Need your input - Dreamstrumental

[Haazy34]

Here's an instrumental I threw together, drums & distortion kick in a little later. This was taken from dberry's song DREAMS which is a great song that he needs to lay down soon. Bash the shit out of it & let me know what I can do to make it sound better. Too Christopher Cross sounding in my opinion & I want it to grow a pair! Hope you enjoy

[fHumble fHingaz]

The intro acoustic sounds like you need to have a slower release time on the compression - all that is coming through is the transients of the notes, not much of the actual notes themselves. During the section with drums, the rhythm guitar is too loud & overshadows the lead. The bass seems MIA most of the time, & it doesn't drive the track along at all like a good bassline should - Initially, I actually thought there was no bass on the track. With an instrumental, you need to develop a strong signature melody to replace the fact that there are no vocals... I can't hear any at present, it just sounds like improvisational embellishment that still needs vocals. Try improvising until you develop a singable melody, then enlarge on that. There are quite a few timing issues that I can hear as well - have you familiarized yourself with the quantization capabilities of your DAW? Quantizing need not mean that everything sounds mechanical & machine-like. If it is done right, it can really improve a performance on an instrument that may not be your core musical choice (like drums for eg.). I apologize if I'm being too picky or harsh, but I really am trying to be helpful... Keep at it!

[Haazy34]

Originally Posted by fHumble fHingaz

The intro acoustic sounds like you need to have a slower release time on the compression - all that is coming through is the transients of the notes, not much of the actual notes themselves. During the section with drums, the rhythm guitar is too loud & overshadows the lead. The bass seems MIA most of the time, & it doesn't drive the track along at all like a good bassline should - Initially, I actually thought there was no bass on the track. With an instrumental, you need to develop a strong signature melody to replace the fact that there are no vocals... I can't hear any at present, it just sounds like improvisational embellishment that still needs vocals. Try improvising until you develop a singable melody, then enlarge on that. There are quite a few timing issues that I can hear as well - have you familiarized yourself with the quantization capabilities of your DAW? Quantizing need not mean that everything sounds mechanical & machine-like. If it is done right, it can really improve a performance on an instrument that may not be your core musical choice (like drums for eg.). I apologize if I'm being too picky or harsh, but I really am trying to be helpful... Keep at it!

Not too picky at all, I think your dead on. Much appreciated on all the input. Your making great suggestions that I definitely need to apply. Thanks for taking the time, things I never thought of, makes for a much clearer route!!

[Chazamatazz]

There is feeling in what's played.It doesn't sound proffessional I guess cause of the way things are miked- like the drums, sound really ringing and not good.