Author Topic: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!  (Read 11233 times)

rusty1

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 31
  • Honor: 3
    • https://soundcloud.com/nicocannon
    • View Profile

I've been doing a lot of practising lately. Been really trying to improve my music by learning music theory, how to properly mix and EQ and I've basically covered a lot of synthesis stuff like a lot. I've learn both Massive and Serum inside out by reading manuals/watching tutorials.

Even though I have learn these synths inside out, what every knob and button does, my sounds still suck and so do my mixes and all my chords and melodies. I feel like I have all this theory knowledge but no practical experience.

So I've decided to just make music, like just make a lot of music. Now obviously I hate making that I don't like which I think is pretty common amongst producers.

Now I've been trying to make music lately but I just can't. I know what genre of music I want to make (70-80 BPM electronic music) but I just cant make it. I know who inspires me to make this style of music and I have analyzed their music, writing down each element and what is sounds like and whether I thought it was a melody or chord.

I just dont know what elements to put in my music. When I try and just 'experiment' and see what happens it sounds horrible.

I know music production is hard and takes a lot of practise but that doesn't mean I shouldn't have to struggle like this.

I also struggle musically, like how the hell do I know when I should use a pluck synth, a pad, how do I know what my lead is going to sound like. I dont have any musical ideas. I've never gone into a project and thought 'this is what I want', 'this is how I want it to sound'. Is this bad? How could I improve this issue of not having musical ideas and not being creative?

I've been researching the common stages of music production and I believe I am in 'the dip' stage of music production. According to this article (The 5 Stages of an Electronic Music Producer (and How to Progress Effectively Through Them) - EDMProd)

I love electronic music and I love making it but right now it's really hard and brutal to do and I'm not ready to give up, not even close.

Arktopolis

  • Low Mid
  • **
  • Posts: 209
  • Honor: 54
    • arktopolis
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2016, 12:33:13 pm »
You're trying to do too many things at once. If you have never been in the kitchen, it's probably not a good idea to start by making three-course meals.

To practice writing melodies and chords, write melodies and chords. Take a sampled piano or anything else that sounds good (presets are your friends) and just practice writing music. Rewrite other producers' music and create variations - this is what will eventually fill your brain with musical ideas. Also, from these practice sessions, you can build up a library of simple piano-based tracks, from which you can then draw ideas when you practice the producing part.

And I'm not saying you shouldn't practice your sound design and mixing skills. It's just better to focus on different skills in different sessions; divide and conquer. If you're not very experienced with writing music, try to make simple, rhythm based tracks (like techno or bass house). When you only have to design/select the drum sounds and a bass, suddenly the complexity of the task becomes much more manageable.

Finally, I get the impression that you should go deeper in the analysis of other peoples' music. Your ear is not really there yet if you can only tell a melody from a chord. And if you really spent time analyzing tracks, you should have plenty of ideas/reference material on when to use a pluck synth. The same divide-and-conquer principle applies to analysis as well: don't just mindlessly label things in a track and call it a day, but instead take some time to focus on transcribing rhythms and melodies, picking up chord progressions, and remaking sounds.

Marrow Machines

  • Mid
  • ***
  • Posts: 788
  • Honor: 101
  • Electronic Music
    • marrow-machines
    • MarrowMachines
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2016, 02:25:43 pm »
Big up to the Arktopolis.


I had those same frustrations that you're currently experiencing. I've eventually given up on the boundaries that are set by categorization of electronic music when it comes to writing music.

When i was first starting out, i would tend to  notice how things work and get feedback and try to change it up on my next tune and continue to get feedback. I've also done research to supplement a better understanding of the components i use through out my process when creating and mixing a song to completion.

You quite honestly, may need to set aside some time and gather what it is you've actually learned and manifest itself in some way. By writing down the functions of the daw that you use (in a sense writing your own manual, that makes sense to you) and/or writing down your process of how you've obtained the sound you tend to like.

I am not to sure how you work, but i tend to remember things better if i spend time writing or typing it out and then saving the data in some form or fashion for me to refer back to if i ever need a reference point.

Quite honestly, you don't need to know when you need a pluck synth, because you can seriously make ANY song with out any type of pluck synth what so ever. I mean, you can make a music just by recording farts. You have the option of tuning it to a musical key or retaining the flatulent key it occurs in naturally.


You're binding yourself to self imposed restraints due to a mindset that might have not been broken, in order to fully realize your creative potential. But that perspective and understanding, with in the artist and all artist, takes time to develop and understand.


If what you say is true, and you have an understanding of the ideas and concepts that are applicable in modern tastes, then you're at a point where you need to push over the edge to get to the next phase of Doing and Learning.

You've created a tool box, but don't understand how to use the tools.

You also might need a break for your brain to catch up to what you have done, and maybe consider the future a little bit.

