I'm a trans musician - AND I play bass! In my experience, the best way to make friends is to be a great player. Musicians are more likely to respect you if you're an amazing musician rather than what you look like or how you identify.
@@the_Rade Because there is literally a question at 6:19 in this video where a trans musician asks if it's ok if they stand out because of that, and Adam, the video creator, says he doesn't know any trans musicians, so I thought my comment might be warranted? Or do you not ever provide context about yourself before giving input in a discussion on something that is relevant to you?
@@vesper4697 It definitely has its hurdles but just go out and have fun, meet cool people you can network and collab on shows with, and play your best. You'll be surprised how many people want to hear your music.
May I add, I was there when boy jorge became popular. Literally everyone thought he was coming out as trans, and it was a wonderful vibrant thing. It didn't happen of course, but the discussions it inspired were interesting and I thought, dammit, Janet, he's going to get away with this, the time is right, and he's such a good musician that many people who are abborant to the idea are letting a crack of the light of everythingness of everything pry open their minds a bit and sign off on it. Of course it didn't happen, turns out he was just using femininity as a way to get attention and retracted it when the haters spoke up. Then Rupaul cruised in and cashed in on the controversy and femininity was kept in the closet and kitchen for a while longer, pleasing the patriarch into submission for awhile longer. It will no doubt be an interesting topic of conversation for people for awhile, and that will promote your music, so I hope your music matches your image, personally. It's so disappointing when any woman,trans or born, over exploits their femininity with nothing to back it up.
There's a lovely story from way back when sending deps / subs to orchestral gigs and rehearsals was endemic in London (1950s/1960s?). At the end of half a dozen rehearsals for a concert (yes, I know, "luxury!"), the famous conductor went up to one of the double bass players and congratulated him on being the ONLY member of the orchestra that had attended ALL the rehearsals without sending a stand-in. 'Oh', he replied, 'I can't actually make the actual concert - I'm sending a dep...'
"The most important pedal in this contemporary landscape is..." [Anticipates BS answer like "groove" or "your fingers".] "...The octave pedal." [Oh snap. A legit answer.]
Maxime Ansell I asked this on the last Q and A video, it got nearly 150 upvotes and there was a great conversation if you want to check it out, upvoting this so that he might finally answer It!
That's largely about practice, the more you play the more your ability to tell what's going on rhythmically evolves. Not sure anyone could just listen to a polyrhythmic modern prog metal song once and write down the drum part perfectly on the first try but hey, this is the internet, I'm sure some people have taken it that far.
Hi Adam, the cajón rather than a Latin American instrument is a Peruvian instrument, and fyi it's not traditional to cumbia (which is from Colombia), it's traditional to Afro-Peruvian music (like Música Criolla, Zamacueca, Negroide, etc) and northern Peruvian coast music like Marinera, etc. Taken in the 70s to Spain be Paco de Lucia, this is just to clarify, hope you care. Best regards
Do you think artists like Kendrick Lamar and Lorde who don't play an instrument beside their voice often get too much credit for their work? When To Pimp a Butterfly came out Kendrick was pretty much hailed as a creative genius even though I'm fairly certain he had nothing to do with all those complex, jazzy arrangements, that was a team of great musicians and producers (It would interest me how much he actually contributed to the music besides the rhymes). What's your opinion on the matter?
MrCookie31c In my opinion somebody has to be given the credit. If they mentioned everybody that contributed to the making of the song in the songs title it would be crazy. Even the best musicians have mentors that help them make their music. Rap and hip hop get blamed for having "ghost writers". It's everywhere though.
MrCookie31c This is the essence of why musicians hate on pop music so often - it's not that the music sucks per say but that all credit for the music gets placed on one "idol." The idolism in pop music is idiotic because it often gives the most credit to the frontman who gave the least amount of creative input. In essence pop music is associated with inauthentic cash schemes. I also think pop music is pushed so heavily because it's the easiest to produce COMPARED with any other genre. When I say pop music here I also am talking about punk, funk, metal, basically anything with a pop structure, mimics without innovating, and isn't original/creative. So in essence this shitty music is popular because $$$. Idk, I guess my point is, not all pop music sucks but it's the easiest(only) genre to become a no-talent inauthentic plastic idol and get richer than the greatest jazz musicians alive. I guess I don't hate pop, but I hate the culture surrounding it where non-musicians only listen to what they're exposed to on repeat ad nauseum. It wouldn't be so bad if non-musicians cared enough to branch out and find things to listen to beyond what is pushed onto them. Pop music is like trash TV. Easy to get sucked into with low attention span but there is so much else out there that is so much deeper and more genuine.
