Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by FlySig:
Alan, I have two suggestions.
First, go join a band or duo and start learning songs. Learn from a variety of artists who do the kind of stuff you like to listen to. You will quickly learn a lot of structure and standard tricks used in that kind of music. It will force you to get out of the "mood noodling".
My second suggestion is to start recording songs at home. There are a lot of free or very cheap software packages that will provide every instrument imaginable. Then start building songs. Put down drums, then a track of guitar chords, then some bass, then vocals if you want, then lead guitar, then mandolin, then violin, then keyboards, etc. This process will teach you a lot about how ensembles work together. You will also start listening to recordings differently and will start hearing how things are put together. Those suggestions make a lot of sense, Fly...I'll start with your suggestions and others'. I appreciate all the feedback. It's astonishing, and gratifying, how helpful everyone here is! THIS rank rookie REALLY appreciates it!
Alan |
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by Jewel's Mom a/k/a Joisey Goil #1:
Perhaps a simple course of music theory would be good for you; an understanding of the "how and why" our music works the way it does will make it easier for you to play in everyone else's "sandbox." I mean, scales are scales; the note relationships in what we call "western" music are the same no matter what key you're in. Matt Smith touched on it, briefly, in the clinic we were at.
From what I could see, your "noodles" seem to be fairly scale-based; it'd be a matter of figuring out where they should be when the rest of us are playing in C, E, or any other key.
And, music theory, at least to me, is exciting--did you know that you can resolve one diminished chord (like D diminished) 8 different ways? Or that the tritone (the interval between F and B or its' inversion, B and F) is among the most powerful intervals in our music?
What makes music so wonderful is that it's always building tension, and then creating a release--restlessness, and then resolution.
It's going to be really fun for the rest of us to watch you grow in this, Alan--picture us all up in the stands, cheering you on.
--Karen Ya know? Besides being a VERY talented musician, you're also a REALLY sweet person, Karen! Thanks so much for the encouragement!
You're inspiring me to find out about all that stuff!
Alan |
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Actually, that's one of the nicest things about the board; we root for each other, encourage each other, watch out for each other. Every now and then there might be a disagreement about something, like in any "family," but when you really need someone who will hang in there with you, this is a great place.
(The down side for me is that I ever do "meet someone" again, he's gonna have to pass muster with all my board brothers......ohhhhh my. ;) :D )
--Karen |
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