In the last statement, calls for changing your "reference point" of how you produce and what your body of knowledge is when you produce. If the last statement is true, through rhetorical question, then you might need to consider organizing every thing you've done in terms of your production PROCESS, until where you are currently at.



TL;DR-allow your self to catch up to yourself. You're about to break the boundary of self imposed limitations, once you get over this, you shouldn't have this sort of question ever enter your mind again, aside from a creative context of the song. But the fundamentals of understanding the tools, should be eliminated in terms of understanding what should happen in context of the tool and the song.



you're dealing with multiple variables now, it gets harder, but once the foundation has been set and understood, keep focus on the fundamentals you've established for yourself and keep plodding away.


EDIT: i've started to save my patches of synthesizers (as well as entire racks [including effect chains]) so that i can recall and manipulate later.

After further investigation into your problem, it seems like you have a solid understanding of how to use the tool but you can't quite seem to make sense of the tool in the context of various forms of instrumentation of the music. You also don't seem to have confidence in how you want your sounds to be, which leads into your frustration of not knowing what music to make or what to put into your music (also, the lack of understanding of the components of a song to make the experimental music worth while).

You shouldn't have to struggle like this, but you will need to struggle like this if you want to get better.

Never think that you aught to be at a point that you're not ready for. Understanding your self right now, is important to being where you want to be and at the skill level you want to be, in the future.

So, my bit about self imposed limitations, with respect to time and therefore experience, remain.

Heavily consider all of the resources you have and know, collect them, analyze your collection, and move forward based on what you have filtered (likes, dislikes of techniques and understanding).
« Last Edit: October 14, 2016, 04:23:58 pm by Marrow Machines »
Josh Huval: Honestly, the guys who are making good art are spending their time making it.

Lydian

  • Mid
  • ***
  • Posts: 512
  • Honor: 107
  • Hi! I'm Danny! Let's talk production! :)
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2016, 08:09:57 pm »
Just gotta grind man. Only way to learn is the hard way.  :-\
A young 14 year old me with a really bad haircut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMbftWV75w

vinceasot

  • Low Mid
  • **
  • Posts: 344
  • Honor: 32
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2016, 01:12:08 am »
write down on a piece of paper, what you'd like to improve, like melody or drums, sound design, mixing, composition and work on it

and work harder, at least 8 hours per day or more
you have to be looking at a daw continously

keep going bro, i still have too much to improve as well, as we all are

rusty1

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 31
  • Honor: 3
    • https://soundcloud.com/nicocannon
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2016, 08:32:55 am »
Big up to the Arktopolis.


I had those same frustrations that you're currently experiencing. I've eventually given up on the boundaries that are set by categorization of electronic music when it comes to writing music.

When i was first starting out, i would tend to  notice how things work and get feedback and try to change it up on my next tune and continue to get feedback. I've also done research to supplement a better understanding of the components i use through out my process when creating and mixing a song to completion.

You quite honestly, may need to set aside some time and gather what it is you've actually learned and manifest itself in some way. By writing down the functions of the daw that you use (in a sense writing your own manual, that makes sense to you) and/or writing down your process of how you've obtained the sound you tend to like.

I am not to sure how you work, but i tend to remember things better if i spend time writing or typing it out and then saving the data in some form or fashion for me to refer back to if i ever need a reference point.

Quite honestly, you don't need to know when you need a pluck synth, because you can seriously make ANY song with out any type of pluck synth what so ever. I mean, you can make a music just by recording farts. You have the option of tuning it to a musical key or retaining the flatulent key it occurs in naturally.


You're binding yourself to self imposed restraints due to a mindset that might have not been broken, in order to fully realize your creative potential. But that perspective and understanding, with in the artist and all artist, takes time to develop and understand.


If what you say is true, and you have an understanding of the ideas and concepts that are applicable in modern tastes, then you're at a point where you need to push over the edge to get to the next phase of Doing and Learning.

You've created a tool box, but don't understand how to use the tools.

You also might need a break for your brain to catch up to what you have done, and maybe consider the future a little bit.

In the last statement, calls for changing your "reference point" of how you produce and what your body of knowledge is when you produce. If the last statement is true, through rhetorical question, then you might need to consider organizing every thing you've done in terms of your production PROCESS, until where you are currently at.



TL;DR-allow your self to catch up to yourself. You're about to break the boundary of self imposed limitations, once you get over this, you shouldn't have this sort of question ever enter your mind again, aside from a creative context of the song. But the fundamentals of understanding the tools, should be eliminated in terms of understanding what should happen in context of the tool and the song.



you're dealing with multiple variables now, it gets harder, but once the foundation has been set and understood, keep focus on the fundamentals you've established for yourself and keep plodding away.


