Practice Notes

The following is an excerpt of an email sent from Art to the group on 8 May 2015.



This is first and foremost for little Joseph Lazarus III--some notes from today's practice.

Father suggested a little percussive wah-wah style guitar for the vamp at the end of "Hey Rome." Here's one of the all-time best uses of that ever: "Love's Theme" by Barry White.

I also think what J.J. was doing with "Hey Rome" today was cool--sounded a lot like the guitar work on Stevie Wonder's "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" (Tone so dry you can hear the strings rattle! Cued up solos here and here). Don't necessarily want soloing, but those repeated climbing scale/pull-off figures he keeps throwing in. Also, from earlier in the song, those high, lilting octave chords.

Although this is quite different, Will and I are channeling Stereolab on the one-chord 5th-chord vamp between "Majesty" and "The Ladder." Like "Jenny Ondioline," it should gradually crescendo with each passing iteration, getting up to a high level of intensity by the end. Instead of this hammer-on, Russ was doing some Who-like sus4 stuff to give some texture/variety. Also, can take some inspiration from their "Three-Dee Melody."

On another topic, we pointed out that the verse for "The Ladder" uses the same basic progression as "Hold On" by Eddie Money, although mine always goes to the top of the progression. I think you can just hang out on a D while on the D-string you go D, F#, A, Bb. Give it a try. You can give the Jimmy Lyon driving strumming rhythm a try, otherwise, just need one hard down stroke on the one (While we're dreaming, I want "Tokyo Nights" to be the exact midpoint between "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Hollywood Nights." Will you'll need to track down a percussionist!)

Max, can you send the video of "The Ladder" arrangement we recorded today?

Finally, Will, we wanted to know what everyone should wear next Friday. I am going for the all-white tennis/country club look (or mental hospital).

Listen to the whole playlist here.