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Chosen Fool's Gold to be my song for my summative.

I might do a bass improvisation in my mix would show off my improvisation skills.

I'm still unsure about doing jazz for my summative but would be good for experience in other genres.

I have also gotten splints to help me with my hypermobility and it has helped a lot.

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Planning to mix Fool's Gold

Getting guitars added to the song and possibly asking Seth

Still unsure about the song

Need to organise time to learning three other projects I'm helping in which I might use in my personal practice

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In my first session of Technical Development, we discussed deliberate practice and setting SMART targets in order to progress my skills. The SMART Targets i had were:

I set up a personal practice schedule for the week that I might tweak as I start to do it.

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The theme of this week is ‘Find your feet week’ and the song was Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac. I prepared by first listening to the song multiple times to understand the general structure of the song. I then went to canvas and used the video there to help me understand my parts of the song. Finally, I watched some live videos to see how I could incorporate McVie’s techniques and tone into my performance. My strengths with this song is that I managed to understand the structure of the song even after initially thinking I would struggle; specifically the pre-chorus to chorus the timing of the note changes in the verse. My weakness with the song is that I struggled with the timing of the chorus. When initially trying out the song I tend to rush the notes and struggle to get back into the song. To overcome this, I tried to use a metronome as shown in the video attached I think my rehearsal went well as I managed to play with the band to a really good standard. I definitely felt a lot better playing with the band than at home because even though I wasn't confident in myself and my ability with the song at that point, I was able to make it sound cleaner in lesson.

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The main things I focused for the week was Ear Training which was done by trying to learn a song by ear. The song I learned was Time to Get Closer by Foster the People. I also tried to practice my plectrum technique which I found out is difficult for me due to the hypermobility in my thumb; when I picked down it would push my thumb back and strain/wear out easier. Finally for this week I used a video by Dan Hawkins Bass Lesson on YouTube to help my timings skills. In this video, he went through 7 metronome exercises but I focused on 2 for this week so I knew that I was comfortable with it which was really helpful.

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We talked about what our aim is to do with production tools. I had said that I want to make gothic/rock/indie songs on logic but I don't know how to use midi or the DAW yet. I have tried to make a song on Bandlab but I always got stuck in the progress. We learned about microphone placements and the importance of it. This can benefit me as I'd like to record myself and have some knowledge in the studio so I can assist to put up mics knowing what is suitable for the best sound.

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Chris, Salmon. “Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac - 1997.” Www.youtube.com, 2007, youtu.be/p8Ojjn35kP8?si=NC2iY3liEi0KgOrc. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.

Hawkins, Dan. “7 Bass Guitar Metronome Exercises [Your Timing WILL Improve].” Www.youtube.com, 2016, youtu.be/RXMUECdyMxI?si=1EnRR1N6znTM4wSR. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.

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I started thinking about ideas for my demo/live tracks and put them into a spotify playlist. I aim to get the song fully done by the third week of November latest.

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I missed the lesson due to Illness but I looked over the canvas content. In which the main topic
was harmonizing the major scale. My strength was that I was able to confidently find major,
minor, and diminished chord notes on the bass (1, 3, 5; 1, b3, 5; 1, b3, b5). My weakness is that
I can’t go backwards on the scales as confidently. To improve, I’m going to add the scales to my
personal practice schedule as going down the scales would help me in improvisation.

Audio of scales: A major, G major, C minor, D minor, B diminished

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This week in my personal practice I had focused on the slap and pop technique for the Bruno
Mars song and for my general skill. I also incorporated the major, minor, diminished chord
scales into my personal practice as I wasn’t used to going backwards in the scales. I think by
the end of the week I got really confident in this which is shown in the audio.

audio of scales going forwards and backwards

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I have not been able to find the videos

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This week we looked at intervals in the major scale. Intervals are a good technique to know as
it would help with deciphering notes in songs. With my prior knowledge I was already sort of
okay with finding intervals in a major scale on bass. We looked at the C major scale in 3rds and
6ths which I initially found hard to wrap my head around but managed to get to a good point.
However I struggled going backwards with the scales. To improve, I am going to add this to my
personal timetable to ensure I understand it as it would help with improvisation and writing bass
lines.

audio of C major in 6ths and 3rds

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audio of scales backwards and forwards

This week we looked at intervals in the major scale. Intervals are a good technique to know as
it would help with deciphering notes in songs. With my prior knowledge I was already sort of
okay with finding intervals in a major scale on bass. We looked at the C major scale in 3rds and
6ths which I initially found hard to wrap my head around but managed to get confidently do 6ths.
However I struggled going backwards with the 3rd scales. To improve, I am going to add this to my
personal timetable to ensure I understand it as it would help with improvisation and writing bass
lines.

