Frustrated musician

[motorollin]

I was classically trained in the piano and self taught a little bit of guitar (just sloppy strumming really). About 8 years ago I started experimenting in composing electronic music. At the time I was using Cakewalk Home Studio with VST plugins. I then used ReWire to connect Cakewalk to Rebirth, and then about 6 years ago I moved over entirely to Reason.

In Reason I have written quite a lot of tracks, but only about 5 or 6 finished ones which I would actually consider much good. I have a few unfinished pieces which I think have potential. But I just can't finish them. Occasionally I sit down and listen to the unfinished track and really try to work out where they're going. But I can't find anything to come next.

Composition has never come easy for me. It has always been a long, drawn out struggle. Only once have I sat down and written a whole piece without stopping. It was a 6 hour marathon, and I still consider that track to be my best.

I haven't written anything now for probably at least 2 years. I sometimes feel like I've written all the music I will ever write. I can't even improvise any more. Sometimes I sit down at my keyboard and I feel like I'm about to play something. I can almost feel it in my hands like a kind of energy waiting to come out in the form of music, but still I can't find anything to play.

:-(

--
moto

[CannonFodder]

You are not alone Moto, I feel your pain too. :-(

[Karlos]

*sigh*

I sometimes feel like I've written all the music I will ever write. I can't even improvise any more. Sometimes I sit down at my keyboard and I feel like I'm about to play something. I can almost feel it in my hands like a kind of energy waiting to come out in the form of music, but still I can't find anything to play.

Moto, I know exactly what you mean :-(

[motorollin]

Glad I'm not the only one. I guess we all need some inspiration :-)

I used to find it quite helpful to write a lyric, then use its rhythm as the basis for a melodic component of a track. You would think that there would be no end of subjects to choose from these days, but when it comes down to it, it really is hard to put your opinions on a subject in to words which (a) fit in to a song, (b) are somewhat interesting to listen to, and optionally (c) rhyme (though I think rhyming lyrics are overrated, and often sound very contrived).

--
moto

[motorollin]

For some reason these lyrics seem to sum up how I feel.

In fences that you cannot climb
In sentences that do not rhyme
In all that you can never change
The one you're looking for

It gets you down
It gets you down

There's no spark
No light in the dark
It gets you down
It gets you down
You've travelled far
What have you have found?
That theres no time
There's no time
To analyse
To think things through
To make sense

- Thom Yorke, "Analyse"


--
moto

[CannonFodder]

May I be so bold as to suggest Prozac? ;-)

[Karlos]

My problem is usually that often do imagine components of a song in my head, yet I'm usually up past my eyeballs in work.

Later, I try to remember it and it's gone. I can sit at the keyboard for a while, play a few chords or perhaps pick a few notes on the guitar, but it never comes back.

Probably a good reason not to buy another instrument :-/

[motorollin]

CannonFodder wrote:
May I be so bold as to suggest Prozac? ;-)

Been there done that. Stifles creativity even more :roll:

--
moto

[motorollin]

@Karlos
I know how that feels. I used to wake up in the night and have music in my head. I would have to get up immediately and write it down otherwise it would be gone by morning. I would have scraps of paper by my bed with roughly drawn staves of fragments of music and notes on instrumentation, rhythm, or even lyrics. Other times I would actually dream a piece of music, but after waking up I couldn't remember enough of it to create anything from it.

These were the only times I felt like a real musician instead of a phoney :-(

--
moto

[Karlos]

You know, I used to sketch and write too. I sometimes feel as if all my creative abilities have atrophied from neglect due to the need to make a living.

[motorollin]

Capitalism is the devourer of art. Hmmm, could be a good premise for a song... ;-)

--
moto

[adz]

I get the same feelings with my photography, I've taken literally tens of thousands of images and I probably have a handful that I am proud of. Art really does take time and patience.

[CannonFodder]

When the Technics are a-spinnin', I'm a-grinnin'!!!

You back on the pills Ad? ;-)

[adz]

CannonFodder wrote:

When the Technics are a-spinnin', I'm a-grinnin'!!!

You back on the pills Ad? ;-)

Nah, I had a pair of 1200's for the past few weeks, gave 'em back yesterday and I already miss them...

[CannonFodder]

Nah, I had a pair of 1200's for the past few weeks, gave 'em back yesterday and I already miss them...

It's almost like losing a child isn't it? :-(