Rainy Day at King Edward's Bay

Nestled within a rocky shelter at the foot of Tynemouth Priory's cliffs at King Edward's Bay, I sat with my guitar mucking around with voicings high up its neck. The weather was bleak and uninviting but as I perched there watching the sea I gradually became more at home in its command. After a few minutes' noodling I discovered a sequence of chords that reflected the mood cast by the rumbling ocean and dripping rainwater from the overhang to my left.

I set up the H1n field mic that I had loaned from the Hatch on campus, attaching its wind shield and setting it atop a rock before me. I angled it such that my playing would be heard slightly panned to one side, and the rain drops the other. As it was pointing at the cliff face along which I was seated, the sound of the crashing waves heard on the recording were primarily derived from their reflections off of it. This faded them somewhat into the background of the soundscape as opposed to being the dominant central noise. I like this as it gave space on the stage for the droplets and guitar to be heard.

After just one take, the batteries of the recorder gave in. Luckily one take was all I needed on this occasion. Eager to get back on a dry train, I left the bay behind and headed home to listen back to the recording. With minimal EQ and reverb added, I managed to get a sound I was happy with.