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I was nervous about going into this performance as I was this was the most challenging song so far and I had to make sure I was expressing myself. During the actual song, I loosened up a bit but I still didn't express myself how I wanted to. We did change it a bit so I was able to express myself a bit there but in terms of movement I was lacking. Next time I would move around more and interact more with my bandmates.

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Lesson: Recording Vocals and Guitar

Benefit: Would help me record straight from the bass amp or DI into the DAW and how to avoid any mistakes.

Aim: I would use it in the future to help my goth/indie rock song and summative song

Strengths: I know the basics of recording a vocal and guitar in Logic

Weakness: If there was no signal I wouldn't know what to do as it has happened in our session and we were delayed with recording. We got taught how to overcome it but it confused me so I would have to go over it again with assistance.

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Threats:

The possibility of working with unreliable people

Being reluctant to ask for help means that I start my project late and end up being behind

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Lesson: Looked at Minor pentatonic scale

Benefits: Very commonly used in songs across many genres including some of my favourites artists such as Paramore, The Strokes, Foster the people, and more. Would help me create cohesive bass lines.

Strengths: I am very confident with the first shape of a pentatonic scale both forwards and backwards.

Weakness: I am not confident with the other three shapes.

What to do next: Add it to my personal practice schedule

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Song: Call Me by Blondie

Theme: Triplet and Shuffle Week

Strengths: I can confidently play the song with minor difficulties by watching canvas videos.

Weaknesses: I had some trouble figuring out the timing of the key change but it was sorted out with some more listens to the song.

Feeling: I was confident in what I was playing and how my band was sounded and this week was my strongest both in rehearsal and in the performance

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Main focus: Plectrum use with splints and fool's gold

This week I went off my normal timetable and tried to incorporate splints into my practice. I went over what I was confident (C major scales in 6th, old songs I've learned).

I also learned and rehearsed Fool's Gold with my group at Small Pond which went well.

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Booking a rehearsal space for next week for Machu Picchu

Setting a date to perform at Alphabet

Dedicating at least an hour to BandLab work I can transfer to Logic to work towards my SMART target

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who is the target audience? age?

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In the lesson we recapped minor pentatonic shapes and improvising with them and looked at Syncopation, rhythm reading and breaking down ain't it fun.

The benefits of this is that it helps me to understand sight reading better and how it can make a rhythm/bass line sound more funky and interesting

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For this song I was the most optimistic I had been so far as I was confident in what I was playing and the band was communicating well which made me feel comfortable on stage. To improve next time, I would add some improvised bass parts as it was expression week and I felt like I held back on that part.

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Lesson: Extending the minor pentatonic scale and improvising

Benefits: Helps me feel comfortable with the whole fretboard and makes it easier to find the minor pentatonic scale at any point. If I am improvising I don't need to stay in one shape/octave.

Strengths: I am confident with improvising in some shapes but I can confuse myself easily by trying to remember the pattern.

Weaknesses: I am not confident that I would be able to improvise while utilising all the shapes.

What to do next: I am going to add improving with the minor pentatonic to my personal schedule.

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Song: Roxanne by The Police

Theme: Counting and Communication Week)

Strengths: I was confident with my parts in the song as it was mostly the G major scale. Weaknesses: This was also my first time using my plectrum with my splints on so I was just getting used to them. The song requires you to constantly be looking and listening at each other especially the drummer and singer as there are many pauses and queues in the song. I had to make sure I was confident with what I was playing to be able to look up from my fretboard.

Feeling: By the end of the session, I was both confident with the accuracy of what we were playing as a band. If I ever felt out of time, I would look at the drummer and know when my queue is.

