Thinking of Quitting

[CypherOne]

take a break.

later.

so not right now then?

thanks guys, I realise there's no easy solution so yeah I guess I'll give it a break for a bit. I might try origami for a bit.

[Gargoyle]

Where did all those other posts come from?

[bluedad]

I've gone through frustrating periods too. My big love is indie-pop stuff, and this last period I thought I'd never write anything again and then a couple of weeks ago a tune just popped out! In the meantime, I content myself with doing little bits, sometimes an ambiant thing which is all fine and satisfying to a point. Nothing gives me a rush like doing a pop tune.
Really, other than donkey tugger I think we all go through this. Don't quit.
When you're frustrated with trying, go hug and kiss your wife, or play with the baby.

[Armadillo]

I can relate. I think *for me* the lack of inspiration mostly comes from well.... not being inspired. Doh.
I listen almost exclusively to electronic music and the last few years that's gone seriously downhill imo. Nothing new comes out. I mean we've listened to ambient and DnB for about at least 10 years now.
So, I tried to get away from that, listening to stuff like RnB, Nu metal and film scores.
I got a guitar and been trying to learn to play that, and I've got an orchestral library now and been trying to learn how to compose with that. So now I'm not so much into trying to create a new sort of beat and getting that phat supersaw lead *just right* but instead exploring things like harmony and creating more fluid music instead of having it all in sections of 4 bars.

So: Try and learn an instrument or music theory or explore completely new styles of music. Keeps me going, but yes it's a bit like going back to square one and you won't have a new tune every other day. But at least you will have more diverse skills and will possibly be able to combine totally different styles like no one else. Breakbeat polka thrash anyone?

[MickGael]

The muse will return.

Until then, read a book. Watch a Fellini film. Go to an art gallery. Do some hiking.

They can all recharge your batteries.

Its like the advice they give you about insomnia: if you can't fall asleep, don't stay in bed.

[vurt]

***This isn't a 'love me, love me, I need my ego massaged' type thread***

I seem to be completely stuck lately. I seem to be suffering the worst creative block (i.e. longest period) I've ever had. Couple that with less and less time available to make music and I am really thinking of quitting.

I don't seem to be learning anything, don't know what I'm trying to achieve and where there used to be enjoyment, there's now just frustration.

Like I say this isn't intended to be a 'tell me I'm great' thread, cos I'm not. I just don't know why I bother really.

Just wanted to get that off my chest. Chances are I'll come up with something half decent soon and look like a right tit

Don't get me wrong I'm not feeling suicidal about it just stuck in a rut.

There, that's better.

pfft we all go there,just let it pass

[shamann]

I keep reading this as "Thinking of Quilting." Can only say good for you.

As for quitting, have you considered taking up quilting? Perhaps easier to sell than breakbeats down at the county fair.

Quitting I think would be the wrong approach. Best to consider it as 'stretching.' Go out and learn more elsewhere, comeback and try putting all the pieces together. No one said you were tied to your current fate, a little broadening might rattle you enough to go forward. Ask yourself some questions about music, stuff like: What do I want to do? Why do I want to do it? Do I even want to do it? What else might I want to do? Is anything holding me back? yada...

Once you actually have figured out your situation, motivation and goals, you'll be able to start getting yourself sorted. How old are you? Perhaps you're at a point in life where things have changed enough not to match the "rockstar vagueries" you devised when you were 21. Many of us go through that sort of transition. Part of it is what gets called the quarter-life crisis, where you come to terms with the idea that you aren't as special as you once assumed in your youth. Talk to a 21 year old about fame and success, then go talk to a 35 year old. It'll become clearer.

[cptgone]

I seem to be suffering the worst creative block (i.e. longest period) I've ever had.

some ideas:
- listen to music, discover new styles.
- concentrate on having a good time just f**king about musicwise.
- you might try setting yourself restrictions when composing.
- write some lyrics, start from those.
- sell all your stuff, pick up trainspotting, tie yourself to the rails in utter despair, start all over again in your next life (assuming you're not a mole by then).

[No name]

I can relate. I think *for me* the lack of inspiration mostly comes from well.... not being inspired. Doh.
I listen almost exclusively to electronic music and the last few years that's gone seriously downhill imo. Nothing new comes out. I mean we've listened to ambient and DnB for about at least 10 years now.
So, I tried to get away from that, listening to stuff like RnB, Nu metal and film scores.
I got a guitar and been trying to learn to play that, and I've got an orchestral library now and been trying to learn how to compose with that. So now I'm not so much into trying to create a new sort of beat and getting that phat supersaw lead *just right* but instead exploring things like harmony and creating more fluid music instead of having it all in sections of 4 bars.

So: Try and learn an instrument or music theory or explore completely new styles of music. Keeps me going, but yes it's a bit like going back to square one and you won't have a new tune every other day. But at least you will have more diverse skills and will possibly be able to combine totally different styles like no one else. Breakbeat polka thrash anyone?

I agree, except for the breakbeat polka thrash

[xoxos]

find another cause to champion.

[t-willy]

Chances are I'll come up with something half decent soon and look like a right tit

i'm keeping my hopes up..........about the looking like a tit part

lates

t-willy

[Wicker Man]

1. Do a cover version

2. Adopt-a-synth...explore a plug-in, twiddle its knobs untils it bleeds

3. Learn a different instrument. If you are a keyboard player, buy a guitar from e-bay for $50 and learn some chords.

4. Give up, buy a dog, go for long walks.

[spaceman]

I went through the same thing cypher.. music is your hobby isn't it? so try just having fun with it, you don't have to prove anything to anyone

and no one is forced to spend every singel free moment on his/her hobby.. if you're fed up with it for a while then just give it a rest for a while

[soulata]

I see it as a 2 month (might be three) period.

Right now I've finished some things for others (and for money of course), it was so uninspiring I almost wanted to quit.

But I decided to take a short 2 week break from it all (except for a few gigs and some recording sessions where I play and don't touch any buttons).

It helps.

a dog would be fine too.

k

[scuzzphut]

you know all those unfinished tracks you have? the ones with maybe a 2-bar groove or a 1-bar riff.

Render them all to wav and load them up into Acid Express or Ableton Live.




I think this happens to all of us.I recently felt like I would never get any better at Guitar/Bass than I was. It was very frustrating.

Guitar - got the tabs to 3 Smiths songs and learned them til my fingers bled.
(they were - What Difference, This Charming Man and The Boy with the Thorn - for those interested )

Bass - found this site and did a couple of lessons - struggled like f*ck.
http://www.victorwooten.com/lesson_index.html