Do you play an instrument?

[jaydot]

No I wish I could though.

[billy crystal meth]

Glad you asked. I play the giter in a metal band

http://www.myspace.com/eyeswithoutafacehq

[DZA]

[Mad_EP]

I've played cello for 26 years = done a bit of everything. solo, chamber music (both gig groups and serious ensembles), orchestral playing, etc.

now i mainly teach, but am thinking about doing another proper recital down the road. also trying my hand at conducting as well.



other than that, i can play the piano a bit, but nothing serious. same thing with bass and guitar.

[RightOnTime27]

bass, trombone, tuba, baritone, pretty much anything that plays in bass clef. All bout them low fq.
edit: going to victor wooten's free clinic on the 9th. so psyched.

[DJ Crackle]

edit: going to victor wooten's free clinic on the 9th. so psyched.

Nuts! that's pretty bad ass.

[sackley]

Drums (have played bass and violin but don't include them really...)

So I record myself jamming and then choppity chop and manipulate it all to hell. Getting better at that part...

And learning keys/theory as I'm working on songs & production...

As far as the live jungle drumming - I dig it when it's pulled off (KJ, Jojo) but so often it just sounds poor. I went that route for a while, got the popcorn snare, teeny hats and a 18" kick, but it just takes way too much specific training to get near a level where you can do glitching type stuff. And it always sounds way too organic. Not disrespecting the drive to do it, just doesn't work for me. I'd rather record a funky jam and then chop that into some madness.

good topic!

[Hellomadame]

Heyp ! I'm playing the harpsichord I own one at my place. Beautiful german harpsichord all black and two keboards ORGASMMMM. Learning that in college with Organ as a second instrument.

[abZ]

I play guitar and piano.

Do you reckon it helps/ influences your tunes in any way?

Really obvious answer should be really obvious.

How could knowing as much about music as you can not help?

Simmer down.

A lot of people haven't been musically trained, but still make tunes. Kode9 for example.

I was more-so getting at how this helps/ influences.

When I first heard that it made perfect sense because I can't identify with his music at all really. I play geetar and shit. Looking to get a new rocknroll band going actually.

[kaiori breathe]

I play guitar and piano.

Do you reckon it helps/ influences your tunes in any way?

Really obvious answer should be really obvious.

How could knowing as much about music as you can not help?

Simmer down.

A lot of people haven't been musically trained, but still make tunes. Kode9 for example.

I was more-so getting at how this helps/ influences.

And we all know how good Kode9's tunes are.



Harp arpeggio! Xylophone! String pluck! Organ! WOOF!

Seriously, any time I think I suck, I just listen to a crap load of Kode 9.

EDIT: I wasn't being aggressive in my first point, just saying the answer to the question is kind of obvious, if you don't want to make songs that go 'xylophone, string pluck, WOOF!" then you should probably learn to play an instrument or at least learn some theory.

[Promise One]

I'm a drummer. Need to learn more music theory in an ideal world but it isn't essential as I think you write songs differently to someone who is good at theory. You write songs as they sound good to your ear and not how you should write them according to theory.

[In The Shadows]

theory doesnt really tell you how to write songs though, it describes the relationship between sounds, it doesnt lay down rules to follow. Its a language to explain what you are doing and why it sounds the way it does. Without it, or with just a little of it, you are more likely to get stuck in narrow ways of working in both rhythm and melody than if you have a strong grasp of it imo.

[sackley]

theory doesnt really tell you how to write songs though, it describes the relationship between sounds, it doesnt lay down rules to follow. Its a language to explain what you are doing and why it sounds the way it does. Without it, or with just a little of it, you are more likely to get stuck in narrow ways of working in both rhythm and melody than if you have a strong grasp of it imo.

Truth! It's more for deciphering why the sounds you've played make sense for that situation, and give you a number of paths to follow for progression.

Obviously when you first start and make songs based around simple progressions and the like, it will probably sound and feel restricted, but it's all part of the learning process. Each song I'm doing now I work my way around the circle of fifths and figure out a new progression for each song/section. Right now in E with a bluesy type i-iv-i-iv-v-i for one part.

[Technosaurus]

Knowing the theory definitely helps in writing songs, but sometimes I feel like it's a curse as well. It can be difficult to let go of all the knowledge I've acquired over the years in how to compose and everything, and just go with the flow, instead of trying to think of what's "right" and just LISTEN for what's right..

Being a performing musician also, for me anyway, gives a better idea of how important all the little nuances and changes are, and how to keep things interesting etc.. Being a classical musician also gives you access to music you might not have heard before, more influences and stuff.

We're doing a really cool arrangement of Mr. Blue Sky on my degree course at the moment, for 30-ish guitars. Sounds awesome. Did a version of "A Day in the Life" last year, check the vid! (It's on facebook so you might need to log in or something to view it, hope it's a public video!)

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ... 970&ref=mf

Different ways of performing music will inevitably make you a better musician, that's how I feel anyway. Being stuck behind a computer screen can get a bit head wrecking, sometimes it's nice to just make music with nothing but your fingers and an instrument. MAOR PERSPECTIVE!

[AllNightDayDream]

Knowing the theory definitely helps in writing songs, but sometimes I feel like it's a curse as well. It can be difficult to let go of all the knowledge I've acquired over the years in how to compose and everything, and just go with the flow, instead of trying to think of what's "right" and just LISTEN for what's right

Curse you blues scale...

[mks]

You should always listen to what sounds right to you. Sometimes though, knowing a bit of theory will help re-create and know what you're doing. "This closed minor 2nd chord sounds so dark and evil, but I like it... " etc.. Next time it might be easier to remember what you did.

EZ

[Technosaurus]

Knowing the theory definitely helps in writing songs, but sometimes I feel like it's a curse as well. It can be difficult to let go of all the knowledge I've acquired over the years in how to compose and everything, and just go with the flow, instead of trying to think of what's "right" and just LISTEN for what's right

Curse you blues scale...

And the pentatonic minor!!

[DJ Crackle]

Knowing the theory definitely helps in writing songs, but sometimes I feel like it's a curse as well.

Yeah, it's hard to just kick back and enjoy music now, unless I'm some sort of intoxicated. Otherwise, I'm constantly analyzing everything I hear piece by piece. That normally doesn't bother me, but every now and then, I feel like my ear listens a little too actively.
But for the most part, I like that.

[Technosaurus]

Knowing the theory definitely helps in writing songs, but sometimes I feel like it's a curse as well.

Yeah, it's hard to just kick back and enjoy music now, unless I'm some sort of intoxicated. Otherwise, I'm constantly analyzing everything I hear piece by piece. That normally doesn't bother me, but every now and then, I feel like my ear listens a little too actively.
But for the most part, I like that.

I definitely noticed this a lot more when I started producing tunes, really nitpicking other people's productions sometimes. Can take away from some of the joy of music when you can't just appreciate it at face value.. Been happening to me with pop tunes a lot lately, just sitting in the car thinking "hmm, that's an interesting use of flanger on that" whatever. Doesn't seem to happen as much with drum and piano music, cos I have no clue how to play either instrument so it's completely alien, impossible to tell how difficult or how easy some things sound, so nothing to analyse!

Still, the more you know the more you know so it's nice to learn as much about all aspects of music, even if this happens a little.

[wabble]

saxmafone !!! but all the comon ones... drums n guitars n keys an accordian