Ambient Guitar & Soundscape: Down, Up & Down

[mikemed]

Click to view

Please support my music: https://mikemed.bandcamp.com/

This composition consists of three different parts that reflect some of my common approaches to Ambient Guitar. Tutorial infographics is included.
The first part is a thoughtful and melancholic instrumental piece in style that I got used to describe as Depressionism.

The second part is a rhythmic piece in 7/8 measure with short repetitive melodic phrases played over changing bass line that highlights the harmony.

The third piece is a classical guitar Soundscape built on the principle of Frippertronics.


I’m recoding the first phrase on Boomerang’s Loop 3. If you start from Loop 3 all the other Loops on Boomerang will be synchronized corresponding to its length.

If you press Loop 1 or Loop 2 button on Boomerang recording will not start immediately and diode over the button will be lit dim. Since Loops are synchronized to Loop 3, Boomerang waits for the beginning of Loop 3 and only then it will start recording. It helps a lot because you don’t have to hit the button exactly in time. You simply press it somewhere in the middle of Loop 3 and concentrate on playing. Hint: diodes over buttons blink each time the loop repeats so you can predict when the recording starts.

When you play open strings with an EBow you can do whatever you want, because the left hand is free now. For example, you can turn knobs to modulate the sound. I turned down the volume of Loop 3 on Boomerang.

I changed Decay parameter on Boomerang to 50%. Since I was in overdubbing mode it meant that all layers I had recorded before would die away slowly as I added new layers on. This is the principle that underlies Frippertronics.

Mind your vibrato speed when playing sustained notes. Changing vibrato speed will definitely add more expression to your playing.

Gear used:

Godin Multiac Steel SA
Fishman Aura Spectrum DI
Roland US-20
Roland VG-99
Roland GR-33
Strymon TimeLine
Strymon BigSky
Boomerang III looper
Proel USB M8 mixer
Cubase

Thanks for watching!