Are you more creative when you listen to lots of music?

rabid666 · #1 07-05-2008, 02:04 AM

I find if I've listened to an album or two during the day I have a much easier time coming up with music, but I know other people like to have a blank canvas before they start playing. What do you prefer? Do you think if you listen to music prior to you risk coming up with similar things?

bye like

Matt Till · #2 07-05-2008, 04:59 AM

I don't think a blank canvas is the right idea, my suggestion would be DIVERSE listening. If you listen to one style exclusively, you'll probably end up some bland cookie cutter type bassist. I think you should be open to as much influence as possible. I believe everything has already been done in music (not looking into the future of electronic music technology), the key is to mash so much **** together, you sound pseudo original.

René_Julien · #3 07-05-2008, 07:40 AM

I am the opossite.

When I don't listen to music I make stuff up in my head.

When I listen to music I'm just thinking: I would play it like that.

And like Matt Till said: it's good to listen to different genres.

To me it's metal, especially for complicated melodic stuff.

I listen to a lot of jazz, especially for my bass playing in the low register. And for my fretless.

Even simple punk rock can inspire me to great simple riffs.

Classical music... to me it's the same as metal

, only without screams and without electric distortion.

MysticMichael · #4 07-05-2008, 07:57 AM

Many years ago, I played with a guitarist who was convinced that if he listened to other people's music, it would inhibit his own creativity. The drummer and I had to argue most vociferously to get him to change his mind, explaining that genuine creativity does not exist in a vacuum, and that no matter how unique he may believe his creative vision to be, chances are that it was at least somewhat influenced by somebody else - however imperceptibly.

I believe that creativity is actually enhanced - not diminished - by the influence of other creative voices. And if one cuts himself off from those influences, his creativity will become all the more impoverished as a result...

MM

BassChuck · #5 07-05-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I believe that creativity is actually enhanced - not diminished - by the influence of other creative voices. And if one cuts himself off from those influences, his creativity will become all the more impoverished as a result...

MM

A thousand 'amens'.

One interesting thing is to listen to music that is as close to 'opposite' from what you are trying to create. In other words, ask yourself the question, "how would Haydn or Bach compose a metal piece?". "What if the Beatles were to do Rap?" "How would Phillip Glass write a love song".

Whatever..... take ideas from other genres and see where it leads you. You don't have to end up with a Beatles Rap tune, end up with what you like.