day 49

i spent many an hour dealing with music and the blog yesterday
but failed to record a new track

today i recorded 3 guitar pieces
the 3rd i split into two
so now there are four

the first two are for the herb

some belated birthday melodies


part three and four i found myself drifting off to the land of the redwoods
ahhhhhhh
soon come
soon come

day 49prt1_those bygone days.mp3">
day 49prt2_elasticity in nature.mp3">
day 49prt3_benign entropy.mp3">
day 49prt4_application of an arbitrary idea.mp3"> 

day 48

sunday i decided to re-record the trumpet ideas
this time less distortion

i recorded it with an actual microphone
and an actual 4track

a little bit more delicious this way i think
the tones can kindof crawl up inside your ear and get cozy

day 48prt1_sunrise on the sahara.mp3">
day 48prt2_modern day shepard.mp3"> 

day 47

saturday i fooled around with this little toy guitar
nylon strings with a microphone inside
plugged it through two loop boxes
then an amp
the result is atonal and arhythmical
and trance inducing
quite possibly crazy inducing too
depending on your current state of being

the fourth part is an overblown recording of some trumpet drone loops
it seems the iphone doesn't pic up those sort of frequencies very well
i kinda like the distortion though

day 47prt1_dr sound meets his maker.mp3">
day 47prt2_a wish is granted.mp3">
day 47prt3_first day with the new legs.mp3">
day 47prt4_breathing buildings into being.mp3">

day 46

well

it seems i've all but given up on the idea of an everyday musical journal

the purity was lost the moment i stopped recording and uploading the same day

then i started skipping recording

now it's been a whole week

i did record one night this past week
and saturday too

i will post it all later tonight

i think i will still maintain this thing
but i don't see me being able to consistently keep this up every day

music wasn't as fun anymore
it became a chore

the challenge of coming up with new ideas all the time is amazing
but the obligation of it all
even though it was self imposed
gave me a sort of anxiety
i put undue pressure on myself

i think i just need a different perspective of the whole thing
------------------------------------------------------------
i am posting 4 bits that i had recorded wednesday night
two on acoustic guitar
and two on a non-amplified electric guitar that has a customized sitar bridge
all four seem a bit frantic and hyper
floating in and out and around some interesting ideas i think

day 46prt1_a day at the races.mp3">
day 46prt2_the hunter and the hunted.mp3">
day 46prt3_reluctant transcendence.mp3">
day 46prt4_dancing for the dead.mp3">

day 45

i hadn't plugged the up banjo in quite a while

the loop that's in the background was just intended to be a test so i could setup the mic and whatnot

then i clicked it to half speed
and then reverse
and there you have it
a little noodling on top and i call it a day

day 45.mp3">

day 44

revisiting the sounds from tuesday's session with justin
i am bowing a large spring that is stretched out between two hooks on a 2x4 and amplified with a woodwind tuner(cheap pickup)
then i ran that through a couple looping boxes
and the result is quite sublime for some
and i could imagine horrifying to others
and i'm sure there's even humans out there who have no opinion whatsoever

day 44.mp3">

day 43

wednesday found me noodling with the guitar again
gathered around 30 minutes of recordings
narrowed it down to 12 or so
in 4 parts

i think i am most partial to the 2nd part
today anyway

day 43 prt1.mp3">
 day 43 prt2.mp3">
day 43 prt3.mp3">
day 43 prt4.mp3">

day 42

on tuesday the only recording that took place was a 25 minute space out improv session
with my friend and longtime chicago collaborator, justin

i am putting it up in two parts
prt 1 - 16.32min
prt 2 - 7.38min

it all seems so fitting for a soundtrack for a rather bleak film
set in a desert, tundra, or deep space

proceed with caution

justin jim day 42prt 1.mp3">

justin jim day 42 prt2.mp3">

day 41

i can't ever let it get this far behind again


it's saturday and i am posting monday's recording
and tuesday's
and hopefully wednesday
and thursday too

wouldn't it be amazing if i could get completely caught up tonight?
we see what happens

monday was a guitar offering
two bouncy happyish tracks
i added some effects and whatnot 
learning a trick or two from the in-house ableton wizard




