RoughMix

Writing music is the first step. For many that is enough. For me, I want to usually work it out with a band, to draw upon the creative juices of others and to hear it a bit closer to what I hear in my head but cannot produce myself, because I can only sing, play guitar and create percussion (and even this not all at once - and the live part of it all is not to be underestimated.) This is a rehearsal with my German band [Steffi Weiss - keys/vocals; Petra Wolfsperger - recorder; Christian Mees - bass] (we even created some German lyrics for the song specifically this.) As is usual this was recorded on the Palm Tungsten which records mono and does a very poor job of dealing with clipping and audio that gets too "hot". That is part of the roughness of what works. The raw material provides insight into discussions, general direction and more that you will need to discover for yourself and to which you are warmly welcomed. I should note that this was the first and only time we got together on this tune. It was performed 3 days later. The original post on this song is RoughMix episode 108 - http://ruffmix.com/entry/2008-02-22T03_05_53-08_00 where I shared two versions of what I did in the original writing of the tune. This episode is sponsored by http://elephant-town.com - add your own cover version to the Uke sensation! ENJOY! You can also save 10% on domain names at http://GoDaddy.com by using the code "blu6". It is a great place to buy AND manage your domains. RuffMix is a member of the blubrry community, that's http://blubrry.com (without the "e" s)

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to simply sit down and play without a plan, without any goals, and see what happens. As in most cases this got recorded on my Palm Tungsten, which is almost always with me - which makes it a good tool for capturing spontaneity. I had a listen to this clip afterwards and heard that I had a few elements that could be of use: * some tapping * some harmonics * some rhythm change-ups Most importantly, to keep it rough I was not afraid of making mistakes just because I was recording it. I believe it is precisely this that allows for discovery of something new, something fresh and unique That's what I did here in RoughMix episode 125, which I am calling "Acoustic Airs". For those of you really into the roughness I am also sharing the original Palm based wav file online: Acoustic Airs.wav: http://tinyurl.com/AcousticAirs This episode is sponsored by http://elephant-town.com - add your own cover version to the Uke sensation! ENJOY! You can also save 10% on domain names at http://GoDaddy.com by using the code "blu6". It is a great place to buy AND manage your domains. RuffMix is a member of the blubrry community, that's http://blubrry.com (without the "e" s)

This time around I am sharing a tune with two "drafts". Here I played around with the theme long enough to have some unique things spring forth just by virtue of staying at it long enough. Listen carefully and you will hear my daughter chime in with some background vocals. For those of you really into the roughness I am also sharing the original Palm based wav files online: First "capture": http://www.mediafire.com/?yisfmqofzef Second "capture": http://www.mediafire.com/?gouqotcme8j This episode is sponsored by http://elephant-town.com - add your own cover version to the Uke sensation! You can also save 10% on domain names at http://GoDaddy.com by using the code "blu6". It is a great place to buy AND manage your domains. RuffMix is a member of the blubrry community, that's http://blubrry.com (without the "e" s)

RoughMix 123 - Press 1 (the songwriting cast about how music is made) Sounds are all around us. I have slowly come to the conclusion that all of them are potential tools for inspiration, as this episode of RoughMix shows. Welcome to RoughMix 123 - Press 1. As the title implies, this episode was inspired by a recording I made while trying to call a credit card company. It was the automated voice that annoys us all so very much. I decided to try and use it as an inspirational tool and this cast is the result. The important thing is not what I did (the music is truthfully pretty lame) but this is the Rough Mix and therefore I am sharing with you the raw data of the songwriting process in the hopes that it will whet your songwriting appetite. Your inspiration may create something quite different - who cares! Your music should be yours - let loose! ::::: Here some housekeeping: I can be contacted a number of ways. You can: * visit RuffMix.com and leave a comment * send an email or voicemail to nlnnet@gmail.com * twitter me at: nlnnet * Skype Me at briankelley There is also a bonus for those who listen to the end - a tune Brian wrote for his daughter of http://Elephant-Town.com fame back when she was very little. This is the third verse.

Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/unleashingmephotography/2316833560/sizes/o/ Two rough "tunes" * In your Hands * 3rd fret start - it sounds like I here had a lick which was central to what became experimentation after that - always returning to the basic theme and then branching off from it again. I also included licks from other songs in it 2:22 for example, and others Over time you create a style and a body of work. This is a resource than you can plow again using it as a fertilizer for new projects - often improving and refining what you have already done. When I create something new it is impossible for me to not know my past. Sometimes it makes sense to try extra hard to do something unique, but why not try at least sometimes to embrace your songwriting past and incorporate it into something intentionally?

Photo CC License - http://flickr.com/photos/alaala/163091182/ This episode has the meek Uke serving as an inspiration to its 6 stringed bigger brother. Enjoy the cast - as always, feedback is most welcome in whatever format you choose. Visit my Twitter account - http://twitter.com/nlnnet

RoughMix 120 - Dancin Singing (Sorry Yoko) Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/andrewbaron/71618124/sizes/m/ - by Andrew Baron, CC Licence Just to show you how rough you can get this episode has its place. I am sharing with you all of the rough, which includes an embarressing "Yoko Ono" like voice, which is followed by what that inspired. (Sorry Yoko!) Oddly enough, the second could not have happened without the first. And so the tip this time - do not be afraid of making a fool of yourself (it is after all for you.) If you let your thoughts freely flow you may end up being surprised by what follows. The original file as recorded on the Palm can be downloaded here for those of you who really want the details: Original WAV file: http://www.mediafire.com/?unmjdonii1j As I write this episode my audicity software is going crazy and doing nothing that it should. I have had to revert to an earlier version of the software, which meant that all of what I recorded was useless. I needed to mix down all of what I had to an mp3 file and then use this as the new base - sorry for any loss of quality - rougher still! If you like this podcast send us some love! We want to hear from you! Email: ruffmix@gmail.com

Not much to say this time - this is an episode that should speak for itself as it takes a riff and works with it. You can also access me and my random thoughts at: http://twitter.com/nlnnet And do not forget that if you choose a new domain to save 10% using our Godaddy.com discount code "blu6". (Please, please! ;-) Enjoy the episode and share feedback via email, comments or voicemail.

Take a ride with me into the distant past when my hair was black and my back was strong enough to schlepp around electric pianos. 118 has a look into what is possible when you do not even have "real" instruments. The most important part of songwriting is not the tools at hand, but the tools in your head. You can also access me and my random thoughts at: http://twitter.com/nlnnet And do not forget that if you choose a new domain to save 10% using our Godaddy.com discount code "blu6". (Please, please! ;-) Enjoy the episode and share feedback via email, comments or voicemail.

Some times it feels good just to hit things - added bonus if that is a guitar that results in sounds you like. That was in any case the attempt represented in this episode of RoughMix which I am calling slap therapy. Listen in on the clip, recorded on the Palm Tungsten and you hear why I chose this as a title. My tip this time around is to let things run awhile. Do not always be in a hurry to "make" something and don't worry about polish or beauty. Raw emotion, and unvarnished energy and the simple joy of not have any rules is sometimes a real pleasure. It also has the added benefit of often causing something more refined to spring from this little exercise.

RoughMix 116 - As started in episode 113, "Love Is" is an on demand tune. This episode presents the live version performed with a band, also done rough (find out how by listening in.) Contact us at ruffmix@gmail.com, or even better by visiting http://RuffMix.com and leaving a message there on this episode. The lyrics and chords are available to anyone by making a request when you save a note (your bonus for giving feedback.) The photo can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/316195320/sizes/s/ Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/

I share an experiment as I record randomly on the Palm Tungsten - called Rising Waters Special greetings to folks in Bangalore, Guangzhou, Gdansk, Skipton, San Antonio and others. Subscribe to the feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix Save 10% on GoDaddy purchases with the code "blu6" Enjoy!

