Protecting the Hive

A couple of weeks ago I saw this tweet from Belle & Sebastian - an invite to collaborate with them on a new song. So, naturally I started trying to make my own version.

Fancy working with us on our new track? As a continuation of our collaborative project we're asking if you'd like to create your own version of the song by downloading the parts here https://t.co/niRzxBQykv and adding your own flavour! Find out more at https://t.co/U0LGmKZf6q pic.twitter.com/QsLtoCoSZ0

— belle & sebastian (@bellesglasgow) April 27, 2020

The first thing to do was of course download the different parts of their recording from SoundCloud, and stick them into an appropriate piece of software. In my case, the software is Cubase Elements, but there are plenty of free alternatives that would do the job - I also used Audacity to make a simple mix that I could use to work out the chords, and the band suggest using Garage Band (though obviously that's only appropriate for Mac users.)

So far my efforts have been a bit frustrating. Belle and Sebastian's version includes a finished vocal track, which also has a flute solo on it, two rhythm guitar tracks, a very basic Wurlitzer piano track and a drum machine. (I don't think the full band have been involved yet.) For me the first task, after working out the chords and structure, was to improve the drums, by cheating. I stuck the song into band in a box, found a suitable style then exported a MIDI version. In Cubase I trimmed out a bit, and teamed it up drum sounds from my Planet Phatt. Next I started adding in some of my own playing, and this is where things have begun to go a bit wrong - my guitar and keyboard playing, never that great, has got rather rusty with lack of practice of actually creating recordings.

However, I have been having fun and will continue to try and create a finished version of the track with at least some of my own keyboards and/or guitar along with my cheating drums, and either real or cheating bass. And to save others a little bit of time, here are the chords that I'm using (which may be slightly simpler harmonically than the ones that Belle & Sebastian used)

Verse 1:    G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            Am / G / |
            
Verse 2 :   G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            Am / G / |  
            
Chorus      C / G / | D / G / | C / G / | D / G / |
            C / G / | D / G / | A       | D / C / |
            C / / / | C  / / / |
            
Verse 3 :   G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            
Chorus      C / G / | D / G / | C / G / | D / G / |
            C / G / | D / G / | A       | D / C / |
            C / / / | C  / / / |
            
Flute Solo: G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 

Verse 4 :   G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 

Chorus      C / G / | D / G / | C / G / | D / G / |
            C / G / | D / G / | A       | D / C / |
            C / / / | 
            
Verse 5 :   G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            G / Am / | Am / G / | G / Am / | Am / G / | 
            
Chorus      C / G / | D / G / | C / G / | D / G / |
            C / G / | D / G / | A       | D / C / |
            C / / / | C  / / / |

Once I'm happy with my version, or senile enough not to care, which ever comes first, I'll post it to Soundcloud and tweet as instructed by the band :

We invited you all to collaborate with us on Protecting The Hive last week. Maybe you're ready to start sharing? We're excited to hear your version, whenever you're ready! Read on for instructions x pic.twitter.com/QiEffZIxfW

— belle & sebastian (@bellesglasgow) May 1, 2020