New riff. Thoughts?

I just came up with this today out of the blue and thought it sounded catchy. I don't know if it's something that I partly created before, or if its in a real song, but I thought it sounded familiar. As an after thought, it kinda sounds depressing after listening to it. (thanks nirvana) lol

Recorded with Rockband mic (lol) and a $200.00 pawn shop guitar.

Thoughts?

E-Flat

rockband mic, huh? lol. that's fekkin awesome...especially considering that sound you're getting out of it.....25 years ago, that sound was not as available without putting down some real dough....and now, it's coming from a video game microphone.

as far as your riff, it's nothing besides a good start. you've heard it before because it's a common progression......very. you do it nicely and the embellishments you put in there are appropriate. i'm not so sure what the point of doing it in Eflat would be (it's actually Bflat minor, if i hear your open string correctly) besides you liking the open strings and not being able to sing it in Bminor. If that's the case, then you go. You're not alone. I'm saying b/c through the 90's (as well as other eras, but VERY commonly the 90's), everyone and their mother was detuning a half step for no apparent reason at all....except kurt and all the others did it. Some claimed it was a heavier sound, but then they wouldn't play off of the low E string..... okay.

I'm making a bit of a stink b/c you should pay attention to it for one reason and one reason alone: Many guitars that are professionally set up are set up for the tension of standard tuning. If you get into recording, your guitar sound can suffer without re-setting your guitar OR just going at it in standard E tuning. (Your guitar you're using now, though, doesn't have any sound issues....just thought i'd mention that)

back to your riff: it's nice. nothing new at all, but you definitely are showing an ear for writing. now put a melody there, figure in a change, try and add a little sump-mm sump-mm to make it more "yours" and post when you have a song.

welcome to SC

*now go and comment on others' music in here, or else this will likely be one of the last comments you get.....it's just the culture of the place. *

10, and thnx very much!

I'd agree that it does sound familiar, but honestly almost every riff I come up with does!

I'm not as knowledgeable on music theory but as a very amateur songwriter myself I'd say that overall I like it and would use it somewhere. It does have a bit of a sad, lonely or at least a serious sound to it and would work well with lyrics to match. I mean it probably wouldn't work singing about fast cars or surfing

I think as long as you don't just follow the riff for the song melody you could really come up with something nice.

There are actually a lot of songs that use that same basic chord progression, but I like what you did with it. It's the variations that make it yours.

I personally think there's a big difference in feel when you tune to E-flat, and not just from a tactile standpoint. Songs that were in G now sound as though they're in F#, which to me gives them a little edge that the key of G doesn't have. There's also a warmth to the key of Eb that I like.

It depends on the song and what I'm going for, though...Generally-speaking, I prefer standard tuning, but dropping it really works for some things - it makes them come to life.

And honestly, most people don't even have a clue of the difference. I will say that playing in cover bands (as I do), and playing with a guitarist who likes to be tuned down (and sets his guitars up for it), I really notice the difference between how we play a lot of songs and the songs on the radio (which are sometimes sped up ever-so-slightly for a little extra brightness and speed). It makes me really want to get back into playing this stuff in standard tuning, though I have to say I'm very used to singing a lot of songs a half-step down.

Back to the topic, though: Nice riff, Sean...

Brian

Interesting. Just to add on to what others have said, the lyrics sound too simple for the depth of music you have going there. Just my two cents.