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You can [MUSIC] thread any time you like But you can never leave
Flay
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
AC MUSICIANS THREAD*
Here is a place for musicians to discuss creating music, and to learn how to improve. The focus will be on music creation and theory, as well as critique. If this thread manages to survive, it'll probably operate similarly to the doodle/photo threads - the first post on the 100th page makes the next thread.
Unfortunately, since I'm a guitarist, this thread will probably be biased towards playing guitars for the moment (I don't know a great deal about other instruments) so any contributions would really be appreciated.
Below I'll keep a track of useful websites for musicians that I come across, or that have been suggested.
General Resources:
- Khavall's Beginners Guide to Music Everything - A music theory blog made by the forum's very own Khavall.
- Music Theory - 'Covers just about all aspects of theory from what I can tell, though it piano focused- It shows the piano keys and "plays" them during the lessons.'
Guitarist Resources:
[*]Power Tab - A site providing free tablature from popular musicians, with an easy interface. Unfortunately, this site seems to be exclusively tablature, with no option to view as regular sheet-music/scores.
[*]Justin Guitar - Free online lessons for the beginner, as well as music theory and forums.
[*]Power Tab - A free tablature editor, and an alternative for those who do not want to buy guitar pro.
[*]Ultimate Guitar - A collection of tablature, driven by its community.
If you're beginning guitar or are thinking of doing so, you might like to check out this thread in Accumulated Forum Knowledge. There are also dedicated musician threads to be found in both D&D and SE++.
~~~~~~~
At the moment I'm working on tabbing 'Under the Bridge' by the Chili Peppers to train my ear a bit. I think I have the intro down:
E||-----------------------|------------------------|-----------------------| B||--3-----------------3--|--L---------------------|--2-----------------2--| G||------------2----------|-----2------------------|------------2----------| D||--0----4---------4-----|------------------------|-------4---------4-----| A||-----------------------|------------4--2--0-----|-----------------------| E||-----------------------|---------------------4--|--2--------------------| ------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------| --L---------------------|--3--------------------3h-5h-|--3--------------------| -----2------------------|--------------2--------------|-----2-----------------| ------------4--2--0-----|--0-----4-----------4--------|------------4s----6----| ---------------------2--|-----5-----5-----5-----------|------------5-----7----| ------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------| -----------------------|-------------------------|| --------------------2--|--L----------------------|| ------------2----------|-----2------------------*|| -------4---------4-----|------------4--2--0-----*|| -----------------------|---------------------2---|| --2--------------------|-------------------------||
Here's a midi of what it sounds like so far: http://www.mediafire.com/?2zgmm3kidn0
*Mod approved.
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Just a quick one flay if you play that first D on the 5th fret of the A string, when you head back to it it's much easier to do the d flat hammer on d (or 4 hammer 5) rather than D flat and then open D. I'm not actually sure if you tabbed that as you play it a bit differently to me in a few areas.
Anyway, this is really fucking embarassing as this is the first time I've ever heard myself singing and I'm all
http://www.mediafire.com/file/hlkzvzcmzkz/timeschangin.mp3
http://www.musictheory.net/
Its really awesome and covers just about all aspects of theory from what I can tell, though it piano focused- It shows the piano keys and "plays" them during the lessons.
I certainly wouldn't say that's unlistenable.
EDIT: Actually I won't Flay, it's not like it's going to help with your ear training and the tab is fuggin everywhere.
Just in case any of you play WoW and are interested in some folk/rock type stuff, you want to search for rad_bear on google or you tube. I have been working on some material and I'd be interested to hear what other musicians think of it. Please check it out!
Thanks
Heres a song to check if you would like:
http://supernumberone.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=570561
A progress recording for today. This is a song I have to learn for grading, which obviously I'm still not very good at.
Could I get some critiques on stuff? Me and my friends just record for a bit of a laugh but I'd like to know what other people think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPWzO5hn2bY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZTK2-duR7Q
But all in all I think it's a pretty slick recording.
Flay, when you get a little more confident with it, try playing with a metronome, it'll help you timing to no end.
Mr Bubbles, your band is good, I'm jealous. That is all.
Mustang: Your singing isn't nearly as bad as you think it is. I'm not really sure how to critique your cover. It's pretty bare bones, but definitely listenable. Post some more stuff.
Rad Bear: I like your harmonies, and your guitar playing is good. I usually don't like nerdy music but I like how sincere your song seems instead of being really goofy. I only found the same song on youtube when I googled your name, can you link to more of your music?
Mr Bubbles: I'm not sure what to critique. What do you do in your band? Do you want recording critiques? Songwriting? Playing?
As for me, I have a couple of songs on my bandcamp site.
Edit: Oh yeah I have a music video for one of those songs:
I'm the bassist, and I just need to be told how to make it not terrible, songwriting, composition, anything to try and make it sound better
Learning music theory will greatly help your bass playing. I mean, it will help anyone composing, but even learning a little theory will help you understand how to write more complex bass lines that take advantage of more notes than the root of the chord. Maybe look at some bass players you like and see what they do differently.
I'm not a bass player, but I love Victor Damiani's bass lines on Cake's album Fashion Nugget. Listen to how kick ass this is:
That's so weird.
