Home Recording: The Scratch Tracks

Our first step in recording our original music will be to create what we refer to as scratch tracks.  The CD is going to be recorded one instrument at a time, but the scratch track will be all of us performing the songs together.  That scratch track will be used by each member of the band.  We will listen to the scratch track through the headphones while we play and recording one instrument at a time.

So we met a few weeks ago to create the scratch tracks.  We set up our equipment as if we were going to play at a gig.    Everyone had a vocal microphone that was plugged into the recorder.  Each instrument amplifier had a microphone in front of it and they were plugged into the recorder.  Then the drums were miked also.  Those microphones were input to a mixer and the two line outs from that mixer were plugged into the recorder.  We needed to do it that way, because our recorder doesn't have enough inputs for the drums to go directly into it for recording with all the vocals and instruments.

We are using a Tascam Digital Portable Studio DP-24 for creating this recording.  We have had two failed attempts at recording this music in the last few years and decided that instead of depending upon others to produce the CD the way we wanted it, we would just do it ourselves.  We pulled together some money and my husband researched home studios and selected this model.  We are sure that it will do a great job.

Recording the scratch tracks was not very difficult at all.  We have played these songs in public many times.  Our original music gets very good crowd response and sometimes we get requests for our original music and that is quite the compliment.

We ran through a few warm up songs, just to get the cobwebs out.  The bands favorite warmup song has to be "The Fireman" the George Strait hit or the Dwight Yoakum version of the Elvis hit "Little Sister."  Those songs are upbeat and fun, they just get you in the right mood for playing music.

After the warmup songs, our engineer turned on the DP-24 and we played one of our originals.  The main point right now is not to be absolutely note for note perfect, but to have the tempo be perfect.  The DP-24 has a click track option, which is like a metronome playing in your ear, but we decided we didn't want to do it that way, so it is up to the drummer to maintain the tempo and not speed up or slow down.  This is critical because as we each lay down our individual tracks we will be listening to this scratch track through the headphones.  If it speeds up or slows down, so will our final product. So this is alot of pressure on the drummer.

We did a few of the scratch tracks on the first take.  That is very satisfying.  Several of them required more than one take, but it went very quickly.  We created scratch tracks for nine original songs in less than an eight hour day.  Very productive

Our next step will be to record the individual drum tracks.  That will be the first track that will be layed down on the final CD product.  Very excited.  I will report back on our progess soon.

What have I been doing for two years

Here I am looking at this blog which I have abandoned.  It's like an old house that no one has lived in and has deteriorated due to lack of attention.  I think my blog has a few cobwebs, maybe a leaky faucet and definately needs a fresh coat of paint.

So here's the news...my band, Silverwing, is recording a CD of original music written by my husband and myself.  It is very exciting.  We don't have daydreams of fortune and glory, but we need to do this cause it is an unfinished project. 

You know how it is...I can come up with great ideas and be all excited and full of energy and then the tough part of the idea hits me upside the head and guess what????  I put the idea away and it never gets finished.  I am a great starter (yeah, see first sentence about my abandoned blog), but my finishing skills leave alot to be desired.

So we are going to finish this CD and then we are going to start another CD since we have that much material.   Our band website is at www.silverwingband.com.  We play regularly throughout Northern Nevada and occasionally in California.

We had the honor of playing for the Nevada Republican Convention during the last Presidential Campaign when Sarah Palin spoke in Carson City and Reno for thousands of people.  We played fairs and festivals, honky tonks and classy casinoes.  It has been a great adventure and now we are going to record our originals.

And our original songs are warmly received by everyone.

I'll keep you posted.  Thanks, The GuitarChic 

Hot Guitar Riffs

Well, the title sounds good, but the reality is...maybe not so hot. But I have learned the minor pentatonic scale and I jammed to Oye Como Va on the CD which accompanies my new book, "Rock Guitar" by Hal Leonard.

