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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Ambient Improvisation
    Posted: February 14 2011 at 15:19
I don't hear much talk of ambient music around here but hopefully some of you like it.  This is an ambient jam I recorded a few nights ago utilizing my guitar, amp, and four pedals (I have more but thats what was used).  I was a little...out there at the time so it's not the neatest playing, but of my recent sessions like this I like the way this one turned out a lot (and its actually short enough to be able to put online.)  So here it is, it's all in one take with a single mic and just myself.  This is ambient, not my usual playing with a band, so it's a venture outwards.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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trench62 View Drop Down
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Points: 103 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 16 2011 at 01:37
This is beautiful.....what gear you using ?

There should be a secion on the forum designated especially for this type of genre.

Stunning !!!!!

Try and check ou my stuff if you've got a spare 50 minutes LOL

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=75968&title=if-there-is-no-god   (copy'n'paste in browser)

thanks for sharing Troy


Edited by trench62 - February 16 2011 at 01:41
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mono View Drop Down
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Points: 652 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 16 2011 at 06:56
Well, about a category in PA, I find the post-rock/math-rock to be too varied... If there were a 'post-rock' section, I would name it 'post-rock/ambient' and have a separate 'math-rock' section integrate it in Fusion...

Concerning your track, it's delightful!
I love improvising ambient music.

I uploaded one of my improvisations (2min15) called 'Whales', found on this site:
http://www.noomiz.com/fadisaliba
It's more electric though...


Edited by mono - February 16 2011 at 06:57
https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence
https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects
https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else
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trench62 View Drop Down
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Points: 103 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 16 2011 at 07:28


I uploaded one of my improvisations (2min15) called 'Whales', found on this site:
http://www.noomiz.com/fadisaliba
It's more electric though...
[/QUOTE]

great pulse...............hypnotic !!
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 16 2011 at 11:01
I'm about to head out for a test but I'll check out all the above posted links later tonight.  And yeah I do sometimes make mine far more hectic and eery but that was was more about being soothing.  I'll most likely be uploading another one in a few days because my new project is almost done.  I just gave it to my tech to wire, but I've basically completed my fretless guitar with pickups that give it endless sustain.  So I'll definitely be using that for an ambient jam.

As for genres...I still don't have the slightest idea what "post" anything is (music wise that is, I know post=after).

As for gear, I have an absurd amount of pedals, but I only used four or five on this.  To start with it's a nylon string guitar, A Godin ACS.  So theres lots of tone being controlled there, then during the clean beginning I have the Whammy Pedal set to harmonize an octave down along with some chorus, then with that theres lots of swells with the passive volume pedal (or the guitar controls if my feet are occupied on pedals) going into the loop.  After that I just used my MXR Distortion Plus fuzz pedal (original, not reissue).  The amp had spring reverb on the entire time.  

I have many other pedals, one of my favorite to combine with ambient jams is the Small stone Phaser (also original issue) at the end of the pedal board.  This is very cool because the loops and lead phase in the same time.  And for this if anyone couldn't tell, I was just doing many single notes ending up voicing a Major 7th Add 9.  I sometimes follow the Joe Pass school of thought when doing these (tonal wise, Joe didn't do ambient, heh) where he claims that something like C Maj 7-C E G B, is the same sound as the third with a seventh, E G B D, as well as the relative minor A C E G.  Obviously this is due to 3/4 similar notes.  But it's an interesting concept to apply here because it gives you so many backings you can take off of, as well as an almost modal quality.


Edited by himtroy - February 16 2011 at 11:11
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
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mono View Drop Down
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Points: 652 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2011 at 04:03
Originally posted by himtroy himtroy wrote:


As for genres...I still don't have the slightest idea what "post" anything is (music wise that is, I know post=after).


My (broad) definition for 'post'-<genre> is using the general sound and instruments of <insert_genre_here> to make something other than <genre>, generally ambiant music...
Of course, this doesn't mean no new sounds or instruments are used.
https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence
https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects
https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else
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nightlamp View Drop Down
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Points: 163 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2011 at 16:48
Nice improvisations guys!  Thumbs Up

I used to do a lot of ambient improvising with organ, keyboard synths and guitar (mostly Steve Hillage- and Robert Rich-inspired glissando style), but I've unloaded most of that gear...  My improvising gear consists of my trusty modular analog synth, various percussion instruments, wooden flutes, and an array of effects pedals.  (Hammered dulcimer coming soon!)  Two of my somewhat-older modular improvisations can be heard here: http://darkfighters.bandcamp.com/ 

Personally, I'm glad there isn't a section for ambient or improvised musics here at PA; imho, I think the site has overextended its reach a bit already with some of its definitions and inclusions.  Regardless, it's cool to encounter some like-minded sonicnauts here! 

