My guitar work with the legendary producer Jack Douglas

[GanjaFreebird]

I was honored to record on the album "Flow" by the band Beyond Conception which was produced by Jack Douglas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Do...rd_producer%29), who is arguably the greatest producer that's still alive and working, as he did most John Lennon's and Aerosmith's albums among many other classics.

The album was recently released and here's one of the songs that I played lead guitar on:



Jack Douglas is a genius, what can I else say, I couldn't be more proud!

[Šñøü†ê®]

Sounded it a little digital, was your guitar plugged into a mic'd amp as it should be or were you direct into the mixer and tweaked with fake sound modelling software? That is not the final mix is it? The instruments are not sitting together particularly well. Not sure if the half-assed Bobby McGee-esque blues licks fit over a really boring ballad like that. You managed to hit the chord tones, but doing that is not really saying anything musically. Not sure if your producer has a good ear as far as pitch, but at 3:06 when you go from E to C, it kind of falls flat. For a solo, you must elevate the musical message. Learn some scales, arps, triads, intervals besides the Bobby McGee type stuff and get back in there and try it again! Just playing the melody (if there is one in htat song ) for a solo would be better than sitting on chord tones. Good luck!

[GanjaFreebird]

Sounded it a little digital, was your guitar plugged into a mic'd amp as it should be or were you direct into the mixer and tweaked with fake sound modelling software?

I was plugged into a mic'd amp, but through a few tools, I have no idea what they actually are, it was some really old school equipment, but the guitar tone came out perfect for the song, whatever he was doing.

Modern producers usually plug you in directl into the mixer these days, however, Mr. Douglas is old school!

That is not the final mix is it? The instruments are not sitting together particularly well.

That's because your parents need to buy you better speakers. Honestly though, I'm glad Jack and the band liked the guitar playing so much that it's fairly loud in the mix, the guys from Aerosmith were impressed also, smell meh!!

Not sure if the half-assed Bobby McGee-esque blues licks fit over a really boring ballad like that.

I wasn't playing any traditional blues or country licks really, I was very inspired by George Harrison's lead style and a little bit by Jimi Hendrix/Curtis Mayfield rhythm-lead licks, on this tune.

You managed to hit the chord tones, but doing that is not really saying anything musically.

OF COURSE it does, the whole point is to hit the right tones that fit the song best, I mean, this is a pop-rock ballad, not experimental Jazz or avante-garde. It's all about hitting the perfect notes, in fact, producers don't appreciate it when studio musicians try to show off and play stuff that doesn't really belong there, they'd much rather go for David Gilmour/George Harrison/Brian May/Eric Clapton perfect and soulful type of licks, as far as lead guitar is concerned.

Not sure if your producer has a good ear as far as pitch

Considering he is responsible for almost all Aerosmith and John Lennon albums, as well as albums by Miles Davis, The James Gang, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Montrose, Mountain, Bo Diddley, New York Dolls, and many others, including some of The Who's "Who's Next" album...my guess would probably be YES!!

, but at 3:06 when you go from E to C, it kind of falls flat

Actually I go from E to Am (listen to it again), so there's no flat notes, and I was going for that intense bend actually, I LOVE that George Harrison lick, you need to start listening to George more!

. For a solo, you must elevate the musical message. Learn some scales, arps, triads, intervals besides the Bobby McGee type stuff and get back in there and try it again!

Listen to the lead guitar on the album "Imagine", that's exactly what I wanted for my solo, not weird scales and intervals, but rather soulful Harrison bends and the right notes that would touch people...most studio musicians will tell you that they never use 90% of their technical skills during sessions as there's rarely a reason to do so.

Just playing the melody (if there is one in htat song ) for a solo would be better than sitting on chord tones. Good luck!

I couldn't possibly play a melody that belongs to a I-vi-V-IV on top of a I-iv changes, in terms of music theory, it would sound like shit, obviously.

[Misteria]

awesome

[GanjaFreebird]

Thank you!

[Misteria]

Thank you!

de nada

[Šñøü†ê®]

Modern producers usually plug you in directl into the mixer these days, however, Mr. Douglas is old school!

That is NOT TRUE! Some techinques from the 60's actually were DI, but it is not "old school" to be all analog before the mixer, it is called having good tone!

That's because your parents need to buy you better speakers.

Let's see, I7-based PC with Windows 7->Internet->Echo Gina G3 soundcard->NAD 316BEE amp with tone control bypassed->PSB Image B6 monitors! Probably more accurate sound than in that studio!

Honestly though, I'm glad Jack and the band liked the guitar playing so much that it's fairly loud in the mix, the guys from Aerosmith were impressed also, smell meh!!

But will listeners like it?

I wasn't playing any traditional blues or country licks really, I was very inspired by George Harrison's lead style and a little bit by Jimi Hendrix/Curtis Mayfield rhythm-lead licks, on this tune.

Do I need to review the most important aspects of Jimi's style for you again? Hint: you have none present in that song. There might have been a double stop with a single note hammer-on, but that has been around for 100's of years. And isn't Harrison's lead style him trying to play what Paul explained to him.

Actually I go from E to Am (listen to it again),

You listen to it again, the solo notes, you dummy, not the chords! You go from E to C and the bottom drops out of what was already a weak song. That is the risk with soloing. Don't let the song stop, accelerate it! One day when you have sex you will understand the concept better. But it is the climactic part and one must work to get there!

... not weird scales and intervals, but rather soulful Harrison bends and the right notes that would touch people...most studio musicians will tell you that they never use 90% of their technical skills during sessions as there's rarely a reason to do so.

"Weird scales and intervals?" I can understand you have no idea about Allan Holdsworth's scale system, but you should know the major scale and all its modes, the melodic minor and all its modes at a minimum and all the other things that can be derived by those scales!

