New original ballad, If You Say So, w/Clinesmith D-10

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Dec 2013 4:30 am

I wrote and recorded this demo over the last few days and I'm really happy with the tune itself, not necessarily the recording. But it does provide an opportunity for me to use the new Clinesmith in the way that I've been dreaming of for the last few years, particularly in the chord playing track. The sustain is almost organ-like to me--it's just beautiful.

On this track, I played a Kay upright bass, steel, and tried to make a useable drum track with my loop library. Steel was played through a Roland Cube 30X, no effects and miked with an SM-57.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. This is the first tune I've written with the intention of recording a CD of all instrumental music.

If You Say So

Tony Lombardo · Post by **Tony Lombardo** » 30 Dec 2013 6:10 am

That's so beautiful! It sounds like my favorite (I.e. The jazziest) Steely Dan tracks.

Rob Anderlik · Post by **Rob Anderlik** » 30 Dec 2013 6:24 am

I like it! Very atmospheric. In a good way. The recording quality sounds pretty good to me, BTW. Very cool Mike!

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 30 Dec 2013 7:20 am

nice! love the chords sliding down.

Ulrich Sinn · Post by **Ulrich Sinn** » 30 Dec 2013 7:27 am

really good tune, congratulations!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 30 Dec 2013 7:35 am

Excellent, Mike. Love the low register harmonies which bring to mind, of all people, Alvino Rey - if he'd recorded for BlueNote.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 30 Dec 2013 8:55 am

Really nice, Mike. It's interesting how we all hear different things in an original tune. Like others have said, Steely Dan, Alvino Rey. My first thought was Miles Davis! It's all good.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 30 Dec 2013 9:21 am

Sounds great Mike- when does the CD come out?

(My preference would be on LP)

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 30 Dec 2013 9:36 am

Love it!!

GB

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 30 Dec 2013 10:47 am

Nice job, Mike. I like where you're going.

James Nottage · Post by **James Nottage** » 30 Dec 2013 11:34 am

Very tasty, Mike. I can't wait to hear more.

James

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 30 Dec 2013 11:36 am

Your own ideas and sounds plus faint echoes of ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UB_ccUpAJ8

+

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTWsHSN7Qls

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Dec 2013 11:53 am

Thanks for all the nice words.

Andy, I can honestly say I've never really spent any time listening to Alvino's music. I had one recording once, but the sound quality was very shrill, so I didn't listen to it.

I think some of the influences which come out the most in me are Bill Frisell, Allan Holdsworth, Scofield, etc.--musicians I listened to a ton before I played steel guitar. I am trying to make music that reaches that level, without screaming "hey, I'm a steel guitar." I would like it if people dug it and didn't really notice anything strange about the instrument--it's just our little secret! If there's one steel guitarist who influences me, it's Susan Alcorn. She's taught me how to really take my time and let things unfold.

Remember the experiment of 2 necks of my D-10 being tuned one for improv and one for chordal work? Well, I've abandoned that and now I am hopping between both necks for chords and melodies.

Peter Graham · Post by **Peter Graham** » 30 Dec 2013 12:29 pm

You should be teaching a class at Berklee.....keep pushing it Mike, someone's got to!

Eric Dunst · Post by **Eric Dunst** » 30 Dec 2013 1:37 pm

Really outstanding Mike! Great tone and feel!

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 30 Dec 2013 4:12 pm

I absolutely love the tone youre getting out of that Clinesmith.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 30 Dec 2013 5:45 pm

Mike, I can definitely hear those influences you mention. My comment refers more to me than you. I never much liked anything Rey played except that record above which is really an easy listening masterpiece.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Dec 2013 6:33 pm

Andy, and everyone, I'm glad that you found something interesting or even enticing in the song. I have listened to it at least 20 times today, and while I was bugged a little bit by the melody, particularly the line when I resolve to the major 3rd of the I chord (which was previously minor), I've grown to really like it. In my head I thought that that was laziest line I'd ever heard and just a cheap way out.

Now, I hear the little thing that makes me smile when I listen to Jeff Beck.

The bridge is also reminiscent of so much music I'm listening to and have been drawn to--that with odd meters or superimposed rhythms. It's really so simple but the music kind takes flight. The only I did there was sing (I also sing it first) what sounds like 6 against 4 (it is 2 half-note triplets).

Anyway, thanks. I don't believe in pushing it forward, I just believe in being true to yourself as a musician. I don't think I've ever been happier as a musician, and I've been a musician for 40 years, with varying degrees of success.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 30 Dec 2013 6:37 pm

Very interesting tune Mike. The recording sounds fine. Nicely played.

Are you keeping the same tunings you described in another thread?

Former Member · Post by **Former Member** » 30 Dec 2013 7:01 pm

I played this for my wife, Here's her exact quote:
"that doesn't sound like lap steel, it sounds nice"

Jeez, what must be her experience???

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Dec 2013 7:02 pm

Stephen Abruzzo wrote:Are you keeping the same tunings you described in another thread?

Thanks for asking, but no. I couldn't stick with the separate improv and chord necks--looks good on paper, but not in action.

I couldn't have played the tune entirely without using 2 necks. Each neck has a similar tuning, but different enough to make certain chords available. For now, I'll keep it to myself....

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Dec 2013 7:03 pm

Ron Ellison wrote:I played this for my wife, Here's her exact quote:
"that doesn't sound like lap steel, it sounds nice"
Jeez, what must be her experience???

Ron, I played it for my wife an hour ago and she said, "You know I don't like instrumental music...." She really is not a fan!

Man, I hope Todd Clinesmith hears this! I want him to hear how nice his creation sounds! If it sounds this good with a cheap SS amp and a crappy SM-57 mic, you can imagine how good it sounds in the room through a nice amp.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 31 Dec 2013 5:46 am

Really a nice piece Mike

Ulrich Sinn · Post by **Ulrich Sinn** » 31 Dec 2013 10:37 am

I couldn't have played the tune entirely without using 2 necks. Each neck has a similar tuning, but different enough to make certain chords available.

Was that what they invented the pedals for?

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 31 Dec 2013 5:14 pm

Hi Mike,
I'd love to hear this new composition but my out dated computer is not smart enough for sound cloud . This will change soon as I have a "new to me computer" coming this February that should keep me up to date with this fast paced world for at least a few years.
Please send me an mp3.
I can't wait to hear it.
Todd