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Originally Posted by verbal
I've played drums since I was 12, but I didn't stick with it like I should have. I can keep a beat though and have the curse of the drummer where I constantly have a beat in my head and drum on things with my hands.  I also have tables and spin techno/techhouse. So I have a music background and understand how it all works.
I chose to learn Reason to start with just because I thought it would be a good place to learn the basics of producing, then obviously expanding from there. I have been reading up on Live and it seems like a great program.
Like I said, my main problem is when I sit down for a session in Reason, I just freeze up and don't know what to do with myself. I usually start by laying some drums down but when I listen to it, it feels so robotic. There's no feeling to it. I know it'll be this way since I'm just beginning, but it's discouraging. Not sure how to get around it.
Another issue I have is I don't know notes or how to read music. I have no music theory training at all, I just know what I've learned on my own-- structure, time, feeling, etc. So I feel if I do get a melody or whatever, that it's "wrong" because I don't know music theory. I mainly want to produce techno or techhouse, which it probably doesn't matter at all, but I can't help but think about it. For example, say I'm making a track and want to put some atmospheric synth in, like a continuous "ahhhh" tone in the background (Reason calls them "pads", not sure if that's a Reason term or universal term). I wonder if I can just go by ear with what sounds good or if I should match a key that's somewhere else in the track.
As you can probably tell, I overthink. It's a curse. I think part of my issue is I have a very systematic way of thinking. My brain always thinks in right way or wrong way. It's hard to break. |
Pads is the universal name yes.
And just trust on your ears, man. If it sounds good, then it sounds good. I mostly make music for an hour and then stop for 5 minutes and listen to it again. Sometimes it sounds really sucky then. That might help too. sort of a "reality check" I call it.
Just do what feels right, that's what I do. I don't know music theory either, and some of my music is "liked" by others here on the forum. So if I can do it, you can do it.
Edit: I sometimes even like the fact that I don't know music theory or stuff like that. I like to think that if I did, I would be making my music the same way and using the same tricks over and over.