Night Thoughts

I've been playing with this chord progression for the last few evenings:

|: EM7 | EM7 | Em/M7 | Em/M7 | C#dim | C#dim | C#dim | C#dim :|
|: G#7 | G#7 | G#7| G#7| C#m9 | C#m9 | C#m9 | C#m9 :| Gdim | Gdim | Gdim | Gdim :|

I'm not sure if the chords are exactly functioning the way I've described them, for there are many ways to think about the chords in the progression, but what I've written gives an approximation.  I played the first eight measures over an E pedal tone.

For the solos, I thought about the first eight bars as chords within G# harmonic minor (Ab made the chords harder to name), the first chord suggesting the sixth mode, the second chord suggesting some sort of hybrid of the sixth mode, and the third chord suggesting the seventh mode.  At times, I thought of the third chord as an inverted A7.  I used the G# Phrygian Dominant scale for the G#7, the C# pentatonic minor for the C#m9, and the Locrian #2 scale for the Gdim.

I used the Boss RC-2 Loop Station for the chords, my Eric Johnson stratocaster, my VOX amplifier, and all fingers for my picking attack.

I'm very happy with the mood of the piece and with the inventiveness of the solos.  These are my nocturnal meditations, my contemplations of Nyx for these last few nights.  Al Di Meola was definitely an influence on this one.

The Renaissance Man

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.