Announcing... RiffMasters!

TVvoodoo said:
If you have time @frostyjr2 , I think we would all appreciate any details you could provide as far as instrumentation,
production notes, inspiration, etc. It's a fun part of RiffMasters to share a little "behind the music" action if you are inclined.
Click to expand...
Of course!
i played a homebuilt T-type (ash body with an old school 3 brass saddle bridge, a MIM Fender neck with vintage style tuners, a no-name 'staple' P90 neck pickup i got off of a Reverb vendor and a Seymour Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge position).
The bass was a Squier Vintage Modified fretless Jazz Bass.
Both guitar and bass went through a signal chain of HX Stomp > RC-3 Loop Station > Scarlett 2i2 > mac desktop running Logic Pro X.

i came up with a couple of chords that fit the vibe beforehand but the actual parts were improvised while watching the video with its sound turned off, layered guitars were done as live looping and the bass was then added as an improvised single pass on a separate track. The percussion stuff was a native loop in Logic that was added last.
Apart from tweaking relative levels a bit, i didn't do any post-production work.
As for inspiration, well, there's the great Ennio Morricone, who did the music for those Sergio Leone 'spaghetti westerns', and Elmer Bernstein of course, and Bruce Broughton who did the music for Silverado and Tombstone all kicking around in my head, but really i just tried to do my personal take on a 'western' style soundtrack.
It was definitely a challenge to work on something which is pretty far from where i usually live musically, so the 'mysterious stranger rides into town' metaphor seems pretty apt.

Howdy, and thanks for the welcome, folks!
And a special super-appreciative 'thank you' to TVvoodoo for their video sync and remix work!
 
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ok boys and girls, making my vocal debut....


who ya gonna call??


RIFFMASTERS!

"
https://soundcloud.com/track_id%3D1842515889
">



I found a midi drum track of the song that I put into Steven Slate and pumped up the kick a bit to make it a little dancey. The drums at the end were a track from whack studio drums. I also got my two little girls to help out with the crowd vocals for the chorus. They weren't sure what a "riffmaster" was until they heard me channel my inner Dave Mustaine in the solo at the end...
I wanted to add some sound fx from the movies into the breakdown at the end but it just wasn't happening and it is just time to put this project to bed lol.

Enjoy!


when there's something strange
on your finger tips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when you feel that groove
moving through your hips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

...I ain't afraid of no notes...

when you got that riff
stuck in your head
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when ya got that riff
remember what I said
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS!

i ain't afraid of no notes


RIFFBASTARRRDDDD
 
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Aynirar27 said:
ok boys and girls, making my vocal debut....


who ya gonna call??


RIFFMASTERS!

"
https://soundcloud.com/track_id%3D1842515889
">



I found a midi drum track of the song that I put into Steven Slate and pumped up the kick a bit to make it dancey. The drums at the end were a track from studio drums. I also got my two little girls to help out with the crowd vocals for the chorus. They weren't sure what a "riffmaster" was until they heard me channel my inner Dave Mustaine in the solo at the end...
I wanted to add some sound fx from the movies into the breakdown at the end but it just wasn't happening and it is just time to put this project to bed lol.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
That was fun. Love the kids.
 
Aynirar27 said:
ok boys and girls, making my vocal debut....


who ya gonna call??


RIFFMASTERS!

"
https://soundcloud.com/track_id%3D1842515889
">



I found a midi drum track of the song that I put into Steven Slate and pumped up the kick a bit to make it a little dancey. The drums at the end were a track from whack studio drums. I also got my two little girls to help out with the crowd vocals for the chorus. They weren't sure what a "riffmaster" was until they heard me channel my inner Dave Mustaine in the solo at the end...
I wanted to add some sound fx from the movies into the breakdown at the end but it just wasn't happening and it is just time to put this project to bed lol.

Enjoy!


when there's something strange
on your finger tips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when you feel that groove
moving through your hips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

...I ain't afraid of no notes...

when you got that riff
stuck in your head
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when ya got that riff
remember what I said
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS!

i ain't afraid of no notes


RIFFBASTARRRDDDD
Click to expand...
Super fun! Sounded great, nice touch with the girls.
The the metal grind at the end!! Cool, great version. Cookie monster vox too.
 
