Probably should have just extended the previous note but whatever.
Okay, first of all, I wanted to mention that Finish owed a bigger debt to Steph than maybe I made it seem. The initial version of the song included a funky lead guitar line that I totally loved. It was actually the guitar line that found me the bass line, and I just thought the whole rocked right out.
Steph listened to it and said, "Is the guitar in tune?"
I shrugged.
"It says it is. They're both listed as being in C." (here we see my formidable command of musical theory coming to the fore)
She scowled.
"I don't like it."
"You don't like it? But it's the best part of the song. Listen to that. It's totally awesome. And it's SO in tune."
"Well, I don't know. Can we listen to it without the guitar?"
"No, it's really complicated because I have the rabab on that track as well and the levels are all set and..."
"Okay, that's fine. I just think it would be better without the guitar."
Steph goes on her way and I sit there mumbling about how totally in tune that guitar is and how awesome it sounds and what does she think she's doing grump grump grump.
And then I just kind of wonder to myself. Because that bass IS pretty bitchin'. Maybe it WOULD sound better on its own.
I juggle tracks a bit and mute the guitar.
And I don't like it. But I leave it. I walk away from the Mac and leave the guitar track muted. Come back the next and listen to it again. Guitar still muted. I don't do any work on the song, but honestly, I'm starting to think maybe the song is better this way.
It's another day before I'm ready to delete the guitar track and re-work the few bits that need adjusting with its departure.
So thanks, Steph. Sometimes it takes me a while to try other people's ideas, especially when they seem to strike right at the heart of what I've worked so passionately on. But more often than not, the ideas are good ones.
And Blogger Play is INSANELY cool. Watch the world blog. Live.