KVR Audio

deathwish · Post by **deathwish** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:24 pm

I feel that I'm terrible at making music. I've played some songs for friends and they haven't really said anything and nowadays I feel like selling all my gear and quitting. Do you think we just have to find an audience for our music? But isn't good music liked by most? how do you know if you are any good?

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:33 pm

All my life I compared what I actually did with what I actually loved. eventually it wasn't so painful.
if you think you suck, you're right, there should be nothing coming from the next person to ameliorate it, and it's on you to change it.

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:35 pm

deathwish wrote: But isn't good music liked by most?

No. There is a lot of great music that most people can't stand, really, as well as a lot of doggerel that is widely celebrated.

You can make music that sucks and it's the biggest hit in the world. Don't look for validation of 'the other's as a salve or justification and you'll have a better chance at clarity of purpose, and the more direct self-critique will spur you to gain higher ground. or you may find it's not enough to just keep struggling...

mcnoone · Post by **mcnoone** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:46 pm

Just agreeing on what jancivil says here.
It's not just with music, but in arts of all kinds.
You should only care about whether or not you like your own music, and not do it for the feedback from friends. I'm in the same boat, except with sound design.
It really seems to me. Success in the art fields is based on popularity, and in most cases, talent is not an actual factor in ones success.
I've never been popular in life at all...in fact, just the opposite.
But I keep on farting, cuz I like the smell of my own, and don't care whether others like the same smell.

maxxxter · Post by **maxxxter** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:51 pm

DELETED

deathwish · Post by **deathwish** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:53 pm

jancivil wrote:
deathwish wrote: But isn't good music liked by most?
No. There is a lot of great music that most people can't stand, really, as well as a lot of doggerel that is widely celebrated.

You can make music that sucks and it's the biggest hit in the world. Don't look for validation of 'the other's as a salve or justification and you'll have a better chance at clarity of purpose, and the more direct self-critique will spur you to gain higher ground. or you may find it's not enough to just keep struggling...

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess you are right about popularity not being the barometer for good music.

This maybe the last thing I wrote which was today and it's not even finished. I don't think I've ever even posted a song ever on any forum or played any of my music for anyone but very close friends... I find it annoying when people constantly promote themselves.

deathwish · Post by **deathwish** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:54 pm

maxxxter wrote:How do you know you're good in making music?

2) people don't want to kill you for crimes against humanity (Tiesto, Guetta - yes, I'm talking about you)

maybe add Skrillex?

JJBiener · Post by **JJBiener** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:56 pm

Insecurity is a part of the artist's makeup. If you have the ability to question your own ability, I believe you have the potential to creat something good.

A few years ago, Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman were talking during a break in filming a movie together. Now these are two of the finest, most celebrated actors of our time. Their conversation was about whether either of them would ever work again.

We are all insecure in our work. External validation is nice, but it doesn't takes it away. View each new piece as an accomplishment and one more step on the road of improvement. I think that is all any of us can do.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:19 am

it's impossible to make bad music...no music is bad music. If anyone tells you your music is bad music tell them to go pound sand (but sample it because it might have a good beat)

AstralExistence · Post by **AstralExistence** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:30 am

here my keeping it real philosophy. that includes everybody including me. if your a great producer people will notice, and wont hesitate to praise your work. and when they praise your work, you will feel great and you have your answer. 'yes' im good because others have said that i am.

people know a good song when they hear one. if your average its pretty obvious because few people comment on your music. if your awful then people will have no problem saying so and gladly tell you that you suck in anyway they can. when they tell your great you feel great and you feel confidant and want to write music till your last breath.

and when your average, you get few or any comments and think 'wow i worked so hard on this!' 'i spent so long on this and nobody replied'!!!. 'maybe i should just quit and find another hobby.' and if people take the time to leave bad comments then you probably find yourself taking a 'break' from music till you get inspired again. then all three cycles repeat. you have to ask yourself 'if i never wrote music again would i miss it?' 'why am i writing music in the first place?' 'for who?' 'me?' 'no im writing it for others.'

and yes that's true. but creativity isn't something you give to to others first. its a gift that you give to yourself. an outlet that says 'im an individual' once you realize this, only then you can begin to offer your gift to the world, and if nobody appreciates the gifts your giving them, then just give it to yourself. because in the end, your the one slaving in your studio.

if you really don't want to be there, then you don't. its really that simple. but the best gift you can give yourself is individuality. and that, is why you should write music.

