Yeah, I’m wondering if you guys know of any good instrumentals from any sort of genre whatsoever that would be around… oh… five minutes or less. I know, I know, that’s quite limiting, but I need it for my fiction class.
You see, we all have to develop an excersize, and I figured that since I’m (well, my partner and I) going to do a presentation of rhythm in fiction, that I’d have them write an excersize during/after they listen to an instrumental. Any obscure Frank Zappa would be nice, although we’re already thinking of “Spanish Castle Magic,” by Jimi Hendrix, “Ghenghis Khan” by Iron Maiden, and “Frankenstein” by the Edgar Winter Band.
My partner in the class would prefer something by Frank Zappa, although I’m looking for anything that I can evaluate. The judgement will ultimately be left to the both of us, but I figure the more music that we can review the better.
Zappa, cool! My cds are still MIA but these are what I can think of right now.
Black Napkins and Zoot allures (from FZ/Zoot Allures) are around 4:15. Both great. Jazz in Hell had many instrumentals like the infamous G-Spot Tornado (3:17) or Night School (4:47, closer to five min).
As general advice: In his symphonic albums “Boulez conducts Zappa”/London Philarmonic Orchestra/“The Yellow Shark” all songs are instrumental. The same goes for his four guitar-focused (instrumental) releases, “Guitar” and the “Shut up and play your guitar” trilogy. I think FIVE-FIVE-FIVE from the first “Shut up…” album may be up your alley. If my cds were ordered I could be of more help
As a bonus what is right now in my stereo/alarm clock:
Sonny Rollins “I can’t get started” 4:something
J.S. Bach The well-tempered clavier, 1st book Prelude & Fugue in Cmaj 4:15. Hm, classical is an easy way out here. Pick the correct type of composition and you’re set.
If you’re looking for something on the hard side, I highly recommend “Dialogue With The Stars” by In Flames. Even if you can’t use it, get it. It’s gorgeous and comparatively clean sounding compared to their other stuff. It’s exactly 3:00 with LOTS of variation so I think it might be perfect for your exercise. I can’t guarantee it’s what you’re looking for though. It’s absolutely NOTHING like Frank Zappa.
I can’t alternate pick, so the constant strumming and changing notes kills me (also can’t do hammer ons or pull-offs). Also why it kills me to play the extra song by Artillery.
Okay, I admit I’m fully ignorant concerning the game. Tell me that the extra song you’re talking about is of the danish thrashers Artillery and I’ll go rofl for your pleasure.
I’ve checked out all the ones I can find, and I can say that just about everything is awesome! I especially liked “Dialogue With the Stars” and “I Can’t Get Started.” So far I also have “Powerhouse” as a candidate (you’ve probably heard it in a Looney Tunes production, but the full jazz song is great) as well as several others.
Also, I have no idea why I thought “Spanish Castle Magic” was an instrumental, because it has words all over the place. Damn you, Guitar Hero! <_<;
Oh, I must concur that SCM is one of the easiest songs on expert. The only two I can’t get on expert are “Bark at the Moon” and “Cowboys From Hell,” and the former I can get about 96% of the way through… when the ultra-insane solo happens.
Oh god I love Frankenstein.
So I’m just gonna support that choice
They don’t really put hammer-ons in there as an actual note-marking, but I think it’s possible to do. Alternate picking is easy with the way the strum is set, you just tap the thing down then up, rinse, repeat.
My personal favourites are Come Clarity and Metaphor. I’m sure you’ve heard them, but check them out if you haven’t. Reflect the Storm and Cloud Connected are amazing too. Whoracle’s another great instrumental. Man, they just have too much great stuff to list it all.
Edit: I won’t lie though, they’re a hit-or-miss band, for sure. Their hits are big, but their misses are huge. They have a lot of stuff I hate
Oh, in case anybody is wondering, I’m going to use the lyrics of the Smiths song “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” along with this flash fiction story:
