General Music Chat

I got off of Facebook today, big timewaster. Also I was told by a friend of mine who builds supercomputers for a living that FB is bad news. So I'm off it.

Can't say as I blame you. Hate losing a contact source for a friend.
But then, I know where you live.

for news as it happens...
www.lunaticoutpost.com

Tams Im a songwriter also, have been for years.

I know people have different reasons for what they do, I was just responding with my 2 cents.

BUT, to me all musician sites are a closed loop, nothing wrong with that as long as you accept, but thinking someone that can help will discover your talent on one of these sites is a crap shoot, not saying it doesnt happen, Im sure it does.

For a straight up songwriter I would research artist that use other peoples music in your genre and try to get music to them, I cant tell you how to do that, but if you want to make economic gain from your art, then you have to get it where the money is at some point, and if not, you wind up being a 50 year old goofball like myself.

Personally Ive been on a bunch of music sites but this one just feels like home to me.

John has a good point regarding the 'circle of musicians' on music-related forums like this.
Getting your tunes played on internet radio stations, Pandora, etc, will at least give your songs a chance of being heard outside that circle. Obviously, to do that, you've got to go the extra mile, get the songs recorded/mixed/mastered well enough to be listened to.
You'll never make a living selling your music yourself - only if some big artist picks up one of your tunes, re-records it and then the royalties start coming in. 5 or 6 figures is possible.

Thinking that these music sites will get you anywhere is a real pipe dream. A good many of the posters on these sites just want you to hear their stuff for the most part, not listen to yours.

However these forums are a good place to hear what others are doing if that is what you are looking to find, and to collaborate with other musicians from time to time.

But if you aren't a cute teen with tons of green backs shoving your career forward, you can forget going anywhere.

The music sites I am on offer a community and learning.

I think that "thinking" you are good enough to perform or make money from your music is a bit of an ego trip if you are not talented.

I know I'm not the best singer, but I think my writing is pretty good and the tunes/melodies I make appeal to me and I like hearing it all together and I love that it has improved with the help of others who have been kind to me and to have the chance of someone listening and connecting for a minute... that is the big payoff.

It is an outlet, if you meet folks who make music, you will find lots of folks with lots of problems who need an outlet....music soothes the soul and being creative and creating things that make you feel good is a wonderful way to spend your time.

As for "selling" a song...I only know about 20 chords and understand I am not good enough for that, most folks only use songs their "hired" staff produce anyway. Even Sesame Street has hired songwriters and my children's songs will never be on there....sigh....that was a small dream of mine that I have put to rest.

I think it would be wonderful to play an instrument really well and have a fantastic voice and the "looks" and perform on stage, but if you aren't so blessed, it is nice to dabble and make friends and learn.

I'm not arguing with anyone, just trying to explain that there is a lot of good on these sites for certain musicians/songwriters.



jw123 - sorry, I know many of you here are songwriters, I was just trying to show a difference between you and me. I meant that I am "only" a songwriter, not that you were not one yourself. Sorry if that came across badly, I do appreciate what you do.

Tammy

maybe you should consider busking.. prolly work as good as holding a sign saying "Will Work For Food"...

back in the day, when I was really polished up on guitar (15-20 years ago) hanging out in music stores and playing guitar got me a lot of work giving guitar lessons... young kids would be enthralled watching you do "Mood For A Day" and would ask for instruction and 1/2 of em would offer money for you to teach them.. but many are not cut out to play guitar at the level required to be considered virtuoso material, but their moms and dads believe with practice they will get better, not always so, many people can never comprehend calculus either no matter how much they "practice"

The music sites I am on offer a community and learning.

I think that "thinking" you are good enough to perform or make money from your music is a bit of an ego trip if you are not talented.

I know I'm not the best singer, but I think my writing is pretty good and the tunes/melodies I make appeal to me and I like hearing it all together and I love that it has improved with the help of others who have been kind to me and to have the chance of someone listening and connecting for a minute... that is the big payoff.

It is an outlet, if you meet folks who make music, you will find lots of folks with lots of problems who need an outlet....music soothes the soul and being creative and creating things that make you feel good is a wonderful way to spend your time.

As for "selling" a song...I only know about 20 chords and understand I am not good enough for that, most folks only use songs their "hired" staff produce anyway. Even Sesame Street has hired songwriters and my children's songs will never be on there....sigh....that was a small dream of mine that I have put to rest.

I think it would be wonderful to play an instrument really well and have a fantastic voice and the "looks" and perform on stage, but if you aren't so blessed, it is nice to dabble and make friends and learn.

I'm not arguing with anyone, just trying to explain that there is a lot of good on these sites for certain musicians/songwriters.



jw123 - sorry, I know many of you here are songwriters, I was just trying to show a difference between you and me. I meant that I am "only" a songwriter, not that you were not one yourself. Sorry if that came across badly, I do appreciate what you do.

Tammy

Don't sell yourself short! There are plenty of performers out there who don't know 20 chords! And you've got a good voice, too! All you lack is the experience of performing live, maybe the desire to?

On the flipside, there is this site and I am on here learn about folks such as yourself and listen to your music because it is a learning experience for me, I am sure there are some that are wondering why a songwriter is visiting a board such as this, but I do hope to learn something about music and not just swear words, but I have seen my fair share of the latter since I started....LOL!!

Just What the Phuick are you talking about?? Ha hahah

Mike,

Well, I am a bit of a perfectionist and I don't think fantasyland is a good place to be when it comes to music, those folks throw good money at songs that are not worth it, I have seen that happen, I just am too much of a realist to sell myself on unrealistic expectations, especially in the music industry which is quirky and strange at best!! LOL!!


Grant,
Your extensive vocabulary is what I admire about you most!!! LOL!!!


Tammy

Tams

It is not about knowing vast nuimbers of chords. If you know the standard chord positions you know dozens of chords and just might not realize it. Add a seventh or ninth and you double that. (see GOSK.com)

If you focus on majors / minors you can write your song and then search for voicings that lend it some atmosphere.

Talbot

Good point from Mike T. One of the best college classes I ever took was 'Music Theory for non-Music Majors'. The teacher showed us how the chord variations and various scale types could impart different moods to songs. He demonstrated by playing a Burt Bachrach song in various scales, and we listend while it became up-beat, sad, dark ....

When I was first self-learning guitar I got one of those "10,000 Guitar Chord" books. Each page was finger charts with a multitude of ways to play each chord. I didn't know intervals then, but it was a great place to start.

email accounts
weather.com
drudgereport.com
wnd.com
theblaze.com
badeagle.com
alternatemode.com/forum
BM
Christianmusicianservice.com
astronomy picture of the day archive (once a week)
christianjazzartists.com (new site I found)

I guess that's my daily rounds.

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Mr. Talbot,

Thank you for the guitar site, that is very interesting.

And to reply to you and Mike...

I took two adult, night classes for guitar, so I am trying to advance as much as I can, and I do understand your advice, but I only learned a year and a half ago, so I do know that it will be a while before anyone will be able to tolerate listening to me!!

I create melodies and chord about four songs a month, I have worked on 86 songs in the last two and a half years, so I am practicing, but to refer it back to my original point, I'm not good enough, and I can admit that, and the music sites I am on are a good place for someone like myself.

I thank you both, the two Mike's for your advice, I just wish you could teach my fingers to do bar chords....that is just beyond me still....

Tammy