I'm impressed that you can play any note in that pentatonic scale and be in tune. It's great. I also learned some power chords and that makes total sense. I've played enough blues and rock that I know where the next chord is, really pretty easy to figure out. So I am learning "I hate myself for loving you" by Joan Jett and of course it sounds much better with the power chords.

I may even try out a distortion pedal. I know that is the crunchy sound that I need for that song. I am loving this guitar playing and soon I am going to get up at open jam rock night and throw down a Joan Jett song. I think I will be first female to show up at this rock jam night. Yes!

Lead Guitar Riffs

Quick update on my new goal of learning lead guitar, I forgot all about my new goal and so I have nothing to report. The book has not even been opened. So today, Sunday, a day of take it easy and watch some playoff basketball, I make a promise to myself to open that darn book and make some progress.

But in the meantime, Brandywine played two gigs. We played at the Oasis Bowl and at the American Legion Hall. Both nights were great with great crowds. We added quite a few newer songs to our set lists. I added White Liar by Miranda Lambert and I did a pretty good job singing it and got a few compliments. I think my Karaoke singing has actually helped me loosen up when I try and hit the high notes.

Karaoke at Big O's in Fallon on Thursday & Saturday is taking off with good crowds and lots of fun. Thursday is ladies night, so come on out.

Learning to Play Lead Guitar Licks

Ladies,
I am a rhythm guitar player in both the Silverwing band and Brandywine. And my husband Mel Warstler is the lead player. I am so awestruck by Mel's lead playing that I have decided to set a goal to learn how to play a lead run. Mel can just tear it up, he can bring people to their feet with his rocking leads on Sweet Home Alabama and he can make people fall in love with the sweetness of Wonderful Tonight. It is just a blast to listen to him. So I am going to attempt (HA!) to learn a few lead lines. I went to Guitar Center and I bought a book/CD by Hal Leonard called "Rock Guitar."
So on top of a new job, housekeeping, my websites, exercising, recording our CD, practice with the band, blogging, etc, I am going to learn how to play lead!!! As I said earlier, HA!, but here I go. I will keep you posted as to my progress.
Make sure to visit www.Guitarchics.com to pick up your favorite CD by your favorite guitarchic. Do forget to read by three steps for overcoming stagefright. See you in the spotlight, Love, the Guitarchic

Miranda Lambert wins at Academy of Country Music

One of my favorite GuitarChics, Miranda Lambert, was a big winner at the 45th Academy of Country Music awards held in Las Vegas on April 18th. The Academy of Country Music was organized in 1964 to promote country music in the 13 western states, but it's impact is truely nationwide. It's annual awards bring thousands to Las Vegas each year. Miranda looked shocked when her name was called as the Top Female Vocalist, where she beat out a stellar crowd consisting of Reba McIntire, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and LeeAnn Womack. Miranda also won Video of the Year for "White Liar" which co stars her parents, best friend, and Jamey Johnson among others. I am going to add "White Liar" to the set list for my duo, Brandywine, in the near future. I think its a great song with a clever twist. But in my opinion the greatest award for our GuitarChic was ALBUM OF THE YEAR, for "REVOLUTION." This award makes Miranda Lambert the first female artist to EVER win 2 Album of the Year awards, because Miranda won in 2008 for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Congratulations to Miranda and thanks for the inspiration.

GuitarChics is launched!!!

The new website GuitarChics.com is launched. At GuitarChics we will be falling all over ourselves telling you about great female guitar players of all genres. We want to share the news and find the talent and let everyone know what we girls have to offer the world. Its going to be exciting to learn the history of female guitarist. Who stepped up to the mic years ago and paved the way for the rest of us? Who is creating a new sound and being unique and true to themselves? How is the female guitar player changing music and in kind changing the world?

Stop by often. It's young and new, but it's growing. My favorite part will be a section for young women who have never picked up a guitar. The basics, the answers to the questions that you don't want to ask the cool hot guy at the music store. Ask me and I will get the information for you. And then when you stop to talk to the cool hot guy at the music store he will be impressed.

Guitar playing has changed my life. I just want to share it with other young women and share my passion for music. Have a great day.