JJBiener · Post by **JJBiener** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:31 am

deathwish wrote: Thanks for the encouragement. I guess you are right about popularity not being the barometer for good music.

This maybe the last thing I wrote which was today and it's not even finished. I don't think I've ever even posted a song ever on any forum or played any of my music for anyone but very close friends... I find it annoying when people constantly promote themselves.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/1yxe4vd ... 040212_mp3

This is a nice piece. I listened all the way through and never once wanted to stop it. Start making more music and post it here. Also maybe try some of the contests here. They are usually interesting challenges.

Jbravo · Post by **Jbravo** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:43 am

I would say if you think it's good and you've invested a lot of time and effort and care into it, it probably is good. Keep doing it and one day someone will hear it who totally gets it and appreciates your ability and effort. A lot of my friends say my music is good but I know it's not really their thing and are just being kind. Occasionally I speak to someone who completely gets it and I know it's been worth the effort.

optofonik · Post by **optofonik** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:06 am

After finishing a piece wait a few weeks then sit down, put on some headphones, and listen to it. Do you like it? If you do then you're good at making music.

It really is that simple as long as you don't precede the word "music" with "commercial" or "saleable". Once you get into a discussion of what constitutes good music for sale all bets are off. At that point, who you know and a passable ability to string together notes in a generally accepted fashion will be important assets. Your ability to compromise, market yourself, and network, will be the your most valuable assets, however.

As an aside I'd like to suggest you post your music on soundcloud.com instead of filefactory. Also, I don't recommend posting unfinished pieces if you are looking for any sort of commercial exposure. There are people online who may be able to garner you more of the exposure you're seeking but they audition songs before they actually listen to them. Anything that sounds "unfinished" won't get beyond the audition. As a result they may not return to your work in the future so make a good first impression by posting only your finished work.

Best of luck.

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:22 am

maxxxter wrote:How do you know you're good in making music?

Two things:

1) you can live off it

2) people don't want to kill you for crimes against humanity (Tiesto, Guetta - yes, I'm talking about you)

there are people that are excellent, all the time, that decided that the way to maintain their excellence was never to rely on it for their living. There are people that aren't worthy that not only make a living but profit wildly.

it's another set of skills, making money, getting noticed. or being roadworthy, being personable, all kinds of things...

cmayo · Post by **cmayo** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:16 am

That piece is quite nice, very thoughtful and placid, and sounds as if it would work well in a film soundtrack. Add some big drums and synths and it's a great opening sequence for a fantasy roleplaying video game. I think it'd be an enjoyable piece to orchestrate.

I think that everything a person plays, and especially everything a person writes, is a segment of a much longer journey. In writing, we develop not only our creative and mechanical skills, but our ears and our tastes... our musical substance, as it were.

Not everything we create will be well-received, especially thoughtful, pensive pieces like this. How many people on the planet are able to create music which instantly bonds with the listener? Not many. But then again, how many people on the planet can compose music with this sort of substance? Again, not many.

Good music doesn't require the catchy tunes and memorable hooks necessary for a listener to instantly develop a superficial liking for a piece of music. If this piece is representative of your work, I think you're good. There's so much to explore... form, melody, arrangement, orchestration, recording technique, production skills...

Keep writing, keep growing and developing and become the musician/composer you want to be, and try not to be picky about where you get your validation.

How do you know if you are good at making music?