day 41 prt 1.mp3">
day 41 prt 2.mp3">

day 40

today i recorded all banjo

about 30 or 40 minutes worth

i had narrowed it down to two 4 minute pieces

then i shaved it down to just the one

the more i listened the less i approved

this one works for me though
a little scattered at times
but i keep coming back around

  day 40 - lunar glass home.mp3">

day 39

saturday's recording was about 20 minutes of guitar noodling and foolery
i chose these three minutes

i'm sure if i were to come back to this recording at a later date i would choose a different 3 minutes



day 39 - running with the dromedaries.mp3">

day 38

another day where i only put one recording down
kept meaning to go back and try a few more
but then i fall asleep on the couch

this one is more of the banjo
a short little two minute piece
and then i added some ping pong delay to fancy it up a bit

day 38 - ping pong persistance.mp3">

day 37

i have let the postings back up a bit.
today is sunday.
and yet i am going back in time to post my thanksgiving day recording.
good thing i'm not being graded on this

i went to town with the banjo and the bow that day
just got a new bow in the mail
i am pretty excited about it to say the least

i have always used the cheapest violin or cello bow that was available
but thanks to the $50 i had left on the amazon gift card i got from mom
i found a carbon fiber bow that was originally $200

so delicious
so light and responsive
and it's not missing half it's hair

day 37 - carbon bliss.mp3">

day 36

this is the only recording i made on wednesday

one minute of some simple banjo


day 36-bare minimum.mp3">

day 35

more guitar today
with a little disorienting delay added

going through that phase of just spitting out whatever comes to mind
not as much effort being put forth

but from some perspective that's not such a bad thing...
free association type music i guess



day 35 - levitation of an antelope.mp3">

Day 34

the recording i am to post this evening will have to wait.
the internet for the laptop is not cooperating.
and as i have already found out i can't upload music from my phone.
so.
hopefully tomorrow.
it's a guitar piece.
a little rambunctious.
but somewhere in there is a memorable melody


day 34 - in a hurry to go nowhere.mp3">

day 33

here you will hear

tibetan bells,

a makeshift gong,
(which is really the bottom step of a metal spiral staircase)
wind chimes,
and an empty freon tank

soaked in reverb
and the resonator from berlin


day 33 - audience of one.mp3">

day 32

the influence of africa prevails

once the rhythm gets in it's hard to get it out
especially if you're not trying to get it out

the second part is less africa
more jim

day 32 - prt1_ mockingbird.mp3">
day 32 - prt 2_ rubber ankle surprise.mp3">

day 31

tonights posting is again a recording from last night

there was more recorded than i am posting
i am withholding the rest
partly because of time
and partly because i want to possibly develop something with those ideas

or at least add a layer or two for fun


day 31 - woke up dreaming.mp3">

day 30

another day another late night recording session

fresh ideas came to me from some unknown place

i started off by recording to the iphone
4 different yet similar pieces with bowed guitar and percussive elements (frame drum, brush, shaker, majik wand)

then i played the phone through the computer, adding thick reverb or delay, then straight to the 4 track while recording a new guitar part

then back into the computer to add a bit more reverb or resonator

it's nice when i can put something up here that i actually put effort into
and i am generally pleased with

although the 4th piece i feel like i could do better
this one is the second take
i might try again today

 day 30 - prt1_ how do you spell that.mp3">

day 30 - prt2_ lark in the lunchroom.mp3">

day 30 - prt3_ alphabet soup.mp3">

day 30 - prt4_ dollar store acrobatics.mp3">

day 29

i am slowly learning that i must record everytime i pick up an instrument

i played around with the guitar a bit sometime around 10 or so
and in my opinion it was sublime

was it the freedom from the thought that it had to be perfect or even palatable?
most likely

allowed myself to dive headfirst into whatever sound the guitar wanted to make

should have recorded
sorry about that

that's one of the main points of this project
to force myself to get over those limiting thoughts

