The Purpose (for Lyn): shred guitar ballad -Bryce Fitzsimons

[YellowLeader1]

i really like it...but in my opinion you used a bit too much wahwah.

[skycaptain141]

what guitar is that

[6614246]

where can I get backing track?

[HellIVIonkey]

I never released a stand-alone backing track for this song. I might record a separate backing track someday if I re-record this song. Try making your own backing track... it's fun and will improve your playing and creativity.

[Chulkov89]

Good stuff. I like those phrases in the beginning.

Is that some A Lydian? Haha. I was kinda jamming some classical guitar along with it.

5*

[HellIVIonkey]

Thanks!

To answer your question, yes and no. Compositionally it's in E Major (Ionian). But you are correct in that A Lydian, 4th of E Major, is an equivalent mode.

However (again), the B-part of the song does modulate to the 4th which is (you guessed it), A Lydian. Only catch there is that I do some pitch axis stuff so it doesn't stay in A Lydian for long.

[Chulkov89]

Yeah lol. The harmony sounded modal, but I couldn't put my finger on it, so I just guessed Lydian. And I definelty heard a Major7th chord in there.

[lolharbandhar]

This isn't bad at all, but for a song that has "emotion" as a tagline - I'd say it sounds a bit too much like you're going through the motions rather than the emotions. Probably just tense as a result of "red light syndrome" but that's a criticism I'd say is fairly apparent.

[Frudler]

Hi man!

Nice work. But the tone sounds a bit too flat. You should use a (better) verb to make it more saturated. It would emphasize your great work a lot better!

[kurama14890]

I really like your guitar. The song is great too, I am just not diggin' the tone. It would be a have a lot more feeling, atleast for me, if the tone wasn't so cold; like a Jackson can be sometimes.

[HellIVIonkey]

Yeah, I think I killed the tone with too much computer processing in the mixdown. Oh well - next full song I post will sound better. :-)

[synth002]

nice one man, hold your neck properly though dude! will improve your bends and vibrato, you got a bit of a weird sausages for fingers thing going on there lol

[HellIVIonkey]

Sausages for fingers? Haha, what the hell? I was also told I have "macaroni fingers" on my Stingray video.

Thanks for the response. I've been working on bends/vibrato and overall efficiency lately, so hopefully it will show in the next videos.

[synth002]

LoL yeah well theres no real name for it y'know! Nice one man!

[shredder2185z]

thats tight i give you props

[shredder2185z]

did you write or this or improvise

[HellIVIonkey]

A little of both. In addition to the rhythm and drum track, I wrote out the main hook and part of the refrain in advance. I improvised the rest.

[shredder2185z]

sick solo you shreded and played with emotion what scale where you on through out the song it sounded sick

[HellIVIonkey]

Thanks! I told somebody below, but I'll re-paste what I said about the scales:

This song is mostly in E major (Ionian), also viewable as C# minor (Aeolian). The refrain uses a Lydian to Phrygian pitch axis and a few substitutions that lets it keep "climbing downward."

Lemme know if you want any more specifics at certain time-positions, etc.

[scrached0]

your tone is so weird

[MikeAnthonyP]

Seriously work on your vibrato. It makes a WORLD of a difference.

[ramblerboy99]

Thats impressive dude, i trying to teach myslef the guitar now, have been for about a yar and a half. Ballads are one thing i def want to be able to play. what sort of scales do you use??

[HellIVIonkey]

Thanks. A ballad is not at all defined by the scales you use, but by the feel, emotion, and story you tell. That said, it's good to know all your theory (regarding lead/melody, phrasing, and rhythm) so you can apply it to whatever story you're telling in your ballad.

That said, this song is mostly in E major (Ionian), also viewable as C# minor (Aeolian). The refrain uses a Lydian to Phrygian pitch axis and a few substitutions that lets it keep "climbing downward."

[inuki69]

wow! j-custom!

[punkcheck]

cool phrasing

[alvagingra2]

nice ballad dude keep shreding!

[silversunny]

I have to say, as a photographer, I have learned to pay attention to the background as much as the foreground, so as not to have a pole growing out of someone's head. Likewise, a musician should not ignore the background music, it should be as good as the foreground, guitar, deserves it to be. Keep on playing.

[HellIVIonkey]

Um thanks? Or was this a suggestion? Can't quite decide if you like my background or are suggesting advice, heh. I actually really like the background music (it sounds really good when played solo on acoustic), but maybe this recording didn't do it justice?

[fernando9026]

Uhh... just take photographs silversunny, let HelllVlonkey play the guitar ¬¬ i think it sounds good.

[Metalmanwushu]

Sounds great man!

[HellIVIonkey]

Hey thank you!

[explosivechild]

that is the ugliest couch ive ever seen

[ironmaidenowns]

i think this is a very nice piece but what program did you use to get the rhythm backing? or did you just record it and have it play behind you in this vid?

[HellIVIonkey]

Thanks. I wrote/recorded the rhythm backing myself. And I did the drums in MIDI. I use a multi-track recording program to combine all the tracks (there are several good programs out there - Cubase, ProTools, or for cheaper try CoolEdit/Audition or Garage Band).

[bloatedmushroom]

that's sweet.. the girl must feel special to have this kinda piece dedicated to her.

[HellIVIonkey]

I hope you're right! She is very special. :-)

[fireatwill1994]

very nice!

[HellIVIonkey]

Thank you very much!

Oh, everybody, if you like it don't forget to rate! :-D

[1thousandstrats]

this would have been really really nice without the wah wah effect. good job though.

[HellIVIonkey]

Hmm, I suppose it might clash with some of the playing, but I think the wah sounds great for the main hook. Thanks for the comment!

(BTW, I wasn't the one that rated your comment down, heh.)