The photo in its original can be seen here (CC license) http://flickr.com/photos/webbysworld/44408276/ In this episode of RoughMix I share two clips as indicated in the title in the hopes that it inspires above all all who may listen to record whatever you do to capture ideas. Only when you have a system will you not fprget things you create. Leave feedback at roughmix@gmail.com Subscribe to the feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix Save 10% on GoDaddy purchases with the code "blu6" Enjoy!

RoughMix 113 - Love Is This tune was written "on demand". Find out more about how this was done in this cast. This cast has the bit recorded for the band to rehearse, as well as the stuff that flowed from my head with all that was created being done on the fly. Follow the progress and see how it may help your songwriting. Contact us at roughmix@gmail.com, or even better by visiting http://RuffMix.com and leaving a message there on this episode. The lyrics and chords are available to anyone by making a request when you save a note (your bonus for giving feedback.) The photo can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/316195320/sizes/s/ Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/

RoughMix 112 - 1 Plus 1 This episode has two pieces coming together to make something greater - 1 Plus 1. It is entirely Palm Tungsten recorded. It also pays a special greeting to listeners in Hawaii,Texas, Brazil, Argentina, and SE England. Post messages by visiting http://RuffMix.com Save 10% on GoodDaddy domain names with the code "blu6"

RoughMix 111 - Badum I record lots of stuff on my Palm Tungsten, as I mostly always have it with me. I record far more than I share with you all, simply because I do not have time to do it all. In all honesty I do not even follow my own advice about recording everything, but I do get pretty close, and this helps, I believe to give me material that I can use to create material. My biggest challenge is in fact in keeping track of all the stuff that I create in a manner that is easily filed. (I am by the way eager for listener feedback about this and other issues. I know that I have hundreds of listeners, but no one really replies. Since this is true if YOU reply you are very likely to get your reply shared with the hundreds of other listeners.) One other note before getting into this episode's material - I am thinking about creating episodes of truly rough material with no comments and nothing other than raw Palm Tungsten recordings. I have the material to do this, but I do not want to just dump material on you. I DO however want to share the process of the songwriting, and maybe this is a way to do it. Let me know what you think by doing the following: * send a voicemail by visiting RuffMix.com and using the tools there to do this * send an email to ruffmix@gmail.com * visit http://RuffMix.com and post a comment on the episode * call me and leave a voicemail at the phone number +49 7631 183381 And now, welcome to the episode I am calling "Badum", because this is what I called the audio track when I recorded it. I want to send special greetings to visitors from San Antonio and Houston, Texas, Montreal, Canada, and Miami Florida and southwest of Ljubliana - please keep coming back!

RoughMix 109 - Bring Me Band In the last episode I shared the roughmix of "Bring Me Back" as I created it on the fly. This time around I show you what is sometimes the next step - sharing the song with a band for the first time. This is a good way to polish what you do and get feedback that can only help improve your song. This was recorded mono on my Palm Tungsten, for another band that would also need to perform it. The chatter, although in German will not hurt the understanding of the process itself. It is a tune written specifically for a church confirmation to take place over 4 church services. The speaker is incorporating the song into the sermon itself, so it is a truly cooperative venture. It is also a first for me to have written a song that will so quickly be performed by others without my participation. Enjoy! My Twitter: http://twiter.com/nlnnet The words to the song are here for those who might like to play it themselves: https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=ajk5qsfxbr5c_520nx8sbt32&hl

I got an email. It informed me about the general theme of the upcoming confirmation church service, and it asked me if I might have any ideas about a song that could be created for the event. I am always excited about challenges like this and this episode is the result. I am particularly proud of this as all of it happened within an hour of getting the email - which shows that creatively can be done under pressure and can come from outside impetus. If you want more about me there are many ways to get it - here are a few: * http://twitter.com/nlnnet * http://pownce.com/nlnnet from these places you can get many more links. Also, the ambient noise comes from my daughter, who also took this photo. She is 6. I could tell you more about lots of things, but I do not think that anyone cares so I am saving myself the trouble. If YOU do care, let me know and I can send you more info.

