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

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.

natehorn · 2022-08-26T07:13:19.795Z

Compose like nobody’s listening

Stone262 · 2022-08-26T07:22:55.883Z

Yeah that’s pretty much how it is

onthebannedwagon · 2022-08-26T10:12:39.293Z

While I don’t think a struggle is necessarily a requirement to making art, I also don’t buy the idea that the whole process of creating something is fun or should be fun. That’s a bunch of bullshit if you ask me. There are sparks in creating something, that bring joy, or moments of fun and enjoyment, but the process of trying to express some meaning, for me there is pain in that and something tedious as well. Art to me is like this need to express some inner responsibility to myself and sometimes I wish I didn’t have that undeniable need. It’s sort of like that expression about courage comes after one does something that’s scary, the few things I have made in my life that at one point or another that I was proud of, the real enjoyment came after. You know, sitting down and observing it with the feeling of ahh yes, I did that!

chaocrator · 2022-08-26T10:15:28.490Z

in general – yes, it’s some sort of energetic, sometimes ecstatic, sometimes aggressive dancefloor-oriented music.

genre-wise it was not that simple. originally i was into psy/goa trance and EBM/industrial. both kinds of music have very limited popularity here. on the other hand, what’s hugely popular is techno, and if one wants regular bookings/gigs, it must be [something called] techno. i never liked techno much, and it took quite a while to make up with it, but eventually i like EBM-ish acid techno that i do.

goodmortherlizard · 2022-08-26T15:14:33.509Z

it’s good to find a balance between loving what you play and trying to figure out if you have an audience for that sort of thing. of course a lot of musicians don’t care about writing for a broad audience or have a niche genre in mind, etc. etc. that’s totally cool too and depends on your goals. wide vs. niche appeal, hobbyist vs. pro, and so on. all are valid imo.

the advice to do solely what you want can be helpful, but it can also be limiting especially if you make music on your own. working in a group or playing to an audience can help to figure out what works and what doesn’t for your music. something you find ‘cheesy’ might fit someone else’s piece, etc. music like any other art is a conversation with the past as well as other musicians in a community and the audience that supports that scene. music scenes aren’t really as localized anymore and can’t avoid being influenced by mass media or other up-and-coming scenes, but still it’s good to work for/with an audience.

that doesn’t mean to compromise what you are interesting in sharing, but rather to be aware of what people like and how to appeal to them in certain ways.

i just try to keep in mind performing and convincing folks to show up are part of creating music for certain musicians.

i will also say that taking space to mess around on stuff you love even if it’s ‘cheesy’ is really important. some folks had some really great advice about making time for all kinds of music making even stuff that isn’t necessarily what you’d share with an audience.

good luck on getting to the place you want to be musically. you got this.

HoldMyBeer · 2022-08-26T15:22:24.629Z

Yes, what I find fun to play is the sort of music I want to make. I only make music for myself. If I put together an album, it is my favorite album for a while, and I have fun making it.

tubefund · 2022-08-26T15:29:40.575Z

As a child a played with Lego and never asked myself a likewise question building things, neither the people around me. I guess grownups overthink too much. Just play.

Mistercharlie · 2022-08-26T18:27:09.899Z

Kids also defecate in their underwear while sober. Some things are good to leave behind.