Mood: Tired + Sick
Listening To: Nothing

 

 

 

Whenever I sleep, I hear those melodious sounds.. Accompanied by the changes of time signatures, and tempos.

Sound weird, but that's what I hear these days.  Not dreams, but blank images with random songs by Dream Theater.  I think I'm starting to lose it.  It's like it as some hypnotic effect on me.  Probably through another one of those regression therapies.

But besides all that, I'm on the journey of revamping some of the things I have, after getting the things I want to get.  The first thing that'll help me out would be the Line6 TonePort UX1.  That will be very interesting.  Because for the sound I have for rhythm, is not really that satisfying.  It's mean to back another guitarist up, on a Heavy Metal song without lead riffs.

Guess it's set in a way to support, than to lead?  It's a good thing, because it takes teamwork to make a song sound.. like a song.  But then again, I don't know.

And with the Korg Toneworks AX1500g, I finally know that I'm being limited and what's the actual con of owning a multi-effects pedal board.

Can't do much.

Just want a more raw sound..

Maybe I should be like my uncle's friend.. Go into those abandoned houses and search for old, but good amps.  After all, there is some sense in old genuine products being better than the new re-make versions of it.  Some bits and pieces are in the product to make them last longer, or sound better, or whatever it is, but that's the problem.  With these small components, they just will never.. sound the same.

In other words, comparing an amp that was made back in 1957 and an amp that's a re-make version of the 1957, but manufactured in 2007.  Although it's as shit fragile as it is a tube amp, but the sound's a little bit..digital.  It's good, really, but it's not entirely .. raw?

 

 

 

 

So!  Since Penang's been wiped out because of this collector of old amplifiers, which guitarists are with me to salvage old amps from old places in KL, eh?  XD ..

takpe lah, can break into some taukeh's house and go 'pinjam' some of his stuff too while we're at it.. loli

Mood: Tired
Listening To: Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons.

 

 

 

It's interesting to go through certain stages of life.  Currently, I think I'm at a point where I'm enjoying life in a very sadistic way?

My partners at Starbucks can't seem to understand my enthusiasm towards work, and whatever I do.

Sometimes I wonder how is it possible, myself?

There's The Secret, but then again, it's all about the mind.

Currently, I'm working during closing hours in Starbucks, and it's no joke to try and juggle my schedule.  I don't even see the faces of my housemates/ex-gf anymore when I go home.  Since my laptop's at the HP Service Centre because I either blew the RAM or motherboard's BIOS, I only relax at home with my iPod and what's left of it.

And imagine, having speakers with a subwoofer, but an 320 x 480 resolution based screen just to watch Top Gear.

Very simple, and homely.  I'll post a picture to that when I get the laptop back.  Should be getting a call either today or tomorrow.

Although the loss of my laptop for a total of 5 days sounds kind of .. sad, but I'm extremely contented with what I have at the moment.  The people that surrounds me, the people I'm working with, and .. stuff, I guess?

Currently, I'm checking out my latest project that I've been asked to session, once again.  It's Iz's song - Bersama/Together.  Since the beat's being laid out, my job is to only stuff in the usual guitar nonsense.  And what I have as a draft, sounds a little bit different.

Although the beginning does sound like John Petrucci's solo in Another Day, it somewhat surprises and disappoints me.

But since the ending sounds good enough to overcome that minor problem, I don't mind at all.

And you heard?  DJ Tiesto's coming down to Port Dickson.  I never said that I wasn't a fan of Trance/House/clubbing nonsense before, meaning to say that I have nothing against them.  Therefore, since the event's in Port Dickson @ Admiral Marina Club, guess who got free tickets?  XD ..

As many tickets as I want, and either on single or both nights.  HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO.  XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

 

 

 

 

But, if I really think about what I'm doing, I don't feel sad.  I feel rather contented.  I don't know why I feel this way, but .. it's not like me to feel this way.  But this whole feeling and perception of life is simply..amazing?  I'm getting paid for work, I'm catching up with studies naturally even when I don't pay attention, and the exposure to this side of the music industry is a great start.

Especially when you're finally getting paid for music, it's an achievement - but it won't last for long, I know.

