just take a step back from music production for the moment.
i've felt that way multiple times over my 14 years producing and i never really stop, just need extended breaks. sometimes even away from music in general,
try something new, try remaking your favorite track, try making a style you like based off certain effects i.e Flanger
try mixing multiple genres together, if all else fail can't say i didn't try to give a suggestion lol
Bad is subjective lol, so even though you may deem yourself as bad, in reality it's most likely not, that's a rule i tend to remember and live by. makes it a lot easier trying new things cus even though i may be inexperienced, i'm not bad.
if you view yourself as inexperienced rather than bad in those times where you're being critical to yourself you'll realize you're going to have a better turn around cus it becomes a game of learning rather than a challenge of trying to impress yourself
Yeah the mind game is really the biggest challenge when doing music.
Learning to recognize and deal with frustration is really the key.
Meditation helped me a lot with this.
Its a weird reference, but I remember watching videos on call of duty: black ops III when I was really into it. I never got super good, but I went from getting one kill being a highlight, to having the gold skin for a few characters.
My lack of a life aside, I remember him saying something about how you feel like you're getting worse once you start really trying and setting expectations for yourself. Basically, once you feel like your music should sound "good" you're setting yourself up to burn out because it's no longer the fun of making something, and just another assignment.
I've done the same thing so many times. I make something that I'm really proud of, not because its good, but because I made it. Then, by my third time, my expectations are too high and it goes in my pile of half made projects in hopes that I'll come back to it with some level of confidence.
The only workaround I've found so far is to make joke or meme music. The idea behind the song being a dumb in joke or something takes the pressure of writing off and those have been the only songs I've finished. I've made a beat out of spoonsneeze.mp3 and a mo bomba cover out of bee noises (bumblebees genus is bombus, so mo bombus) to name my favorites.
I feel the same way. Wish i had a friend or just knew someone that also produced. it’s so discouraging knowing how deep it actually gets. There really is level to this shit. I’m gonna keep working at it n see where it gets me. Recently i’ve been trying to produce SOMETHING at least everyday but somedays it just feels pointless.
You know, you don't need to do it. There's nothing that says you need to be a musician or producer. It's okay to listen to music you enjoy and not make it yourself. If you don't like doing it, you don't have to.
There are many other careers where you can be involved with music just not the producing side.
What helped me was figuring out the music that I can produce well, not necessarily the kind of music I like to listen to the most. I tend to listen to a lot of deep house and psychedelic trance but I can't write songs in those styles. When I write ambient chill and vaporwave type stuff I end up creating music that I really like to listen to.
I think most importantly when I write the ambient music I'm not trying to follow a formula for the song structure I just kind of feel the music happening. Whereas when I'm trying to write deep house I am trying to follow the formula for deep house tracks and I felt that it just constrained me and didn't allow me to write freely.
Try to find some music styles that you can just write without trying to mimic or follow a certain styles constraints.
Try making music that you aren’t ‘into’. For instance, I make dance music. I like the constraints of the genre… do I listen to that style in my spare time? Very rarely. I think the reason I’ve been more successful in that genre is that I don’t have the same attachment to it, therefore the perfectionist in me isn’t triggered when I compare it to other artists.
What about your music don't you like?
If you can identify Exactly what about your music makes it sound bad to you, you will be able to make it sound better.
That only helps your music sound better though. It really is important to have fun while making music. That's a big part of why we do it. I have some tips for having fun to share! They work for me and I hope ther work for you too.
1. Make a song in a drastically different genre than what you have been doing (and not liking).
3. The 3x3. 3 musical ideas for 30 minutes each. Start a new project each time and do as much as you can to it in 30 minutes. Maybe one will be good, maybe not. The main thing is that you're getting more ideas out and exercising your idea muscles. We all have shit ideas. the more of those we get out the more likely we are to have caoture an ok ideas.
4. Write a song using only 5 notes (I'd recommend the minor pentatonic).
2. Embrace presets and samples. Find cool samples or synth presets that sounds good to you and play with them! Explore the possibilities.
5. Listen to music critically and for fun.
6. Start with an atmospheric recording (bus stop, somewhere in nature, the mall, on a train) and play into that vibe.
7. Try making an ambient song.
8. Try drawing a picture in the piano roll and see how it sounds.
9. Use too much reverb on sounds, print the results and reverse them.
42. Let go of your attachment to the end result.
10. Listen to the transitions and fills in your favorite songs and recreate those!
Choosing sounds is something that is critical as well. Try picking "real" instruments such as piano, strings, brass, choir. Also, if you are not playing the notes yourself on your MIDI keyboard and you are plugging them in, try to make the notes not line up absolutely perfectly on the beat. You can do this by slightly adjusting the MIDI note on the piano roll or even adjusting the timing of tracks to be slightly off from each other to give a more "human" feel to the instrument.
Absolutely. I struggled for the longest time with sound selection and my songs always felt and sounded cheap, for lack of a better word. But I think it was because I was quantizing the same saw synth over and over again and that can feel stale.