Thats... weird, yeah. Come to the next one MrBrick, 28th March at The Joiners again
EDIT: I took into account what Mullitt said, I tried to come up with a slightly more creative bassline today, my first real try at it is on this terrible recording called 'Better' that we recorded live. Probably best to ignore all the information on the site though, we haven't finished it yet
http://www.myspace.com/lostmoralsmusic
Sweet as. It'll probably take me an age to get them uploaded with my crappy capped upload, but I'll get there in the end. :P
Eh, guys?
The technique in question is performed at 2:02.
that isn't what (s)he's doing- my bad
its similar but hes hitting some (other) open strings while the changing notes are him just sliding up and down the frets.
All my previous experience was with electronic music: made a few tracks, remixed some things for friends, geeked out with gear etc. But when I was putting stuff together and realized that I didn't really know how to come up with a roadmap for a melody, or how to put bass & melody together, I knew that I needed to learn more theory and, ideally, an instrument. So I picked my favorite, and etc. etc.
I've got a couple classical etudes I'm working through but have also been spending time developing walking bass lines, solos, and some melodies for standards. And yeah, I'll echo above -- learning theory, especially your scales, makes creating interesting bass lines so much easier.
http://www.mediafire.com/?gy3rjtmhymn
I do like it so far, its just not very fleshed out and the transitions are not so good.
Flay - I agree, it'd be cool to listen to you play with someone else too.
Napp - I like the mood, sounds like it could be a nice intro to something more, and I hear it yearning for vocals. XD
So what all do you guys use for midi composition? I have Anvil Studio and it's all I know how to use, but if there's something easier/ better out there I'd love to have someone show me. I'll post some of my more serious music when I get home today, which are basically midis I've given nicer voices to through Cakewalk Music Creator 5. I have little basis in theory though and generally just hear something in my head and plug it into Anvil Studio note by note, a very tedious, time consuming process.
*edit* Here's some battle music I've been working on recently for a non existent game I've wanted to make as an example of my ability separate from the last.fm link earlier provided. In that one I'm the pianica player, heh.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mjnvuzi1m04/battle%20thema3.mp3
... sounds correct. I'll mess around with it, but does anyone know exactly what's wrong here?
Unless my hears are mis hearing, it sounds a lot like a technique from this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUYQMslOobw
(the 1:30 mark)
now, its not as fast nor as jumpy, but it sounds to me to be a similar technique.
Varian: Thanks! I agree, it needs vocals- i need to work on some lyrics; which are always my sore spot so they rarely ever stay with a tune I write.
I think I have the first few bars correct:
You mention Cakewalk which implies you're on Windows. I personally use Logic Express on a Mac and really like it, but there are a few more options on Windows. But what's most important for midi creation is how you typically work with midi. As in, what matches up with your creation style.
If you know how to play a keyboard and can essentially record your midi live, you're golden as most midi apps are created around that type of input. If you don't, and you prefer to key stuff in, you'll probably have a lot more fun making midi files with a step sequencer, at least to start with. But then that also ties back into what your end goal for the midi is. If you're just using midi for drum programming, step sequencing is obviously the way to go. If you're looking to make prog rock keyboard solos, you'll be frustrated with step sequencers.
I personally don't like piano rolls for punching in midi, as it's really slow and rarely geared towards looping or just using a qwerty + mouse. When I was using a Windows laptop for some windows-only VSTs, I had a lot of fun using energyXT, which is a combination step sequencer that now has a lot more features. It's semi-modular in how it lets you put stuff together which is what I liked about it.
Nappuccino: I really enjoyed your guitar composition. I agree that it's ready for vocals, but it's very nice on it's own.
Noticed this thread.
Since I've pretty much made myself so in the SE music thread, allow me to also bring it up here.
I'll be watching this thread, and if anyone has any theory/history questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them relatively succinctly. Also, my blog in my sig has some theory and history stuff, and I'm still trucking along with updates for it.
Cool, I'll link it in the OP.
EDIT:
This is pretty good, and it certainly works as a battle theme. I do feel the sharp note at the end feels a bit out of place though.
Man, it's difficult for me to critique anything since I'm only a beginning musician...
I'm digging the old school vibe from the videogame music, seeing as I also dabble in that stuff and was working on a game that will never be finished, an example:
http://www.last.fm/music/fourbithero/Untitled+Video+Game+Music/Town
Since I am a guitarist and a lazy one at that, I use guitar pro for my midi composition needs then transfer it over to fruity loops. Guitar pro is pretty user friendly and lightweight.
I'm going to see Jethro Tull in Southampton on that day, sorry mang. Every play The Railway?
We're gonna try and get one there soon, we've also been kind of offered something at The Brook too which is cool
and cheers Mullitt, we're gonna do a proper recording of that song next week, that was the first time we'd played that song after we wrote it and was recorded in a garage on one mike. So quality is terribad
I brought a soft keyboard with me, rolls up into a small carrying bag, and I have a book on music theory here. Idea was I could learn while I was here, but in reality, my schedule is frustrating. RedKatana, I like your music. It reminds me of Final Fantasy Tactics in places which had an amazing score. We should team up or something to finish a game sometime. XD
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=15782
I would be totally down for that, hit me up whenever. Give fruity loops a try if you haven't, making tracks in that is pretty easy.