Plans for Starbucks:
- Work long term even as a part timer till I move to Melbourne.  Try to apply for Coffee Master status (unsure about District Coffee Master title) .. Get to Melbourne, settle down there for a few months till I'm legal to work as a part timer there.  I heard in Melbourne/Starbucks Coffee International (not Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Sdn Bhd, duh), you can apply as a part-time supervisor from my other senior partners in Australia if you worked in Malaysia or something?  Or maybe it's a Starbucks International rule thing that never seem to existed because of Dato Vincent Goh ...

 

 

 

 

Well, being single is fun - if you don't think about needing the significant other.  I'm not saying that I'm stubborn.  I love to share benefits or whatever it is among friends, it's just that.. I have to admit that I do not have the time to care and love for someone .. special?

Besides, I'm out of strength to go on in any relationships.  I'm worn out.  Lol.

 

 

 

 

Oh.  Good news.  I managed to get back on the guitars again.  :)

 

 

 

 

PS.  For those who are working in the F&B line .. Grease traps are probably .. I don't know.  A blessing in disguise to piss off your manager if he's close by.. XD

Mood: Tired
Listening To: Bersama guitar nonsense









I've never written a solo like this before.  It's simple, melodious, and it sounds wicked at parts.  I finally managed to be one with an analogue instrument itself to make it speak my soul, feelings and emotions out for a short period, I guess?

I do dig it, but it needs more work.  Somehow, as nearly perfect as it sounds, there can be more things that can be added to.. make it sound tighter?

... ????

Questions, questions.  I'll hit the recording studio soon, and see what else I can come up with.  After all, recording along with the vocals is a better idea.  More ideas to come up with, and at least I would have an overall view about how the theme for that certain section of the song is supposed to be.

Ooh.

I met Nick Lee!  Huhuhu.  He's simply amazing.  I would want to watch him master Iz's EP, and soon, Kelvyn's other projects.  He hasn't met up with Kelvyn before, but he has heard about him before.  And I'm surprised that he said that he heard that Kelvyn's a good guitarist plays at lightning speed!  Wooo!!!!!!!!

THAT'S THE PENANG MUSIC SCENE FOR YOU LAAAAHH!!!! XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD










Besides that, I don't think the break up was a good idea.  Not even the break.  Sometimes, it really makes me wonder if I'm able to turn back time and not meet her instead.  It's painful to watch someone else in tears..

.. Or is it?  :)

Mood: O.O
Listening To: Steve Vai - Building The Church









I just checked out Steve Vai's official website - http://www.vai.com - for any updates.  But goddamn, his picture on the front page IS already an update!

Another VAVO guitar!!!  It's a double neck, but check it directly.  Both guitars are based on a hollow body (of some sort) because the top neck is a normal 6 string acoustic guitar.

While the bottom is an electric guitar!  Comes with the Floyd Rose system and..

It really makes me wonder, how is that possible for the guitar?  The Floyd Rose system is already darn heavy, and in terms of the tension/counter-tension for the strings, the whole thing will bloody snap if the wrong wood is being used for the body.

But.. Ugh.. I'm speechless..

That is one nice guitar.  Would want to have one.. It's the best of both worlds.. Except that I would toss away the acoustic strings and fix it with nylon strings.  LOL










Naj Hendrix!  Steal it for me!  Yum!

Mood: Neutral
Listening To: Nothing yet.









Please be warned that you will get lost while reading this journal, but if you're planning to record guitars, and if you're a clumsy player in the studios, please read on.  You might learn a thing or two.

Note to Wormy:  Found a cleaner way to record guitars now.  WHEEEEEEEE

I think there's a new revolution to guitar recording for me, if I'm lazy to practice.  Although it's not really a method that'll earn respect from other great guitarists, but here's a time saving method to record guitars if you're a clumsy/dirty player.

Like, hitting the open strings during a solo, or when you bend your strings too hard, and eventually hitting the other strings which causes an open noted string.  Or unwanted raked notes with the pick/palm.

Kelvyn taught me to use a sock (or anything that you can tie around the guitar neck to muffle any unwanted sounds) and tie around the guitar neck, and start pulling off legato notes .. Or the two hands on the neck technique, like what Steve Vai and Joe Satriani does on concerts.

It would be crazy to have your right hand always holding onto the neck for an hour or two when you're practicing at home, right?  So just use the sock to replace your right hand then.