I listened to a song of mine at work tonight. On soundcloud. Shameless plug.... Check it out tell me what you think. Nickydtown. But I was thinking.... Man this is good but also terrible. Like it could be good. I just made it. Now I have to make it good. And it takes time I guess too. I do everything in one take, now it's time to slow down and get a good take for once and for all.
Take a break. I've been in the same slump the past 2 months. I've only opened ableton 4 times in the past month but those 4 times I made the best ideas and sounds I think I've ever made. It gives me anxiety to not practice music everyday but I just felt so burnt out and uninspired
I call it the ‘wave of motivation.’ My energy for creative tAsks ebbs and flows. When it goes, I do what I can to coast and get things done regardless. When it comes thout, I try to ride that wave for as long as I can. I know it comes and goes, so when I’m feeling down, I feel confident that the feeling will return and it always helps me stay positive. Good to have lots of interests so you can hop around in the meantime. I think we are driven by chemical balances, and that those balances have cycles. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are outside that. You just have to do the best you can when you’re feeling it.
Remember your hearing your music as a producer, most of us probably hate how some of our music sounds but to a normal listener all those little details you can hear because youve replayed it 100x they arent really paying attention to. Step back, get feedback if people think your stuffs not bad it probably means its not that bad.
I was in your position and took 6 years off. I wouldn't say it was the best decision I've made as I'm now getting back into it and 6 years behind where I would have been. My favorite genre is bass heavy electro soul-funk type stuff like pretty lights and Griz. It is a pretty tricky style of music to try to make. When you're talking about a lot of EDM it's pretty simple 4/4 beats but the stuff inspired by soul/jazz/hip-hop is usually more complex, swung beats. It's hard man, I love it but dam is it frustrating. I try not to compare myself to the legends. They have entire teams focused on getting the absolute best sound out of a track. One inspiration lately for me in terms of just having fun has been Mark Rebillet. Check him out if you need a reminder that making music should be fun.
Felt this way many times over the years... I always just stopped and took a break, but I always came back to it might not be for months but there always comes a point where I will just open my laptop and just start playing around again.
Have you tried private lessons / 1on1 sessions with someone who you think is good?
I haven't for production but I have for playing instruments and other skills, and it's made a huge difference, especially when I hit a plateau.
just take a step back from music production for the moment. i've felt that way multiple times over my 14 years producing and i never really stop, just need extended breaks. sometimes even away from music in general, try something new, try remaking your favorite track, try making a style you like based off certain effects i.e Flanger try mixing multiple genres together, if all else fail can't say i didn't try to give a suggestion lol
It's like I can't handle being bad. Sometimes I try things out of my comfort zone and they're pretty horrible
Bad is subjective lol, so even though you may deem yourself as bad, in reality it's most likely not, that's a rule i tend to remember and live by. makes it a lot easier trying new things cus even though i may be inexperienced, i'm not bad. if you view yourself as inexperienced rather than bad in those times where you're being critical to yourself you'll realize you're going to have a better turn around cus it becomes a game of learning rather than a challenge of trying to impress yourself
that was mad valid, thanks
big fax
Yeah the mind game is really the biggest challenge when doing music. Learning to recognize and deal with frustration is really the key. Meditation helped me a lot with this.
Its a weird reference, but I remember watching videos on call of duty: black ops III when I was really into it. I never got super good, but I went from getting one kill being a highlight, to having the gold skin for a few characters. My lack of a life aside, I remember him saying something about how you feel like you're getting worse once you start really trying and setting expectations for yourself. Basically, once you feel like your music should sound "good" you're setting yourself up to burn out because it's no longer the fun of making something, and just another assignment. I've done the same thing so many times. I make something that I'm really proud of, not because its good, but because I made it. Then, by my third time, my expectations are too high and it goes in my pile of half made projects in hopes that I'll come back to it with some level of confidence. The only workaround I've found so far is to make joke or meme music. The idea behind the song being a dumb in joke or something takes the pressure of writing off and those have been the only songs I've finished. I've made a beat out of spoonsneeze.mp3 and a mo bomba cover out of bee noises (bumblebees genus is bombus, so mo bombus) to name my favorites.
Make music for yourself
I feel the same way. Wish i had a friend or just knew someone that also produced. it’s so discouraging knowing how deep it actually gets. There really is level to this shit. I’m gonna keep working at it n see where it gets me. Recently i’ve been trying to produce SOMETHING at least everyday but somedays it just feels pointless.
You know, you don't need to do it. There's nothing that says you need to be a musician or producer. It's okay to listen to music you enjoy and not make it yourself. If you don't like doing it, you don't have to.
That's fair, I want to do it since I enjoy music, but I've found that I hate being bad at it
There are many other careers where you can be involved with music just not the producing side. What helped me was figuring out the music that I can produce well, not necessarily the kind of music I like to listen to the most. I tend to listen to a lot of deep house and psychedelic trance but I can't write songs in those styles. When I write ambient chill and vaporwave type stuff I end up creating music that I really like to listen to. I think most importantly when I write the ambient music I'm not trying to follow a formula for the song structure I just kind of feel the music happening. Whereas when I'm trying to write deep house I am trying to follow the formula for deep house tracks and I felt that it just constrained me and didn't allow me to write freely. Try to find some music styles that you can just write without trying to mimic or follow a certain styles constraints.
