Prime example of what's wrong with the current DAW generation

  • Thread starter Thread starter noisewreck
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Damn, that's really quite amazing. Guess that makes me officially old? I liked your post though.
 
WhiteStrat said:
Damn, that's really quite amazing. Guess that makes me officially old? I liked your post though.
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If the guy at the grocery store refers you as "sir" instead of "hey dude", then you are officially old. :D
 
Ouch. I've got no real problem with arps, drum machines, or any DAWs that make it easier for the average person to make music on their PC, but...I'm a classically trained musician, and I couldn't help but cringe when I read that. I'd say this - the guy's making music, good for him. Whether or not people have musical ability and talent will show in their music, and if DAWs are dumbing down the stuff that's out there, then good music will sound even better in comparison.

Still, I think people should learn to play an instrument before composing music. Otherwise it's like someone who's never driven a car designing a racetrack.
 
I think people that say "theory doesn't matter" are just trying to rationalize the fact that they don't know any theory. Not that I'm a master at it--far from it--but come on, there are some fundamentals that are essential IMO.

I've worked with some bass players where I introduce a song and say "the verse is in such-and-such key" and they have no idea what the significance of that is; instead they rely on looking at what frets I'm playing to pull out the root notes and take it from there. In simpler forms of rock n' roll you might be able to squeak by doing this type of thing but it's a very limiting approach at best, and a downright anchor of a creative problem at worst.

Matt
 
I don't think that's a DAW generation trait. If anything, computers make it easier to understand theory. Twenty years ago I had a IIgs with a clever notation program (for its day), I worked out the rules for four-part harmony on that because I can't play piano.

Also twenty years ago I played with one dude, he could really play guitar but when I started talking about one tune with a F chord, he was like, "No, don't say none of that stuff." He not only didn't know the names of any of the open string chords, he actively resisted learning them :confused:

Insert usual comments about playing by "feel" :rolleyes:
 
mattdee1 said:
I think people that say "theory doesn't matter" are just trying to rationalize the fact that they don't know any theory. Not that I'm a master at it--far from it--but come on, there are some fundamentals that are essential IMO.

I've worked with some bass players where I introduce a song and say "the verse is in such-and-such key" and they have no idea what the significance of that is; instead they rely on looking at what frets I'm playing to pull out the root notes and take it from there. In simpler forms of rock n' roll you might be able to squeak by doing this type of thing but it's a very limiting approach at best, and a downright anchor of a creative problem at worst.

Matt
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Well I wouldn't say that it doesn't matter, but it's certainly not necessary for writing music.
I do all my writing in my head. Darned near every single melody that i've come up with happened in my head first.
Where the theory comes in handy is trying to figure out where that melody is on the guitar.
Now obviously if you're a musician you have to be able to play in key. But that's a different issue.
 
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