"Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd Instrumental Guitar with Lyrics

Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson) - Electric Guitar/Mini-Korg Instrum...

"Here Without You" - Three Doors Down Guitar Cover (Official)

A Short Diary of the Making of a  Cover Song

Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" - An Acoustic Guitar Instrumental

Soundcloud Link:

"Stay With Me" - An Acoustic Guitar Instrumental Cover

This is what I'd call a solo guitar work in three parts. Hmmm...seems a bit contradictory. If it is, it is fine with me. This is an off the cuff improvisation of sorts in three parts. I played and recorded them all in under 15 minutes. It is a creation that was intended to give only the spirit of the original by Sam Smith.  A very simple constuction in the work makes for a very interesting process. In that, you have to make the limited musical material interesting. With a basic harmony guitar and two melody tracks on top, I'm happy with the result. Not overbearng like I tend to be with the electric, I held firm to a more simplistic approach. Although, I couldn't resist getting some fire in there at times. I mean, I am a guitar player:)

The song consists of three main chords and an occasional fourth at the turnaround of the progression. The song is basically in a minor using a typical i-IV-vi progression. The turnaround is the creative point at which you make the decision usually on the fly. I didn't make a big deal of that but concentrated on the melodic content, especially the harmonies.  The Yamaha nylon (based on Rodrigo y Gabriela model) pulled through.  Maybe a little thin at times but overall okay. At least nothing that can't be tweaked a bit more later. Eventually, I will make sure to mic the acoustic guitars more than not. Overall, it's a better choice. 

A future classic this song will be. Long after its pop success and it's already over-exposed soundwaves begin to fade, it will surely rise again and remain one of the classic love songs of all time.

MarkJefferyCampayno
www.markgtr.com

Review of Madness in Little Rooms by Anurag Mishra

Anurag Mishra: Madness in Little Rooms

http://anurag.bandcamp.com/album/madness-in-little-rooms

   In this day of incessant electronica, it is comforting to know that a single musician and an acoustic guitar are able to cut through the din of software madness. 

Anurag Mishra, who hails from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India has produced a collection of wonderful vignettes that is a six-string diary of sorts. A commentary on life with melody and harmony that need no words. The words for Anurag, are in the notes. 

   The ability of the solo guitar to communicate is without question. It’s been doing that forever. In the hands of Anurag Mishra it becomes his very soul. Perfection? No. Anurag is not seeking that in this collection. Perfection is unattainable in life so why would the music reflect such unreality? This offering is different...his music is real. Sometimes dark, sometimes hopeful, sometimes jazzy, sometimes classical, it’s life in a descriptive display of notes and moods that will resonate with some aspect of your past, present, and future. 

 Anurag occasionally adds accompanying layers to his works. However, they are placed so perfectly in the mix that they literally become part of the guitar. They are swallowed up by the what I can only describe as a mystical soundscape of necessity. Without them the song would not hold up, with them the song is perfect.  

   One of the most gorgeous pieces of the 14 song collection is “Drawn to the Friction”. The work consists of a beautiful set of arpeggiated chords surrounded by a slow and melodic cello background. This work will leave your reminiscing about something you thought you left behind long ago. 

   The beauty in Anurag’s compositions is the way he controls his chord textures. Rarely does he strum full chords. It’s as though he finds no use for them in his search for the emotions he is describing. “Finding Hope” is a journey into what we all seek, a respite from the stress of life’s never ending assault on our search for peace.

   Even more evocative is the background noise that many of the tracks contain. The noise of the street only adds to the incredible vibe Anurag has produced with this release. Only a confident and forward thinking musician would ever allow such sounds on a recording. Mix that with a raw acoustic guitar and a creative imagination and you have a place to go where the music understands you. This is a must have for all who appreciate great solo guitar music. 

-Mark Jeffery Campayno

Mark's Website

"INNER LIFE" - ACOUSTIC GUITAR ORIGINAL

"No One Here By That Name" - Original Song