I am in the process of writing a new song but it is still in its very early inception. An I would like to stress that it is in the very early stage. The samples that you will hear here are very rough and a little sloppy. The sound may not sound the same on the final version. But I thought it would be fun to keep track of this. I do not know when will I complete it but I already have some things in mind. Here are some MP3 sample of the song without lyrics (yet)

May 21, 2008: Anatomy

July 06, 2008: Anatomy v1

These were recorded via GarageBand using Les Paul Studio, Fender Mustang Bass & Takamine Acoustic.

I finally had the chance to look into my Tascam US-122L’s issue with Leopard last night. It suddenly stopped working after I upgraded to Leopard due to the driver. Tascam has finally released a new version for Leopard and also a new firmware. While installing the driver was easy, getting the firmware updater is a bit of a challenge. I have to get it from the German site, as the english site’s file is corrupt. Oh well, in the end it is working again and I am a happy camper!

I cooked up a simple progression on Garageband and did a little bit of testing with Audicity as well. So far so good!

Thanks to this site for the link from AwkwardDog.com to the German site.

Em Progression

Disco Fever

Updated my gear page today. I will start calling it GP 1.0. Every time there is an update to it, I will start increasing the version. Minor edits will get a minor sub-version update and major ones (like adding something new, read: acquired something new) it will be a major version update. This way, I can keep track of my spending

Here’s the direct link: My Gear Page

I had the Empress Tremolo for about 6 months and I loved it since the day it arrived. Its a very versatile tap-tempo tremolo pedal. Some might say that CDN245 is a little too high for a tremolo pedal. But I think the sound and the tap-tempo justifies the price. Never mind the extra goodies that it came loaded with. Though I hardly use any other setting except Rhythm 1 & Tube emulation, just because I don’t have any need for the rest yet.

And what makes this pedal more appealing? The company! They recently announced that they are increasing the warranty period for the pedal from 2 years to 4 years at no extra cost. Thanks Steve Bragg!

Here’s the link to the pedal. Enough said!

*** DISCLAIMER ***
I am not a professional musician and I did not study music. Please take this with a grain of salt.
*****************

Modes are somewhat a scary subject and one of the most misunderstood concept in music. This is especially true with a casual amateur guitar player. This includes me.

I think I understand what the modes are and here’s a feeble attempt to try to explain it in writing for my own benefit alone.

Here goes …

Read more …

Praise the Lord, His love endures forever!

The Holy Spirit guided me tonight to write a simple song that talks about just the plain truth about the love of God for mankind. The lyrics are so simple that it might even come as mediocre. But the message it conveys, I believe, speak volumes. Without further ado, I give you:

Heaven Sent

Stanza 1:

Out of His great love,
His life He gave
Out of His mercy
His grace overflows
To us, throughout the world

Chorus:
Jesus, I believe that you’re the one
the Father sent to save the lost
You came and died, You paid the price
Redeemed my soul
When you walked out of that tomb / From the bondage of my sins

Stanza 2:
From the beginning
He was there
And until the end
My Lord, He wil come
For us, for all the earth to know

Bridge:
And on that blessed day of His return
All will bow & kneel to Christ the King
To the King …

I was browsing thru my old files tonight and I stumble upon a song that I wrote almost six years ago. I can vividly remember myself sitting in my bed with my guitar and a Bible on my side. I did not have anyone with me. Just me. But there is no denying what Christ has done for me. And for you. I finally came to the realization that it is time.

You see, I was born and raised a Catholic. I have always feared God but somehow I feel I am missing something. Not until I came to realize how sinful I was. Regardless of what I do, I cannot please God with my own efforts. No matter what, I have always come up short. But the good news is that, I don’t really have to rely on myself anymore. God had provided a way for me. And the real good news, it is also for you.

It is written in John 3:16 that,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Here’s the song that I wrote on the night I met Jesus. I was weeping and laughing at the same time. Call me crazy, all I know is that I am free …

This Time
by: rhoy.p
November 20, 2000

C           G        Am
This time I know for sure
C           G         Em Am
I know that you're my Lord
C           G         Am
This time I know it's true
C          G       F  (E or G)
I'll never let you go
(Repeat)

Chorus:
Am
Tonight is the night
G                       F  G
I'd give up my life for you
Am
Tonight is alright
G                         F   (E or G)
To praise you and thank you Lord

Bridge:
F          G   F      G
Why should I delay my thoughts of you
F       G             F       E         C G Am
How can I be saved if I don't trust in you

Ending:
(repeat chorus)
Lord, Oh Lord (2x)
My Lord

i just came up with these lines today. might be from experience! harharhar … i don’t think so!

it’s not complete yet, but here it is & for the meantime i will call it:

The Song In My Head

It keeps spinning round in my head
The words a-circling not stopping for me to see
Why is this happenning to me

Like a roller-coaster out of control
My life is slowly decaying to nothing at all
Why is this happenning to me

10. Matthew West
9. Brian Doerksen

8. Mark Stuart

7. Jeff Deyo

6. Martin Smith

5. Paul Baloche

4. Chris Tomlin

3. Darrel Evans

2. Lincoln Brewster

1. Jeremy Camp

I find myself listening to Jeremy Camp more & more. I found his voice really good & the song arrangements superb. Not to mention the deep love that he has for God that just dissipates from the lyrics. I should say that I’ve been blessed by songs like, I Lay Down My Pride, This Man, Breathe, Take You Back & Restored. Hopefully I don’t get into trouble posting the lyrics of the Restored here. Please read & understand what the message is … you’ll be blessed.

Restored

All this time I’ve wandered around searching for the things I’ll never know
I’ve been searching for this answer that only will be found in your love
And I feel it
My heart is being mended by your touch
And I hear it
Your voice that’s shown my purpose in this world

(Chorus)
You have restored me from my feeble and broken soul
You have restored me

I’ve only come to realize my strength will be made perfect at your throne
Laying all reflections down to see the precious beauty that you’ve shown
And I feel it
My heart is being mended by your touch
And I hear it
Your voice thats shown my purpose in this world.

(Bridge)
Laying all these questions down youve answered what I need
Youve given more than I deserve your making me complete
You give me all these open doors I’m humbled at your feet
To show me what youve done for me.

All this time I’ve wandered around searching for the things I’ll never know.