Methods of music making

A friend and I were have a heated exchange on how to make music, basically I was shouting expletives–FUCK YOU MAN FUCK THAT..FUCK THIS, etc. You know I read up a little bit on music theory awhile back for a few days, so I know some theory about chord progressions, scales, etc. Basically my friends think since everything is digital now, none of that theory stuff matters–one can simply play patterns that sounds good. Well, I do agree with him that. However, he kept on dissing me and call my stuff the old way. This I just don’t get. It doesn’t matter. Why not combine both ways. He seems to think when I try to play something I have to structurally map out everything, which is BS because I “jam” but also know something about the scale and harmony (can’t say I know a lot though).

Part of the problem stem from the fact I can’t play very well within this theory framework, and plus I don’t have much experience with music. Right now, I’m finding it easier to “draw” the notes into a program (ala old-school demo scene tracker types) and arrange them in such a way to mimic actual playing. I’m making progress with the expectation that eventually I will be able to draw some nice sounding stuff.

If you look at what Ronald is doing (previous post)…I’m hearing his little chord progression, which is basically two bars on a chord, one bar on a 2nd chord, two more bars of first chord, then two more bars for a ending with some new chord. And over the “chord progression” one would simply play a scale. One then make sentences with the scale: comma, comma, period. The trick is to find the right chords and progression for a particular “style” or sound that you are going for and just play it.

This is what I’m trying to do. My friend thinks it’s all bullshit. Well, it is because I can’t PLAY IT properly. If I could then it would sound awesome! Trust me. It’s hard doing changes when you can’t hardly play the chords.

Oh yeah, he also thinks this is “old school” style of music making, for muscians. WHere digital music you don’t need to play. IMHO one doesn’t need to know how to play but one still can *mimic* what real musicians do. Except you are in this digital framework and you can do whatever. I don’t see them as being mutually exclusive. Why?

I’m truly, truly, and truly sorry–very, very sorry!

Syke!

No really! I am. I hardly ever proof-read my scrap. It probably contains just tons of crap. Total crap. Pure unadulterated crap! Maybe this is even crap???

I’ve been just so sick and tired

yeah yeah.

I just don’t feel like doing anything, also very tired, in fact, I didn’t even go to a birthday party this past sunday. Instead I stayed home to work on my “game.” My shitty fucking game. F**K

Been a little bit depressed, but I got over that real quick.

Just plain tired of everything.

…

Physically, I feel good! I’ve been running for two weeks now. Been doing push-ups and stuff like crazy. I’m going to start lifting weights.

I think being fit, being in a good state of mind, being able to think about your hobbies…is just much more important than making a buck.

C++ namespace pollution

I didn’t know this was very bad practice:


//someheader.h
#include
#include "somesstupidheader.h"

using namespace std; //!!! BAD !!! NAMESPACE pollution. Don't do it in the header.

namespace CrapCodeNamespace
{
class NoGoodCode
{
};
}

I will be back tomorrow to explain more in depth. I think I know why it is bad practice.

Surprisingly, g++ 4 doesn’t complain while VC2005 craps out during compilation.

This reminds me again of how much I do not know and how much more practice I really need!

Here goes the execuse part:

blah blah… Didn’t take the C++ class in school… blah blah… all I did was read some book 9 years ago… blah blah

can’t believe I helped some people program in C++