Hi, I'm new and incompetent

New Players stand up and be counted.
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lichenthroat
Mean Street
Posts: 543
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:54 pm
Recording Method: MuseScore & Ardour or Reaper
Submitting as: Lichen Throat, Dimetrodon, Sparetooth, Dessert Tortoise
Pronouns: he/him
Location: New Mexico

Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by lichenthroat »

Hi. I submitted my first entry this week (as Lichen Throat). I'm a middle-aged guy with no musical training, who has nonetheless recently (and somewhat inexplicably) developed an interest in composing music. I'd been doing exclusively instrumentals until this week, which is likely quite evident to any listeners. My goals here are to have fun and learn as much as I can. I'm already very impressed with the skill and talent of the community.
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PepperJane
Somebody Get Me A Doctor
Posts: 194
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:25 am
Instruments: Voice. Followed by piano or guitar
Recording Method: Crustacean
Submitting as: PepperJane
Location: Jondaryan, Australia
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Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by PepperJane »

Awesome! I'm fairly new here too, joining early this year, and my focus is largely testing my opinion of my music against the opinions of other musicians and composers (there are some of both here).
My songfight entries are sadly generally half-assed but each one surely teaches me something
Everything is about perspective. :shock:
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Chumpy
Twilight Sparkle
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Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2015 2:06 pm
Instruments: Vocals, guitar, bass
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Submitting as: Jerkatorium, Chumpy
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Location: Seattle, WA
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Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by Chumpy »

lichenthroat wrote:Hi. I submitted my first entry this week (as Lichen Throat). I'm a middle-aged guy with no musical training, who has nonetheless recently (and somewhat inexplicably) developed an interest in composing music. I'd been doing exclusively instrumentals until this week, which is likely quite evident to any listeners. My goals here are to have fun and learn as much as I can. I'm already very impressed with the skill and talent of the community.
Nice. I myself was in the same boat you're in 18 months ago -- a middle-aged guy with no training but with an interest in composing and performing music. I've learned a ton in that time competing and participating in official and unofficial fights. My playing, singing, and production have all improved quite a lot, it's been pretty wild.

You mentioned in another thread that this is the first time people outside your family have heard your singing voice. Candid reviews of my singing have really helped me out. Here are some things I've heard.

Vocals are too far forward: too loud
Vocals are too dry: no reverb
Vocals delivery is flat: no emotion, no passion
Pretty pitchy dawg: Pitches all over the place

I used to think processing your vocals with software was cheating somehow, I'm glad I got over that. Now I 'cheat' like a mofo whenever my singing is marginal (which is most of the time).

Comping: stitch composite vocals together from the best parts of multiple takes
Reverb: plate reverb to color the sound a bit, convolution reverb to give the illusion of space
Compression: my singing volume is all over the place, compression evens it out
Timing adjustment: sometimes my timing sucks, having words fall right on beats sounds awesome
Pitch correction: my eyes can show me what my ears can't hear

Welcome to SongFight! Please be awesome!
"I don't recommend ending on a bad joke." --ken
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lichenthroat
Mean Street
Posts: 543
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:54 pm
Recording Method: MuseScore & Ardour or Reaper
Submitting as: Lichen Throat, Dimetrodon, Sparetooth, Dessert Tortoise
Pronouns: he/him
Location: New Mexico

Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by lichenthroat »

Thanks! I am very unfamiliar with the terminology, so your explanation is quite welcome.
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Niveous
Beat It
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Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by Niveous »

Welcome to Songfight! Please be awesome.
"I'd like to see 1984 redubbed with this in the soundtrack."- Furrypedro.
NUR EIN!
X-Tokyo
Lucky Witch and the Righteous Ghost
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rone rivendale
Odie
Posts: 1755
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Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by rone rivendale »

So basically you are me in 2005. Please be more awesome than I was. :P
From spoken word to actual singing, I can screw up any style with style. :D
HeuristicsInc
Beat It
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Location: Maryland USA
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Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by HeuristicsInc »

Lichen Throat, is that a reference to werewolves or somesuch?
-bill
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lichenthroat
Mean Street
Posts: 543
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:54 pm
Recording Method: MuseScore & Ardour or Reaper
Submitting as: Lichen Throat, Dimetrodon, Sparetooth, Dessert Tortoise
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Location: New Mexico

Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by lichenthroat »

HeuristicsInc wrote:Lichen Throat, is that a reference to werewolves or somesuch?
-bill
In part. It's also a reference to the unpracticed state of my vocals. Strangely, I've never liked werewolves much. I have always liked lichens, however.
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lichenthroat
Mean Street
Posts: 543
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:54 pm
Recording Method: MuseScore & Ardour or Reaper
Submitting as: Lichen Throat, Dimetrodon, Sparetooth, Dessert Tortoise
Pronouns: he/him
Location: New Mexico

Re: Hi, I'm new and incompetent

Post by lichenthroat »

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone!
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