Nostalvania

A nice way to make your chord progressions sound different and/or more interesting is to use pedal bass notes. Example: Bbmaj7(9) - Fmin7(9) - Ebmaj7(9) - Ab7(13) Now instead of playing the root notes of every single chord you can use a Bb pedal: Bbmaj7(9) - Fmin7(9)/Bb - Ebmaj7(9)/Bb - Ab7(13)/Bb So basically the bass is playing the Bb throughout the whole progression. This creates a more open feel and a different mood. I especially like the Ab7(13)/Bb Chord.

Thanks for all the comments, i think i'll work on it again when i have time.

Wow, thanks for the review man! I appreciate it. My goal was actually to submit it, but unfortunately i kinda lost my motivation to work on it. I hope i can find it again because i think it would be a shame since this seems to have some potential.

Thanks arglactable! Everything i touch becomes jazz, i can't help it.

This is a remix of the good old Brinstar theme from Metroid in a odd meter/jazz style. I used multiple time signature changes to keep things interesting. It's actually a pretty early and unfinished WIP, probably gonna add some solos later. Remix: https://app.box.com/s/bmayeyjkggvgujhh8wii Source: http://youtu.be/T-2sE0Napg0

I dunno, maybe there's a problem with YouTube? You could try to upload it somewhere else and see if it's still there.

The mix sounds a bit muddy IMO, especially at 0:34-0:37. I have the feeling that the instruments get buried by the big timpani. Other than that, nice work.

Hmm, i can hear a strange crackling noise throughout the whole piece.

I would say you probably should add the melody. Without the actual melody it just sounds a bit like one long intro to me and it also get's pretty repetitive IMO.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Yeah, the piano gets a bit buried, gonna give it a boost. @notMe: Thx for the arrangement ideas, I think I'll try to extend the breakdown section.

So instead of working on my castlevania remix i made this here: https://app.box.com/s/poxs5ggr06hmma39fy8n Source:http://youtu.be/43IPAGw01IY It's a 7/8 Jazz/Funk version of song of storms. Yeah, i think it could be extended, it's a bit short but i'm not sure what else i could add to the song.

You forgot Rhaeto-Romanic Danke Herr Nase, thanks! Yeah, i think the slides 'n' ghost notes stuff is a nice idea, although i'm not sure how to do slide notes.

He he, yeah I know, and I'm actually glad that you did the mod review . Thank you very much! I'll try to work on the position of the instruments. I'll definitely listen to some piano/guitar jazz trios/quartets to get some ideas.

The arrangement is finished and i think it's ready for Mod review. Here's the newest version: https://app.box.com/s/5bdfg9f7sna4xwtux3bn

Here's some more: https://app.box.com/s/z5gv3ptxkxcogdzvxays And now there's a real ending

Thanks T! Ok, I'll try to narrow the piano.

Update! https://app.box.com/s/synz34zzjmf7borkckz6 Ok i worked on the guitar part, how does it sound? I also added an ending, it's not great but at least there is one. Bass now should be a bit louder. Edit: I added a Vibraphone solo at 2:38 and some walking bass action. The ending is not the real ending, only temporary, I will continue the piece.

Thanks for the review man! I'm not sure what you mean with "panning widely" . You mean the double track, pan hard left, hard right method?

The first half of the remix is only piano and bass, the guitar actually comes in at 1:20. Well i agree, the guitar is probably a bit quiet/buried in places. The arrangement isn't finished yet, hence the abrupt ending. Thanks for the feedback.

I thought i should continue with my castlevania jazz remixes. Here's another one i'm working on. It's a jazz trio this time ( Piano, Bass, Guitar). Maybe i'll add more instruments like a vibraphone, and some solos. Remix: https://app.box.com/s/ym556jyc47fyyvms8np9 Source: http://youtu.be/0AZ5XZHIDh0 dada-da-daaa!

I think the two source tunes fit well together, although i don't know the sources (source links?), but it sounds like one song so good job. IMO, the bass drum is way too loud and heavy and doesn't fit with the mood of the arrangement. The drum writing is also a bit minimalistic (and repetitive), i think you could add more elements and some percussion. The soundscape is a bit empty in some places like at 1:53 - 2:24. There's a very dissonant note at 2:49 (guitar). I noticed that the most of your leads are panned to the right, like at 2:55 you have a synth lead and a (fake)Guitar lead and both are on the right side, makes it sound a bit imbalanced, i think. I hope i wasn't too harsh and negative, i just pointed out some things which i think could be improved. There are actually some cool arrangement ideas and i think the strings writing was decent. Keep it up, maybe someone else can give some more in-depth feedback.

Cool, i feel relieved now. Well, i originally did play almost everything live, except for some parts like the octaves at: 0:56 - 1:19 and a few other places. And of course i edited and deleted some notes after the recording. I'm just too lazy to play everything again just because i made one or two mistakes. But i have to say, as a piano player i have the aspiration to write something that actually can be played by a human being, otherwise it's almost a bit like cheating.

But i played it live!!! ...... No just kidding Hmm... i think you're right, it's probably a tad unrealistic, I'll try to humanize it. Thanks for the feedback

And another update! Version 5: https://app.box.com/s/t5rabda7ng5sz5gthqjt I added octaves at 0:56 - 1:19 to get more variety. I also changed the chords from the outro at 3:59 - 4:09, and some other little changes here and there. Feedback welcome!

New version: https://app.box.com/s/6i4ffx1nfs565sc887pb So i worked on the transition at 1:20, added some more source (2:22 - 2:34, 3:43 - 3:59) and now there is actually a real (but probably cheesy) ending. Let me know what you think.