I don't get why this criticism only seems to pop up when talking about music. Direction isn't arbitrary. You would never call a film director like Kubrick or Scorsese overrated just because they don't do all the technical work and are relying on talented production/costume designers, sound engineers, film editors, a cinematographer etc. People seem to accept that the same applies in other areas as well, such as video game art direction. Similarly, artists like Kendrick are praised for their artistic vision and ability to guide a team of talented people to bring projects to fruition.
Well, I personally do believe that cinematographers and all the others you mentioned are criminally underrated, it's the same principle. I don't know if the creative influence of a director on a film can be compared to that of a musician who doesn't play an instrument on a piece of music that are intricately composed and encompass a wide variety of music theoretical concepts such as harmony, time signatures, voice leading etc.
MrCookie31c It depend but I have a exemple. You probably know Jamiroquai and their signer, Jay Kay. Jay Kay is «just» a singer but he is the real brain behind Jamiroquai. He comes up with the main musical ideas. He said once that he see musicians as tools and he uses them to express the ideas he have in mind. So, just a signer but he deserve the credit. Plus, he is such a band leader.
A sound perspective on elitism in music. Definitely something that made me reconsider my position on the subject, as I tend to fall within the category of dismissing pop music as generic factory churning.
" ... If notoriety is your most important goal as a artist, I think maybe -- change your perception. Because you're not going to grow as an artist, and you're not going to grow as a human being if that is your main mode of creating" Great life advice right there.
I feel like it’s hard to not be in it for the money in a world where you need money to survive. Like, I love music but at the same time it is gonna be way harder to explore music if I can’t get a roof over my head.
A few years back I saw a really awesome trans bassist with the Stan Kenton Alumni Band! Jennifer Leitham -- she even has a documentary about her, "I Stand Corrected"
what a sweet & practical answer to the trans girl! as for trans musicians: anohni (i think you'd love her), genesis breyer p-orridge of psychic tv & throbbing gristle, laura jane grace of against me!, kim petras...
Hey Adam, I work at a baseball stadium, and there's often a heavily delayed echo off the outfield wall that occurs when someone sings the National Anthem before games. The delay is such that the singer often seems to create chords with their own echo. Therefore, my question is this: Is it possible to consistently harmonize with one's own echo, and if so, could you show off an example?
At 10:25, as a percussionist, for me it is definitely the second. Instruments like a beatring or a gong/tam-tam have a small but very noticable startup time, which you have to adjust for.
as an amateur keyboardist who recently discovered jazz I noticed jazz artist often hum along while they solo. I've tried humming along with my solos and found that they become more creative and expressive. have you ever tried it do you think it helps?
schel sullivan this is something you find in every good book about metal lead guitar. Because when you hum the notes you have to create them in your head first, which improves your inner ear and helps you express the melodies you want to play. There is a video about this on this channel
Hendrix was really popular back in the day in my neck of the woods. I was still in high school then but he was at the musical pinnacle as far as my contemporaries were concerned. Nearly everyone had at least one of his albums in the pile.
If the trans person sees this or anyone in a situation who may feel different then know this. I attend a music course in an arts college in the UK in an area that unfortunately is on the lower end when it comes to acceptance of people with differences in their gender, sexuality, etc. I have found that people who study the arts and more specifically music tend to be a far more accepting group of people than the average. Within my building there are students studying Music, Performing Art, Media, Art and more and I have never seen or heard of anyone being treated badly for these reasons, despite their being a higher amount of transgender and none hetero people in these courses (which I think it also common). Hopefully this makes someone fell more confident in themselves as they shouldn't have anything to worry about when being themselves in a music community.
@@moardoor9772 I'm glad you found my comment and that it may have instilled some confidence. I can add that I have now moved on to studying music at the university level and the sentiment in this comment still lives on. I feel arts people are far more accepting than the average when it comes to LGBTQ+ people and similar. Hopefully some day soon the rest of the world will catch up.