RoughMix 107 - On the Fly Getting stuck in a rut in your songwriting. Try these ideas out for size in episode 107 - On the Fly Some new tips that may help jump start your songwriting process, as always rough and raw and in draft form for your listening pleasure. This cast can be subscribed to on I-tunes, or just point yourself to http://RuffMix.com where you can get all the info you need get the episodes any way you like. And don't forget code blu6 will save you 10% on GoDaddy.com new orders and support the work of RoughMix as well.

RoughMix 106 - New In This time around the focus was on rhythm - roughly speaking. I discovered what I thought was a cool lick and ran with it (and almost beat it to death.) The words were secondary and off the cuff - truly rough stuff. This illustrates a nother tool to use in song writing - repeat multiple times and see if something comes out from it - particularly important in pop music. Music clip was recorded on the Palm Tungsten - mono. Save 10% on New Domain registrations at GoDaddy.com by using the code blu6 We are looking for brave souls who will share the roughness that makes uop their music writing. It seems that our audience has a problem with cowardice - ;-)

RoughMix 105 - @ the Millers The episode that shows that even background distractions cannot detract from capturing your songwriting ideas. This episode has Brian recording on Christmas day at some friends while they are in the middle of a Skype conference with people from another continent. Sponsored by http://happybdaymp3.com - looking for artists to create personalized birthday music as a way to promote their songwriting.

RoughMix 104 - Maj7 Slides Sometimes placing a limit on what you will do will generate ideas. I do that in this episode restricting myself to play just with Maj7 chords and music built around that. Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by http://happybdaymp3.com - a unique gift possibility for you in the internet age. This cast is a member of the http://blubrry.com community Thanks for listening - be sure to drop a note, or even better an audio comment to ruffmix [at] gmail.com

I was at a rehearsal and there was some down team as other members of the band we busy with other stuff, so I took a few minutes, and pulling out my Palm Tungsten, captured some of the experiment in the key of A. The next day I added some more thoughts - and I am likely to continue along this vein. Here you get both "sessions". It is my hope that this inspires you to have a kind of digital roughs diary that will help you in your songwriting as well. This episode is sponsored by http://happybdaymp3.com - a unique gift possibility for you in the internet age. This cast is a member of the http://blubrry.com community Thanks for listening - be sure to drop a note, or even better an audio comment to ruffmix [at] gmail.com

RoughMix 102 - 7 to 5 This episode of RoughMix shows how important it is to set for yourself notes that mean something to you. This of course considers the fact that you are actually recording the stuff you do as you work on potential tunes. Be sure to save money on your new domain registrations at GoDaddy.com - use the code "blu6" to get a 10% savings on new domain names and support RuffMix at the same time. The best feed for this podcast is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix Subscribe using this and you will get the most up-to-date episodes. Special greetings this episode go to James Ingram as well as to listeners from Malaysia; Ankara, Turkey, and Norway - extra points to the first person who notices which locale I do not mention here but do mention in the podcast!

RoughMix 101 - In My Head 5 plus minutes of talking to myself while "hearing" something in my head trying to reproduce it on the guitar - it always takes practice. I am not a great guitarist. I do not read music fast enough to play it so all I do I do by ear. Listen in as I get into a groove, get stuck on a bit and work it out until I am satisfied, change speeds try all kinds of tricks to get the music recorded in a format that will help me to go back later and have a clue about what I did. Hi this is Brian Kelley, and welcome to RoughMix episode 101 - In My Head. To those new to this cast - it is desigend to be rough and raw, unpolished and authentic showing the real, often embarressing reality behind the process of getting new music to work. It is not pretty, but man is it beautiful! Have a listen to the clip I recorded on my trusty Palm Tungsten so that I would not forget... Save 10% on GoDaddy domain names using code "blu6" - it really works even if no one uses it!