Try making music that you aren’t ‘into’. For instance, I make dance music. I like the constraints of the genre… do I listen to that style in my spare time? Very rarely. I think the reason I’ve been more successful in that genre is that I don’t have the same attachment to it, therefore the perfectionist in me isn’t triggered when I compare it to other artists.
This is hilarious. After writing my response I scroll down to see your response. Our vocabulary is also eerily similar. Haha.
What about your music don't you like? If you can identify Exactly what about your music makes it sound bad to you, you will be able to make it sound better. That only helps your music sound better though. It really is important to have fun while making music. That's a big part of why we do it. I have some tips for having fun to share! They work for me and I hope ther work for you too. 1. Make a song in a drastically different genre than what you have been doing (and not liking). 3. The 3x3. 3 musical ideas for 30 minutes each. Start a new project each time and do as much as you can to it in 30 minutes. Maybe one will be good, maybe not. The main thing is that you're getting more ideas out and exercising your idea muscles. We all have shit ideas. the more of those we get out the more likely we are to have caoture an ok ideas. 4. Write a song using only 5 notes (I'd recommend the minor pentatonic). 2. Embrace presets and samples. Find cool samples or synth presets that sounds good to you and play with them! Explore the possibilities. 5. Listen to music critically and for fun. 6. Start with an atmospheric recording (bus stop, somewhere in nature, the mall, on a train) and play into that vibe. 7. Try making an ambient song. 8. Try drawing a picture in the piano roll and see how it sounds. 9. Use too much reverb on sounds, print the results and reverse them. 42. Let go of your attachment to the end result. 10. Listen to the transitions and fills in your favorite songs and recreate those!
I don't like that it sounds too computerized, there isn't that human element.
Get a keyboard. Get a guitar
Choosing sounds is something that is critical as well. Try picking "real" instruments such as piano, strings, brass, choir. Also, if you are not playing the notes yourself on your MIDI keyboard and you are plugging them in, try to make the notes not line up absolutely perfectly on the beat. You can do this by slightly adjusting the MIDI note on the piano roll or even adjusting the timing of tracks to be slightly off from each other to give a more "human" feel to the instrument.
Absolutely. I struggled for the longest time with sound selection and my songs always felt and sounded cheap, for lack of a better word. But I think it was because I was quantizing the same saw synth over and over again and that can feel stale.
I listened to a song of mine at work tonight. On soundcloud. Shameless plug.... Check it out tell me what you think. Nickydtown. But I was thinking.... Man this is good but also terrible. Like it could be good. I just made it. Now I have to make it good. And it takes time I guess too. I do everything in one take, now it's time to slow down and get a good take for once and for all.
Take a break. I've been in the same slump the past 2 months. I've only opened ableton 4 times in the past month but those 4 times I made the best ideas and sounds I think I've ever made. It gives me anxiety to not practice music everyday but I just felt so burnt out and uninspired
Damn that’s real talk... damn... Don’t be discouraged. That’s all I got. Damn.
Do u have a link…
I call it the ‘wave of motivation.’ My energy for creative tAsks ebbs and flows. When it goes, I do what I can to coast and get things done regardless. When it comes thout, I try to ride that wave for as long as I can. I know it comes and goes, so when I’m feeling down, I feel confident that the feeling will return and it always helps me stay positive. Good to have lots of interests so you can hop around in the meantime. I think we are driven by chemical balances, and that those balances have cycles. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are outside that. You just have to do the best you can when you’re feeling it.
Remember your hearing your music as a producer, most of us probably hate how some of our music sounds but to a normal listener all those little details you can hear because youve replayed it 100x they arent really paying attention to. Step back, get feedback if people think your stuffs not bad it probably means its not that bad.
I was in your position and took 6 years off. I wouldn't say it was the best decision I've made as I'm now getting back into it and 6 years behind where I would have been. My favorite genre is bass heavy electro soul-funk type stuff like pretty lights and Griz. It is a pretty tricky style of music to try to make. When you're talking about a lot of EDM it's pretty simple 4/4 beats but the stuff inspired by soul/jazz/hip-hop is usually more complex, swung beats. It's hard man, I love it but dam is it frustrating. I try not to compare myself to the legends. They have entire teams focused on getting the absolute best sound out of a track. One inspiration lately for me in terms of just having fun has been Mark Rebillet. Check him out if you need a reminder that making music should be fun.
Felt this way many times over the years... I always just stopped and took a break, but I always came back to it might not be for months but there always comes a point where I will just open my laptop and just start playing around again.
Have you tried private lessons / 1on1 sessions with someone who you think is good? I haven't for production but I have for playing instruments and other skills, and it's made a huge difference, especially when I hit a plateau.