Since we're on the subject, who are your favorite ambient-improvising artists?
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2011 at 14:46
Obviously Eno comes to mind, as does Robert Fripp.  Evening Star by Fripp and Eno was my introduction to ambient music (or video games......), however my favorite albums are Robert Fripp- Blessing of Tears, Let the Power Fall, and Brian Eno- Ambient 2/Plateaux of Mirrors, and Ambient Four (name escapes me).  

I've also always loved Hillage's Rainbow Dome Musick, in addition to many others I can't think of currently.  

I'll most certainly check out you're improv's because I'm interested in hearing you're synth (and all of the music).  However I just started transferring my Itunes to my external and it won't let me pause....so I'm going to be stuck listening to Herbie Hancock for the next few hours if I'm on the computer. Which is never a bad thing, I'm just glad I happened to be around Mwandishi when this happened so I can hear some of my favorite Hancock!
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2011 at 14:47
And I did finish my fretless guitar recently so I'll most certainly be putting up another improv on here soon.  Fretless guitars really need to catch on more.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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mono View Drop Down
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Points: 652 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 07 2011 at 02:40
Originally posted by himtroy himtroy wrote:

Fretless guitars really need to catch on more.


They do!
https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence
https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects
https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2011 at 20:53

I made that more as a backing track for ambient improvs....but I rather like it the way it is.  I'm considering recording a lead over it, but really I only posted it so a friend can have the backing track available......It's pretty soothing and much less attention grabbing than my usual.  The goal was to be more atmospheric.


Edited by himtroy - April 07 2011 at 16:10
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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mono View Drop Down
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Points: 652 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2011 at 12:19
^ very rich! nice sound work

you can take a look here if you're interested, there's a track waiting to be improvised on (or composed on)
https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence
https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects
https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2011 at 17:10
Thanks for the feedback.  I'm super swamped now but I'm about to have a lot of free time because I'm losing my job next week.  On an irrelevant angry note, I am losing my job because I have long hair....theres no backstory there, I'm losing my job in a movie theatre because my hair is too long (they stated it similarly, so theres no hidden truth).  This is nothing to do with health codes, because I tie my hair back and that allowed me to work in kitchens......I hate corporate bull****.  I've worked for this place for a long time and nobody on site wants me to go, but this corporate ass-hat has some personal stake in getting me out of there.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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cstack3 View Drop Down
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Points: 7264 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2011 at 18:14
Originally posted by mono mono wrote:

Originally posted by himtroy himtroy wrote:

Fretless guitars really need to catch on more.


They do!

Guys, we are all of the same ilk!  Notice my four-string fretless bass in my icon, built by Hugh Manson (Steve Howe's luthier).  

I've wanted a 6-string fretless for many years & bought a cheapo electric to convert!  Glad to know I'm not crazy/stupid!  

The only product 6-string fretless I'm aware of is by French builder Vigier (Ron Thal plays a fretless Excaliber).   I also saw a 11 string electric fretless by Godin called the "Glissentar" played by Fareed Haque!  He's so good it's sick!

The ambient piece is excellent, keep posting!!  Best, Chuck aka cstack3
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mono View Drop Down
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Points: 652 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2011 at 18:18
^...I have (very) long hair too, and if they fire me because of that I can actually file a lawsuit and very probably win.
It's clearly not a valid cause for termination, especially if you were not informed of it when hired. Come to France! You'll pay more taxes but at least you'll have protection.
https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence
https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects
https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2011 at 18:56
Cstack3, I assume you know of Steve Bailey?  My friend whos big into bass introduced me to two good things a very long time ago, Jaco and Steve Bailey.  I never had fretless bass in mind when making my guitar but I obviously picked up a lot off bassists since I never hear fretless guitar.  

Mono, this situation is absolutely ridiculous.  I'm fairly certain that it's for another reason.  Somebody form corporate came in and fired the man who has been running the place for over twenty years out of nowhere.  This made many people quit because he was very good man, and had a family and kids in college.  I can't really afford to quit because I'm going away to school and need to make money over summer, but now I'm fired.  My friends hair is about at his shoulders and he never ties it back and they don't say anything at all to him, yet my hair is just past my shoulders and is ALWAYS tied back (only EVER when at work) if I'm working concession (and always when the corporate guy is in).  But now i'm finishing up the next two weeks and leaving because of this.  I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm finishing after being fired, but all the people that work in the building are great people, I'd only be screwing them by leaving early.  It's pretty absurd.  I could obviously just cut my hair, but it's more the principal of the matter as well as what it represents (this place is doomed).  People are losing their jobs left and right now.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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himtroy View Drop Down
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Points: 1601 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 31 2011 at 18:07
I completed the previous track in progress.  I've added in a little Rhodes Piano and more prominent guitar.  




Edited by himtroy - April 07 2011 at 16:10
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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