FAWM: "Short & Sweet"

Short & Sweet

1 week ago by @richaaaay

Short & Sweet

richaaaay

00:00

Liner Notes

Continuing with the theme of short instrumentals, I was inspired by @jibbidy34 's comment. She wondered if the next song was gonna be Short & Sweet...Well, YES!!! At least that's what I tried to do. I experimented with something different and plugged my acoustic into my electric guitar tube amp and recorded using one small diaphragm condenser mic pointed at the amp. I almost always record by just mic'ing my acoustic directly (no amp). I tried to see if I could have one mic on the acoustic and one on the amp but there were serious phase issues so I bagged that idea. Anyways, it's definitely different than my usual...I'd be curious about feedback on this sound, if you have an opinion...Thanks. It's very short, which in itself is sweeeeet...

#instrumental #acoustic #guitar #short #sweet #fingerstyle

Comments

@n24 2d

Feels nice and mellow, your set up creates quite a pleasant warm muddy sound, not in a bad way, like the hazyness of falling in and out of sleep around a campfire. I love that little descending riff at the start of each phase and the end. Absolutely beautiful, nostalgic and tender.

@theicylakes 4d

That's it. I've had it! I need you to fly over and play this as my wake-up tune every morning from now on!

@tamsnumber4 4d

All of that technical talk aside....what ever is set up and in your heart, I loved it and I could see you sitting in a field, in the sunshine, next to a stream playing this, or maybe the NH winter is numbing my brain....no....it is beautiful, like summer...short and sweet.

@slusk 5d

The sound came out really nice when recorded this way. Enjoyable instrumental as well. 😄

@paulotteson 1w

Loving the tone hear and really appreciate the sound exploration on the recording side of things. It's amazing to me how many complex and compelling musical ideas you can express in vignette such as this. Such a relaxed style that has me leaving back and enjoying my current beverage.

@abudabard12514 1w

Plucking my heartstrings there, bud. Mm! The next one should be Short and Salty About It lol

@davidtaro 1w

Love the descending phrase that kicks things off. Playing is all sorts of glorious as usual. The tone’s lovely, definitely different to the usual mic’d sound. Not sure I necessarily prefer one over the other, I guess it’s about picking the right sound for whatever tune you’re working on. The amp gives you the tube warmth and loads more oomph (technical term there) and you’re getting what I assume is some of the amp’s reverb effect, which is nice. I’d be tempted to keep mucking around with this if you’re doing more of these short/squeaky/sweet/sour/curly instrumentals, maybe throw in some delay too? Exciting times dude…

@nadine 1w

This is short and sweet. I like that tone!

@hbusse 1w

Exquisite yet laid-back guitar work. I think the tone is lovely and intimate.

@nahlej381 1w

Gorgeous and sweet. The short jams are very elegant and lovely. If you have the time for a collab lmk! If you sent me one of these jams I would have a great time playing percussion and bass on one…by these a mean a short guitar jam in the style of the 3 you’ve got so far…or whatever I’m tired idk what I’m sayin.

Much love even more respect brother bear.

@brisk 1w

It really seems to get into a pleasingly complicated thicket chordally as it goes along - not sure if that's true or just my ear. It sounds great though, is what I mean - ooh, those slidey bits around the 45 second mark are nice - I think you end it in just the way a song with this name should end.

I like your naming convention by the way, it's a great idea. So now go on, break it...

@wobbiewobbit 1w

gorgeous. i love how your writing/playing is so... hmmm natural steps/journey. really solid yet flowing. short and sweet for sure. i love this little sketchbook you are keeping

@iamcatelliott 1w

I could listen to this at the end of a long day, with my feet up and a cup of tea and just dream away... so beautiful 😍

@sunnymae 1w

Man, you got a such a clean sound on that guitar! What's your secret???? I mean besides knowing how to play! This is deffo short and very sweet. You put me in such a good mood. I love you for that!
PS. well duh...I read your notes just now and see how you recorded. I think the sound is absolutely rich and gorgeous, which I thought, before even reading your notes. Just awesome!

@djtjb 1w

My opinion is it sounds great! Very warm. The song itself is also very warm. It made me imagine sitting in a chair by the fire. Just relaxin. Great stuff man!

