The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Your Tunes: "Sophie's Song"--by Dan and Troy6120

"Sophie's Song"--by Dan and Troy6120

- Rated: 71 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 2:10 a.m. troy6120:

Dan, our drummer, wrote and recorded the body of this charming tune for his 2 year-old little girl.

He gave to me a single finished mp3 mix of what he had recorded: his file consisted of a vocal and a backup harmony track; a kick drum, tambourine, and shaker tracks; an electric bass track; and a strummed nylon-string acoustic track.

I imported his mp3 into ProTools (he doesn't have the session file or individual tracks anymore, which I would have enjoyed having access to for EQ and panning reasons, but.....)

I added a banjo track, some lead guitar licks with a Tele, a wah-wah track that leads into each verse, a 'boom-chank' rhythm accent track with my Gretsch DSW guitar, and another melodic fingerpicked Tele track behind each verse.

As his mp3 didn't have a snare-drum track, I recorded one by tapping my fingertips on the drum-like head of the banjo.

His song reminded me a little of The White Stripes (in the best way); also of 'White Album'-era and later Beatles.

For my lead lines, I tried to think "Octopus' Garden". For the faux-snare track, I was thinking "Why Don't We Do It In The Road".

As far as the banjo goes, I have no idea WHAT I was thinking. This took me awhile, and it was fun!

Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=1249763&T=1699
- Rated: 29 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 5:44 a.m. tidalwave_sideburns:

Cute song! I dig the spacing of the guitars a lot. The banjo lick is awesome, nicely positioned in the background, but kinda makes the song a little more humorous, for lack of a better word. Great mix, though I would have put the tambourine a little softer.
- Rated: 59 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 8:27 a.m. Bernw:

That was good fun and well done. Catchy hook. The type of thing that could hit the charts in the UK!
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 9:36 a.m. troy6120:

tidalwave_sideburns said: I would have put the tambourine a little softer.
I hear ya. Dan doesn't have the session file or individual tracks anymore, so I can't control the levels of individual anythings. I had a problem with the original Mp3: the kick drum and the bass were colliding together to form a big "woomp, woomp" in the left speaker. I EQ'd it, and tried to take a little of the high-end EQ off, where the tambourine resides. But that messed with the acoustic strumming he had done, so I just did what I could.

Thanks tidalwave and Bernw!

BigJimSlade says he's got something new for us to work on. I like projects!
- Rated: 29 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 9:46 a.m. tidalwave_sideburns:

@troy, aah , I see, you already mentioned the missing individual tracks, I should have known, :).

@Bern, yeah, like the opening tune for a kids TV show or something it would be very suitable.
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 9:51 a.m. troy6120:

It took all I had not to kick off this track with one of those things you blow in at a birthday party that extends out when you blow and rolls back up afterwards. You know, it makes that 'party' sound. I figured that would take away a little of the 'sweetness', though.
- Rated: 72 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 10:00 a.m. BigJimSlade:

Good job and thanks for the details you provided. You can see my other comments on the other thread. Thanks, Troy.
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 6:17 p.m. troy6120:

BigJim, I downloaded them. I'm going to examine them further real soon. Thanks!
- Rated: 72 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 6:21 p.m. BigJimSlade:

Keep in mind it is rather amateurish, straightforward, simple stuff really meant for my own enjoyment. However, if I got real PRO to slap some of that telemagic to it...Weeell, I might have sumthin'!
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 8:37 p.m. troy6120:

It'll probably be my attempt at "Gretsch magic". Although, there is no magic involved. It's all luck and lack of planning for me. I like straight-forward, simple stuff. Your tunes are really cool. It'll probably take me awhile.
- Rated: 72 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 10:16 p.m. BigJimSlade:

Dang, I don't know if they need so much work or the minute approach will take some study. Hopefully, its not like an Archie comic book trying to be turned into the 10 Commandments
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jun 20, 2009 11:50 p.m. troy6120:

Art is art, and someone else's art deserves to be treated as such. This is cool stuff you have, and I'll attempt to not disgrace it.

In my above post, I should have emphasized the word "attempt" pertaining to Gretsch-magic. I'm telling ya, anything I record that sounds good is luck-driven.
- Rated: 38 ↑
Jun 27, 2009 7:53 a.m. Brian_66:

What a great way to start my Saturday morning! (+1) This tune can't help but make you smile. It's the type of tune you'd expect to hear on the 'No' album' by They Might Be Giants. Well done!
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jul 1, 2009 10:32 p.m. troy6120:

Thanks, Brian_66. Dan, our drummer who wrote the song, is tripping out that people actually really like this little knockoff tune he did in his kitchen!
- Rated: 30 ↑
Jul 1, 2009 10:37 p.m. Whofan:

Really good song, I'd buy it!
- Rated: 8 ↑
Jul 2, 2009 7:51 a.m. mugsy:

Love it! That's my daughter's name, too :)
- Rated: 8 ↑
Jul 2, 2009 7:51 a.m. mugsy:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 34 ↑
Jul 2, 2009 10:25 a.m. el_pabst:

Excellent!! Lovely tune w/lots of nice details!
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jul 2, 2009 7:03 p.m. troy6120:

el_pabst said: ...w/lots of nice details!
Thanks. I was afraid I was cluttering it up too much, and making it too "rhythmic", or something.
- Rated: 61 ↑
Jul 2, 2009 11:57 p.m. otterbean:

I enjoyed the heck out of this one.
- Rated: 71 ↑
Jul 3, 2009 8:41 p.m. troy6120:

Thanks, otterbean. Good to hear from you. Where've ya been hiding?

The Gretsch Pages

Welcome to the Gretsch Pages

"Sophie's Song"--by Dan and Troy6120

Jun 20, 2009 2:10 a.m. troy6120:

Jun 20, 2009 5:44 a.m. tidalwave_sideburns:

Jun 20, 2009 8:27 a.m. Bernw:

Jun 20, 2009 9:36 a.m. troy6120:

Jun 20, 2009 9:46 a.m. tidalwave_sideburns:

Jun 20, 2009 9:51 a.m. troy6120:

Jun 20, 2009 10:00 a.m. BigJimSlade:

Jun 20, 2009 6:17 p.m. troy6120:

Jun 20, 2009 6:21 p.m. BigJimSlade:

Jun 20, 2009 8:37 p.m. troy6120:

Jun 20, 2009 10:16 p.m. BigJimSlade:

Jun 20, 2009 11:50 p.m. troy6120:

Jun 27, 2009 7:53 a.m. Brian_66:

Jul 1, 2009 10:32 p.m. troy6120:

Jul 1, 2009 10:37 p.m. Whofan:

Jul 2, 2009 7:51 a.m. mugsy:

Jul 2, 2009 7:51 a.m. mugsy:

Jul 2, 2009 10:25 a.m. el_pabst:

Jul 2, 2009 7:03 p.m. troy6120:

Jul 2, 2009 11:57 p.m. otterbean:

Jul 3, 2009 8:41 p.m. troy6120:

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