30 June 2009

 

"Dodging Buses," my new free MP3 instrumental

Derek Wally's burger 1I turn 40 today, and in honour of that, here is "Dodging Buses" (3.7 MB MP3 file), a three-minute instrumental number. Like many of my others, it has that signature Penmachine granky guitar-bass-drums sound, with a hint of AC/DC. I started recording it back in March, using my Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar tuned to an open E chord, but only in this past week did I add bass, mix, and then master it.

The name comes from something I've said numerous times during my past two and half years of cancer treatment: the saying goes that you could get hit by a bus anytime, but personally, I feel like I'm dodging buses every day. It's licensed for you to share and reuse, as long as you give me credit, so have fun with it.

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# 7:39 PM

Comments:

Happy Birthday!
# posted by Blogger Barbara K. Adamski : 30 June, 2009 21:55
 
As I said earlier on le Twitter, happy birthday!

Can you help me out with what the term 'granky' means? Is that some kind of musical slang, or just a mistyped "cranky"?
# posted by Blogger Darren Barefoot : 30 June, 2009 22:26
 
Happy Birthday, and keep on dodging those buses!
# posted by Blogger James Duncan Davidson : 30 June, 2009 23:17
 
Wow! Happy B-day Derek, even if I'm one day late. My life more or less started at age 40 in all kinds of ways, so I hope you too will see many MANY good years.

All the best,

Hens
# posted by Blogger hz37 : 01 July, 2009 00:03
 
Darren, while it was entirely intentional, I made up the word granky as I typed the blog post. It represents the kinds of guitar sounds I tend to use.

I'll wait for the OED to include it in its next edition.
# posted by Blogger Derek : 01 July, 2009 09:56
 
Hey Derek. Happy b'day again. Great party.
What BPM did you do the recording at?
# posted by Anonymous Simon James : 01 July, 2009 15:09
 
It's at 130 bpm, E major, 4/4 time.
# posted by Blogger Derek : 01 July, 2009 16:56
 
Happy Happy Happy Birthday, Derek! You so deserve to celebrate! 40 is when you really start to hit your prime in life, IMO. I'll continue to send my most positive thoughts to you and your family for at least 40 more. You've earned every year, and you've got all the right stuff to keep going.

Cheers, Cathryn
# posted by Anonymous Cathryn Hrudicka : 02 July, 2009 21:05
 
Great song, Derek! And belated Happy Birthday. I wish you many, many more!
# posted by Anonymous John Meadows : 05 July, 2009 06:46