Deconstructed Billie Jean (Top Of The Pops 80s)
https://soundcloud.com/id%3Dfrostyjr2%252Fdeconstructed-billie-jean-6924-0007%3Btrack_id%3D1842577323

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 5, 1983 and remained there for seven weeks.
It was Jackson's biggest solo hit and Billboard ranked it as the second song of 1983.
The song also made chart history by making Jackson the first artist to top both the pop and R&B charts at the same time.
i believe that Jackson's six consecutive weeks at number one is still a record for male artists.
The video for the song was premiere'd on MTV on March 10th, 1983, and immediately went into heavy rotation.
It was among the very first videos by a black artist to be shown regularly on the channel.

When i tried to check the rules, i got #blocked, so i'm just winging it here with a loose fusion-y interpretation.
i couldn't resist throwing in a bit of 'Smooth Criminal' at the very end also. ;)

Deets: the bass part was played on an MüB J5 Mk.1 TL (Tim Lefevbre sig model) short scale 5 string
The guitar was 'Nat' (homebuilt T-type w/ 'staple P90 neck pickup) again.
The synthy sounding stuff was Nat thru the HX Stomp's 'Atmosphere' preset.
HX Stomp, 2i2, Logic (and i used the 'vintage opto' compressor on the bass this time).
 
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Aynirar27 said:
ok boys and girls, making my vocal debut....


who ya gonna call??


RIFFMASTERS!

"
https://soundcloud.com/track_id%3D1842515889
">



I found a midi drum track of the song that I put into Steven Slate and pumped up the kick a bit to make it a little dancey. The drums at the end were a track from whack studio drums. I also got my two little girls to help out with the crowd vocals for the chorus. They weren't sure what a "riffmaster" was until they heard me channel my inner Dave Mustaine in the solo at the end...
I wanted to add some sound fx from the movies into the breakdown at the end but it just wasn't happening and it is just time to put this project to bed lol.

Enjoy!


when there's something strange
on your finger tips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when you feel that groove
moving through your hips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

...I ain't afraid of no notes...

when you got that riff
stuck in your head
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when ya got that riff
remember what I said
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS!

i ain't afraid of no notes


RIFFBASTARRRDDDD
Click to expand...
That's hawt! :)
 
Aynirar27 said:
ok boys and girls, making my vocal debut....


who ya gonna call??


RIFFMASTERS!

"
https://soundcloud.com/track_id%3D1842515889
">



I found a midi drum track of the song that I put into Steven Slate and pumped up the kick a bit to make it a little dancey. The drums at the end were a track from whack studio drums. I also got my two little girls to help out with the crowd vocals for the chorus. They weren't sure what a "riffmaster" was until they heard me channel my inner Dave Mustaine in the solo at the end...
I wanted to add some sound fx from the movies into the breakdown at the end but it just wasn't happening and it is just time to put this project to bed lol.

Enjoy!


when there's something strange
on your finger tips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when you feel that groove
moving through your hips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

...I ain't afraid of no notes...

when you got that riff
stuck in your head
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when ya got that riff
remember what I said
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS!

i ain't afraid of no notes


RIFFBASTARRRDDDD
Click to expand...
Wow , that is very good . Well done, kids did a great job helping out. The middle all the way to the end super heavy. You definitely channeled your inner Mustaine.
 
frostyjr2 said:
Deconstructed Billie Jean (Top Of The Pops 80s)
https://soundcloud.com/id%3Dfrostyjr2%252Fdeconstructed-billie-jean-6924-0007%3Btrack_id%3D1842577323

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 5, 1983 and remained there for seven weeks.
It was Jackson's biggest solo hit and Billboard ranked it as the second song of 1983.
The song also made chart history by making Jackson the first artist to top both the pop and R&B charts at the same time.
i believe that Jackson's six consecutive weeks at number one is still a record for male artists.
The video for the song was premiere'd on MTV on March 10th, 1983, and immediately went into heavy rotation.
It was among the very first videos by a black artist to be shown regularly on the channel.

When i tried to check the rules, i got #blocked, so i'm just winging it here with a loose fusion-y interpretation.
i couldn't resist throwing in a bit of 'Smooth Criminal' at the very end also. ;)

Deets: the bass part was played on an MüB J5 Mk.1 TL (Tim Lefevbre sig model) short scale 5 string
The guitar was 'Nat' (homebuilt T-type w/ 'staple P90 neck pickup) again.
The synthy sounding stuff was Nat thru the HX Stomp's 'Atmosphere' preset.
HX Stomp, 2i2, Logic (and i used the 'vintage opto' compressor on the bass this time).
Click to expand...
Amazing , the bass line is impressive also.
Good to see a another HX stomp user to.
I also have a powercab plus but generally use headphones.
 