Not only is this method good for practicing legato solos with, but it's a good 'tool' to use to record solos which are based on the frets which aren't being muffled by the cloth/sock.  I tried it just now, and my playing sounded superb!  No messiness for the first time in my life, but I was cheating myself.

Only in the studios, I guess I'll use this method for a cleaner guitar sound.  Other than that, I'll just keep on practising.










Yum.  Any FDM guitar riffs that needed to be recorded?  :D

Mood: XD
Listening To: SlipKnoT - People = Shit









Back to the Nu-Metal era.. The last I heard of SlipKnoT would be back in.. form 3.. that'll be 2003?

These influences came along during the stage when I picked up Metallica on the way.. It was for guitar studies, and that's when I got to know double-peddling nonsense on the drums, and how Heavy Metal nearly sounded like..

I just finished downloading Disasterpieces concert.. Oh my..

Never really seen them wild before.. XD













Let's not forget that Joey Jordison's one of the fastest drummers in history without drug abuse.. wheeeee

Mood: Blur
Listening To:  Dream Theater - Hollow Years










Before I start off, I'm going to learn Dream Theater's As I Am and Hollow Years.  Two very fun song.  One extremely easy, and the other would be ..Dream Theater standard.  It'll take me probably a year just to complete every part of that song.  Yay.

Back to the iPod:  I thought my jailbreaking spree came to an end, Vanesa tossed me a link to someone's wordpress, and my goodness.

They've finally jailbroken the iPod Touch's 1.1.3 I've been complaining about.  Finally an installation file that'll allow you to get every single thing that the 1.1.3 offers - after you pay the small fee to Apple.

Finally, I'll be able to see my icons wriggle like a bunch of Ricky Martins and arrange my iPod's Springboard PROPERLY.










Goodness me.  XD.. But this process is going to take quite a while.  My iPod Touch has to download the 1.1.3 software update, which means that it'll be 160mbs.  But before that can happen, I have to download a few programmes to prepare the iPod Touch from suffering from any side effects.  For those who're interested, get BSD Subsystem, OpenSSH and Services (??) installed before proceeding with the 1.1.3 jailbreaking process.










For those who didn't research properly, you need to start off with either a jailbroken 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 before you can jailbreak 1.1.3.  If you're familiar with jailbreaking 1.1.2, you need to jailbreak or install Oktoprep in 1.1.1 to prepare it for it to be jailbroken.  Same goes for 1.1.3.  You need to prepare either 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 to prepare it for it to be jailbroken in 1.1.3.

With that said, you should downgrade it.  There're several ways to do so.  In iTunes 7.5, for Windows, shift + click your Restore button with your iPod connected via USB port, and get it downgraded to 1.1.1

In iTunes 7.6, I think the easiest method (instead of going through all those MS-DOS nonsense) would be to connect your iPod Touch to the computer, switch it off, then switch it on, but hold down on the Sleep/power button and the Home button for 10 seconds.  When that happens, the iPod should show a blank screen after the Apple logo like it was switched off.  Now, release the sleep button and keep on holding the Home button for another 10 seconds.  With your iPod plugged, your iTunes will detect the iPod in recovery mode.  With that done, Shift-click restore and get it to load the 1.1.1 *.ipsw file.

Once that is done, wait probably a thousand years for everything to be done to get your iPod back to 1.1.1 .. Get online, enter Safari from your iPod Touch, then go to http://jailbreakme.com, scroll all the way down, then Install SnappApp.  Safari should close, and it will automatically install Installer.app into your iPod.  Now the iPod is jailbroken.

If you plan to upgrade to 1.1.2, read on.  If not, skip.  If you made it this far and if you're still reading but do not own an iPod and you're getting lost with whatever is being mentioned, exit this site.

---
Jailbreaking 1.1.2
---
Once the installation is complete, enter Installer, scroll through All Packages, or go into Tweeks 1.1.1 and install OktoPrep.  This will prepare your iPod to be jailbroken once it updates to 1.1.2.  Using the Shift-Click method, this time, Shift-Click on Update in your iTunes, and get it force-updated to 1.1.2 instead of updating it to the latest version.  Remember to Shift-Click on Updates, and NOT Restore.  If you Shift-Click Restore, it will "reformat" your iPod and it will lose the jailbroken information being implanted and written by OktoPrep.

