NEW STRINGS FOR NEW ALBUM!

No recording this week as Mike and I agreed that a break is necessary. Plus, with this impending snowstorm coming, we picked a good week to go nowhere.

Nice not to rush things!

I’ve been listening to the tracks, working on rhythm parts here at home, also coming up with some cool clean ideas (!) that I think will open the heavy riffs up a little more. As much as I love crushing heavy guitar, it’s okay to throw in some Police/Fixx-type patterns here and there.

And what better time to put new strings on my guitar and bass than right now? Well, I did them a few days ago, giving them time to settle in. I had the strings on the bass for over a year, and while they still had some good tone, the low B was sounding a bit floppier. My ears and hands were thinking “Don’t risk it in the studio” so out came the tools and the new string packs. The strings are bright and clear…ahhhhh!! Also changed on the blackberry 7, so now when I head to the studio on January 30/31, the tones will be sharp and have good edge to them.

This will be the fourth album where I am laying down bass tracks. Billy Sheehan, Mark King and TM Stevens (RIP) have nothing to worry about but I hold my own on bass. I’ve played bass as long as guitar, but never with the intention of being in a band. More like working on my own songs and demos/albums. I taught myself to use fingers ala Geddy Lee/Steve Harris but of course, though Jeff Berlin once said “Slap bass is the worst thing to happen to white people”, I learned slap/pop bass as well. Why not, right?

On TWISTED METAL, I used fingers on bass. With LAYERS OF TIME, I was asked (well told) to use a pick, and I was dead against it. Lots of guitarists who play bass play it like a guitar. So I learned to use a pick while jamming to Yes and Beatles licks, as well as Graham Maby of Joe Jackson’s band. I am more comfortable using a pick but still use fingers when needed. Mike and Jon Hanemann said that using a pick on MOOD SWINGS would be best, and they were right. I did sneak in some slap on one song, very subtle but pull it out of the mix and it would sound empty. So with this new album, I will use pick but if fingers work, then so be it.

Will I slap? Hmmm…

But of course, I will be laying down rhythm guitar first. Mike will be trying new recording ideas with the microphones, and while I won’t give away his secrets, I can say that he’s been listening to various bands to get ideas for capturing the room sounds to make it sound more natural.

So, while we’re potentially going to be snowed in this weekend, it will be a great time to grind down the guitar parts at home. Being efficient is best, but anything can happen during recording.

We’re ready…are you?