Is what you find fun to play generally the sort of music you want to make?

onthebannedwagon · 2022-08-25T22:44:02.374Z

This thread proves that I do an awful job trying to express a point at times

It’s not that I am comparing whatever I’m playing to stuff I like it’s more that I have fun playing something that I wouldn’t want to listen to as it’s just fun to play and that when I actually hit on something I think is cool it just is a bit boring comparatively to perform.

I think the guitar solo is a good analogy as they are impressive to listen to but usually ruin the song for me. Not that whatever I’m doing shows some great technical acumen but I’m sure those solos are a lot of fun for the performer and they just can’t help themselves.

I guess I should just see the cheesy fun to groove around with bits as a warm-up exercise.

darenager · 2022-08-25T22:48:54.722Z

onthebannedwagon:

I do understand how restraint often creates things of greater impact or beauty and really, I can’t stand guitar solos outside of Fripp’s on a few Eno tracks.

IMHO it takes balls and skill to produce something simple yet make it convey emotion, often overly fussy or ornate music can just end up sounding pretentious and a bit boring or tiresome, to me at least. The main thing is be it a simple bassline and some triads, or a killer solo, it has to evoke some kind of emotion in the listener. The ends, not the means.

onthebannedwagon · 2022-08-25T22:49:51.269Z

Funny, I was just talking to some dude today about Mr. Bungle in a “I wish I could get into Mr. Bungle” sort of way. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten through a whole song of theirs.

onthebannedwagon · 2022-08-25T22:50:36.821Z

Yes, this is what I was trying to get at in my convoluted over personalized woe is me way!

@natehorn

I’m not sure I can fully answer the direct question though, because I think where I derive the most fun is finding sounds that I like - the two are kind of interelated.

Yea, I guess I don’t consider at times how much I put into making a patch, or that I don’t like the idea of “sound design” taking second fiddle to performance or song writing, if that makes sense.

edit: sorry, I am totally confused about how to add quotes!

darenager · 2022-08-25T22:56:24.317Z

onthebannedwagon:

I have fun playing something that I wouldn’t want to listen to as it’s just fun to play and that when I actually hit on something I think is cool it just is a bit boring comparatively to perform.

Then play what you find fun, but record what you find boring to play and enjoy listening to. Win win.

Then try playing a fun part over the recording, see how that goes.

NeonMelk · 2022-08-25T22:59:22.884Z

Don’t know about your preferences in music and Bungle is quite something.
If you’re not into the Hard+Crazy formula, you can check the “California” Album for a “softer” start.

check this one track , there can be many layers within the “cheesy”

Microtribe · 2022-08-25T23:01:52.085Z

To answer the thread title:

‘Is what you find fun to play generally the type of music you want to make?’

Yes. It is. Why would it be otherwise?

sabana · 2022-08-25T23:05:06.539Z

Peer pressure. People only make music they want to create when they find themselves.

natehorn · 2022-08-25T23:05:34.023Z

Yea I said sounds, but I guess I more meant, like - collections of sounds. Melodies, chord progressions, rhythms etc.

I think I get what you mean though, I think our relationship with ‘cheesy’ is in part how naturally those kinds of melodies come to us.

Think of the most basic things you could do on a keyboard and they would likely produce ‘cheesy’ melodies - but they might be satisfying to play because they are very simple.

Another angle is that I think most musicians have melodies within them that naturally come out - and I think you’ll be used to hearing those melodies and structures a lot, and so they will become cliche, boring. What maybe interests you the most is discovering something new?

darenager · 2022-08-25T23:06:15.875Z

Yup.

the_PMO · 2022-08-25T23:43:45.162Z

onthebannedwagon:

It’s not that I am comparing whatever I’m playing to stuff I like it’s more that I have fun playing something that I wouldn’t want to listen to as it’s just fun to play and that when I actually hit on something I think is cool it just is a bit boring comparatively to perform.

Maybe this is all an opportunity to look closer for the details of what makes it so fun. For example, is it the vamp, the solo, the progressions? If you can find that then maybe it becomes transferable to your other compositions.

In other words, it doesn’t have to be all of it but it could be some of it.

Analogue5 · 2022-08-26T00:33:24.061Z

Yeah, usually. I love randomness/glitch with hyped up beats but I don’t really make it much. But I have the OT for whatever, and my synth is for my usual and explorative.

I don’t find myself making polka music when I want an 80’s synth vibe or acid vibe, but I haven’t really messed with polka either.

But I have an uncle who says when he writes lyrics it’s not in the style he’s like it to be in. I think it just takes getting into a mindset really.

I got into rapping with my cousin, was smoking weed at the time and really started riffing like Ludicrous.

onthebannedwagon · 2022-08-26T01:36:32.795Z

Your post very well clarifies what I was trying to say. Should of said melody. Like I come up with something cloying, fun to play, but makes my teeth hurt.

