Mosaic for Shadows - Latin Asian Guitar looping - johnclarkemusic.com

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This song is another of my own compositions. I am going try to be as detailed as I can in describing for you here, the creative and technical process I went through to produce this video.

First of all, the guitar I am using is a Cordoba 55FCE. It's a thin body nylon string acoustic/electric. It has an under the saddle pick up in combination with a small mic built into the body. The built-in mic gives the guitar a more full-bodied sound. Actually, before I purchase this guitar, I was surprised by how full it sounded. Usually thin bodies and under-the-saddle pick-ups sound way to nasal for my tastes.

Next, You might notice that my guitar is plugged into an electronic device on the floor in front of me. This is called the Boss RC-50 Loop Station and is what makes this song possible. It allows my to record and playback different guitar parts in a real time performance. There are no prerecorded backing tracks in this video. All the sound you hear were created on the fly during the performance. You may have noticed my feet pressing the pedals of the RC-50 throughout the performance. These pedals control the real-time recording, looping, and playback functions.

I start out with just one layer and then add more as the song progresses. If you listen and pay attention to when the different guitar parts come in you should be able to count up to 6 different layers in addition to the live layer by the end of the song.

Another neat feature of the RC-50 that is that it has three different channels on which I can record the layers of loops. I pre-programed two of the channels to be panned left and right to take advantage of stereo sound. This enable me to create rich ensemble effect with just one guitar.


I recorded the video with a mac book pro laptop. I used the built in isight camera. The audio comes straight out of the RC-50 and into the mac book. I had to manually configure the mac to record "line in" instead of the built in mic. I used apple's video software "imovie hd" to record and edit the video. I added imovie's "club" reverb at the lowest setting to add some ambiance to the guitar sound.

Then I exported the video as mov. file and used the built-in sepia effect for the aged b&w look.


Ok now on to the more creative stuff. This song is one I have been working on for a number of for a number of years. It is inspired by music of the far east especially Gamelan music of Java and Bali. It uses only two chords: A major, and C# minor. The scale is pentatonic meaning that it has only five notes: A C# D# E G#. Of course there are other influences in this song as well. The arpeggios I played for very first layer are a typical picking pattern of Latin America in 3/4 6/8 meter. Who knows maybe even the heavy strumming at the end comes from all the hard rock and metal I listened to as a teenager.

The song is titled "mosaic for shadows." It will be released on my next studio album.

thanks for watching.

John H. Clarke
http://www.JohnClarkeMusic.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Spanish
• Guitar
• Looping
• John-H-Clarke
• live music
• Classical guitar
• acoustic
• acoustic guitar

[FlowingSnake1]

It really is a treat that this man exists in our time. The level of expression conveyed through his instrument is a talent that is unique and deeply special. This is a man who can speak and sway emotion without words.

This is great music people. I am so thankful to have the pleasure of listening to it.

[MrWileyOne]

This is real artistry, nothing like those talentless hacks grinding out insipid music for money on MTV or VH1

[MrGibsonic]

I love this song, how can I download this version, I already have your album with the new version of this song, Thanks.

[popedevil666]

This music is so fuckin awesome, everytime I listen it with the rainymood shit it makes me nostalgic

[improbisando100]

@FlowingSnake1

thank you for saying this words, for a long time I have been listining to this incrediable video(music) with the hopes of one of this time get the right words that I feel for this video and you have said it, thank you for helping me out,... los mejores deceos

[erlibero]

You are GOOD! really a great song! :D

[MAOR3356]

pastva pre moje usi :)



[UndergroundSteampunk]

I feel like I would be dancing with a gorgeous peurto rican girl while listening to this song

[xthelonedrowx]

Can you do a tutorial on this song?, please or upload Sheet music

[TheMannee1]

this song is nice ....badass love it man

[FlowingSnake1]

@birdlydish124 Music speaks to people in different ways, I don't consider my comment dramatic at all... Just an honest comment.