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As mentioned in my initial ideas, I dedicated more time to learning the songs I'm participating in for other people's summative. This week I focused on Freak by Demi Lovato which requires distortion and down tuning to drop D.

Before and after my session I broke down extension of the minor pentatonic scale and made it easier for myself to understand as shown in this picture

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I went into this performance feeling prepared as I knew my parts and queues well and I knew I could trust my band in communicating well. I think this performance went very and I was able to use the plectrum without it causing too much trouble. I still need to improve my stage presence and how I hold my plectrum to ensure I look like I'm enjoying the song.

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Lesson: Compression, Noise Gates and EQ

Benefits: By using compression, I am able to condense the range of the dynamics and ensure levels aren't too loud. By using noise gates, I am able to cancel out/turn down any background noise made while recording. By using EQ, I am able to balance the bass, mids and highs of a song.

I would use this to help my song sound balanced and all the instruments are heard and fit the genre of the song I'm equalising.

Strengths: I am okay at equalising but I just need to get a hand of the controls. I also knew a little bit about compressor ratios from sixth form.

Weaknesses: I am not comfortable with knowing what to look for and press in logic. I wouldn't know what to do without a tutorial sheet.

In the future I will refer to canvas until I am comfortable with what I am doing.

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The lesson was on utilising microphones and how placement is important.

This can help me as I now know how room mics can be beneficial to capture the acoustics of the room which can add depth to the recording. For example, David Bowie used multiple mics; one up close, one far away and one in the middle. Some artists also like to place a mic in the centre of the room.

For my recording, I wouldn’t use the room mic but I would use it for future projects when the sound is heavier.

The strengths I had with mixing this is that I was able to balance most of the vocal mics to ensure that it was equally balanced and it sounded like you were in a room. I’d make the lead vocal central and pan the backing vocals left or right.

The weaknesses I had with mixing this was that I wouldn’t know what would be the right level for mixing room mics. I would have to reference songs with the same genre to see how it would fit.

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I'm not feeling comfortable with my part in Fool's Gold as I feel as if it doesn't show off my technique and skill as much as I'd like and I don't feel inspired when playing this song. I am choosing to change my song to Machu Picchu by The Strokes and asking my classmates to help.

I have asked:

Jamie - Vocals

Ameera - Vocals

Lara - Guitar

Owen - Guitar

Joe - Drums

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I was not in lesson due to illness so instead I researched the major pentatonic scale to see what songs use them and how they could be used to.

According to (Hawkins, 2021), some songs that use this scale include that I already knew include:

Peg by Steely Dan

Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder

My Girl by the Temptations

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Since I wasn't in for this lesson, I researched the stage presence of artists I like (specifically their bassists) to take inspiration from them and to somehow cooperate into my performaces.

Nikolai Fraiture: From what I have seen, the bassist of the strokes likes to keep movement at a minimal and 'not forced'. He will move back and forth and bop on the spot at times. Even still, his onstage communication and eye contact with others. I think this could benefit me because I can get shy on stage and it could be a way for me to move on stage and warm up to moving around and maintaining onstage communication.

Joey Howard: The current touring bassist for Paramore is who I aspire to be like onstage. He is full of personality and bubbly onstage and is so visually confident with what he's playing. I think if I let loose onstage I could gradually get to that stage.

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Lesson: Using Reverb and stereo field

Benefit: The benefit of using this is adding room and imperfections to the song

I would use it with the vocals in my summative song as it doesn't make the vocal sound dry.

Strengths: I already knew how to use reverb effectively and the differences between room/chamber etc. I am confident in making sure that there is enough reverb for a track and knowing when it's too dry or wet.

Weakness: When working with Logic, I would be slightly confused because I still can't figure out the mechanics of the DAW.

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Fallon, Brianna. “Paramore Album Release Show @ Grand Ole Opry | FULL SET | 02.06.23.” Www.youtube.com, 6 Feb. 2023, youtu.be/R8VMTCmFMUA?si=MhXhczvHYO4Y4pvd. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.

