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| quote: | Originally posted by Excess
well, i've had the opportunity to work with 3 different artists (2 currently) since i started producing, and i'm the 'no music theory' guy. never played an instrument, never took a class, do everything by guessing at it :X however, i hope i'm not THAT guy. from the start i've always been very careful to make sure whatever i put in my projects sounds in key. perhaps your partner is just tone-deaf.
sometimes, i KNOW what i'm putting together is out of key, so i'll note that in specific when sharing the project file or preview with my collaborators who have more experience on the music side of things. ill explain why i have it there (i.e. the melody should flow in this direction and that bunk note or chord is a placeholder for whatever actually works). this is strictly for the sake of moving things along
at the moment the two i work with at the moment have both been really easy going about this, usually just touching up the melodies i write (ill admit i have gotten slightly better over time, i still struggle a bit with chord progression though). however, the first person i worked with did not go as smoothly. he had the nasty habit of completely re-writing whatever i wrote to be more fitting to his musical preference entirely. i would send him a basic concept to work with, and he would end up sending me back an entirely different song with a 180 degree turn in feel. this made me realize that it comes down to outlook and end goals for the individuals - so always be straight forward with your intentions
to sum it up and end my personal rant, it sounds like the ego problem is getting in the way of the progress of your music. talk with him about it and if he wants to do his thing without you, let him - it's probably better off that way. |
Well it sounds like you're at least aware of your shortcomings in that department, and that can go a long way. I have been wondering if he's tone deaf but it's funny, if i make something sometimes he'll play something on the synths while i'm on the laptop that goes beautifully so i don't know.... But yeah, i've never been taught anything musically and can't really play an instrument but just through working with the piano roll and figuring out scales and chords, and some vids/ebooks and what not i've learned a lot and still am... and it's funny the more i learn the more i realize i knew some things instinctually but it's nice to just KNOW that certain notes should and shouldn't work... although sometimes breaking the rules creates a nice dissonant sound you just have to do it judiciously not have your whole track be one ugly mess.
But yeah, last two guys nailed it... it's the ego... it's doubly painful because i've known this guy forever, since we were kids. He's always going on and on about how talented we/he is... and sadly nobody will give him a good dose of reality and bring him down to earth. One time people did knock him, he did a remix contest for TCM a few years back and he was so convinced his was the best even though their were way more professionally done mixes... people critiqued him and he always had a retort, and acted like a sore loser afterwards. He did get in the top ten fan vote only because he bothered everyone he knew to vote, but i'm sure TCM themselves didn't even rate it. I'm the kinda guy who downplays what i do so if nothing becomes of it you don't end up looking like a jackass.... nobody takes him serious, not even his own wife which is sad... she kinda just mocks him and you can tell she has absolutely no faith in him and thinks he should just give it up... but at least she's somewhat forthcoming... all his brothers tell him how awesome it is even though its not.. and not to toot my own horn but when something good does get written it's usually because i took the bull by the horn and laid out the chords and melody.
I did talk to him last night and I think it sorta got through to him but time will tell, he's basically giving me the main say on the harmonic aspects so we'll see... would like to upload some songs soon and get some feedback. I do enjoy working with him because he isn't afraid to sound different... he's not going for "that tiesto sound" or whatever artist everyone tries to copy so i do like that, and he is great at making beats so its not all bad... but even with that he posted on facebook the other day... "i make the best beats in the world" haha i just had to laugh.... not "we" "I"... ahhh oh well, thing is is i've taught him a lot in that sense too and i'm just as good at that as he is but i digress... i'll give this a few more months and go solo or maybe find someone else to work with. I'm only living here because of this musical arrangement... so i'd have to go find my own place and it's just such a hassle that i don't wanna deal with right now, haha.
I appreciate the feedback everyone, this has been a real source of frustration for the last 5 month which is why i decided to join here and network with others even if it is online
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