Aynirar27 said:
ok boys and girls, making my vocal debut....


who ya gonna call??


RIFFMASTERS!

"
https://soundcloud.com/track_id%3D1842515889
">



I found a midi drum track of the song that I put into Steven Slate and pumped up the kick a bit to make it a little dancey. The drums at the end were a track from whack studio drums. I also got my two little girls to help out with the crowd vocals for the chorus. They weren't sure what a "riffmaster" was until they heard me channel my inner Dave Mustaine in the solo at the end...
I wanted to add some sound fx from the movies into the breakdown at the end but it just wasn't happening and it is just time to put this project to bed lol.

Enjoy!


when there's something strange
on your finger tips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when you feel that groove
moving through your hips
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

...I ain't afraid of no notes...

when you got that riff
stuck in your head
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS

when ya got that riff
remember what I said
who ya gonna call?
RIFFMASTERS!

i ain't afraid of no notes


RIFFBASTARRRDDDD
Click to expand...
THAT was perfect!! Love the Lyrics! The music was excellent! The addition of your kids was great! Then if that wasnt enough, you went all METAL TO THE CORE!!! \m/
Excellent work!!
:guitarking:
 
frostyjr2 said:
Deconstructed Billie Jean (Top Of The Pops 80s)
https://soundcloud.com/id%3Dfrostyjr2%252Fdeconstructed-billie-jean-6924-0007%3Btrack_id%3D1842577323

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 5, 1983 and remained there for seven weeks.
It was Jackson's biggest solo hit and Billboard ranked it as the second song of 1983.
The song also made chart history by making Jackson the first artist to top both the pop and R&B charts at the same time.
i believe that Jackson's six consecutive weeks at number one is still a record for male artists.
The video for the song was premiere'd on MTV on March 10th, 1983, and immediately went into heavy rotation.
It was among the very first videos by a black artist to be shown regularly on the channel.

When i tried to check the rules, i got #blocked, so i'm just winging it here with a loose fusion-y interpretation.
i couldn't resist throwing in a bit of 'Smooth Criminal' at the very end also. ;)

Deets: the bass part was played on an MüB J5 Mk.1 TL (Tim Lefevbre sig model) short scale 5 string
The guitar was 'Nat' (homebuilt T-type w/ 'staple P90 neck pickup) again.
The synthy sounding stuff was Nat thru the HX Stomp's 'Atmosphere' preset.
HX Stomp, 2i2, Logic (and i used the 'vintage opto' compressor on the bass this time).
Click to expand...
Super cool and smooth! I could kick back on a beach and listen to this all day. Perfect production!

That synth preset in the stomp is very cool. love my stomp, one of the best investments Ive made.
 
We have submissions coming in and they are all OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!
@Aynirar27 hits us with what may well become the Game's Theme Song with a rewrite of Ghostbusters (Riffmasters)
@frostyjr2 hit the dusty trails hard and tamed the frontier with her entry in Wild Wild West then did Michael Jackson proud with a smooth moody ambient Billie Jean
There is also a @Mouse in the house! Waiting on his rendition of Time after Time ....
Riffmasters is heating up and the above mentioned Riffmasters are making a run at the penthouse suite in the second half of this RIffmasters challenge.
Will @Ku² be able to hold on to the #1 spot all the way through to the end?
Will @TVvoodoo ever get @Aynirar27 's name right?
Will @LiveeviL2000 ever ditch the loincloth and wear pants around the house? or will he ditch the loin cloth completely and go au naturale?
Is there no end to the dad jokes @iblive can dish out?

These and many more questions will be answered on the next episode of ....
RIFFMASTERS! (cue the Riffmasters theme song)

The standing with the newest editions added to the list.
As it stands when the next round starts @Mouse and @frostyjr2 will be in the next duel, unless they opt out of participating in the next duel.
Any names in orange have opted out of being part of the dueling portion of the game.
1717928505461.png
 
Damn! If this is the normal level of creativity for these y’all are going to be seriously disappointed with my straight cover lol.

@frostyjr2 nice 2fer! Beautiful western theme which perfectly for the video. Deconstructed Billy Jean was fantastic and had some nice jazzier elements to go with the pop melody lines. Well done on both.

@Aynirar27 thst was next level good. The first part that stuck closer to the original song was great but when you kicked into death metal that sent it off the chart for me. Seriously well done!
 
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