Lollapalooza. “The Strokes - Live at Chicago 2019 (Full Set).” Www.youtube.com, 6 Aug. 2021, youtu.be/6qxH5iQ3CYI?si=1c_3lF2HjraEYc7r. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.

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Figuring out when everyone's free

Finding each person's parts to Machu Picchu

Figuring out how I am going to make the WAV and live performance different in instrumentation by having no bongos in the live performance

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I went to pre-production but couldn't play to the best of my ability because I fell really ill and had to be absent this week and instead I researched more bassists. This week I was figuring out what type of basslines appeal to me.

Cubbie Fink/Mark Foster: Cubbie and Mark are the main bass composers for Foster The People. I've listened to their whole discography and they tend to have more melodic basslines with songs like Sit Next to Me, Ask Yourself and Orange Dream being some of my favourites.

Victoria De Angelis: The bassist of Maneskin is known for her driving, distorted melodic basslines in songs such as Zitti e Buoni, I wanna be your slave and La Fine. In my opinion, I would say her bass is one of the focal points of their songs.

What I've gathered from delving more into my favourite artists is that I love melodic basslines and I would love to build up my theory knowledge to make basslines like this

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I went into this song pretty confident as I know ain't it fun really well especially with Paramore being my favourite artist. My main strengths are that I've watched countless of live videos of Paramore and knew the ins and outs of this song. This means I was able to help to direct the group I was in. That being said there were a lot of parts in this song where I intimidated by specifically the outro. I'm not too confident with slap and this is a song that uses a lot of it. To overcome this, I made a simplified version of the outro and repeated that.

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All of my personal practice went towards my summative song 'Machu Picchu' and trying to get the timing of the chorus right.

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A1: Catch up on Padlet

A2: Learn the song for next week

B1: Recordings

B2: Personal Practice

C1: Navigating music industry work

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Before this performance I had felt quite faint so I knew I wouldn't be playing at my best ability which made me nervous. During the performance, I had relaxed a bit. We had messed up the ending a bit since we didn't have a proper ending planned and we had miscommunicated on stage so I was a bit let down with myself. Overall the performance felt good. Next time, I would make sure that we are sure with the ending and that communication can't be misread.

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Lesson: Positioning of tracks/panning

Benefit: This makes the instruments sound more human and immersive to the listener

Strengths: I have used panning in the past and was comfortable with the idea of panning and how to use it in logic

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Summative Song: Machu Picchu

This was the first rehearsal with the band. We unfortunately didn't have all the band there for both rehearsals but managed to get it to a good level.

In my feedback, Abi says that I excelled in my knowledge of my parts and used my plectrum well but I need to think about how I will present myself on stage.

In my performance, I hope to have my parts more sharp and add little licks that aren't in the original song

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Prior to this performance, I think we all were a bit sceptical about how the performance would be. This made us very rigid on stage and our communication wasn't its best.

I booked more rehearsal time on Sunday to absolutely perfect the song so we were able to feel comfortable on stage.

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We rehearsed without lead guitar but we managed to figure out the bit that we were sceptical about which was the bridge. I came up with the idea of instead of going straight into the 'Why are you waiting?' section, we instead have a drum roll/fill to signal that we are going into that bit. We also made the decision to remove Jamie from the group since he hadn't been to a rehearsal yet due to illness

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Unfortunately I can't access Logic at home so I tried to use as much resources I could. I had booked out the small pond studio to record drums, bass and vocals on Monday 11th December and booked HQ studio to record both guitar parts. I had saved it on my USB stick and had to use Audacity and Bandlab to mix it at home.

I used Audacity to equalise and make sure everything was heard to the right standard of how I liked it. I took the lead vocals separately and added distortion and reverb as that is one of The Strokes' trademarks. I also made a separate track where I added bongos which is in the original track.

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The main points of my feedback is to add more context to my padlet. For example, when I post my personal practice audios I could screenshot the DAW to show how I have the drums added to the songs.

In the future I am going to screenshot my DAW whenever I use it to help me to back up and further explain my points

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While rehearsing I put my cable through my guitar strap to ensure that I don't trip over it or pull it out.

I also wear headphones to ensure that I don't damage my ears from being next to the drums

I ensure that my levels are not too high so that the amount doesn't break and our ears don't get damaged