so far it has helped tremendously
but i know there is still much ground to cover

the recording i am posting happened around 3am
tired and a bit delirious

almost passed out around 2:30
woke up and pushed myself just a little bit more

day 29 - warm blanket.mp3">

day 28

technically today is day 29
or even 30 for that matter

so i am posting a little piece of a bit i recorded late last night
and will probably post tonight's recording at 5am

tried to tackle the didgeridu
needless to say i am out of practice
and since it was so late i was a bit reserved
didn't want to wake the neighbors... or roommates
it tends to rattle walls if i play with confidence

there is more to come... just have to bring it back into circulation


day 28 - didg bits.mp3">
 

day 27

watched movies all night
have to wake up at 6am

had to get a recording in so i just get right to it
no second guessing
do-over after do-over

i did fancy it up a bit
some eq
and one of my more favorite effects

the resonator

each preset is named after a major world city
tonight... L.A.

as much as i don't like stinktown
i love the sound the ableton folks acssociate with it

day 27 - beyond switchblade valley.mp3">

day 26

i wonder what it would be like if i decided to record a track the first thing in the morning instead of staying up till 3, 4,5am and making it the last thing i do.... ?????

another bare bones kind of night

just the guitar and me

a little all over the place though
perhaps scattered
maybe a.d.d.
we'll see if i like it in the morning

it's me just rambling and hopping around
the recording has got a busted speaker sort of sound

seems to match the photo i reckon

day 26 - a medly to end all medlies.mp3">

day 25

this little laptop is both amazing and frustrating

i had to pull the plug

tried to salvage a bit

wasn't working out as planned
saved the music

now i start over from scratch

crossing my fingers that it stays healthy for longer than 3 weeks this time

it's 4:30 in the morning and i have been jacking with this computer all day and all night
playing a bit of music here and there
no recordings
i will spit one out real quick before bed

and i have 2 to add to the two previous posts
....
it's now 5:15
uploaded the wednesday.. day 23 track
and it's not quite right

keep on trying i will

but not tonight
or rather
this morning

.................

banjo
straight up

kindof a bippity boppity little number
strange things happen at 5:30 in the morning

day 25 - hoopla for sale.mp3">

Day 24

well.

that might be it for a while folks.

the laptop is not cooperating.
won't even load the web browser.

i post this from my phone.

take the computer to the doctor tomorrow.
hopefully it can be back to normal asap.

i am still going to continue to record every day.

it has been incredible therapy to say the least.

...................

here it is
the 50 second clip i recorded thursday eve
tried sending it through my email and such
no luck
i have two versions
added some effects to the second
still learning about this ableton wackiness

day 24 - postage paid.mp3">

day 24 - postage paid2.mp3">

Day 23

Still on track.

Too tired to go through the upload process right now though at 5am.

I have a guitar piece I recorded.
Nothing fancy.

Will upload it in the morn....

or three days later

here she is
in all her weirdness
was nothing fancy
then i added some really strange effect as i was recording it to the computer before it decided to give out on me

day 23 - hallway of doorwalls2.mp3">

well crap
this file is m4a
not mp3
new itunes wont let me turn a song from a cd from itunes into an mp3
hopefully it will from iphone tracks or ableton
so that means it wont just play on there for you
have to download
and can probably only listen to it if you have itunes
or wait until i set it straight
crap crap crap

so close...
....
final update before bed!
mp3action!!!
woo hoo!!!
got rid of that nasty m4a

day 22

it seems tonights recordings have a bit of an eastern influence

not exactly sure where it came from

but i do know the gamelan piece is directly related to the most recent comment

and the guitar part was just kinda pretty

then i added a resonator effect

who knew??

