#1341225 - 08/07/01 08:02 PM
Whaddya do when???
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Tedster
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Whaddya do when you legitimately can't tell if your tune "rules" or "sucks"?
I mean, I'm listening to this damn thing...and I'm too close to it. Because it's me, I automatically think it sucks...(even if for no other reason than nobody likes hearing their own voice)...but it could be okay. I can't fricking tell! Sometimes I'll listen and think "Yeah, baby, rock and roll"...and then I'll listen and think something sounds out or off or something...
I know. But it's driving me nucking FUTS!!!
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1341226 - 08/07/01 08:06 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Mark Zeger
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Loc: Rochester, NY
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There's such a fine line between clever and stupid...
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#1341227 - 08/07/01 08:08 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Tedster
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Originally posted by mzeger:
There's such a fine line between clever and stupid...
D'OH
This message has been edited by Tedster on 08-07-2001 at 08:37 PM
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1341228 - 08/07/01 10:18 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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KHAN
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>>>Whaddya do when you legitimately can't tell if your tune "rules" or "sucks"?
---------------------
Send me a copy, I'll let you know. 
Ted, the "stupid/clever" line is a quote from Spinal Tap. 
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KHAN (Always hopeful, yet discontent)
http://www.floydtribute.hpwebhost.com
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#1341229 - 08/07/01 11:37 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Tedster
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My bad. I haven't seen that movie in ages.
What's your snail, Khanster? You can send it to my email, if you wish...at tedsblues@yahoo.com
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1341230 - 08/08/01 02:17 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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-
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Registered: 03/13/01
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#1341231 - 08/08/01 03:02 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Scott from MA
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Registered: 10/04/00
Posts: 540
Loc: Middleboro,MA,UNITED STATES
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Man... how many times have I been in THAT position?! I'm one of those people who is ALWAYS doubting my own music. It sometimes gets to the point that I'm embarrassed to play stuff for people, because I'm afraid of their reaction. To make matters worse... whenever I play something for a friend, and they tell me it's good, I start to think they're just being polite!
I think it's because I've always been surrounded by musicians who were much better than me. I know some GREAT musicians, and I'm just a self-taught shmuck! Makes me feel like I don't "rate up" to their level. Funny thing is, they've never done anything to make me feel that way. In fact, they all show me a lot of respect, and consider me to be their equal.
Anyway, (sorry to go on like that)... The thing that I've found to be best is to find a select few people who you can REALLY trust to give you honest opinions, and whose opinions you value. I have two friends whose judgment I value highly. They never varnish their opinions to spare my feelings (which I appreciate), and they are always willing to offer up a few suggestions on making the song better. They've even come right out and told me when something was just a real turkey that couldn't be saved! I also tend to trust my band members, because I know they wouldn't play the songs if they were bad... it would reflect badly on them.
Unlike popmusic's advice... I give them a tape of the song, and let them take it home. That way they can hear it on their own time, and give it a better evaluation. You don't get to see their initial reaction this way, but I've found that I get better (and more) suggestions if they've had a chance to listen to it a couple of times, and really think it over. Luckily, my friends are willing to take the time to do that for me... and I do it for them too.
One more thing... I've recently started an MP3.com page where I post demos of stuff I'm working on. The feedback I get from people who I don't even know has been a real confidence boost! You know you're on the right track when people take the time to e-mail you and tell you that they enjoyed your song.
_________________________
Scott
(just another cantankerous bastard)
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#1341232 - 08/08/01 03:03 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Lee Flier
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Registered: 09/13/00
Posts: 15398
Loc: Atlanta,GA,UNITED STATES
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Ted:
It's simple: PRETEND IT'S NOT YOU! 
Maybe turn on your favorite radio station or mix tape and listen for awhile and just get into that head space where you're listening to the radio and you're hearing all the songs in the "big picture", not listening to all the details. Then put yours on. Don't even think about the fact that it's you - it's just another song on the radio.
It takes a little bit of "mind training". And sometimes a little time has to go by before you can hear it that way. But it's an invaluable skill to develop.
--Lee
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#1341233 - 08/08/01 03:34 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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strat0124
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Registered: 04/03/01
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Another way is slip a CD of your latest and greatest in your CD changer at a gathering of folks.....see who's digging it, or who asks who it is. Tricky...but I've done it before mixed in with like music.....with good and sometimes not so good results.
Play it for a co-worker who calls a spade a spade, not to a yes person. My wife is a good guage but again, she's partial. My kids are way more critical and will tell me the truth in short order. I guess the secret is to let a bunch of folks catch a listen and compare, and learn from that.
_________________________
Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in
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#1341234 - 08/10/01 05:21 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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nrg music
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Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 483
Loc: Evesham,,UNITED KINGDOM
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Originally posted by strat0124:
>snip
Play it for a co-worker who calls a spade a spade, not to a yes person. My wife is a good guage but again, she's partial. My kids are way more critical and will tell me the truth in short order. I guess the secret is to let a bunch of folks catch a listen and compare, and learn from that.
