Harmony-Central is a tough place...

[Robert]

I thought other forums might have some players enjoying a jazz backing track, so I posted on
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?p=32652221

Look at the responses I got! OUCH.

I guess I should just stay away from there ... :thwap:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Don't know what to say other than I am glad I don't go there much. I suppose that is fun for some people. Not me. :whatever:


I have had good luck on their classifieds for a couple pedals though.

 

[markb]

Methinks "Smilin' Bob" must be an ironic choice of screen name

 

[tunghaichuan]

What a bunch of douche bags. :whatever:

I'm all for criticism as long as it is constructive.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, ***** about how they could have done it better on the Internet.

Numbn*ts.

tung

 

[tunghaichuan]

Methinks "Smilin' Bob" must be an ironic choice of screen name

He should spell it with two o's. :rotflmao:

tung

 

[BluezOldy]

A nasty, redneck place best avoided.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

apparently not much harmony there.

 

[Blaze]

Kings of the hill strike again...Too bad ..Good thing that other forums exist for these Jug heads power trips..

Vive le Quebec libre :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

 

[Robert]

I know I'm not much of a jazz player, but that seemed a little harsh...

I thought a free and useful backing track would be appreciated, but maybe not?

 

[Rocket]

Isn't it funny how everyone here reacts by condemning, and then responding in almost exactly the same fashion... bitter & acidic?
Where are those callouses when ya need em.

 

[peachhead]

apparently not much harmony there.

:rotflmao: exactly.

Just reminds me how much I enjoy this one.

 

[Robert]

Rocket, I can handle criticism pretty good. I just thought a backing track would be appreciated by a community of guitar players. I was just surprised at what came back at me. My jam was also just a practice session, not intended to be a real tune or anything. Just some wanking, which maybe means I get what I deserve? I could have made a polished, worked-on project but I didn't.

 

[Rocket]

I totally get it Robert... I was just pointing out a socialogical hilarity... it's how wars get started over small issues.

On a similar note... I get the same responses sometimes. I DO need a band behind me... I'm the very first to admit it... I'm a band player.

 

[tunghaichuan]

Isn't it funny how everyone here reacts by condemning, and then responding in almost exactly the same fashion... bitter & acidic?
Where are those callouses when ya need em.

"People might be more civil if it wasn't an invitation to walk all over you." - Calvin and Hobbes.

tung

 

[Blaze]

Here s what mr. Smilin' Bob signature section has to offer :

"" F*** 'em if they can't take a joke!

Geezer Brigade Trooper #99 ""

 

[birv2]

That forum is the very reason I came over to this one.

Don't worry about it Robert. I'm thinking something about pearls and swine...

 

[oldguy]

It was a nice gesture on your part, Robert. Maybe in time those folks will learn how to solo over your track for 4 minutes without being repetitious.......as it was meant to be something helpful, not a pro track, not a backing band, but a practice tool and a fun thing, you did a nice thing and it wasn't appreciated there.
Oh, while I'm thinking about it..................

Thanks for the backer, Robert!
When I get some free time, I'll try and play something along with it, then post it online and wait for the remarks.

 

[Algonquin]

Yup, Harmony-Central can be a tough place... I rarely go by there anymore since being banned.

 

[ted s]

:messedup:
Huh ?! David.. our very own 'gonqmeister got banned from a guitar forum ?
what, are you kidding me ? wth did you do ?

 

[just strum]

I look at it as - you put it out there and the one guy stated it went on too long, blah, blah, blah, was only giving his opinion and didn't get overly nasty.

As he pointed out a few posts down, even Mozart had his critics. I believe it was the same guy that noted Robert plays better than he does, so it was a tip of the hat as well. The rest of them, probably never posted a track and took the risk to be criticized.

If it makes you feel any better Robert, I don't like every track you post here - I just change the channel. For me it's not the playing ability, but more the type of music that occasionally gets posted here (by any member) that I am not interested in. It's just personal preference/taste.

Besides, you probably have bigger veins than any of those wimps over there.

 

[Ch0jin]

I've got nothing constructive to say about internet tough guys and eExperts (as I like to call them). Spend some time on digg and youtube and you'll be convinced all people are as*holes. Shake it off and post your demo's here where we appreciate listening to them

So as far as the track goes, I'm no Jazz expert, but I kinda thought Jazz guitar (and horns) were supposed to sound like noodling? I've listened to Miles Davis and to my ears he's all over the place. I've seen a couple of acoustic Jazz guitarists, including one kinda famous one who basically said he improvises the whole set because thats what Jazz is about. The guy had mega Jazz chops, but at the end of the day it still sounded like noodling to me.