Now once you update to the 1.1.2 version, you will notice that you've lost your Installer.  With this, you need to download a file, that's availble on youtube.com, under the keywords "ipodtouchmaster 1.1.2".  Follow his video about how to jailbreak 1.1.2, and get the iPhuc file that he uploaded.  In that file that you're downloading from Rapidshare, the rest are not important, but if you're a Mac user, start the OSX file.  If you're a Windows user, start the Windows.bat file.

Remember that you need JRE installed in your computer or your MS-DOS won't function and the jailbreak won't even take place.

After you open either one of the files, just let MS-DOS do everything for you.  In the JavaScript popup, check "Install SSH" as it'll be quite useful in the near future when you want to upload emulator ROMs and customized themes through SummerBoard.

Once everything is completed, reboot your iPod.  After doing so, click "OK", and MS-DOS will reboot your iPod again.  After doing so, your Installer and SSH should be made available

Once you do that, you'll be able to use your Installer application with ease on your 1.1.2 - meaning to say, it's jailbroken.

To get all your iPhone applications to work on 1.1.2, enter the Installer Application, then go to Sources and add a new one:  http://applerepo.com.  Head back to the Install page of the Installer Application and search for the iPhone Applications for 1.1.2, and you'll just have everything there which is available in the iPhone.

---
Jailbreaking 1.1.3
---
Now that all that is done, all you need to do is to head to the Installer Application, and if you haven't, make sure you have these installed into your iPod Touch:

- BSD Subsystem - Required.  6.6 MBs
- OpenSSH (Should come along when you've jailbroken 1.1.1, but you can try installing it.  Will update once I jailbreak my 1.1.3)
- Services (???)

Remember you need a good Wi-Fi connection, or you're going to face the same problem like me at the moment.

With that said, head back into Installer, and enter a new source.  Currently, there are two sources which provides the jailbreaking service:

. ipodtouchmaster's repo - http://ipodtouchmaster.com/files/repo.xml
. ijailbreak's repo - http://ijailbreak.com/repo.plist

Either one of these two works, I think.  But I would stand on ijailbreak's repo because you're able to jailbreak your iPod when it's still in 1.1.1.  ipodtouchmaster would be on 1.1.2, I think.

Head back to Installer, and depending on which repo site you've used, you'll be able to search it on your application list.  for ijailbreak.com, you'll find it under iJailBreak Mobile.  Get either the 1.1.1 or the 1.1.2 update file, depending on your iPod's current software version.

Either way, the next process is going to take most of your time.  Have your iPod Touch plugged in to be charged.  Once this takes place, your iPod will take about 35 mins to 1hr 35mins for this process to be done.  What the iPod is going to do at this point, is to download the 1.1.3 software update from Apple.com, which is at a 160mbs.  As that happens, BSD Subsystem is going to jailbreak it as your iPod updates itself.

From what I heard, it should automatically reboot itself, and when it does, you'll see your iPod with a new interface with the applications which was supposed to be there ages ago - Notes, Mail, Google Maps, Stocks, Weather, and the brand new Springboard Customizer - where you're able to make your icons dance like William Hung and arrange it to your desire.

Well, that's about it.  I'm still trying to get my iPod Touch jailbroken.  With this connection, I honestly doubt I'll be done by tonight.

Edit:  Don't follow ijailbreak.com.  I don't think it really works.  Getting it up to 1.1.3 jailbroken isn't a problem.  I tried updating straight from 1.1.1 and it didn't really show good results.  I didn't get the benefits of the January Software update.  As per getting to 1.1.3 from 1.1.2, the programmes doesn't work.  On the last step, it says that there's something wrong with the programme.  Right now, I'm trying out the ipodtouchmaster.com/files/repo.xml sources, and it's far easier.  Just continue off from your jailbroken 1.1.2 and everything should be fine.

Currently waiting for the iPod to finish downloading the *.ipsw file from apple.com .. again, for the 3rd time today.  Bah.










*smokes cigarette*

Mood: XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Listening To: Gitaroo Man OST - Resurrection









Thanks to my darling lucky charm.......... :)

Sweet!  Now since I can be really lonely here, I shall study tonight.. XD










Uh.. What the hell is a persian scale? :|

Mood: Hungry
Listening To: Birds chirping ..?









Okay.  I'm dead bored.  I'm at the restaurant going online in the afternoon like usual.. More to like; the only one who's online -_- ..