Hey Adam: I used to play the tuba in high school. By the end of my senior year, I figured that was always something I would continue pursuing, so much so that my parents actually bought me one for my graduation. In college though, for a number of reasons, things didn't go as planned. As I steadily approach my goal of (finally) attaining my degree, I sometimes find myself getting nostalgic for tuba playing, but I don't really have much of an outlet or reason to play it. I was probably, when I played regularly, at most slightly above average in terms of tone and skill set. I'm quite rusty these days, but still not too keen on selling the thing because, hey, who knows when the situation will arise when I need to play the Veggie Tales theme or the intro riff to Cowboys From Hell or For Whom The Bell Tolls? Yeah, as you can tell I'm a bit of a metalhead, guitar player as well, (and I always appreciate the odd references you make from time to time about Cannibal Cropse or Animals As Leaders.) TL;DR, where I am in Southwest Ohio, I can barley get enough people to commit to a standard metal band. What the hell am I supposed to do with a goddamn tuba?
Being a musician in NYC or being a success in any endeavor in the big apple is enraveled in the city’s pulse. That city had a drive. It is like an energy grabs you by the back of the neck and commands “ GO-GO-GO !!”
Enjoying your videos Could you consider doing one for EQ settings in different environments? Getting the bass to "punch" through without interference from either the guitar player or the kick drum. Over the years I have found that this can sometimes be a big challenge. Especially as it relates to your onstage volume compared to the overall sound in the mix through the mains.
If you're interested in learning more about the craft of pop music, I recommend the podcast Switched On Pop. The two hosts (a professional songwriter and a musicologist) deconstruct top 40 hits in a number of unique ways.
Hi Adam, I'm trans and I know a lot of other trans musicians. Not as much in a lot of genres like Jazz or Prog but more in the experimental electronic/noise/punk area. I'm actually wearing a shirt for a trans-fem punk band (GLOSS) at the moment. Depending on what kind of music you're going into, there can be a comparitively decently large trans community. Just thought I'd give my input.
I don't understand why "trans" people get so worked up about being different. Their politics actually take away from the concept of equality, because much like vegans, it's all a lifestyle choice that begs for special treatment. You don't play music with whatever you have or don't have between your legs. If you're considering a career in music, then worry about your chops. Antony and the Johnsons have been around and in the mainstream here and there for two decades now, and few people who love their music care about the "trans" thing. I'm not discriminating, but if you bring the issue to the forefront, you're better of being an activist.
aTeólogo De Virtud-wtf are you talking about fam I’m a big fan of Antony as well as Anohni and if you don’t think that plays into the music and lyrics you’re not listening-and you def don’t get to speak for all fans lmao
pop music is not easy, ive recorded and help produce a few underground people. just as lessons, so they could start themselves. its hard; melody writing, bass, mood, lyrics, organization, mixing and mastering. mixing and mastering is a craft onto itself. its hard in its own right. like all other music its a craft, make the music you want and dont tell other people whats good or bad.
Hey Adam, you've really opened my eyes when it comes to actually creating music and note just playing the ink. As a euphonium player I was curious what the New York scene was like or if you've ever gigged with a euphonium player?
Ok, so I'm not sure if I'm gonna be able to eloquently express what I'm trying to say, but I'm gonna give it a shot. I've come to understand that pitch and harmony is essentially made up of complicated rhythms, but there's something I'm not sure if I quite understand. So if I'm not mistaken, 1Hz is equivalent to 60bpm, but we don't hear it as a pitch because human hearing doesn't start until about 20Hz. Similarly, 16th notes at 120bpm would be equivalent to 8Hz, but once again we would hear it as a rhythm as supposed to a really low pitch, right? So here's my question. I read that some whales can hear down to 7Hz, so does that mean that they would hear 16th notes at 120bpm as a pitch instead of a rhythm? Sorry if I'm completely misunderstanding this, it's just really messing with my head. How can other animals perceive something as a pitch that we perceive as a rhythm? I'd really appreciate if you could talk a little bit about this in your next Q&A.
I would recommend that you would watch a couple of Adam's videos about this topic. Namely, What is the Fastest Music Possible, Musical Fractals, and the Coltrane Fractal. Hope this clears some things up!
