocals and your guitar rhythm were enough to carry this right along. Like the harmonizing on the chorus too. I remember playing elect bass in a family bluegrass band when I was a teenager, and most songs were in the key of G, never, ever G#. So, I'm truly impressed you pulled that off. I think it made this tune a little brighter and even more cheerful. Well done. [/quote] My wife will feel vindicated (she doesn't like banjo LOL) Thank you so much! We've played a few winery gigs, it's our kind of scene. And yeah, the G# is odd - it fits her vocals best at capo 1, as I'm using open G shape chords. So, G#. I just played the bassline on a keyboard, and then made some adjustments to be a bit more interesting on the MIDI roll. :)

A sweet and loveable track. Reminds me of my friend Sarah Reiwitch in Sacramento https://sarahreiwitch.bandcamp.com/

A sweet and loveable track. Reminds me of my friend Sarah Reiwitch in Sacramento https://sarahreiwitch.bandcamp.com/

Delightful and fun. Country yes but still has that folk quality and structure. What's creating the swimmy almost pad-like undertones? Mandolin?

Delightful and fun. Country yes but still has that folk quality and structure. What's creating the swimmy almost pad-like undertones? Mandolin?

Thank you! I'll be sure to check out her page

Thanks I agree, it's still pretty folk, roots country. Probably something like, all roots country is folk, but not all folk is roots country Swimmy tones are probably the guitar - I put a chorus effect on it. The mando is almost uneffected, but that was only in the last chorus.

[quote=fetalface]A sweet and loveable track. Reminds me of my friend Sarah Reiwitch in Sacramento https://sarahreiwitch.bandcamp.com/[/quote] Thank you! I'll be sure to check out her page :) [quote=neon liminal]Delightful and fun. Country yes but still has that folk quality and structure. What's creating the swimmy almost pad-like undertones? Mandolin?[/quote] Thanks :) I agree, it's still pretty folk, roots country. Probably something like, all roots country is folk, but not all folk is roots country :) Swimmy tones are probably the guitar - I put a chorus effect on it. The mando is almost uneffected, but that was only in the last chorus.

come on now, this is SO GREAT! incrediblly sweet and clear and such a strong melody. i love yr pardner's vocal tone, and when yr harmony kicks in... over the moon over here!

thx so much for the shoutout, and i agree with the previous comments - this feels like it has everything it needs, and all the elements have room to breathe. it's tough sometimes, because adding parts and layers is SO FUN and can also be really effective. but yeah, sometimes the song says "hey buddy, chill out. this ain't about YOU."   

bravo to both of you 

come on now, this is SO GREAT! incrediblly sweet and clear and such a strong melody. i love yr pardner's vocal tone, and when yr harmony kicks in... over the moon over here! thx so much for the shoutout, and i agree with the previous comments - this feels like it has everything it needs, and all the elements have room to breathe. it's tough sometimes, because adding parts and layers is SO FUN and can also be really effective. but yeah, sometimes the song says "hey buddy, chill out. this ain't about YOU." :D bravo to both of you <3

Such a lovely, uplifting song Agreed with others that the arrangement feels like just the right amount going on.

Such a lovely, uplifting song :) Agreed with others that the arrangement feels like just the right amount going on.

Fun song writing in this one. Ya'll duo well together. Really glad this made it in a recorded form. Terrific.

Fun song writing in this one. Ya'll duo well together. Really glad this made it in a recorded form. Terrific.

a charming ray of sunshine. brilliant work!

a charming ray of sunshine. brilliant work!

Picking can definitely be tricky without practice, but it gets easier if you commit and it does definitely make a difference.
This is definitely country, but from her accent, I'd say that country is Ireland, so perhaps a lyre/harp (instead of a banjo) and that fiddle would fit in well here.
- Spider

Picking can definitely be tricky without practice, but it gets easier if you commit and it does definitely make a difference. This is definitely country, but from her accent, I'd say that country is Ireland, so perhaps a lyre/harp (instead of a banjo) and that fiddle would fit in well here. - Spider

Wonderful harmonies, brings back memories of the fall as a child, picking apples, hay rides and jumping in the leaf piles with the smell of fireplaces being lit for the first time of the year filling the air!

