Funk Blues (is this even a category?) "Loafer"

Neat guitar in middle, still have problems with mix, what sounds even in recording room may be unbalanced on a portable MP3 player, etc.
Remember this is a horribly short fingered guy who can't read music. Appreciate all comments, thanks CaptG
 

Brought Percussion out more and added a little reverb-they were right, it helped (12/20/13)
 https://soundcloud.com/capg/loaferrev3

This is a nice mellow tune and sounds good, but I would bring the drums up in the mix a bit, as you can hardly hear them. I would also work on that ending, maybe a very long reverb tale. Other than that everything guitar wise sounds pretty good. I like the guitar sounds you have going on in this, very sweet sounding, yet a bit gritty. Nice tune.
 
Peace and Blessings, John

Thanks, to turn the drums up in volume, does the rest of the sound (guitar, midi syths, etc) come down in volume? I make small adjustments to emphasize the intended main instrument, but may need to make more emphasis on the back up sections. I guess I may not have the ear for a proper mix. But I love trying to produce enjoyable sounds. I truly respect all inputs and suggestions, especially from the level of musicians on this site. I almost feel part of the crowd. Thanks again CaptG

I have yet to use the console, I use the vol slider on each track. But will try it today. I have a graphic equalizer between the computer and amp which really adds to the sound, but my brother has said I need to bypass it when finalizing a song. Another problem I have is most of my songs have similar vol levels, but a couple will be lower enough to need turning up the vol for playback. Instead of relying on ear, I guess I should rely on vol meter? Dam thing moves too fast for me. Will try to solve these problems using console. If I spent as much time practicing guitar as I do trying to figure out all these programs, well anyway I don't think practice is going to help my guitar playing, bad ADD.
Also after the comment from "theguitarplayer", it made me realize most of the time I don't even consider a songs ending. Most I pick a spot and just fade out the vol, some sound like the power went out, or the whole band had a heart attack. Will have to work on this. Thanks for the comments.

Very nice song with great guitar tones throughout. I agree about the overall volume, but that's an easy fix when you've decided it's done.

Using the great advice tried re-mixing on just vol levels. I believe my biggest mistake was going thru my Graphic Equalizer for recording work, though I had it set so no gain in vol came thru, just reshape of the freq. on the equalizer preset I use for recording, the comment from "AT" made me check and sure enough the equalizer was on a different preset that did boost the vol somewhat. I will now do all recording work with it bypassed. Also for this piece I used the READ-WRITE function for setting vol levels on several tracks to emphasize, lower, or even hide something that may sound bad (I hate to admit). This latest mix I just let it fly with out any of that so I may have to go back and re-apply the R-W to disguise the fumbly fingers.
Again would appreciate comments on this mix, are vol levels getting there? CaptG

Sounds good to me, but still needs more drums IMO.

A standard procedure is to route the drums through a bus (drum tracks>drum bus>master).  That way one (bus) fader controls the overall volume of your mix of the drums.  Same thing applies to vocals, guitars or anything that can use a one fader vol. adjustment.
 
That being said the vol of the drums gives this a more vintage sound, where the drums are more in the background that modern methods.  Loverly guitar work.
 
@

Nice guitar playing, smooth sound. The different guitar parts fits really well together. I don't feel the drums need to be much higher in this style, but maybe more dynamic and variated drum play. Still, the guitar parts are great and in focus in this song so thats most important.

WOW!!! Love this tune! Great job! Is that a les Paul you're playing? :)

Yes a very old worn out les paul studio plus, rebuilt with schaller roller bridge, custom vibrato tailpiece (unknown vendor), seymour duncan pu's, 18:1 grover locking tuners and replaced electrical parts. Don't know what "studio plus" means, but is all black and with the new gold hardware it looks fairly nice, just the body needs refinishing. The vibrato was from stewart-mcdonald and is no longer avail. but to my surprise works great and holds tune great. A lot of the good sound comes from the X3 live pedal. Use to have a early 60's Stratocaster that I had rebuilt in a well known guitar shop in muscle shoals, alabama but due to my short fat fingers was hard not to muffle strings when playing. Same problem with les paul, but with a slightly wider neck and string width max'ed out so I can manage a few chords now. Could have spent all this money on accordion lessons, but its hard to visualized playing "bridge of sighs" on one.
Thanks again for the compliments, coming from true musicians makes me want to practice that much more
Looks like I might have to try some surfer music??

Thanks, I agree, I think I used a analog pattern right off the keyboard. I have not found a drum synth with styles I like yet. Don't care for any of the session drummer I have, and have no rhythm to use the fingers to create my own on the keyboard (I think its called Spastic). I need to find some mild funky styles or loops.
Going now to add a little reverb to that drum track. Now up to Rev3 (See first post)
 
 

Thanks, I have been struggling trying to understand mixing and volume control. Would I be correct in thinking there is some "standard or reference point" for a volume output of music in general, so a radio dj for instance would not be constantly adjusting the volume. And for a temporary fix for "Loafer", could I put the mp3 on a track in a new Sonar project, increase the volume for that track and then save again? wouldn't that give it an increase in volume? also increase other problems? I quit using a EQ for recording, mixing and playback, and that has helped the most. But this project was mostly created while I was still using the EQ. Think I need a Sonar Project Doctor, ugh
I may get some help on this drum track and future projects from my son, he has a Roland TD-20K digital drum set in the attic I'm trying to get him to get back into and lay down some tracks.

Coming from you makes me feel like I'm getting there eventually. I've listened to your music trying to follow the mixing, great stuff. The old man can sing too! My voice never left puberty so I don't even try. I just tried putting more volume on this thing and is more noticeable this time.
 
The Rev3 version
https://soundcloud.com/capg/loaferrev3

I like your analogy and I think of it as a sensory journey also. Sometimes it takes just a perfect simple guitar lead as in Dave Gilmore's "Raise my Rent" (a version is on my SoundCloud) But I'm a long way from mastering it myself, but getting close. And I especially  like those that have just the right touch of special instruments, sound effects. Since I can't sing I want to get more into complex pieces with more of that "sensory journey" in mind.
Thanks for your compliment, I often look for music pieces to jam/create simple leads use to have something to experiment with and for practice. Would you consider sending me a sample song, I can try several different things, send it back and go from there.