A few months back, I wanted to get a 15 inch laptop, but they didn't really have any in production.  Even if they did, the specs won't be that good, or it'll be too heavy to carry around.

I suppose it hasn't effected me for quite a while.. Until now, when I took notice of Reason and how different it looks compared to the simple compositions I've been working on before.  And good lord, I need more space.  Sometimes, I end up looking down on the lower levels, thinking the monitor's 3D, but it's not.




It's nonsense.  Having myself to experiement more and more what this programme can really do to a certain sound or pitch to an instrument or whatsoever it is, and I'm literally running out of space on the screen to do so.

Oh well.  You win some, you lose some.  Anyways, I continued working on this project, and it doesn't sound too bad.  Just really really messy.  Still have a lot to learn if I happen to start mixing songs directly from Reason itself ..

And there's a problem that exists.  When the metronome tempo is being set to an odd number, and when I happen to ReWire it to Audition 1.5, the original metronome amount will be set to an even number before it, and adds .998 of a milisecond.

Besides doing digital music or whatever you call this, I've been working back on the basics for the guitars, this time a little bit more advanced on the basic stage - triplets!

Too much John Pettruci.

Anyways, I'm selling/giving away my red dreadnaught Santa Cruz acoustic guitar.  20 frets, cutaway body so the high notes can be played with ease (except for the really high notes).  It has a good sound for a cheap guitar .. Really warm if fitted with .11 gauge strings of any sort.  Let me know if anybody wants..I'm running out of space in my house to put guitars.

Plus, I don't really use it..

Besides, I prefer classical guitars compared to acoustic guitars anyways ..

Mood: O_O
Listening To: Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons











For once, Steve Vai's out of the poster.  I'm a fan of Steve Vai, hands down, but it's always nice to check out what others can do.

.. Especially When John Pettruci is the world's 3rd fastest guitarist, and Paul Gilbert would be the 2nd fastest.

Gilbert's insane on the guitars lar..

And then we have Joe Satriani!  <3










Cepat cepat buat DVD keluar... <3

Mood: Buh.
Listening To: Nothing









I just watched an instructional video by Dream Theater's John Pettruci.  It amazes me that what his kind of guitarists would be able to play.  Melodiously, I mean.  Therefore, I've decided to read up on the Pitch Axis Theory, and would love to try and understand..

.. What the hell it would mean.










I hope this would bring me into another stage in the musical level.  I know modes, but applying them is a problem to me.  So through this, I would get a basic feel, before I would venture off into the Guitar Grimoire series.










Amazing.

Mood: XD
Listening To: Dream Theater - Hell's Kitchen









I've been waiting for weeks (actually, months due to the connection here..) for their discography to be leeched off others for me to .. enjoy.

When I woke up this morning, it's finally complete :D




For a minute, I could've sworn that I heard some purposely-composed off-beat progressive metal song.. And after 15 minutes of that, came to a church-based theme blues..

I'm far more than shocked.  This is my first time listening to Dream Theater and I always wanted to listen to their materials..

Their recordings are so clean .. And all the ideas being put into each songs are hard to get used to.  Too technical..










And John Pettruci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Mood: Sick
Listening To: Dragonforce - Starfire









I'm listening to the archive I've downloaded before; which is the Dragonforce Discography via torrents.

.. And am I scared.  The consistency and speed they have through whatever they play is ... Inhuman.

Now I really know what Kirk Hammett meant by Yngwie Malmsteens on steriods .. I've never heard of material this tight and full of speed ..










But then again, some of their songs were too progressive until it ended up sounding like a 1980s Pac Man OST ..

Since most of their song run on at least.. I don't know ...300bpm or so, at least they're not like Children of Bodom.  Children of Bodom is a good band, I agree.  Alexi Laiho's the shit, but their songs were too monotonous throughout certain albums..and if you listen to all those albums at once.. It's like listening to the Muslim prayers for 7 hours straight ..

This song, Starfire, has a little bit of that rock ballad feel .. So, I'm waiting for what they can come up with..










... Oh .. The power of Power Metal.. O_O

Mood: XDDDDDDDD
Listening To: Six String Samurais - Better Than This (Instrumental w/ Guitars)









I can't believe I played this way... Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hooooo XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

I think i'm a step closer to being one of those guitar gods.. in a very messy way... WHEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH

And I'm gonna scrap that 12-l;ayer guitar track thing.  sounds like fun, but it's not once you start recording it.. only recorded 6 layers and it sounds soooooooooooo.. gOOOOOOOOOOOD










I AM SO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYy

I've got class in about 3 hours time.  time to sleeeps.

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Dido - Thank You









This is one helluva gay song.

Anyways, the life here isn't that bad.  Except that this is my 2nd month going overbudget when I'm supposed to be saving up money to get several items.  Instead of saving, I wasted my money on this Sonic Gear 2.1 speakers.. Not bad, but it kind of prooved a point that speakers like these aren't meant for mixing.

What I need would be those plugins to work for Vista.. Still waiting patiently for the patch if there's going to be any..

Vista's growing on my skin now.  So far, so good.  Just a little bit of tweeks here and there would just make some programmes work, whereas the majority would still be incompatible.

Now, as for Panic Overdrive.. I mean, Six String Samurais, we appeared on the papers twice.. And I couldn't get my hands on those papers twice.  Damn it.  Once was on The Star's R.AGE which is only available to schools and colleges .. The other one is today.. The Sun..also the same, only available to schools and colleges.  Thanks to Ying Kit, I happened to get the soft copy of it .. Not bad.  Nice write up .. Thanks Cheryl Dunn!

On the other hand, the two rabbits aren't getting along well.  Pypy's just bullying the new lop ear rabbit .. And there's no way to calm her down because I just found out that rabbits are  territorial animals.. So, living together's just about impossible.  And because of Pypy's age at the moment, she's supposed to be spayed, but I don't think any vets here would be able to do that and calm her raging hormones down (literally).

Besides that, Joshua is practising with the metronome to record the drums again this weekend in Gombak.  A studio somewhere near Wangsa Maju area.. And when we checked it out, we were amazed.  There were 2 drum sets there.  One was a normal Yamaha maple custom stage set..And the other one was fully custom-picked.

Not custom made, but custom-picked.  I knew it.  I looked at the tom toms, it only belonged to one drummer that I know of.. Using tomtoms the size as toilet rolls .. Lewis Pragassam .. Bloody hell ..

And for drums recording,it's pretty cheap.  RM 65 per hour..same goes for vocals. .And guitars would be RM55 .. Which would mean that I will be able to test out my new found.. theory.










Oh well. .besides that, I'm doomed for this semester.. I hate macroeconomics.. it's a pile of bullshit.










I'm off.. I've got nothing else to say at the moment.. Except that the food here in Kuala Lumpur sucks.. Gah ..










I miss FDM all of a sudden .. I guess things can very much change ..

Mood: Tired
Listening To: Nothing.. just yet.. XD









Thought that you will miss out on all the Ocean of Fire fun especially when you're in Kuala Lumpur and you're not heading or going back to Penang in about a few months or never again?

Well, I've either saved you your RM42.80 for toll money, or RM27/38/50 for bus tickets to go back to Penang to purchase this album at RM15 because..


XD


.. You can get it directly from me now XD.  If you're interested, the albums are at RM15 (original price .. As you can see, I don't get commission.  LOLOLOL).  And you can contact me by sending me a message through Multiply, or by sending me an email on my email address; glacius882001 at hotmail dot com ..










okbabais.  back to mixing.. Schizzow..you got mail.  LOL

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Nothing









I'm reviewing whatever I'm doing socially at the moment.  It seems like as if I've lost everybody mainly because of my own attitude.  Not to say that I treat them badly, but I don't feel like socialising so much these days.  No idea why.

Well, it depends.  Especially this last minute trip back to Penang without my parents (and many of you) knowledge, I just want to relax after the days of subjects that I despise of in KDU PJ.  And taking only 3 subjects is pretty light, which frustrates me, and it makes me feel depressed.

I should take up a job in Starbucks or in that music shop at The Curve since it's close by my area..

The old influences are coming back to me; the ones that made me "a little bit" violent back in form 3.. I keep hearing the repeated verses and choruses to Metallica, Slipknot, In Flames and Children of Bodom for no reason.. Those heavy riffs..The angry lyrics.. And all that hatred..

I've got no idea what's coming up me.