Wonderful harmonies, brings back memories of the fall as a child, picking apples, hay rides and jumping in the leaf piles with the smell of fireplaces being lit for the first time of the year filling the air!

Aww, thank you so much. Yeah, adding in stuff is way too much fun...and it can be to the detriment of the song. I definitely have a tendency to overthink and over-adorn - gilding the lily, so to speak LOL. My wife has frequently said that WB is good for me, it teaches me to put things down and not overthink

Thank you! There's always that feel that I should be doing More - gauging when something doesn't need it and already has enough is an ongoing lesson

Thank you! We really enjoy singing this one together.

That is such a sweet compliment. Thank you!

100% - some instruments I can set down and pick up again after extended periods, but banjo sure isn't one. I barely remembered, chords, much less trailing. I'm better at tenor, but it wasn't quite the sound I was looking for.

Mixing in celtic traditional to these country-ish sounds is a good idea, I'll have to give that a try. The song we're working on for week 41 is solidly celtic, I may try and incorporate a little harp.

Those are some wonderful images...and what an amazing compliment to evoke them. Thank you!

[quote=jwh]come on now, this is SO GREAT! incrediblly sweet and clear and such a strong melody. i love yr pardner's vocal tone, and when yr harmony kicks in... over the moon over here! thx so much for the shoutout, and i agree with the previous comments - this feels like it has everything it needs, and all the elements have room to breathe. it's tough sometimes, because adding parts and layers is SO FUN and can also be really effective. but yeah, sometimes the song says "hey buddy, chill out. this ain't about YOU." :D bravo to both of you <3[/quote] Aww, thank you so much. Yeah, adding in stuff is way too much fun...and it can be to the detriment of the song. I definitely have a tendency to overthink and over-adorn - gilding the lily, so to speak LOL. My wife has frequently said that WB is good for me, it teaches me to put things down and not overthink :) [quote=Cursory]Such a lovely, uplifting song :) Agreed with others that the arrangement feels like just the right amount going on. [/quote] Thank you! There's always that feel that I should be doing More - gauging when something doesn't need it and already has enough is an ongoing lesson :) [quote=ENC_]Fun song writing in this one. Ya'll duo well together. Really glad this made it in a recorded form. Terrific. [/quote] Thank you! We really enjoy singing this one together. [quote=zone limits]a charming ray of sunshine. brilliant work![/quote] That is such a sweet compliment. Thank you! [quote=Devieus]Picking can definitely be tricky without practice, but it gets easier if you commit and it does definitely make a difference. This is definitely country, but from her accent, I'd say that country is Ireland, so perhaps a lyre/harp (instead of a banjo) and that fiddle would fit in well here. - Spider [/quote] 100% - some instruments I can set down and pick up again after extended periods, but banjo sure isn't one. I barely remembered, chords, much less trailing. I'm better at tenor, but it wasn't quite the sound I was looking for. Mixing in celtic traditional to these country-ish sounds is a good idea, I'll have to give that a try. The song we're working on for week 41 is solidly celtic, I may try and incorporate a little harp. [quote=mzunguko]Wonderful harmonies, brings back memories of the fall as a child, picking apples, hay rides and jumping in the leaf piles with the smell of fireplaces being lit for the first time of the year filling the air![/quote] Those are some wonderful images...and what an amazing compliment to evoke them. Thank you!

This is great. Your diverse skill set is phenomenal. I strum the exact same way. I can not keep rhythm and dynamics with a pick when chord strummin. Index and thumb are my go to.

This is great. Your diverse skill set is phenomenal. I strum the exact same way. I can not keep rhythm and dynamics with a pick when chord strummin. Index and thumb are my go to.