The reason that I am asking this question is because I have watched those videos and am very interested in those types of topics. The question that I asked however hasn't specifically been touched upon in any of Adam's videos and I can't find an answer to it anywhere, so I am hoping that Adam may be able to answer it, or at least provide some insight.
Oh, my bad. Well, I ought to at least offer some real help then. Marine animals in general have different auditory systems than land animals, so whales may not hear 7Hz in the air like we do. Now land animals who have these low hearing ranges probably can perceive this as pitch. Hearing is all in the brain. Actually, everything is sensed through the brain. Organisms can have sensors fire off, but without the signals being translated into palatable information, they cannot use the information.
Dude I paused the video to read your question, I am intrigued! if only someone could tell the number of qna video where Adam answers! I'm gonna watch all his vids anyway and if I find first I'll return and write!
Regarding overdriven bass: I use a boss line selector pedal (aby) and leave channel A bypassed for the clean sound and have channel B contain my overdrive or fuzzed sound. There's an A+B mix setting with volume adjustments for each channel, so you can dial in the fuzz while maintaining all of the low end quality of the clean bass sound.
I could not agree with you more on the pop music. I roll my eyes so hard when people on channels geared towards metal music do things like metal musicians make a pop song in less than a day and the music clearly isn't pop. They have solos and it ends up sounding like punk music because they hear pop and think play simple stuff. It's the most cringe-worthy thing when you scroll down and all the comments are "better than anything on the radio today" or "this is too good and made by people that are too talented to be considered art.
I really enjoy listening to you talk. You're showing a lot of professionalism not only by your content but also because of how fricking well spoken you are, which makes it very easy to listen and pay attention to you. Keep it up!
Depends on the writer, obviously. Different musicians will have wildly different approaches to writing regardless of the medium. Personally I tend to write much more repetitive music on the computer and much more varied music on an instrument, it's more of a "hassle" to add variety to the former and restriction to the latter. I think that's a personal failing rather than something intrinsic to either environment though, although since it's the path of least resistance I wouldn't be surprised if it were a common issue.
It won't change much, your melodic sensibility and harmony knowledge is still applicable, and you'll end up programming something you would've played anyways. Once you get used to it, you can start exploring differences in limitations on both mediums.
On computer/ Most of the time MIDI instrument samples/simulations sound like shit. Also real instruments vibrate for looong time. When MIDI tend to cut as note end. So in MIDI many times fast and not "ideal" notes sound weird. Or changes of notes for example 4-4-8-16-4-4. So it's rly hard to know does it rly sound like shit or is MIDI shit in given example.
Regarding using bass effects, if it is possible for you to put out two signals, having one amp with the effects you want and one clean normal tone will achieve what you're going for. I believe the most important effect is a compressor/limiter. If you set it right, it will help you cut thru without being louder as well as give you sustain and make your playing more even. The opposite setting will make it punchy rather than fat.
I remember when I used to help out with medium size events in the UK (for an organization a bit like Rotaract ) - one event had months before they booked the band (The Blue Bells") that was currently no 1 in the UK and they honored the gig they had also got DR and the Medics who where also in the charts as well.
Yes! You mentioned classical guitar! Hey Adam, love your videos. I'm studying classical guitar, but I'm becoming more and more interested in jazz, even though I understand very little about it. Question: Do you think it is possible to learn jazz by yourself (e.g. from the internet) or do you need a teacher?
I know i'm late to the party but I really needed to hear what you said in relation to the trans girl. I'm a trans girl to, but I'm also a contemporary-classical composer and the classical music world can be very closed-minded. I really appreciate your "just do it" attitude, it means a lot me me!
4:47 Is it bad that every time I hear the word "sub" I don't think of "substitute" and instead my mind immediately goes to "submissive" in a sexual context?
On the point of Sisyphus and truly learning by experience, I think it really helps to think of the brain as an associative machine rather than a logical one. Learning a theory doesn't automatically cause your brain to edit all its registries that could relate to that theory, that would be so astronomically slow and take a huge amount of brain power and energy. Instead, your brain relates experiences to one another just by their proximity, so that's why you truly have to live out an idea in order for it to become meaningfully integrated into your brain.