i think i am getting to like these post production possibilities

so many options for color additions

day 22-goodnight java.mp3">

day 22-okinawa dawn.mp3">

day 21

layer upon layer upon layer

so there is a couple bowed guitar loops...
some strummin and a pluckin loops...
and more guitar

going through two amps
one clean one dirty

no overdubbing
straight to 4 track then into the computer
then i added some compression and reverb

in the end i think this one turned out pretty dreamy

day 21-endless winter.mp3">

day 20

i am going to post 4 tracks today

all were live recordings

no overdubbing for me today

first two i am playing with this toy dulcimer

it says it's a melody harp

but i know better

it's all out of tune

but to me it's quite perfect

day 20-prt 1-an open portal.mp3">

day 20-prt 2- no sleep for the weary.mp3">

the other two are guitar

the first has a bit of the out of tune/skronk inspired by the melody harp

day 20-prt3- open invitation.mp3">

and the second has a bit more melody inspired by things not known

day 20-prt 4-perpetual memorial.mp3">

day 19

up to speed today

except... i am noticing i am not trying as hard
could be a good thing or not

we see

this piece today is a little sloppy
but there are some nice moments

a rhythmic guitar stomp
with an overdub
and then some added effects

another one that wouldn't be so bad with some work

day 19-a dream worth remembering.mp3">

day 18

keeping up with a blog is a little more difficult than i imagined

the recording everyday is much easier

it's the computer that bugs me out

pretty soon it will become a habit, i know
but it is more of a struggle at this point

i recorded a few things yesterday
took a break to reassess
then never returned

so i post the best of the so so

in the end it is probably better than i am willing to admit right now

i felt like something different

knocking the dust off of the percussion corner

and i took a stab at the harmonica at the same time

i think this combo has possibilities
just needs a bit of work

day 18_a song for the neglected.mp3">

day 17

sometimes less is more

day 17-a mind wrapped in bacon.mp3">

day 16

well

i couldn't even make it a month without missing a day...
i am going to consider monday and tuesday the same day...
seemed like it anyway

instead of day 17

i am on 16

not going to stop just because time sped up and then slowed back down

today is a noodling banjo piece...

the last minute is worth sitting through the first four...

i swear

at least i think so anyway

day 16-runonsentencefragment.mp3">

day 15

another post that was started on the correct day and never finished
so i wipe it out and start anew

i did record on monday
just didn't upload

wasn't too pleased with the four recordings i did

took a break
thought i would attack it with a fresh perspective
but what happened was i passed out on the couch after watching the wire

how's that for fresh perspective

so i put three out of four
half hearted recordings
two banjo, one guitar

day 15_ squeaky chair banjo.mp3">
day 15_ banjo droppings.mp3">

the guitar track could have been the one to cherish had not the phone ran out of battery power mid recording

day 15_ left............mp3">

ahh well

there's always today to make it better

and tomorrow

and the next day

and the day after that.......

so i will add a bonus track

one for the more adventurous listeners indeed

i even have trouble with it

i was digging through some old, unlabled tapes

and found this

i know it's all me... one recording with one overdub

but i'm not sure how i'm accomplishing the percussive elements in the left side of the mix

the right side is me bowing a piece of steel framing wire that i have strung up between my walls


good luck

summer psychosis.mp3">

day 14

sometimes i feel like i am running low on ideas

and then realize that's not really possible

i try really hard to not repeat myself...
so this whole blog challenge has been exactly that

it's going to be weird from time to time
because, let's face it

i can be weird
i call it a survival skill


the sound i decided on tonight is more of the same type of thing as yesterday....   except... not really

bowed banjo
laden with effects

overdubbed with more banjo
just as laden
but with a twist

day 14-time travel cul de sac.mp3">

day 13

my days are consumed with thoughts of music and this blog

happy to be thinking about music...
but so much time is being spent on the computer

a little frustrating to say the least

on the plus side i just might have found a satisfactory file sharing host
... so far so good ...

and i have also just recieved, on loan from my friend frank, a music program that will help me to record the music into the computer

no more iphone recordings!

unless of course i am traveling

funny thing is, that little phone records suprisingly well

just can't edit it easily

.................................................................................


tonight i learned a little about ableton

recorded a short strange banjo piece straight to the computer
well...
through a microphone, into the fourtrack, and then into this little usb device.

then added some strange effects from the program
...
so many new possibilities!


day 13 in progress2.mp3">

day 12

so i am back dating this post because i just like the continuity of the days..
for anyone paying attention

even though it says friday the 30th
it's really saturday the 31st

i actually recorded these three tracks yesterday

the first in the evening
the other two at 5 in the morning

technology is not being friendly to me these days

hopefully today will be different



the first recording is not as much music as it is me diving into a specific sound
i am sure it will be a challenge to listen to for some folks

day 12-railroad moon.mp3">

the second is more melodic banjo
revisiting a phrase from a previous day part way through

day 12-countrytime revisit.mp3">

and the third is just a spontaneous banjo shuffle that i am for certain i will be doing some overdubbing on

possibly even for tonights recording

day 12_5am banjo.mp3">

day 11

another late night session

acoustic in the bedroom
only place there was quiet

lots of activity in the house
more monster box creation
cooking
and records being played

.......

