Why is it my tracks always turn into beats?

  On 1/26/2010 at 3:30 PM, chassis said:

I know a little of music theory. But I find it more fun to take parts of it and make up my own and ram them together.

Gotcha!

sometimes i get interesting songs when i start trying to cover an ae song or something else that's been in my head. what ends up happening is usually totally different than the song i intended to "cover." then you can just work from there and make it even more your own.

other than that you just gotta feel what comes next.

also - i know quite a bit of theory but when making teh idms i find it limiting in a lot of ways. i try to compose my tunes based on feel rather than logic.

  On 1/26/2010 at 6:51 PM, theSun said:

sometimes i get interesting songs when i start trying to cover an ae song or something else that's been in my head. what ends up happening is usually totally different than the song i intended to "cover." then you can just work from there and make it even more your own.

 

other than that you just gotta feel what comes next.

 

also - i know quite a bit of theory but when making teh idms i find it limiting in a lot of ways. i try to compose my tunes based on feel rather than logic.

I agree completely.

It comes from within.

you just arent meant to make music. simple as that.

  On 1/29/2010 at 12:26 AM, MAXIMUS MISCHIEF said:

you just arent meant to make music. simple as that.

If I were a douchebag like yourself, I'd probably say the same thing.

this is one of the best threads I've read in a while, thank you zaz/dark lord/et, etc.

I would say consult eno's oblique strategies.

thanks again

  On 1/29/2010 at 1:13 AM, The Dark Lord said:

  On 1/29/2010 at 12:26 AM, MAXIMUS MISCHIEF said:

you just arent meant to make music. simple as that.

 

If I were a douchebag like yourself, I'd probably say the same thing.

Dont call her a douchebag.

SHES JUST A LITTLE GIRL!

Base a song on a concept or challenge- for example (just off the top of my head) make a tune based around the joker from batman. Don't just sample him and put some music behind it, try to make it more metaphorical- i.e sinister synths with completely insane drums to represent different parts of his psyche. or for a challenge try making a track where all your drum sounds are made from modelling noise and sine waves/ use only one vst instrument and try to get the greatest variety of sounds out of it. Also take inspiration from tracks that you like, but instead of thinking "I'm going to try and recreate that break" think about how the break is introduced into the song- is it filtered in? Or does it just drop in straight away with no warning? Does it build up in separate parts or does it come in as a whole? I hope this helps, it might not though everyone's different.

i've only written complete shit lately.

fuck me

I agree that learning music theory will (to some degree) hinder your creative process as it is with having to follow rules in general in life, but if you go into it with the intension of breaking the rules, then some simple concepts such as scales and chords can go a long way.

That being said .. I agree with limiting yourself, even if it involves just musically re-arranging what you already have. I think a good thing to read about is 1-chord songs. People can compose entire songs out of just a handful of notes. Get your inversions on. No need to get into exotic composition techniques.

Fuck.. if you compose a chord progression first then you've basically just setup an entire musical jungle gym to fuck around with. There is a reason why douchebags with guitars can make up music on the fly.

  On 1/30/2010 at 12:11 AM, acid1 said:

 

I agree that learning music theory will (to some degree) hinder your creative process as it is with having to follow rules in general in life, but if you go into it with the intension of breaking the rules, then some simple concepts such as scales and chords can go a long way.

 

That being said .. I agree with limiting yourself, even if it involves just musically re-arranging what you already have. I think a good thing to read about is 1-chord songs. People can compose entire songs out of just a handful of notes. Get your inversions on. No need to get into exotic composition techniques.

 

Fuck.. if you compose a chord progression first then you've basically just setup an entire musical jungle gym to fuck around with. There is a reason why douchebags with guitars can make up music on the fly.

Good advice..

  On 1/29/2010 at 5:24 PM, theSun said:

i've only written complete shit lately.

 

fuck me

Take a break.

  On 1/29/2010 at 1:17 PM, Idio said:

Base a song on a concept or challenge- for example (just off the top of my head) make a tune based around the joker from batman. Don't just sample him and put some music behind it, try to make it more metaphorical- i.e sinister synths with completely insane drums to represent different parts of his psyche. or for a challenge try making a track where all your drum sounds are made from modelling noise and sine waves/ use only one vst instrument and try to get the greatest variety of sounds out of it. Also take inspiration from tracks that you like, but instead of thinking "I'm going to try and recreate that break" think about how the break is introduced into the song- is it filtered in? Or does it just drop in straight away with no warning? Does it build up in separate parts or does it come in as a whole? I hope this helps, it might not though everyone's different.

Interesting. I agree on the approach.

The melodies come naturally.

It's rearranging them so they work that is the hard part.

  On 1/29/2010 at 1:17 AM, Alcofribas said:

this is one of the best threads I've read in a while, thank you zaz/dark lord/et, etc.

 

I would say consult eno's oblique strategies.

 

thanks again

I beg your pardon?

Oblique strategies?

as I'm sure it's been said.

Don't force the music, let it take it's natural course... just kinda 'guide' it, in a direction you want to go.

don't front. be somebody.