Having a go at commercial instrumentals...first go

[stickboymusic]

Hello allIve been writing songs for a good few years but have just started having a go at instrumentals with the plan of getting them synced to ads etcI have struggled to get my head round not making them too busy like i would with a full song but have been enjoying trying something newIf you have a minute id love your feedback on the 3 pieces i made last weekthey are on my page calledstompinstrings and thingsandwhistle and walkwww.taxi.com/stickboymusicx

[mazz]

Good stuff! I think you've succeeded in making them sparse enough.Just a couple of things:Stompin could use a little textural breakdown at some point, IMO. Sonically it needs a change and then it can go back to the original texture.Strings and things is cool. My only concern is the strings. If you're going for a "real" string sound, the vibrato is a deal killer. They're not "real" enough and yet they're not "synthy" enough in the other direction. How about some warbly Mellotron strings? Something obviously electronic and lo-fi might be a fun texture for the strings and IMO would fit the background.Whistle and Walk is very catchy. I wonder if your whistling melody should change just slightly on the second to last iteration of the phrase, which is over the 5 chord. Your melody ends on the key note/root which is OK for all the other chords but just sounds a little bit "clashy" on the 5 chord. I think you're headed in the right direction, for sure!Mazz

[stickboymusic]

Ahhh thankyou so much for the feedback - all valid points, im still just trying to work out where i need changes and break down in the music ... i listen to a lot of music on tv and films etc and really they can almost be one simple loop...... sure as an instrumental piece of music they probably don't do enough but once there is visuals or dialog over it then the music almost becomes secondary i think...but obviously still has to be adding something to what is going on on screen.Anyway i will certainly try a few of the things you have suggestedso once again, thankyoux

[rkopald]

I like em. The strings might be in a muddled middle ground(!) between synth and real, but I can hear a voiceover killing that concern. Might just be a context thing. Mellotron strings might sound cool. I love that sound.

[hookjawbrown]

Very good production values....Stompin is very circular and monotonic. The beginning is abrupt and the layering in the middle is very subtle. It ends with a what? I have heard from many commercial copy writers that drums distract from the message. Strings has more movement but again depends on drum accents which could interfere with the Voice Over.Whistle and walk is very visual! I can see it... I like the slow addition of music lines and low key drum line. My suggestion is to end it with the whistle - solo. Maybe a single string plink at the end. Very nice.Commercial music is very much akin to short story writing. Develop a character, tell a story, and end it in 60 seconds <grin>.le Hook

[fullbirdmusic]

Very good songs! Production quality is very high and composition is good.I would also say the strings on Strings and Things are not very good because of the sample quality. Also, on the second iteration, you could add more high, sweeping violins either divisi on top of what you've got or playing another, longer melody. Sounds like those are stock Logic strings - could that be? If you have the money, either LA Scoring Strings or Symphobia have the best types of strings for this work. But LA Scoring Strings has some EXCELLENT solo instruments. Whistle and Walk is perfect. lol It's great for a Mac or Dell commercial, or even a silly car commercial. If you don't get that one placed, you're not trying! lol Very good, but the accordion in the second round also sounds a bit out of place to me - maybe try using some staccatto phrases? Or change the instrument to some background vocals or cello...? Great song, though! Good work.

[scottyrock]

stickI really like all three. have to agree 'bout the strings though. the bar is getting higher for authenticity these days. whistle is fun and quirky. should have no trouble as was said getting placed commerciallyLove your drum sounds. did you record them or are they loop CDs? and how did you process them to get that fat .thick modern sound. thats one aspect of production I am sorely lacking in. thanks for posting. you're on the right trackscott

[asbaldas62]

Hi Stick man, listened to a lot of your tracks on your page and I like your sound, really like Pirouette and The Ghost that's "Scared of the night"

[sheringo]

Very cool indeed,I really liked the walk and whistle song, very catchy indeed.Enjoyed listening, and look forward to hearing what you come up with.Possible thought! In order to create a cushion for the melody, maybe some soft horn or stings in the background to highlite the melody.RegardsDomingoSheringo

[stickboymusic]

HelloThanks for all the comments - i put all 3 pieces up for a listing looking for instrumental tracks for a library and two of them got forwarded.The whistling one - as a lot of people thought andthe one with the fake strings - quite surprising really - i guess the strings arent such an issue for the reviewergonna keep my fingers crossedx