Somewhat related, I often wonder how many people are out there who have things that come easily to them but not things they necessarily enjoy doing and don’t want to make their “life’s work” (more like lie’s work) out of. Making music I would say is the opposite for me, it doesn’t come easy for me but is something I am passionate about. Maybe this sort of struggle runs adjacent to the “distance makes the heart grow fonder” type of thinking and should, ideally, make a person more dedicated to the pursuit as the things which are truly worth doing should have some amount of struggle. But again, maybe that’s some artifact left over from my Catholic schooling.

Sundaybeat · 2022-08-26T05:15:21.493Z

If doing something it’s easy and fun for you and you are satisfied, people will feel your joy and will appreciate your work. I think it’s something as a rule in the life, whatever you do. If we play the music that come straight from us, some other will surely appreciate. Don’t mind about what music other people play, it’s irrilevant for you.
I don’t believe that art have to be a struggle. It’s important to practice and grow as a player, but the goal it’s to play easily.

Airyck · 2022-08-26T05:26:40.000Z

Maybe playing something that sounds good requires restraint? Something fun requires dexterity and skill and no restraint.

Basically, simpler tends to sound better but it’s not as fun physically as playing complex stuff?

Fun is easy, work is hard.

Funkyswitches · 2022-08-26T05:28:58.884Z

What does it mean to play music in the first place? If music is expression than perhaps the inspiration is the question?

What inspires me to make music? Fun is part of it,. But falls way short in providing an explanation to my motivation over many years to continue practicing and expanding through music. I don’t consider making music simply as fun any more than I would say I breathe because it’s fun. It more a passion or natural tendency. I feel connected when Im part of a groove. When a musical idea manifests into something beautiful it’s more awe than entertainment. Sound is energy so I really get excited about how we can share energy, literally ,through music. It’s fun to talk about…

Stone262 · 2022-08-26T05:29:58.736Z

I don’t think it’s an issue at all. Playing music on an instrument and listening to music are quite different acts. I love noodling on guitar and the sounds I make but wouldn’t want to put on and listen to CD of it, or subject others to it.

And what you see as boring to play, but more to your listening taste could be considered restraint maybe?

Then again, playing stuff that’s cheesy and cliché can sometimes just be a fun tip of the hat to what’s come before.

And think of all those highly trained orchestral players who experience mind numbingly boring parts in amazing pieces of music….

1-2 · 2022-08-26T06:14:46.478Z

Restraint- I used to perform live visuals with hardware and it was way more fun to go crazy on on all of the knobs sliders switches fx scratching video and getting extreme with live camera video feedback etc,
But the music didn’t always call for that and if you go all out for the full show it just becomes tedious and has no where to go

Don’t give it all away too fast, so you can save some for the big moment

On the lighting equipment restraint came into play because when someone else got on my board they would want to go all madman on the faders and full blast the fog machine too much. No good

Of course I loved they psychedelic bands, hyped up electronisist etc, way more fun, but I also did solo acoustic act or there would be a slow song or parts of songs and I just tried to match the performing musicians for the best audience experience

With making/playing my own music I don’t care as much, go crazy or not, just have all the fun and not feel guilty about it, but for listening enjoyment I think having dynamic contrast plays out well, ie a loud part seems so much louder after a really quiet part etc, I like a good solo maybe it’s the big moment but probably not best to do that for the whole song simplicity and complexity in music are both great and can be complimentary played against each other, or you can go extreme in one direction or the other, it all has its place

Yes kraftwerk was a great live show, but as I said I like visuals, a concert shot be an experience no matter how you get there. I also like a good guitar solo, virtuosic musicianship, ambient music, and stereolab and other people don’t hear my music so grain of salt ymmv etc

Mistercharlie · 2022-08-26T06:20:57.368Z

natehorn:

Another angle is that I think most musicians have melodies within them that naturally come out - and I think you’ll be used to hearing those melodies and structures a lot, and so they will become cliche, boring. What maybe interests you the most is discovering something new?

Partly it’s also the instrument. Electric guitar players probably all default to the same old blues licks, which is fine as it’s like learning idiom when you learn to speak a new language.

But if you want to write creatively that language, you either embrace idiom (characters speaking in local dialect) or come up new ways to describe things, or both.

I’ve derailed my own point. I came to say that, if I play some chords and then improvise along to that, it’s always some super-mellow pap. Especially if somebody is listening. It’s like I don’t want to offend them with harsh sounds.

When I’m composing though, or the house is empty, I always prefer nasty sounds, and weirdness.

Starscream · 2022-08-26T06:28:20.069Z

Fun is the outcome while liked music is the by-product. If music is the main product, you might not be talking fun here. insert why not both meme.png

Rather, I would say my preference for music type influences the type of gear I acquire. Fun is a must, else it’s a Chore or Work or Deadline or something.