That being the case, my constructive critique on that track would be that it did go a little long without any sense of a journey (or story if you like). If you wanted to turn it into a song some day I'd look at overlaying some kind of structure that will help tell a story to the listener is drawn in. No need for intro-bridge-chorus and so on, just break it up a little with some more chords perhaps, maybe a slight change of tone (neck to bridge or vice versa perhaps) What would transform the track entirely is a sultry female vocal and/or some horns. The addition of another instrument like that would mean you could probably leave your guitar track mostly as is and use the other instruments as accents and punctuation.

Regarding the sound itself, I thought the BT was great. No suggestions there from me. Your guitar tone is great and the amp model suits the feel of the track too. I saw the poster on HC that said "Thats no AC30". Who cares? It's about the sound, not how you got it. Your playing was also impressive. My critiques are purely around the arrangement, and are offered in the hope that they might be helpful.

I hope that makes sense because I'm a. not really a jazz fan (unless it appears in trip-hop tracks), b. nowhere near your league as a guitarist, and c. not much of a songwriter.

I just thought as you originally posted the track for review, I'd have a go at giving you one. I hope thats OK

(Oh and by the way, I've put your track on my ipod, it's great to have in the background while I work so don't think I hated it haha)

 

[just strum]

Yup, Harmony-Central can be a tough place... I rarely go by there anymore since being banned.

How does one get banded from that hell hole??? You must have asked someone to act civilized.

 

[duhvoodooman]

:messedup:
Huh ?! David.. our very own 'gonqmeister got banned from a guitar forum ?
what, are you kidding me ? wth did you do ?

Geez, I hope it was something really evil, after reading that!

Robert, if you're a "middling guitarist", I hope Smilin' Bob stops by here one of these days and checks out some of the tonal horrors the rest of us "sub-middlers" have recorded. The experience would probably prove fatal to him. I hope....

 

[Ch0jin]

Geez, I hope it was something really evil, after reading that!

Robert, if you're a "middling guitarist", I hope Smilin' Bob stops by here one of these days and checks out some of the tonal horrors the rest of us "sub-middlers" have recorded. The experience would probably prove fatal to him. I hope....

Haha maybe he should listen my fuzz pedal demo. That'd kill him for sure

Darren - Certified Sub-Middler

 

[Robert]

Chojin and Strum, no problemo. I appreciate the feedback. I do not expect everyone to love what I do. This was just a practice track and I was practicing playing over the changes, and posted my take. It is far from being a real piece. I would of course look at the form, arrangement and variation in the drumming and bass if that was my intention, but that is cool, I totally get that it sounds repetitive and kinda boring after a while. It is just a practice track. And I am just practicing over it.

 

[just strum]

Chojin and Strum, no problemo. I appreciate the feedback. I do not expect everyone to love what I do. This was just a practice track and I was practicing playing over the changes, and posted my take. It is far from being a real piece. I would of course look at the form, arrangement and variation in the drumming and bass if that was my intention, but that is cool, I totally get that it sounds repetitive and kinda boring after a while. It is just a practice track. And I am just practicing over it.

My comments weren't specific to you, it was more in regards to my taste in music. I am not a big jazz fan, so I would most likely not listen or not give it a close listen. I do realize that people post for different reasons, some for playing style, some to demonstrate improvement in their playing, some to demonstrate their mixing ability and the reasons go on and on. If I hear something that I like, I usually comment.

Now Robert, don't be signing up your friends from the HC in an effort to increase your referrals. If you do, I will petition to have you banded. If I don't do that, I will bring over more from Washburn (if you think the crew I brought over is bad, just wait )

 

[just strum]

I just thought of something - they are concerned about spam and advertising - I wonder if they took the time to look around the site they are posting on?

 

[Robert]

With such moderators, the HC place is doomed... I am very happy that we have the atmosphere and camaraderie that we have here. It's a world between HC and TFN (The Fret.Net).

Thank YOU guys for making this place what it is. :AOK:

 

[Spudman]

I've noticed at HC they talk very little about music and playing. It seems they mostly want to insult each other, create parody threads, talk about sex and body parts. In general everything but guitar. They were probably dumb struck when they heard your clip and couldn't figure out what it was. I'm sure they couldn't handle something so foreign to them.

I enjoyed hearing the clip but your guitar was mixed low and when you have such a static backer you really need to use a lot of dynamics to make it feel like something is going on rather than noodling. You played some great phrases and it was diverse just maybe not as dynamic volume wise as it could have been.

PS. Screw Harmony Central.

 

[Bloozcat]

Oh, you posted it in Cool Jam...

They're generally a group of constipated old crumudgeons who love to look for fault in everything. I used to hang out there a bit in the past (even being bestowed with the honorable "Geezer Brigade Member" title). It became just too tedious a chore to continue.

Robert, you got their equivalent of "Hey, get off my lawn, kid"...:reallymad: