The opening track off my first ever attempt at writing, recording, and producing and album by myself ("Instrumentally Challenged") (1999-2000).  I was trying to program a bass part for a different song and realized 3/4 of the way through that I made a mistake and it was way too fast.  Instead of deleting it I thought it might be fun to try soloing over it. 

The title comes from something two of my friends used to say all the time (once, a couple times once...).  Not sure anyone really knows why they said it, or why they thought it was so funny.

Guitar:  Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp:  KORG ToneWorks 1st Gen Pandora's Box
Drums:  Zoom RT-123
DAW:  Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

Once (a couple times)

This song has what I still consider to be one of the best guitar solos I've ever recorded.  I guess you could say it's been all downhill since then.

Guitar: Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp: KORG ToneWorks 1st Gen Pandora's Box
Drums: Zoom RT-123
DAW: Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

The Perfect Day

Although I've always been kind of a metal/hard rock guy, I do enjoy other genres as well.  This song was my first attempt at a Techno/EDM/Electronic song.  

Everything was done on guitar because I didn't have a synthesizer or know how to program one.  It mostly just uses a pitch shifter an octave down and a wah pedal, with some basic reverb, delay, phaser, etc.  Sorry if it goes on a little to long at the end.  At the time, I just thought that's what techno songs typically do, and I didn't really know how else to end it.

The drums are just a default preset on the Zoom RT-123 drum machine.  These days I usually program all my own drums, but back then I just thought having the ability to write songs with electronic drums was so cool that I often used this same drum loop way too much.

Guitar: Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp: KORG ToneWorks 1st Gen Pandora's Box
Drums: Zoom RT-123
DAW: Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

Prayer For Fire

This was the last song recorded for this album, and you can already hear the fatigue of writing and recording setting in.  I think it's an ok song now, but back then I remember feeling like I was stuck in a rut, and was a little disappointed with it.  I even switched to a sort of Yngwie Malmsteen-esque thing mid solo because I just didn't know what else to do anymore.

Around the same time the band I was in started writing songs and playing gigs, so my focus just sort of switched over to that.  Might upload some songs from some of my previous bands in the future if anyone's interested.

Guitar: Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp: KORG ToneWorks 1st Gen Pandora's Box
Drums: Zoom RT-123
DAW: Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

Ashes Of Hope

I consider this to be the first full song I ever wrote.  I had been attempting to write my own stuff pretty much since the day I first picked up a guitar, and had played around with a Tascam 4-track tape recorder for a while.  This however was the first song I recorded using a DAW.  It was also the first to be given a title, terrible cover art, and be put on a CD.  The shitty guitar tone is likely the result of plugging a Boss Metal Zone pedal directly into my computer's sound card.

My brother came up with the title for this song.  It is based on the fact that he would often come back early in the morning after hanging out with friends and partying (and doing the things most young people do), only to find me still sitting in the same place I was when he left, playing my guitar.

Guitar: Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp: Not sure if I used one, might just be running a Boss Metal Zone direct into the computer because I didn't really know what I was doing...
Drums: Zoom RT-123
DAW: Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

Cover of "Rondo Alla Turca" By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
  
I transcribed it myself from a piano book for two guitars, with the rhythm guitar playing the left hand and the lead guitar playing the right hand.  I still enjoy playing the lead part today, but have long since forgotten the rhythm part.

As with all these old tracks, I wish the mix was better.  This is a good example of why you should always record a DI track.  If I had known that back then I could probably fix it now, without having to re-record the whole thing. 

The last part is a little sloppy.  I had been up all night recording and was getting tired.  I kind of rushed it because I just wanted to be done with it.  Looking back I wish I had spent a little extra time to get it right.  Another lesson learned I guess.

Guitar: Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp: KORG ToneWorks 1st Gen Pandora's Box
DAW: Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

Alla Turca

The final track of the album.  Technically might be the first song I ever wrote, if you count a couple fingerpicked guitar riffs to be a song.  Also not counting, of course, the many hours of random unfinished things I recorded on cassette tapes prior to this.

Guitar: Ibanez S-series 7 String
Amp: KORG ToneWorks 1st Gen Pandora's Box
DAW: Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

Recorded (1999-2000)
2022 remaster

Faded Dreams

Guitar, Bass, Drum Programming, Synth Programming, Mixing and Mastering.

Tracks uploaded here are mostly unfinished since I can't do vocals/lyrics.  So if there are any vocalists/songwriters out there that want to work on anything let me know.  I would also be interested in joining/forming a band, if anyone needs a guitarist that does whatever it is that I do.

everything is a work in progress

New tracks tagged #Instrumentally Challenged