General Music Chat

@Chippy

Although someone may have written a symphony on leather, they eventually had to show the piece to someone in some form, usually by way of actually playing it. This is why I engaged the topic if you will.

I admire people who have the ability to hear a symphony in their head right away and commit it to paper (dead sheep, piece of clay or whatever) Personally I am not able to do that, I have to improvise the melody over some backing progression in order to get it out of my head.

The point I was trying to make is that digital tools available today are not all that evil and bad as some may see them. In fact they help an artist to write a piece. You can record and/or mark up the progression part and some preliminary beat then do several takes on melodies and play around with harmonies, arrangements, insert drum rolls (even if you are not a drummer) etc, etc... ...and in the end get the piece you want, learn it and then record from top to bottom. Put it on the shelf for a few weeks, listen back to it, realize that you have to change a whole bunch of things, change them and by the time you are done you know how to play all the parts in it. Now you can play it for anyone or email an MP3 to your band members.

If you are alone, you are done. If you play in the band it is easier to make a demo of your new material in this way and show it to the rest of the guys in the band. They will hear a more complete piece rather then just a separate disconnected part of it.

Thus if you do take your music seriously digital media is a tool that one can use no matter what genre or style one prefers to play.

That was my point.

Hi EF.
Yes, couldn't agree more. Did you actually listen to anything I had posted online here and there? I have around 40 songs to date, and an album in the works, if you read this? Only 3 remain online now, since I want to get everything as right as I can get it.
ERM, lol! Yeah I do take it seriously, and I wrote the thread.....

I do not really hear symphonies sadly, but I do hear what I call chain rhythms and melodies which eventually, (If lucky) end up in the mix somewhere. I doubt I would use a DAW in a band situation however, (for myself anyway). There's a tendency to over finish something, for myself again, I think it might lead others to think, what I've done is the finished product, and with band, it will never be that without their input.
Glad you made you point, I agree, I'm using it already too, (as above).
Very best wishes - Chippy

If you are alone, you are done. If you play in the band it is easier to make a demo of your new material in this way and show it to the rest of the guys in the band. They will hear a more complete piece rather then just a separate disconnected part of it.

Thus if you do take your music seriously digital media is a tool that one can use no matter what genre or style one prefers to play.

That was my point.

I don't take anything seriously when it comes to music. I play because it's fun. If I were trying to make a living from it, that would be a different story, but I don't think I would enjoy the pressure of having to make a living from it!

Interesting thread, although I have a crazy sense of humor about music and life in general, I think no matter what Im playing I do take it seriously, but I try to present it in a manner that is fun.

I dont know if that makes sense or not, but its how I feel.

I made a decision that musically Im going to do something that is fun, and with people that are fun to play with. But Im a realist and know that they have to have a certain amount of ability for me to be interested at this point, they have to be serious about what they are playing, but enjoy it also.

The guys I am starting another band with, did a gig with me, I hadnt played half the material, but the bassist and the drummer said they enjoyed playing with me, more than thier regular guy, I havent heard him, and I dont feel Im in competition, but they said I just had this fun thing going. I filled in parts that they had never heard, I didnt overplay the songs, as in soloing to death, I instead textured things or just added something that seemed missing in the songs, did I nail every little thing I tryed, well hell no, but they could pick up that I wasnt just there to pick up my check, I was there to play music.

No matter what you do in life, there is always someone who can do it better, so the important thing is to be the best "you" that you can be.

I don't take myself very seriously but I do take everything else seriously, if we're talking about complete effort.

Not that anything I do is so earth-shattering that everyone else must take it seriously...but if I'm going to put ANY effort into a project, it has to be excellent enough to compete with other serious artists or it's a total waste of time.

For example, I've heard a few people on Bandmix that have good content but they don't take the recording/production of their music seriously. So they will have good demos to stay local, and maybe it's a step towards a bigger vision in the future. But it's obvious they aren't as serious about their music as they are about driving a nice car, or partying, or whatever. They have decided that music is a hobby to them.

Actually that's a good thing....for me. Less competition for those looking for serious artists.

YOD I know Im a weekend warrior, most of my recordings have been just to save things.

Some very good replies too, many thanks.
I'm very serious about the end product, I hope it reaches where I wanted to go etc. But the fun part is creating it in the first place, well at least being able to......
Nothing wrong with being a weekend freak either JW
That's where you get to let off steam isn't it, so long as the graft in getting it to the point where you want it is attained.

One really nice older guy I know was pulling his hair out recently trying to write some lyrics that were 'Profound'. He's very fussy like me. "Don't stop the car!" he said, very frustrated, that's the hard work bit. I must write and ask if he got there.

Be well all.
Chippy

YOD I know Im a weekend warrior, most of my recordings have been just to save things.

That post must have seemed condescending to serious players like yourself...but that's not what I had intended. Please forgive me and allow an elaboration.

The point is that, if you wanted to, the only difference between you and (insert successful recording artist here) is a good song with a recording taken seriously.

Guess I'm just trying to encourage people here who think they have the goods to take a step of faith. A good song with a good producer could take you farther than a new car.

But I forget that not everyone here is a songwriter, so that applies mostly to those who take original music seriously.

Again, sorry if I came across as a jerk in that previous statement

.

Hey YOD, no problemo here, I agree with what you said 100%.

I know what I am, and sometime I get a bit mad at myself because when I have had the opportunity to record my material, I maybe didnt take enough time and really polish it. I pretty much do everything in a couple of takes and Im done, which isnt a good habit to have.

No you didnt rub me wrong at all, man you should know my skin is too thick to scratch at this point in my life.

There's always next time John. I personally know that if something bugs me even a little in the studio I will hate it in the finished product. The problem is always money: how much do you have to get it right?

Jimmy I hate to admit it, but for me it really isnt the money, its just I get bored listening to the same thing over and over again, even when its one of my babys.

To me it is about what do you really want out of music? In the old days I tried to "make it" in the music biz. as I got older I figured out there are different levels of making it. I have faced reality and am not out to "make it" anymore. I have always been in competition with ME! When I write and record I try to get the best performance I can. The recording is another matter. I record my songs for copyright. Maybe some day I'll record them in a studio with someone that really knows what they are doing but I am not holding my breath!

Good points Jeff, I tried to "make it" in music in the 80's, the first thing I realized was that music couldn't support my lifestyle, second was that I hated playing music for people who didn't care about my band or its music. I decided to just play music for the fun of it and to hell with everything else.

Well thank you Jimmy! I wouldn't change anything about the musical journey I have been on so far in my life! I am sure you wouldn't either. I always advise young musicians to be realistic in their goals. If you are going to TRY and make it in the music biz have a backup plan! Our friend Ted tours the country and world playing music and is a guy I have a great amount of respect for. That is one level of making it! Guys like us have careers and the way I see it we work with some of the best local musicians, play in some dives and some of the best venues making some pretty decent money by anyone's standards.

In the last few years, barely a week goes by when I don't wish I could quit the gypsy life, but once you jump in it's hard to get out. You become an adventure junkie, and have no other trade than singing songs and selling CDs.

I'm not complaining and not many people would feel sorry for me if I did. But I'm almost finished with the 48 hours I will get with my wife in the last 32 days before leaving for Europe until Sept 4.

Germany, England, Poland (recording a new CD there) sounds like fun, eh?

I'd love to cancel it all and watch the Hall of Fame game between the Cowboys and the Dolphins this weekend while chewing on some good ole' Texas BBQ instead.

It will be fun and an unforgettable adventure (again)...but my butt's already sore thinking about the long plane rides.


Oy!