Makes sense to me but boy you gotta be brave!! My kids certainly give me the old hoo hah of the tracks are less than they should be.... great quality control if ya ask me!! But be prepared to dodge the odd bullet!!
Simon
_________________________
...remember there is absolutely no point in talking about someone behind their back unless they get to hear about it...
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#1341235 - 08/10/01 08:32 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Trash Monkey
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Registered: 06/29/01
Posts: 194
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Hey Ted,
Just back off of it for a while. Chances are you have been hard at it and may not be able to give yourself a fair critique. Why not get the wife and go out to dinner, have a cocktail, but stay away from your song a day or two even. Then come back and give it a listen, bet you'll have a new take on it and maybe even fresher ideas. Don't worry, I have clients in the same frame occasionally-hell I do it with MY songs.
Juss Chiiiiiiill
Russ
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#1341236 - 08/11/01 04:41 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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rosespappy
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Registered: 03/28/01
Posts: 254
Loc: Indian River,MI,UNITED STATES
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Wow Lee.... Leave it to a Lady!
Pretend it's not you....... hmmmmm....
Ted ole buddy, what's it say man? What's it say? I had a lady ask me if I was proud of Rose. I told her I'd graduated. I used to be proud. Now I'm jealous!
I promise you this: Rose is in the top 2 best voices I've ever heard catagory. And she constantly rips her stuff.No flames please, I love all these guys. But, Have you heard Robert Plants live stuff? Or, Willie and Waylon? Or, ole blue-eyes last few pressings? Or Mr. Young? Etc.etc.etc... Does that make them less than awesome? Come on Lad! Snap oot uf eet!!! Kick ass, take names, and live LOUD!!! I'll bet there's more value in an old frogs croak, than a tadpoles' chirp anyday. If half of us had your phlegmatic coolness to play with..... why, I can't even fathom that much coolness unleashed on the general public at once!!! So, from a friend... quit second guessing the only set of ears that count. Yours!
R
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#1341237 - 08/11/01 06:55 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Tedster
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ZOIKS, Scoob, thanks Rick and all!
Rand row rime rhaving ra scooby snack...
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1341239 - 08/12/01 04:01 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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rosespappy
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Registered: 03/28/01
Posts: 254
Loc: Indian River,MI,UNITED STATES
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Awww Shucks Simon!
Your jusy way too kind. Without having had the pleasure of hearing you
guys' stuff, I know it's: Thought out well,or
Poured out fully,or
Downright funny, or
Painfully deep.......
At this stage of my life, I'm more impressed with "why" someone does something, than "how" someone does something. Doesn't it cut deep, when there is a clarity to the motive?
Simon, I don't feel it is an assumption, that you and Ted,(and several, if not all, of the posters) are doing what you "love" to do musically. If then, "love" is the motive. How cool is that!!!! My voice isn't even a shadow of it's former self, it almost kills me to hear it sometimes. But, it is the voice I have now, and coupled with a few years of "clear" thinking.... it's louder than ever!
Yunno what I mean?
Roarin' Rick! hehehehe!!!
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#1341240 - 09/24/01 06:11 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Emperator
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Registered: 09/24/01
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I think it's called the two week test? Anyway put it away for a couple of weeks then listen to it. It'll let you step back from it and get a fresh perspective. I've had ideas I've recorded and then came across again a couple of years later. It was amazing how much more of an objective opinion I had then. Didn't seem to matter if I had worked really hard at playing it or not; whether it sounded good to me. Mostly I think it's about a STYLE that every combination of song, performance, sounds and arrangement have. I think it's all about style ultimately when you get past performance and production.
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#1341241 - 09/24/01 09:51 AM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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KHAN
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MisterMe, welcome to our little corner of the Earth. There are a lot of excellent guitarists here, which is cool. But mostly there are a lot of great people. Be sure to test drive all the forums, there is tons of info on all of them. You can also check out Ted's tune "The Bitter End" HERE . I hope we'll see you around.
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KHAN (Always hopeful, yet discontent)
http://www.floydtribute.hpwebhost.com
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#1341242 - 09/25/01 07:56 PM
Re: Whaddya do when???
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Kendrix
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Registered: 09/06/01
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I agree with the advice to back off for a few weeks & re-assess.
I usually love my stuff and cant seem to understand why I'm not rich and famous yet. It also seems that my most current tune is always one of my favorites. - Very suspicious.
One thing to remember is that taste is completely subjective.
I mean, my wife dislikes some of my stuff - but she doesnt like Jeff Beck or Hendrix either. So what do you do with an opinion from her???
And what about most of the pop and hard rock stuff making the big bucks today. ALlot of it really sucks from a musicians perspective. There is very little in the the way of original sound, technique or song writing. Mostly its image, attitude, videos and marketing/promotion.
Bottom line is that if you like it - feel free to like it.
IF you really want to sample opinions -I think you need to try a number of folks- - more than a few.
Cheers
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