I can believe that djs are less blind for their productions. That they have higher standard for the music. Usually when someone does his first track, he's the only one who thinks it's good. Others say it's absolutely shit. Djs probably will pick it up and pursue for a better result, they don't settle with bad.

But when talking about melodic writing. I have a dj friend, who I taught the basics of producing. He has been dj for over about 10 years and haven't really played any instruments before on his life. I didn't really make a difference on his ability to write melodies to someone who don't have the dj background. His first tracks were not very strong melodically. He could write the tracks right away, knew the arrangements, how to work the breakdowns etc. But the melodic part was lacking. Now he's been doing music for 2 years and I can easily tell that his skills to write melodies have been increased a lot. So I think you can't write strong melodies if you don't have the musical background and lot's of experience writing the melodic "symmetries".

Ability to write music is very individual. Someone has the talent in their genes, other have to work their ass off to get the results.
Everyone can probably learn to write music but nothing great usually comes without a hard work.

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quote:

Originally posted by paulandrews It doesn´t matter if you consider yourself as an artist or not, your way of thinking won´t deny the existence of art.

ok, but just because you don't know excactly where to draw the line doesn't mean you shouldn't draw it.

To me art is very much about creativity in what you do. You cold call a carpenter an artist...but what's the point, he's just doing things by the book, that's been done many times before. Same as i think the majority of dj's / producers do, they make sounds that many has been making before them. It's just to copy and then change it a little bit. Offcourse not all producer use others way of thinking when they make tunes, but i think the majority do.

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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

quote:

Originally posted by Soeder ok, but just because you don't know excactly where to draw the line doesn't mean you shouldn't draw it.

Yes, you should draw it for yourself, it´s individual.

quote:

To me art is very much about creativity in what you do. You cold call a carpenter an artist...but what's the point, he's just doing things by the book, that's been done many times before. Same as i think the majority of dj's / producers do, they make sounds that many has been making before them. It's just to copy and then change it a little bit. Offcourse not all producer use others way of thinking when they make tunes, but i think the majority do.

So the djs/producers are not artists because they´re like carpenters? They are obviously not the same - djs and producers have to be creative to do their job, carpenters can´t be. They are completely opposite. I don´t get how a work of a dj/producer could not be creative.

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Last edited by GoSpeedGo! on Nov-04-2006 at 14:25

So, this has been an interesting thread I must say, and something I wrestle with in my own mind all the time actually, but to the point, I myself am a musician. I play a variety of musical instruments in college, various groups and bands, as well as two orchestras- viola, percussion (ie. marimba, snare, drumset etc.) bass, guitar, piano...and a few others here and there.

Now I've also been a DJ for 2+ years now, and have had a few residencies under my belt as well as spun at some of the biggest events my sad sad little town has had to offer. The reason I state this is so my position might seem to have some credibility, but damnit what I'm getting at is it is indeed an excellent question- Is a DJ a musician???

My answer? A DJ is as much of a musician as he makes himself. Like ANY instrument, you can play it, but not everyone plays an instrument MUSICALLY. Contrary to belief of some, I think that harmonic mixing ESPECIALLY in EDM is a MUST with no exceptions. In order to understand the transition and make it in the most musical way possible, things like phrasing (32, 64 etc) keys and harmonics, all are absolute necessities to seperate oneself from being an ass eating pizza and smoking while jumping up and down in their underwear to 'The Other Side' in their bedroom, and making music really happen and come alive.

DJ'ing is also unique because a musical side of it comes from actually something not typically found in other intsruments, and thats when performing, reading a crowd and directing the music in a sense towards a goal or peak or whatever the desired direction is.

Point in case is that DJ'ing is as musical as you make it, fortunetly for those that take it seriously, the majority of DJ's and even some professionals DONT take it in that mindset, and hence forth will be easily blown away by some of the very musical DJ's on this very forum like Stu Cox and Paullino and Nem. NOT ONE DJ in my area cares to take the time to consider keys or anything in their work, and everytime I step up to mix, they scratch their heads wondering why their 'Dancin' accapella in F# minor sounds like ass over something in Ab minor...of course they dont even know that much, but thats the point. Not to mention the fact if ANY of us plan to produce melodic music of any kind...it is a need to know in order to make something musical. While music can in fact be dissonant, bad music is bad music and a lack of knowledge typically lead to ass productions.

Take a listen http://www.myspace.com/doublepenetrationgr

That is one of the biggest DJ's in my area who runs the ONLY dance music radio in all of western Michigan....now maybe some of you think its great...however any musical aspect of the track has been slaughtered by a mere lack of knowledge and I think it really shows. Whats amazing is that someone like this can have such a position and such power over those in the area who really take the extra steps to really start making music

I in fact pity those who do not take their craft seriously and expect such epic things to come of their career when they have'nt put in the simple work to truly understand it.

Sorry for the ass of a long post

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Originally posted by SuspicionVandit
????

if you are moving from Riverside to LA, get a gun
if you are moving from LA to riverside, keep the gun, but put on a Panic@the Disco shirt. If you ever get caught without your shirt, your gonna need that gun

Wow man, you were on the money with that post. Nice one.

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I just became dumb by reading this thread.

If it took you 10 years to master the piano, then you are really retarded. Real talent can do it in 3.

Anyone can do anything they put their mind and energy towards.

If Beethoven were alive today, he'd be writing trance.

quote:

Originally posted by Whirloop Beethoven really made research on the subject i see!

i research a lot.

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Anyone who can play chopsticks on the piano and knows how to work a Game Boy can be a DJ

quote:

Originally posted by paulandrews Yes, you should draw it for yourself, it´s individual. So the djs/producers are not artists because they´re like carpenters? They are obviously not the same - djs and producers have to be creative to do their job, carpenters can´t be. They are completely opposite. I don´t get how a work of a dj/producer could not be creative.

Perhaps your right, but if you don't mind i still have to dissagree
My point anyway is that art is about the see and do what others don't. They try to create something different, beeing creative. My view of art might be different than the definition, but i think it's not defineable
I see a big lack of creativity in trance production

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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Shibby If Beethoven were alive today, he'd be writing trance.

Fuck off. I can't stand any more of that ridiculously pretentious "trance is classical" shite. No wonder trance is a joke these days.

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