And obviously I didn't upload a new track last night.
I recorded one around 2:30am

But I was having more file host issues.
So I try in a minute to see if it works.

Gutar.
Smooth and mellow

Ahhh..... the sound of slide will always soothe my soul.

maybe it will help me to forget there is a lake developing in my house


day 11_ the slide that soothes.mp3

day 10

today was one of the more challenging days for recording something satifying so far

2 different instruments
and 17 attempts later

we get two parts of this melody i was trying to chase down

the second part was reminding me of the grey days in the northwest
the contrast of the dismal and the serene

maybe it's just me

but when i'm listening to it
i feel like i am on a ferry surrounded by thin mist and islands of pines

Day 10 conjuring the narrows

day 10_ conjuring the narrows.mp3

day 9

i felt like experimenting today

been too much of the same thing i am feeling

i have this appalachian lap dulcimer i got at a walmart in utah for 20 dollars
it is quite an amazing little box

i put the microphone in a brass umbrella holder
and the dulcimer on top of it

had to duct tape it to the holder to eliminate the heavy buzzing

and then set off into drone territory with the bow

then i had realized i recorded it in the high speed setting
when the rest of the recordings on the tape are in low (or regular to you and me)

so i played it back in the lower setting
and was pleasantly surprised with the result

went back and put another drone layer at the high speed
and recorded it to the iphone at the lower setting

delicious to me and the drone fans out there

i am sure some won't care for it at all

there does seem to be a hi-pitch frequency that comes in and out throughout
it definitely sounds less abrasive on the tape

consider this fair warning for those with aversions to drone and higher frequencies

----------------------------


i am curious
does it click and pop on your computer too?
my normal file sharing host is acting funny again
so i went to the back up

it sure is pretty
but whats with the clicks?
and it wont play on an iphone
and i only get 5 uploads a month for free

this technology business is taking up too much time
why can't it just be as easy as 1-2-3???

update:::
the old way is back up and running
day 9_ dulcimer drone.mp3

day 8

so i went through a few different ideas today

my first was to layer onto one of the rough copies i did yesterday

then my roommate asked if i wanted to perform friday for his monster box art show

so i set out to practice and possibly record a live didgeridu/banjo set

but i am still congested from the sickness i got last weekend
and the didgeridu is ridiculously hard to play if you can't breathe through your nose

then i had to adapt to the re-appropriation of the space...

same said roommate had a friend come through so they could create a monsterbox for the show in the room i was in

way it goes
into the bedroom with the banjo and the phone

in the end it works out for the best

2 different tracks
2 different styles

this banjo i have is so finicky with its tuning and tone

i have put a bridge that used to be on a sitar in place of the stock bridge
it floats around a bit this way and that
so sometimes it has a clear banjo like tone
and others it is that rolling sitar tone

and then to top it off the tuning machines are waaaaay cheap
so they don't really hold the tuning like they should

that being said
when it's sour i can't get into anything at all

but when it's sweet.....
it seems to play itself

first one has more of the clear tone
second has the sitar feel

day 8_ prt 1_ countrytime banjo.mp3

day 8_ prt 2_ banjo raga.mp3

day 7

the end of week one

i spent all day noodling and overdubbing
and trying to download a music program

so i dont have to record through the iphone if i don't want to

but alas it was not meant to be today

back to the lo-fi to hi-fi

4track recording played through an amp
then recorded on an iphone

recorded several riffs and ideas
chose only one of the rough drafts to put a few layers on
all guitar
all day