RoughMix 100 - This episode takes highlights from the first 10 episodes of RoughMix and mixes them to give a taste of the beginnings of the cast. Special hellos this time around to listeners in Vigo, Portugal; Brasilia, Brazil; Tianjin, China; Tatsuno, Japan; Tampa, FL USA; Hobunken, and NJ USA Thanks for listening and please drop a note, audio or otherwise. to save 10% on new domain registrations at http://GoDaddy.com use the code "blu6" and support http://RuffMix.com at the same time! My Twitter account: http://twitter.com/nlnnet My Pownce Account: http://Pownce.com/nlnnet My Blog Account: http://blogspot.kelleynews.com

Sometimes a lick will do it. I played this chord and then added some rhythm to it, and I had the beginnings of something. Hi, and welcome to RoughMix 099 which is called "In the Darkness". This episode focuses on a clip I recorded on my Palm Tungsten, which only records in mono - you do not get much rougher than that. I was in particular playing around with arpeggios and then some tapping trying to create a sense of rhythm that almost made it sound like more than one instrument was playing. It was all recorded on the fly - what you hear is the first time I played any of this. The words are merely there to try and capture a potential melody line. In this case the guitar is more like percussion than anything else in particular. And this brings me to my tip for this episode - feel free to do strange things with your instrument - you will get results that can be surprising and whether good or bad it will teach you something that you can put to use later. So enjoy this clip, complete with ambient background noise. So there you have it, play around yourself a bit, and feel free to share your results with us here at http://RuffMix.com Special hellos this time around to listeners in the Dominican Republic, Vimont, Quebec (please forgive my pronunciation, I speak German, not French) and central Mexico and in the US the cities of Denver, Tampa, Lynchburg and somewhere near Sharonville, Maryland. Thanks for listening and please drop a note, audio or otherwise. to save 10% on new domain registrations at http://GoDaddy.com use the code "blu6" and support RuffMix.com at the same time!

RoughMix 098 - For Sure Inspiration comes when it comes - it cannot be controlled. At least that is my experience. I often sit at the guitar play a few notes and Boom! The muse is there. When this happens, I need to grab my Palm Tungsten and get it down, because I know with absolute certainty that if I do not, it is gone forever - and good or bad if I do not capture it I can never again use it or refer to it. As in many of my recordings I am in my real life and that includes background sounds, interruptions, distractions and the like. Embaressment is a part of the process only because I choose to share it with the public. I have released material that has been slammed by people because they do not get the fact that this is intentionally released in the roughest of rough formats. But when you do it it can be like a diary that no one ready but you. You hold the only key to the lock that holds your musical secrets - so record like crazy and make the most of what you do - it is after all yours! In this episode I remain rough and record embarresing material and I am glad. I have a growing alphabet of material which I am creating which allows me to make references to my own material in a code that only I understand (I added more about this to a comment on RoughMix 097 at RuffMix.com that you can access there.) Songwriting is an adventure of discovery that never stops. I would not be a guitarist if I were not a songwriter. Unless I am playing with a band for a particular purpose I virtually never play music others write. I am always experimenting and creating. It is to me the only real reason to play - and I love it! Listen in as I tell myself what I am doing in this rough which is called "For Sure". AFTER THE MUSIC I want to send a special greeting to friends in the Ukraine where I have been myself, those near Montreal and to those in China. I am eager for voice mails which can be sent to me at via Skype. My Skype ID is briankelley. The best feed for this cast is http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix You can follow my random wanderings at my Twitter account at http://twitter.com/nlnnet Thanks for listening! Tell your friends about RoughMix Photo:

Often a good tool to get the juices flowing is to take what you know as a start and work from there. It is even better if it is your starting point is your own creation. In this episode I take a tune from episode 01 of RoughMix (now available at http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMixOnVume) and do just this. Enjoy! Musicians who want to share their music in all of it s roughness should contact me at: nlnnet+roughmix at gmail dot com. The best URL for this podcast is: http://RuffMix.com The best feed for this podcast is http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix The best way to contact me is by Skype: briankelley Get your GoDaddy.com domain for 10% less! Use code "blu6" when ordering.