New tune

[ClavinovaGuy]

This is something I wrote 7 or 8 years ago. I just got a new James Taylor CD the other day (old songs, new packaging), and it inspired me to throw this together last night. I always imagined him singing it. I layered the Natural and regular 12-string guitar voices for the lead track, added some fills with the Live nylon guitar, sprinkled in some Live strings, and a little finger-drummin' on the Live brush kit. It's called "Moonbeams".

Moonbeams (http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Members/000015908_000005818.mp3)

[wally]

Sounds great!! I wonder if adding some fret noise might make is sound more 'live'? Nice transitions and it has a very catchy tune. Are you saying that this is a JT tune, or something you wrote that was inspired by JT?

Great job!!

Wally

[ClavinovaGuy]

Thanks Wally! The fret noise would be a great addition. This is something I wrote, but always imagined his vocals on it. Maybe in my next lifetime I'll be so lucky.

[onnokok]

That was a great peice.:D

I always find things like guitar so hard on a keybord. Well... I don't play guitar, that's probably a reason why. But, how do you get it to sound so good? Is there a way to understand what notes a guitar would play on a given chord? I suppose if you know the guitar chords you can work out the notes and the order in which they are strummed?

Sounds great any way. Adding the fret noise would be a good touch.

Onno

[ClavinovaGuy]

Thanks very much, Onno! I don't know if there's any particular secret - seems to be mostly a "feel" thing. I like the 12-string voices a lot for "strumming" type sounds. I just try not to play more than 6 notes at a time if I can help it, and try not to strike all the notes at exactly the same time. I don't play guitar, either - this is as close as I get - LOL! I do collaborate with a number of guitarists, so usually I'm off the hook.

[onnokok]

HI again.

Would fret noise be added just before a chord change
? I assume that would make sense but I'm not sure.

Onno

[ClavinovaGuy]

I've only tried fret noise once - on this rendition of "Classical Gas":

Classical Gas (http://www.guitar.com/artists/sounds/pianoguy_(Brad_Preston)-Classical_Gas_(Mason_Williams).mp3)

To do it right, you'd have to have some knowledge of the kind of hand movement required on the fretboard, which I lack. So I just winged it. I put more thought into the quieter part at the intro. Too much of it would probably be annoying.

[onnokok]

Very Nice!

We need an applause smile.

I see what you mean about the fret noise, the ones in the intro are natural. However some in the rest of the song seem out of place. It's hard to say why , just a feeling I guess.

I notice on one of your web pages that you like George Winston. My wife likes hime very much as well and likes to play some of his music. Sheet music is almost implossible to find of course. (though I did find a scan of a book published in Korea on the web once. The wife could tell it was not official arrangements.) She likes Liz Story quite a bit too.

Take care and thanks for the great sounds.

Onno

[ClavinovaGuy]

Thanks again, Onno! Yes, I didn't exercise much patience with the fret noise for the rest of the song - LOL! Not my strong suit.

Have you tried looking for George Winston midi's? That might be another avenue for learning his songs.

[onnokok]

Yes.
I have had some luck with downloading Winston midi files and then using MidiNotate to print out sheet music. It worked quite well. One file though(linus and Lucy) that was supposed to be a Winston file was just the same as the normal version. Takes a bit of hunting... but I like that.

Onno