All I know it's affecting my guitar in terms of theory and recording.  My next project would be to test out 12 layers of distorted rhythm guitar of different distortions in a studio (which is going to be costly for the band) for the song Better Than This.  Your typical emo-rock ballad commercial song.  The drums sounds sweet, but the same problem exist.. Joshua keeps going out of tempo, but at least he improved a lot since the first time I met him ..

Harmonising with Ying Kit on the solo for Better Than This is going to be fun.. But what's going to be more challenging would be the rhythm.  Anybody can play lead if they practice hard enough.  But certain rhythmic skills require a lot of concentration.  Example, for the pinch harmonics of the 7th fret of the 5th (A) string, is..well, somewhere around there.  A photographic memory would be require to achieve the right note.

Or it'll seriously sound out of scale.

Maybe there's no secret to pinch harmonics.. It's all in the right hand picking and positioning across the body of the guitar..

And just a few days ago, I managed to pull off an accidental pinch/artificial harmonic with the palm.  Seems like an interesting skill, but takes a few milliseconds..










.. Whatever.

Anyways, I went to Borders to check out Guitar Grimoire, and I felt like a kindergarten student trying to learn how to read and write.  I didn't understand the terms being used in the book, but it comes with a DVD (I think) that teaches you to understand the terms a little bit better... Which I've already downloaded off the net, but it's useless without the book.  It's about RM111.90 .. Reasonable for a thick textbook.  Plus there's so many secrets in it..

Besides that, I'm still trying to figure out the Pitch Axis Theory..










.. And RM65 for vocals and drum recording is kind of cheap in Kuala Lumpur.  The band (or more specifically - Joshua) found a studio which is owned by a very talented jazz bassist, Rikki Omar.  If my memory doesn't serve me wrong, he plays in the same jazz group with Lewis Pragasam during the annual Penang Jazz Festival.

And I managed to lay my eyes on Lewis Pragasam's drum set in the studio .. Odd setting, but very cute sound.. Of course, I didn't dare touch it since everything looked..custom made.

But hey!  Guitar recording is only at RM 55.. Which is kind of odd as I always expected KL studios to be more expensive.  Besides that, we don't record Audition for vocals unlike in Penang.. This time, it's Pro Tools..

And unlike KDU PG, it's updated.  Lol










And sch-wweeeeeeeeeeeet... There's so many things you can do with Pro Tools.










Okay.. I'm off.. I gotta do my crappy form 3 mathematics tutorials since I overslept on Friday ..

Mood: Tired
Listening To: Ocean of Fire - Walking In The Rain









I spent a few hours extra instead of sleeping last night with catching up with Kelvyn through MSN, and well, we exchanged information while I was playing S.C.A.R. .. He told me lots of things, like informing me of this little gadget for the guitar by Roland, called the GK2.  It's some sort of a midi controller.  Use it on your guitar like how you would hook up a Roland guitar synthesizer and you're able to plug your guitar to a keyboard and start using the effects from the keyboard through the guitars instead of playing the keyboard itself.

It's complicated and I'm not even sure I've got that right.  I was too shy to ask Kelvyn anyways.

Then he started telling me lots of things about Jazz.  It gets pretty much interesting, until he gave me a pop quiz.  To search up on this:

C Delta Augmented 11# 13

???????????????????????????  That's a chord, of course.. But ..what the hell is that?????????????????????????

Also, he nearly shared something else with me.  Something more confusing, called the Pitch Axis Theory.  Of course, I have no idea what the world is that.  Unfortunately, through some sources (and I'm unsure), Joe Satriani came up with this theory.

Pitch Axis.. That sounds kind of cool, but the theorical side of it is extremely confusing.


Buh?  I'll have to experiment this myself when I have the time..And after I get used to the modes for all this..










But before I do anything else, I should really concentrate on my Macroeconomics because I kind of dozed off in class..

... While jotting down some notes -_-










And a cute little lionhead rabbit bit me until my finger bled -_-

Mood: Somewhat satisfied for the moment
Listening To: Ocean of Fire - Walking In The Rain









Finally.  After 3 years I found out about the Lydian scale, I have managed to being its extraordinary journey in musical theories.  I knew how the scale was like before, but applying it to songs is the challenge.  The theory is simple.  On a major scale, the 7th note (right before the key's octave) is flat by a semitone.

Example

Major scale in the key of C:

C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

When the 7th note is a semitone flat, that means the Lydian scale in the key of C would be:

C D E F G A Bb C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7b 8

I was fooling around with Ocean of Fire's Seashell Song, and discovered that the odd note and chord would would be a BbMaj.  Therefore, I discovered that the Seashell Song is based on the Lydian scale.