@cts 1w

Hmmm...I can't speak too much about mic'ing as I tend to run my guitars and basses through an interface and let the magic of Studio One do its thing. I am familiar enough to appreciate a distinct, clean sound and that's what's happening here for my taste. I honestly thought you were bowing for FAWM performance-wise and just commenting. I like the brevity here and theme you have working.

@b3nut 1w

Love the tune and the tone you've gotten with it! Suggestion - do you have a phase reverse on the channels in your DAW? That can help with these issues as can backing the mic on the acoustic itself off somewhat. Experimenting with mic placement and distance can have a great effect on the outcome. But while short this was truly sweet!

@andrea 1w

I don't know much about instruments or equipment, but I know when I hear something I like. This sounds very well put together. I really love the parts with descending notes. Each one feels a bit different, but each beautiful. Lovely!

@oaksnprairie 1w

I think the amp gives it a fuller sound--like you're playing in a room with some reverb. It sounds good!

@siasa 1w

That's it, right there, the kind of acoustic fingerpick I aspire to and never quite manage! Gorgeous tune, and you're definitely on to something with that setup. Like you I usually just mic up my Lag, but you're definitely making me think...

@bradbrubaker 1w

Beautiful tune AND tone.

@funnypunkband 1w

This one’s got such a warm, full sound! The amp adds a really cool depth to your playing, and the melody feels both nostalgic and uplifting. Definitely worth experimenting more with this setup!

@paulharrison 1w

The tone is great, Rich, and your playing is stellar! It's an engaging little piece you've come up with...either to stand alone (like a prelude or short bit in a film) or to build on further. Regardless, well executed!

@hamiltonpoolhall 1w

I love the theme of short instrumentals! An inspired, and inspiring idea which I think I may have to, ah, appropriate momentarily :-). This is lovely – great feel, great guitar sound, delightful melody. And unlike a lot of fingerpicking (guilty of this myself), you leave a lot of air rather than going for the propulsive, constant thumb. Most admirable, and deeply effective. Gorgeous!

@bethdesombre 1w

Speaking of fingerpicking . . . yours is pretty glorious too. This is lovely -- I love the descending chordal bits that appear. I don't know from microphones, amplifiers, and techniques thereof, but this sounds great!

@jerrypettit 1w

Love that tone! Another winner. You have my permission to make your songs "Long and Sweet"! ❤️

@sollis 1w

Really nice, and I love the richness that the tube amp brings to the sound. Tubes make everything better. Beautiful playing as ever, with every little slide and detail sounding thought out and meaningful. Although I imagine it's just instinctive in reality!

Have you thought about experimenting with stereo miking the amp?

@tan482 1w

So beautiful Rich! It has a real nostalgic yet hopeful feel to it and I agree with the others, the sound quality is lovely. I like that it is short and sweet but I also could have listened a lot longer!

@pabrizzer 1w

yes - both

@anthonykapfer 1w

this is awesome. really nice piece of music. really nice guitar playing. the performance is great and the amp sounds really nice. i like the reverb you’re getting. i’d say it’s worth experimenting with the amp on some more songs. i didn’t want this to end. it’s really enjoyable

@wehappyfew 1w

Awesome piece of music again and it’s just packed with melody and emotion. You have such a subtle but expressive style of picking (if that makes sense) and the chord progression is so beautiful. I enjoyed the different approach you took to recording this one and your acoustic sounds a bit like a jazz guitar through the amp, but a touch brighter.
I’d be interested in hearing a long but sweet version next! 👌

@damschen 1w

Beautiful and, indeed, sweet. In response to your sound question - I feel like this song sounds like you are in the audience of a resonant room while the other two feel like the song is in your bones when you listen. I think I prefer the direct mic. Not sure if you tried this as a way to ameliorate squeaks (from the last comment thread), but I think I prefer the squeaks with the “feel-it-in-your-bones sound”. Both sound amazing, though!

@sheslin 1w

Oh this is so gorgeous!! Of course it is beautifully played fingerstyle guitar, but I love the sound. I agree with @oheyitslauren I would have loved to listen longer also. The walk down is so pretty. It is both bright and warm at the same time to my ears - it has a full body sound that is really lovely.

@oheyitslauren 1w

I don't have much knowledge about recording/mics/amps but this sounds sooo good!! I could have listened to another several minutes of this :) The instrumental has a lighthearted quality to it, like- uplifting but still relaxing. Such a genuinely sweet little song - caught myself smiling while listening. Love it :)