it's been a while but once i warmed it up it was like i never missed a day

3 guitar layers and some pecussion
a very loose melody circling round and round

day 7_ guitar shuffle.mp3

update:
so after i listened to the digital version i am not so sure about the percussive elements i have added

might just be better with none

i give both versions
just for fun

day 7_ guitar shuffle_ sans drum.mp3

day 6

i am really getting into this whole idea of a pseudo-outside source motivating me to make music every day

i believe it is the definition of the word cathartic

plus it is helping me to work on ideas
and to slowly get more comfortable as soon as the little red blight is blinking

and perhaps

just perhaps
i might actually write a song someday

who knows

so today i fooled around with guitar...
scrapped that idea

warmed up the didgeridoo...
scrapped that as well

back to the banjo
live recording

no amp or effects

kinda peppy
with the beginning of an idea it seems

i have uploaded two today
one in a major happy key

the other a bit minor and what seems to be a little less happy
but still with pep

day 6_ peppy banjo prt 1.mp3

day 6_ peppy banjo prt 2.mp3

day 5

left the house at 1:30pm

sat around in the cold by a motorhome
while some of the biggest stars out of the philippines did their song and dance

got home at 1:30am
went right to work on this track

a different way of recording today
so far every day has been a live recording
today i got busy with the four track tape machine

got some warm up out of the way

then recorded the first layer

slowed the tape down
recorded some drum-ish type layer
sped tape back up
recorded another banjo part

then slowed it back down
played it through the stereo

then recorded it to the iphone

no music recording software on this laptop yet
so i do what i have to do

somebody out there will like it
perhaps

there are definitely some sloppy bits in there
but its so late
and i am generally pleased with it

so....

day five done and done

day 5_ banjo 4track.mp3

day 4

i have learned a valuable lesson

do not wait until the wee hours of the morning to attend to the task
less pressure this way
and i have my afternoon/evening brain
as opposed to the oh so tired, delirious brain

the weather in chicago as usual is playing tricks on everyone
70 and sunny yesterday
50 and rainy today

perfect sort of day to sit inside and work on a recording

i am certainly more pleased with the track i did today than the one i did at 5am
which technically isn't yesterday
but since i was still up from the day before it counts... to me at least

today we have a bowed banjo loop followed by some sporadic yet melodic banjo with a touch of delay

day 4_ drone loop and banjo noodles.mp3

day 3

third day

a little frustrating

when i warm up its perfect

as soon as i press record
the relaxed feeling i had goes away and before i know it the moment is gone
then i notice i'm trying too hard

so...
tonight i went through 15 takes
still not fully satisfied with the end result
but
i can't stay up till dawn

although it is only an hour or so away
but still

i have to know when to just accept something...
anything
and move on
hopefully it is better than i realize at this moment

besides there's always tomorrow



more banjo tonight
with the aid of a tabla in a box

these links can be played directly or downloaded

day 3_ banjo w_tabla in a box.mp3

day 2

so far i can tell this little challenge/project is going to test me in many ways.

versatility will be helpful.
as well as a fair amount of diligence.

and i can see that if i continue on as planned i can only expect some sort of positive result, whatever it may be.

so here we are onto day two, recording two.
some acoustic banjo plucking.

easy breezy on a balmy october night in chicago.

same track... uploaded 2 different ways

day 2_ banjo.mp3

day 2: balmy banjo by jimcoteiii

day 1

so here goes nothin...
or something i hope...
i could have just kept the idea a secret and never followed through.
like so many other times before.
but this time i opted to tell a few people.
to almost obligate myself in some way to actually stand behind the idea that i am (or claim to be) a musician.
i have just recently acquired this handy little laptop, and a fancy nancy iphone.
recording and uploading seems easy enough.
and i have been kind of keeping my music to myself for far too long.
so now we have this...
a hopeful goal of at least one recording session per day for an entire year.
why wait until some significant date at all...
the idea was today..
i start today.

after a bit of noodling and much deliberation, i decided to start minimal.
bowing an open chord on a banjo that is running through a looping pedal and an amp

day 1_ banjo_ bowed and looped.mp3