And not long ago, I was using an Emaj scale over a Bmaj - Amaj chord progression.  The EMaj scale sounds a lot much more better than the BMaj scale itself.  The feel kicks in whenever you do so.  And just about a few months ago, I re-corrected my knowledge and theories of the Lydian scale.  Now I know what I'm playing and why such an odd scale fits directly into that chord.  Also, I came up with several tapping solo riffs that needs work and speed as I'm currently going back to the basics - Playing it slow, and clean.  Then only pump up the speed and start shredding.

And I need to control my finger strength.  I'm using too much strength upon string bending, which hits the other strings after I bend down, causing the other unwanted strings to ring (especially if they're not in the key).










But then, thanks to that tapping riff lick, my middle finger for my right hand hurts..

Besides that, my tapping riff would require 2 fingers now, so yeah, taking it real slow and not to push myself beyond my own nature .. But let nature come to me instead?  Haha..

Here's a self-note for myself before I forget, on the key of BMaj Lydian mode:

Top 2 strings (1st - e, 2nd - B)

1st section:

|-11h12t17p12p11h12t19p12p11h12t16p12p11h12t19-
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------


2nd section
|------------------------------------19*~~--19brp17-19~~
|-t19p12h14t16/17p(10)vv------------------------------

19* - Pick if possible
brp - full bend, release & pull-off to next note


Just writing this here just in case if I forget.  And if you're interested to give it a shot, why not?










Now, my next study would be the 1986 Transformers the animated movie..The main song before Optimus Prime died in the battle with Megatron, sung by Stan Bush .. Titled "The Touch".  The guitarist sounds a bit like Van Halen though, and the thing is the chord structure follows a Dm scale (But in the key of Dmaj???), and he solos on a Dmaj scale..

So .........................................

Gah.  I need to learn more tapping stuff XD

Mood: Depressed
Listening To: Ocean of Fire - X'Mas Meddley









Of course it's a little bit too early to bounce along with this song because Christmas is about 3 months away.  But this piece is definitely a piece of art.  I remember that all of us in the Equator gig were stunned by his performance.  Truly something really special, and of course,it fit the season.

Hahaha.. Jingle bell rock.. HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH..damn cute la.

Anyways, ever since I left Penang and started listening to nothing but Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and now, Ocean of Fire, I never put guitars in my mind ever again - until recently, finding out that I can never play as well as I used to 2 years ago, and now, I have the only reason to be depressed.

Listening to this album, watching the band on Youtube.com really motivates me to pick up the guitar.  Earlier on, I was taking on the main structure of Joe Satriani's Ten Words.  And I have to start back on the basics - playing it really clean.  The only way for me to practice on clean playing would be playing the guitar itself.  No gadgets, no amplifiers (like as if I have one).  Just a pick, a guitar with 6 strings, basic scales, and that's it.  I'm tired of jamming with the band finding that my soloes are usually out of timing and exceeding the bars.

Just like everything else, practical is different than theory.  I feel that my theory is expanding more than whatever I play.  So it's about time to fuse those two once again.  The last time I fused a very simple theory was the very first time I recorded A Night In The Sky under FDM.  It was fairly simple.  Play the Dmaj scale until you get sick of it, hit the flat 7th note and give it a full bend to hit the original key of the song but sticking with the same scale but on 3 semitones higher - the Dm/Fmaj scale to add in more flavour.

Undoubtedly, that was my greatest achievement because I went back into the Dmaj scale, but I figured that was child's play.  Now, I'm onto modes - Lydian and Docrian modes.  The sort of modes that would save my ass when I'm playing both minor and major scales.  And the Lydian scale is very simple, suprisingly.  It works a few times.  And no wonder Fragments of Beliefs sounds so different than whatever I've done so far.

Soon, I shall complete Fragments of Beliefs .. After I do Ying Kit's song, and drum programming for a friend's epic/heavy metal song.. Sweet.










Besides all that, I've agreed to stay home and play the guitar on a daily basis!  A week's training without effects should be enough for that video interview now.  Let's see what I can cook up ..










... Of course this is a very stupid thing to be depressed about, but what do you know, anyways?  Not many would understand..