I guess I just suck at music.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

Practice.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

what kgz and erothyme said


also tutorials

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

yeah, you're right. I probably just interpreted it wrong, growing up around a family that is above average at composing music and not meeting/knowing people who aren't good with music generally gives you the idea that music is easy to compose as long as you know how to use the program.

Obviously not.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

Let me explain it better..

I only know people who are GOOD at making music

So I automatically started thinking "hey, it can't be that hard right? These guys make it look like a piece of piss"

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

yeah, well, it's hard

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

I wouldn't say it's hard really...

But what it comes down to is knowing the intricacies of production value.

I would highly recommend, not only tutorials like previously stated, because of course it's important to know the DAW you're using, but in all honesty, it's even MORE important to know the ins and outs of how sound works.

I would definitely say, take the time (and money) go read (or buy) some books on producing, remixing, etc etc. Not just for the program you want to use, but Production books in general. You will learn SO much, it's amazing.

My favorite book, personally, is Remixer's Bible. http://www.amazon.com/Remixers-Bible.../dp/0879308818

It was published in '06, but it more focuses on sound and VST's and how to use them well and is just amazing!

When looking for books too, try not to get something too outdated, because even though sound is all about physics really, and hasn't changed since forever, methodolgies on sound and techniques change all the time, especially with technology changes...

So. Hope my .02 helps a bit.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

People have good points here but I wanted to add something different (also something same), since I'm not an expert at music making but I practice; self-taught piano for 9 or so months and dealing with music making program(s) (mainly doing minimalistic chiptunes I guess, I'm aiming to make a concept album and I know it won't get off without me liking it but I also guess very few will care about such if I publish it as free-to-download).

Now to the point, if you take music as a hobby you should just try working on it so that you like the outcome yourself (watch tutorials and record the thoughts you have in your head somehow so you can return back to your plan when you're skilled enough with all the tools at your disposal, if you have a plan that is), then worry about audience, by the looks of things you can't easily satisfact yourself with the outcome even if someone in the world could enjoy it immensely. Your music needs to sound good to you.

Things get more spicy if you aim to get cash with music, wide recognition or professional recognition, you have to practice immensely and know a lot of music theory and be creative. Having a single quality won't make you a king.
Know your goals for your music.

Some composers arguably can just crap out diamonds as they wish but I doubt they just went and got there without practice, so keep practicing if you want to make music and enjoy the whole process. Be patient.

So for my maybe to come "chiptune" album the goals would be:
-Like the album myself
-Hope that some people like it too
-Possibly get feedback (good/bad)

I'll only mention those, which is to show that while I'd like to spread music I make that I like myself, I don't really want to stress about it needing to get popular. If a song is enough for me, then that's what I want to have. Obviously with better skills I can make more complex songs that I like myself and that is called improving. Have fun with music if you keep at it.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

Yeah thanks for the support, I guess I'll watch some tutorials on youtube, check out that book zajac posted..Which looks pretty good actually, I bookmarked an ebay page of it. (Mint, of course...)

I'll probably post some of my music on FFR when I've made something 'good' ;P

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

Yeah don't worry if you post a track that you feel is good or not...

My biggest pet peeve is people that post tracks that have barely put any effort into them...

But as long as you put a good solid amount of time into the track, and you have it almost completed, it's just a matter of fine tuning, even if you think it sucks, post it here and we'll give feedback, good from some, pointless from others, but all-in-all, feedback will be given to better yourself.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

Definitely, my goal is to be able to bump these thread with it before the thread gets to a point where it shouldn't be bumped .

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

Woah, this thread got way too deep, way too fast.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

It's about Musical Advice.

Why are so many people viewing this thread?

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

This is the truth.

Re: I guess I just suck at music.

oh, spin1zoK, thanks for the really informative post, I'll definitely take that all into consideration. I've noticed that people these days tend to "rush" their songs out. My dad falls culprit to this, he'll forget to turn the levels down on some of his beats and loops or adjust something.