EDIT: i've started to save my patches of synthesizers (as well as entire racks [including effect chains]) so that i can recall and manipulate later.

After further investigation into your problem, it seems like you have a solid understanding of how to use the tool but you can't quite seem to make sense of the tool in the context of various forms of instrumentation of the music. You also don't seem to have confidence in how you want your sounds to be, which leads into your frustration of not knowing what music to make or what to put into your music (also, the lack of understanding of the components of a song to make the experimental music worth while).

You shouldn't have to struggle like this, but you will need to struggle like this if you want to get better.

Never think that you aught to be at a point that you're not ready for. Understanding your self right now, is important to being where you want to be and at the skill level you want to be, in the future.

So, my bit about self imposed limitations, with respect to time and therefore experience, remain.

Heavily consider all of the resources you have and know, collect them, analyze your collection, and move forward based on what you have filtered (likes, dislikes of techniques and understanding).


Whoa, felt like I was learning about myself whilst reading that.

I too like writing things down to refer back to later to consolidate my knowledge, I do it with school work a lot but I haven't been with music production. I definitely will start taking notes, which I already have been on music theory.

I'm also not quite sure how I work either. I don't really know how I start it all just spontaneously happens. Now that I think of it I do start off with a chord progression and a synth patch but that is starting to bore me and I don't like how it sounds.

Quote
You're binding yourself to self imposed restraints due to a mindset that might have not been broken, in order to fully realize your creative potential.
So fuck rules and do what you want but don't fuck music theory I guess.

Quote
After further investigation into your problem, it seems like you have a solid understanding of how to use the tool but you can't quite seem to make sense of the tool in the context of various forms of instrumentation of the music. You also don't seem to have confidence in how you want your sounds to be, which leads into your frustration of not knowing what music to make or what to put into your music (also, the lack of understanding of the components of a song to make the experimental music worth while).

I think this may be one of my problems. I know what the tools do but I don't know how to use them and when. It's kind of like I know what a hammer and a screw driver do but I don't know which one to use and when to use them when building something. How do I learn this? Just experiment?

Also I do believe I have a lack of understanding of the components of a song. I'm going to google this after writing this but does anybody have any good info or resource on a subject like this?

I also don't really know who I am nor do I like who I am which I think is impacting my creative work because I don't know what I want.

Thank you so much for this long post, it's a bit of a relief to know I'm not the only one who has dealt with this.




Marrow Machines

  • Mid
  • ***
  • Posts: 788
  • Honor: 101
  • Electronic Music
    • marrow-machines
    • MarrowMachines
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2016, 02:49:56 pm »
Quote
I'm also not quite sure how I work either. I don't really know how I start it all just spontaneously happens. Now that I think of it I do start off with a chord progression and a synth patch but that is starting to bore me and I don't like how it sounds.

Quote
So fuck rules and do what you want but don't fuck music theory I guess.

Quote

I think this may be one of my problems. I know what the tools do but I don't know how to use them and when. It's kind of like I know what a hammer and a screw driver do but I don't know which one to use and when to use them when building something. How do I learn this? Just experiment?

Also I do believe I have a lack of understanding of the components of a song. I'm going to google this after writing this but does anybody have any good info or resource on a subject like this?

I also don't really know who I am nor do I like who I am which I think is impacting my creative work because I don't know what I want.

1:Once you understand your process, the better you can get at refining your process. You eventually become faster at creating and doing because of that understanding. That's a component of time, so keep at it, and it will come. With right guidance and ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE GOAL YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE, will keep you well grounded and on the path to becoming skillful in this art form.

2:You need to know the foundation in which these creative processes are set upon. If i wanted to go do crazy things in physics, I might need to have my PHD in physics in order to do all those crazy things(or maybe at least graduate school if you want to get to the nitty gritty on engineering). Not saying you need a PHD in music or music production, but the same approach in gathering information and applying it will help you learn to learn, and grow that whole process.

With right understanding comes better decision making with in the reference point that has been agree upon by people who have set the standards for this art form (and really any thing).

3:You need to do research about how the tools work individually, and consider how it will work applicably in a mix. Then you will know where or not to choose certain effects in a mix, OR AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE MIX OR KNOW HOW TO CONTROL WITH AUTOMATION AT A CERTAIN POINT IN A MIX (caps for emphasis;it's subtle consideration).

By number 3's logic, you should apply that to how your design sounds as well.



When all of those points are considered, you've set yourself up for growth, understanding, and the potential to come up with a solution to problems that will arise in your mix and creative process.


Knowing yourself and accepting yourself is a different philosophy, but still diffuses out into your work. There was  a quote about finding your voice and when you eventually get there, you'd have already explored yourself so much so that you start to look for more collaboration in your process to create something new.

Keep it up, don't forget your goal, and look for ways to improve your self/creative process.

