Tuesday, August 18th - "empty" day (filled with music)

 Recording guitar for the first time after surgery

Today is one of those days I used to call "empty day" - just nothing to do, nowhere to go (and no one to talk to (lol))*, so, after watching some random youtube music tutorials I couldn't help myself but start writing another song - or rather a track so far. Reinstalled Musescore and ASIO to fix some issues, had to make sure to turn on my audio mixer in audio devices - when it was turned off, ASIO took control of Musescore and couldn't function.

I started by picking a random mode, I think aeolian, and changing it a bit, and then, well, just slapping random note sequences as a melodic part (verse). Changed one of the guitar strings in musescore to drop D, and wrote a nice repetitive chorus with easy power chords on the last two bottom strings. (And downtuned the guitar later of course). Went through my normal creative process, going in between not knowing what to do and doing random tunes that I hear in my head, used a pair of extra modes for the second part, used F11 menu to find out how long the song is, stopped at almost three minutes - should be sufficient for an off-day project.

Then I exported the Musescore file into PDF and midi, and opened the midi file in cakewalk. Tried out the string section addon, and added some effects to it, turned out pretty nice (TH3 amp sim and BOD overdrive pedal), cool doomy sound.

Recording took a while, I of course had to crutch on a lot of editing, used some unusual finger placements when I couldn't use my middle finger. It's shedding a lot of skin, and I can't wash it off. Can't wait til thursday when I'm supposed to have the stitches removed. I keep pulling on one of them by accident, thinking of taking it out myself. But I think I'm not going to do it, since if I take one out it wouldn't be sensible to not take all of them out. Besides, it might actually be too early. Yesterday I watched one of Mark Rippetoe's newest videos where he answered a question about recovery after surgery, and he said that the doctors always have to over-insure the patient, and back in the day people didn't have a choice but to use the damaged bodypart, and it's the only way it can recover, which makes sense.

Anyway, I recorded my simple guitar part, copypasted some bits (only about 10%), now I want to write and record a bass.

Some time later

I feel inspired, but on a regular level, which is still excellent. The bass really amplifies the sound and the chords, and I really enjoyed playing it. There's just something so incredibly satisfying in being able to play a predetermined melody, or to improvise - I improvised a few bars as well. I want to write two "mini solos" for drums while bass creates a quiet spooky effect in the background (I added some lovely shaky delay to those bass parts). However, the notes still drag. I need to try to fix all that, a lot of unevenness.

Played drums, tried to record some, bass drums is still immensely overwhelming, but at least it's not ringing after I tuned it. Watched a lesson, did a few exercises. Felt strangely tired after playing drums, must be the loudness. Or maybe I was thinking about how it's getting late.

Went online to look for Saint Vitus midis, couldn't really find any, looked up some Pentargam and Black Sabbath songs, so I got a better idea of what kind of drums I want. Listening to the instrumental part of Be Forewarned by Pentagram I wa surprised to find out that it really reminds me of Manowar. Well, the genres are both metal. But changing guitar tones and vocals plays an important role in creating mood.

Wrote drums, now I have something to follow tomorrow. I guess they're unique in some way, but mostly really simple, filling in the gaps of notes. Re-recorded a couple guitar parts. I think I might be done for today, looking forward to tomorrow. I need to figure out a way to access my computer easily when I'm drumming, perhaps I'll move the mic sideways, plus it might make the bass drum quieter.

*That's a reference to "That 70's Show".