I couldn't possibly play a melody that belongs to a I-vi-V-IV on top of a I-iv changes, in terms of music theory, it would sound like shit, obviously

Well for you maybe since you seem to be a novice. Check out some guitar instruction books and you should be able to learn how to play over any chord change. It is all about timing, note selection, modal interchange, etc. Keep practicing. I know you can do it!

[GanjaFreebird]

That is NOT TRUE! Some techinques from the 60's actually were DI, but it is not "old school" to be all analog before the mixer, it is called having good tone!

I can get a good tone either way, it's just that analog gives it a fatter sound all-around, but to the average listener, the difference wouldn't really exist, as long as it's done right, either way.

Let's see, I7-based PC with Windows 7->Internet->Echo Gina G3 soundcard->NAD 316BEE amp with tone control bypassed->PSB Image B6 monitors! Probably more accurate sound than in that studio!

Your parents bought you better equipment than the ones that Aerosmith (and other Classic Rock legends) used on their last few albums? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Neeggaahh PLEASE

I mean, your parents ARE rich, but they aren't THAT rich, I'm afraid.

But will listeners like it?

They sure do, so far so good.

Do I need to review the most important aspects of Jimi's style for you again?

No, I'm pretty sure you haven't even heard half of Jimi's recordings that I've heard, no offense.

Hint: you have none present in that song. There might have been a double stop with a single note hammer-on, but that has been around for 100's of years.

My rhythm playing was very inspired by his techniques, which of course he got from Curtis Mayfield and other R&B greats.

And isn't Harrison's lead style him trying to play what Paul explained to him.

No, that only happened during some sessions on "Let It Be" album, and George almost quit the band over it.

As I said, you need to stop being so ignorant and listen to George Harrison if you want to appreciate REAL musicianship.

Here's a little sample:



(a few of those leads were played by John and Paul, of course, also great guitarists).

And his solo work:



And a guitar lead doesn't get any more perfect than this:

[Šñøü†ê®]

MOST MUSICIANS HAVE HOME STUDIOS NOWADAYS. WHY ARE YOU USING THAT STUDIO AND WHO IS PAYING THE BILL FOR IT!

[GanjaFreebird]

You listen to it again, the solo notes, you dummy, not the chords! You go from E to C and the bottom drops out of what was already a weak song.

Oh, you're talking about the first lick during the solo? Yes, I go from E to C, because I'm in C major, so I go from the 3rd to the 1. I use a bend, so it gives it a major/minor effect, which is cool because I like to give it a blues feeling, but when it goes to iv (Fm), I go to the 7th of it first, to get that George Harrison sound and surprise the listener in the sense that it's relatively unusual, but works out perfectly fine as far as the chord progression is concerned.

The bottom doesn't drop out, because we still have rhythm guitar, piano and bass while I solo. Again, ask your parents to buy you a better system, your bass frequencies are probably very weak.

That is the risk with soloing. Don't let the song stop, accelerate it!

I got some amazing reviews for this solo actually.

One day when you have sex you will understand the concept better.

I think you forgot a lot over the last 20 years.

But it is the climactic part and one must work to get there!

What do you mean, exactly?

"Weird scales and intervals?" I can understand you have no idea about Allan Holdsworth's scale system, but you should know the major scale and all its modes, the melodic minor and all its modes at a minimum and all the other things that can be derived by those scales!

I do know all of those (and other) scales, however, the right notes must be applied to the solo, which is the whole point of knowing those scales.

Well for you maybe since you seem to be a novice. Check out some guitar instruction books and you should be able to learn how to play over any chord change. It is all about timing, note selection, modal interchange, etc. Keep practicing. I know you can do it!

Stop bullshitting, even you should know that playing the vocal melody (which is I-vi-V-IV progression), as you suggested, will not sound in key if I played it on top of I-iv progression, which is the guitar solo progression, so obviously I have to chose a different melody, which I did, and I played exactly the right thing that the song needed. I can't believe I even have to explain things like that to you.

[GanjaFreebird]

MOST MUSICIANS HAVE HOME STUDIOS NOWADAYS. WHY ARE YOU USING THAT STUDIO AND WHO IS PAYING THE BILL FOR IT!

Yeah, but most musicians don't record with Jack Douglas, and you can't possibly expect a legendary producer to do work at your home studio. I can't discuss any financial deals, however, I can say I didn't pay that bill, as I was a hired musician.

[Truth Teller]

MOST MUSICIANS HAVE HOME STUDIOS NOWADAYS.

I don't think that's good,that means one's work is around them all the time,and a true artist should get out as much as they can.

[Truth Teller]

I was honored to record on the album "Flow" by the band Beyond Conception which was produced by Jack Douglas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Do...rd_producer%29), who is arguably the greatest producer that's still alive and working, as he did most John Lennon's and Aerosmith's albums among many other classics.

The album was recently released and here's one of the songs that I played lead guitar on:



Jack Douglas is a genius, what can I else say, I couldn't be more proud!

First off, I like the song/recording.

The song is well written and it's well sung.

I enjoyed your lead work,it's in the Harrison/Clapton style ,but you didn't imitate either one of them,in fact I didn't notice the Harrison influence until you mtentioned it,but once you said that ,I could really hear it.

[GanjaFreebird]

First off, I like the song/recording.

The song is well written and it's well sung.

Thank you very much!

I enjoyed your lead work,it's in the Harrison/Clapton style ,

Yes, I forgot to mention Clapton, the lick I play at 3:16 is his style, but for the most part I was influenced by Harrison's lead work (1970-2001) especially from the albums "Imagine", "All Things Must Pass" and "Brainwashed".

but you didn't imitate either one of them,in fact I didn't notice the Harrison influence until you mtentioned it,but once you said that ,I could really hear it.

Thank you!!