When you dislike your own music?

[jeremyb]

when I was in a band it was so much easier in that regard!

Yeah, what happened to that? From memory, you were going great guns?

I got fired basically, then the band dissolved cause they didn’t realise I was the glue that held it together…

[Vince]

I got fired basically, then the band dissolved cause they didn’t realise I was the glue that held it together…

Shit, what a shame. And you couldn't rebuild from the ruins? Bugger.

[kdawg2a]

I'm currently in what would be described as a 'heavy rock' band. It's made up of members with different tastes ranging from the drummer who loves Aerosmith and Thin Lizzy to myself who is a pompous psychedelic indie nerd. I've been writing all the songs so far and it's not stuff I'd normally be interested in but it keeps me interested enough to see others reactions to it. I don't know if that will sustain my interest in the long run but I think the 'writing to order' is a fairly common concept for people playing original music. I was in an alt country band a year ago and it was a similar situation. The challenge is in writing music in an unfamiliar vein and seeing if it works.

[Slowy]

With the exception of my last and sadly short lived band, I've always played music I wouldn't choose to sit down and listen to. My reasoning was playing and listening are different things and playing with others was the end in itself. And to be fair, it took most of my life for that theory to wear out.

Now, I'm doing something different. I'm exploring just how perfect I can get very few tunes. I judge perfection by fluidity, expression and dynamics. Because it's a solo endeavour, there's no pressure so I'm only playing when I want to; there's no deadlines and I don't care how long it takes. It's a journey.
I've also been working on a song which is physically very difficult for my hands. I've been at it for months; still can't play it but it feels closer that it was.

Because of this, I'm enjoying my hobby more than I have in quite a while.

[jeremyb]

I got fired basically, then the band dissolved cause they didn’t realise I was the glue that held it together…

Shit, what a shame. And you couldn't rebuild from the ruins? Bugger.

Nah half the band went and did a bbq reggae type thing that went on to be quite successful, polar opposite to what we were doing

[Vince]

Nah half the band went and did a bbq reggae type thing that went on to be quite successful, polar opposite to what we were doing

YOU were in SIX SIXTY???? :O

[foal30]

Maybe 15 years back I took an absolutist position

“Only Play What I Can Feel”

Works for me but I don’t need music for $

Songwriting is a practicable skill. Just keep at.

[Vince]

I think the 'writing to order' is a fairly common concept for people playing original music.

I absolutely love writing to order, I see it as linked to orchestration. And also, it's a bit like drawing. I was taught to draw a frame/boundary first and then draw inside that. I like defined rules, like for haiku and sonnets and that sort of highly regimented thing.

My band, Planet, is quite interesting for "writing to order". The bagpipes are the lead instrument and they do have some weird quirks.

Even if electronic, they mimic a column of air making its way through the chanter. There's no way to stop the "air". It's like a very very long release in terms of ADSR. This means our piper can't do staccato lines. We've "past participle of get" around that, somewhat, by using a volume pedal, at least we can all stop at the same time.

Oh, and apparently he can't do key changes, pure descant. I can get a similar effect by moving the bassline under him. I've seen him tease out an F# though so I'm not sure if that's not him being lazy.

I also want to make life easy for everyone so I only do "spoken word" type vocals, that the "singer" can read out, leading to a John Cooper Clarkeish thing. I love writing to order.

[Delayman]

This topic interests me. I've always had this sense that I should be writing music - I've done a fair bit of parts of songs, and actually finished a few. But the only outlet I've really completed songs for is electronic where a few main motifs go a long way. And I've got to a point where I need to enjoy music for its own sake, not in pursuit of some life-changing song or opportunity popping up.

And like Vince's original post - I don't really live and breathe music. I hardly listen to music unless I have to learn songs, I would say 85% of songs of music I hear is because someone else has a playlist going in the office I work out of. Never put music on at home.

But I've just started playing in covers bands. I'm the opposite of what I hear from some of you, because it's new to me I really enjoy it, and I don't feel like this is the sub-par option on my way to something better. Either it's my version of settling or a positive spin is I'm being fully present with the thing I can do right now. And the arrangement really suits me, the band leader is full of ideas and is keen to hustle and get gigs, which I'm not keen on at all, and the other guys respect my general musicianship. I'm getting a buzz out of making people dance.

But yeah - my own music has taken even more of a back seat, and I'm fine with that.

[Vince]

This topic interests me. I've always had this sense that I should be writing music - I've done a fair bit of parts of songs, and actually finished a few. But the only outlet I've really completed songs for is electronic where a few main motifs go a long way.

Speaking of a few main motifs... There's a shitload of great music in soundtracks.

Sometimes. OST albums can be a bit dull because you get the same thing in seven different moods but I like how movie composers can just... do stuff without wondering whether it fits enough into a specific genre.

[Delayman]

This topic interests me. I've always had this sense that I should be writing music - I've done a fair bit of parts of songs, and actually finished a few. But the only outlet I've really completed songs for is electronic where a few main motifs go a long way.

Speaking of a few main motifs... There's a shitload of great music in soundtracks.

Sometimes. OST albums can be a bit dull because you get the same thing in seven different moods but I like how movie composers can just... do stuff without wondering whether it fits enough into a specific genre.

Yes! I like soundtracks too. I saw a cool thing where Hans Zimmer was talking about how he takes the main ideas from several of the tracks to make a kind of overture and also inserts bits of the other tunes in earlier ones so your mind recognises it when you get there.

[olegmcnoleg]

This topic interests me. I've always had this sense that I should be writing music - I've done a fair bit of parts of songs, and actually finished a few. But the only outlet I've really completed songs for is electronic where a few main motifs go a long way. And I've got to a point where I need to enjoy music for its own sake, not in pursuit of some life-changing song or opportunity popping up.

And like Vince's original post - I don't really live and breathe music. I hardly listen to music unless I have to learn songs, I would say 85% of songs of music I hear is because someone else has a playlist going in the office I work out of. Never put music on at home.

But I've just started playing in covers bands. I'm the opposite of what I hear from some of you, because it's new to me I really enjoy it, and I don't feel like this is the sub-par option on my way to something better. Either it's my version of settling or a positive spin is I'm being fully present with the thing I can do right now. And the arrangement really suits me, the band leader is full of ideas and is keen to hustle and get gigs, which I'm not keen on at all, and the other guys respect my general musicianship. I'm getting a buzz out of making people dance.

But yeah - my own music has taken even more of a back seat, and I'm fine with that.

Congrats on the new gig.

Covers bands can be huge fun—and very rewarding. Music can be so enjoyable because the musicians are not trying to pin all your hopes on it . They are just having fun.