samba

I've been sniffing around this forum for a short while lately looking at threads, and I decided that I should finally make a thread here.

I read this thread here, and there was something I wanted to add, or well actually discuss something somewhat related to this link below:
musicbanter.com/talk-instruments/43011-can-you-music-lover-if-you-dont-play-instrument-2.html

So lately, or well actually this specific year, I've been listening to music in such a high degree that at some days I could almost say it's been an obsession, I listen mostly to instrumentals, movie soundtracks, classical, techno, etc, and that for occasionally 6 hours each day, however that is gradually kinda fading away.

Now the actual dilemma here is that I am kinda having the issue that each time I take a seat by the piano and start playing, I start combining chords and changing finger positions and all the basic stuff you do on the piano, and I get lured to various rhythms from others songs and I can all the time hear and recognize songs which I have heard in earlier times, and that comes as a very big issue to me, because I can't create something original. I must be doing this unconsciously.

Playing by ear, has always been magic to me, however, I haven't mastered it at the even slightest degree, so that is not the problem, if some of you were thinking that.

Should I just accept that I am incompetent at making music, or do some of you have some kind words or something, encouraging and extravagant, how to solve this.

Thanks,

Uh_Me

Keep at it. My first two attempts to write songs were really rehashed versions of Bring It On Home and Heart Shaped Box. So yeah. Keep at it. Original idea will come to you eventually.

samba

I wish...
It's so unmotivating and unpleasant that i just lose interest in it, like now. I start making ... something, and I always use the same chords from songs which I love and I've already heard, I do it automatically, I have to close y eyes to not do it, but then again, coincidents occur there as well.

Afro Blue

either change the key your playing the same chords you know (magically the become "new again"), or learn new chords, or learn some harmony and start making one note melodys, then use two notes (intervals), then tree notes (triads) then 4 notes (chords). then change the order of the notes.. focus on simple things that sound good to you, later you can learn how to develop those ideas.

Have you ever read the martian love secrets by Steve vai? Vai.com - The Official Steve Vai Website: Martian Love Secrets

this is all that comes to mind at the moment... hope it helps.

zinia7

i have the same problem i can listen to music and remember it. whenn i heard an artist alot, and then after a while hearing that same song who was singing it by just listening to there voice, ore i can rember the time of the music by listening to the melody. but i cant play the piano very well

samba

Maybe I should just try playing a new instrument...

aki6798

You could try that. Sometimes I'll be playing guitar and it'll give me some ideas for keyboard music or drum beats.

ManWithNoName

Every day I create an incredible amount of melodies in my head.

When it comes to expressing these, through voice, or guitar, I completely lose them and have to rely upon the closest thing I can do and take it in a different direction.

I get layered music in my head as well... the best I can express it is through humming and beat-boxing and whistling.

I'd love to just seclude myself in a sound proof room with a range of instruments for a month. I think it is the only way I could ever produce any of the sounds I created in my head and be happy with the result.

mbrinton

I just try to hammer out an idea for a song each and everyday. Most of them I post on my soundcloud, some I don't bother.

Picking up a new instrument can be a big help. I played guitar for many many years until I just realized I didn't like it at all. I love music and love making music so I bought a violin and it really brought it all back. Now I play violin and tenor guitar fairly well and am always writing and recording music.

ZeyerGTR

To be blunt, so what? Many great songs have bits borrowed or stolen from other great songs. Originality is overrated. Is it good? That's what matters. Because 99.99% of the time, it's not nearly as original as you thought it was. Someone has probably used that rhythm, chord progression, or phrase before. The magic is in how you compile those pieces together into something new.

Just keep at it. Just write. Finish something. Who cares if it's original or new, or even good? Just finish a song. Then finish 100 more. Eventually you'll find your own voice.

The biggest problem a lot of new writers face is being afraid to write a bad song. I guarantee you that your favorite writers wrote a lot of bad songs...

One thing that can help is to work on transcribing other pieces by ear. Lots of them!