Here's my arrangement of a chain gang classic. I took the lyrics and chords from a book by Pete Seeger called The Bells of Rhymney. The A minor pentatonic riff I wrote for it is a nice groove. The solo is simple and tasty, perhaps influenced by Billy Gibbons.
This recording was made in 2006. I used my Walden Natura. The vocals and rhythm guitar were recorded on one track. The guitar solo was overdubbed in one take.
I wrote and recorded this piece back in 2006. It features a series of descending major seventh and suspended chords, followed by riffs and solos over major seventh chord progressions. After repeating this pattern twice, a solo over a dominant seventh chord enters. Finally, the original cycle is repeated. There is some beautiful improv here, and the descending chords make up one of the most unique progressions I've written. I'm not sure which of my influences to attribute it to. I used my Walden Natura DC550CE for the recording.
I wrote Spanish Dirge many years ago. I usually play it as an introduction to a longer flamenco piece, but I also like it as a stand alone number. The music definitely expresses a contemplative dance with death.
For this recording, I used my Walden Natura Acoustic. The pickup inside the guitar is loose, and you can hear it bouncing around when I use vibrato. I tried playing it to a metronome, but I had a hard time getting the fermatas right, and I preferred the freer interpretation.
This piece is a simple 12-bar blues in E. The main 12-bar verse was written in one sitting a few weeks ago. The solo that I take the third time through the 12-bar form was written last night.
The whole song uses the E blues scale. I emphasize the Bb 'blue note' often. The hardest thing about the piece is the little vibrato placed on sustained notes in the melody. I usually got it in this recording, but I miss it a few times.
The main influence on this composition was probably Howlin' Wolf's "Spoonful." I used my Walden Natura DC550CE for this recording.
I wrote this piece many years ago. I think it was influenced by Black Sabbath's Embryo, but I didn't notice the influence until sometime after I composed it.
The piece is in C major and alternates between two pedal tones. First, I use A as a pedal tone. The C major scale is then heard in the Aeolian mode. Then, I switch to the E pedal tone. The C major scale is then hear in the Phrygian mode.
I recorded several versions. All of them had flaws. I'm quickly learning that recordings are merciless about small errors that would go unnoticed by most listeners at a live performance. I don't have the luxury of time to be picky. I chose the recording that captured the feeling I want for the piece, though it wasn't necessarily the best executed. I used my Walden Natura DC550CE for the recording.
Ever since he first appeared in early blues recordings by artists like Clara Smith, Charlie Patton, and Robert Johnson, Satan has been a character in blues and rock music. Baal's Brand is my take on the sold soul blues. The lyrics were born while contemplating my personal addictions. They were also influenced by descriptions of slavery in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
I bear Baal's brand deep in my chest
I bear Baal's brand deep in my chest
And he works me to the bone
He won't give me no rest
He keeps me tied down to that old ball and chain
He keeps me tied down to that old ball and chain
And when I don't mind him
Blood flows down like rain
They tell me that he owns my soul
They tell me that he owns my soul
And he tells me that
He will never let me go.
For this recording, I play slide in standard tuning on my Walden Natura. The key is G and the 12 bar blues form is followed throughout. The performance has some minor flaws, but I liked the feel of this take best, so I'm posting it. The pictures in the video come from Wikipedia pages about Baal and Satan.
About 15 years ago, I started composing a cycle of instrumental guitar pieces about the life of Jesus. I never finished the whole cycle, but I did finish several of the pieces. This one was written while contemplating Mary's Magnificat prayer from Luke 1:46-55. This recording was made about 10 years ago in a friend's basement studio. I used a cheap Ibanez acoustic.