PS, you're going to be doing the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over again, until you become good. Seeking creative ways to do the same thing is what makes you more versatile and effective in the end. Best grab your thinking cap.
Josh Huval: Honestly, the guys who are making good art are spending their time making it.

rusty1

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 31
  • Honor: 3
    • https://soundcloud.com/nicocannon
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2016, 04:30:41 am »
Thank you so much Marrow Machines!

Literally just learning about my issues and knowing what I have to do has already changed.

I've been practising writing music both melodies and chords and just this morning I've already written a drop that I can stop listening to because of the work I had put in. Obviously I still have much more learning to do and more practising but I'm having fun again.

I'm also still in high school and I'm actually a physics student. So I have already learnt about the physics of waves (at a high school level). I love computers and this is why I'm actually making electronic music. I've self taught myself how to program computers the same way I am teaching myself how to make music. Right now I'm learning to program my own plugins to use in my productions!

I will definitely delve into more of the physics of sound design etc to get better!

The biggest thing that I'm working on is figuring out what I want to produce and who I want to be. I would have never thought that this problem would affect my work as much without your advice so thank you. This was actually a huge problem and I think it was the reason why I kept making things and saying 'I don't like that' or 'That sucks' and become frustrated. I was obviously making things I didn't like.

My own production process is still shaping itself but I guess that will come with actually making music and finding out how I do things and why I do them.

Quote
PS, you're going to be doing the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over again, until you become good. Seeking creative ways to do the same thing is what makes you more versatile and effective in the end. Best grab your thinking cap.

This is very well put. I have never looked at this from this perspective and it makes a lot of sense. So its not about how differently you do things in music but how well you as an artist can be more creative in your style or sound of music.

Thank you so much, you helped so much I cant believe it.

Marrow Machines

  • Mid
  • ***
  • Posts: 788
  • Honor: 101
  • Electronic Music
    • marrow-machines
    • MarrowMachines
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2016, 04:42:58 pm »
Thank you so much Marrow Machines!

Literally just learning about my issues and knowing what I have to do has already changed.

I've been practising writing music both melodies and chords and just this morning I've already written a drop that I can stop listening to because of the work I had put in. Obviously I still have much more learning to do and more practising but I'm having fun again.

I'm also still in high school and I'm actually a physics student. So I have already learnt about the physics of waves (at a high school level). I love computers and this is why I'm actually making electronic music. I've self taught myself how to program computers the same way I am teaching myself how to make music. Right now I'm learning to program my own plugins to use in my productions!

I will definitely delve into more of the physics of sound design etc to get better!

The biggest thing that I'm working on is figuring out what I want to produce and who I want to be. I would have never thought that this problem would affect my work as much without your advice so thank you. This was actually a huge problem and I think it was the reason why I kept making things and saying 'I don't like that' or 'That sucks' and become frustrated. I was obviously making things I didn't like.

My own production process is still shaping itself but I guess that will come with actually making music and finding out how I do things and why I do them.

Quote
PS, you're going to be doing the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over again, until you become good. Seeking creative ways to do the same thing is what makes you more versatile and effective in the end. Best grab your thinking cap.

This is very well put. I have never looked at this from this perspective and it makes a lot of sense. So its not about how differently you do things in music but how well you as an artist can be more creative in your style or sound of music.

Thank you so much, you helped so much I cant believe it.

You're welcome. Good luck.
Josh Huval: Honestly, the guys who are making good art are spending their time making it.

Lydian

  • Mid
  • ***
  • Posts: 512
  • Honor: 107
  • Hi! I'm Danny! Let's talk production! :)
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2016, 06:28:57 pm »
Just copy your favorite music dude.
A young 14 year old me with a really bad haircut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMbftWV75w

tmp123

  • Subsonic
  • Posts: 11
  • Honor: 1
    • View Profile
Re: Don't know what to put in my music, Sick of doing the same thing!
« Reply #10 on: November 11, 2016, 06:05:24 am »
Hey dude I have been producing for just over 3 years now.

Like you I had been feeling stuck in a rut. I would never finish my tracks, just end up getting sick of them because they were not up to my incredibly high standards.

I decided I would try something different. I decided I will produce a new song every two weeks and will finish it regardless of how good it is and I will have the intention of never releasing it, just for myself.

This has been amazing, the deadline means you are always moving and never just sitting there tweaking things for hours. You have to make a decision so you keep your momentum and create lots of happy accidents. Also because I have no intention to release the track I will do things I wouldn't usually do.
It has been a lot of fun so far and a great way to learn new things get good at finishing tracks and have some fun again.
You will get to a place where you are ready to start releasing and you will no when it's the right time, just go back to having fun and take the pressure off yourself.
You will get better if your producing 26 tracks a year.