Hey Adam, here's a question! I'm studying for a Bachelor's of Music in Composition. I love music, but I often wonder if I will be able to use it professionally and make survivable money with it. I'm a classical guitarist, and while I've grown a lot in college, I'm still not stellar there. I think of myself as a stronger composer than guitarist, but I know it isn't guaranteed that I'll find precessional success there. I do happen to be adept with music theory, the one thing in my department I'm better that most at, but I don't know all of it's practical applications in the music world. Do you have any tips on what I need to know outside of the music department to help me make some money for my music? And is this something where I can work hard toward my goal and get there, or is there a high chance that I could work very hard and see no fruit? Thanks!
I know that the transgender musician will see this. But myself also being a trans girl, I want to say something. While I’m not in the music industry, I’m in the indie Game Dev industry, which culturally is very similar to the indie music industry. And the best thing you can do is just make trans friends. They don’t even have to be irl friends, just some trans friends. They can help you with so much, whether it’s transphobia or medicine, they can help you
As a sort of rebuttle (which evolved over the course of writing it, please bear with me) to the statement that pop musicians making the music they do because they believe in their music and craft: there are times I question that, for instance when an artist gets popular doing something that isn't pop, but after so many albums suddenly decides to go with a full-pop sound. I don't doubt that sometimes they really do just want to make that jump, but I'm not convinced it's 100%. At that massive international scale where record labels still matter, I wonder if there is some exec telling them to change their sound for the sake of making more money. On the other hand, I've read that the backing tracks on many top 40 artists' songs are produced "by committee." They (the committees) write all of the music, then have the artist change enough of the song so they can claim some authorship and earn money. Point is: somehow a song by committee doesn't feel honest, it feels like a business, and I think it's supposed to be about making music that matters to the writer, not writers completely catering to the masses. As is the way with many of my ramblings, I often happen across different angles, so hopefully this thought is helpful to others disillusioned as I sometimes am with the situation: what if those committees / producers / "pop artist sellouts" make those hits as their way of making ends meet, and they still make what fulfills them on the side? This still leaves one issue: music that is getting vast attention actually means very little to the writers. The only consolation is that it means something to listeners, as much as many of us musicians want to bemoan the situation.
Jeremiah Sweeney pretty sure a lot of pop music is constructed with the lowest common denominator in mind. It still takes a certain level of craftsmanship to make a catchy song using a specific formula, but I believe music made in that way is much more accurately described as entertainment than art.
Perhaps. There's no conflict with one point I proposed that the producers of those major pop hits do it as a day job to make ends meet. Still, some of those songs end up having huge meaning for certain people, even if it doesn't make sense. Yes, it's made for the widest number of people to enjoy, but that doesn't mean those people are wrong for liking it.
Also, where does the line between "entertainment" and art lie? Is not the point of art to enrich our lives? And can enrichment not mean many things? If it's music, and if music is art, than it's all art, no matter how banal anyone thinks it is because there is someone who holds it in high regard. If it pleases the listener, than it's entertainment, so then all art can be entertaining. I know people who thoroughly enjoy some of the most a-melodic and a-rhythmic pieces of music who light up just the same as someone listening to a familiar top 40 hit on the radio.
It always bugs me when people complain about music not being a meritocracy. It is. We're successful based on our merits. I would argue that making music that people want to buy has more merits than being able to solo over giant steps with a double time feel in 7.
Oh man. Are alt-right trolls gonna come in and berate Adam for recognizing and affirming a trans person's identity? Is it gonna be like that time he used the word "microagression?" Also, kudos to you, Adam, for being a cool person. I play in a punk band with a genderqueer lead vocalist. Our bassist and I like your videos.
Most serious musicians are like common people, if you aren't a jerk, can do your part, and don't feel sorry for yourself, then you won't have any issues
@Dan Massoglia That's disgusting. I would never associate myself with a trans/"genderqueer" "person" or be in a band with one. I don't care if that makes me a "intolerant stupid homophobic bigot troll" or whatever generic buzzword you'd like to throw at me. I'll wear the "bigot" label loud and proud. :)
WRAITH why are you so mad at people being happy? are you sad? the quotes around "person" suggest that you're sad about the comfort of others. i've found a good cure for sadness to be socialization with others you don't know. maybe you should join a book club.
Perhaps Camus’ inquiry into the Myth of Sisyphus would be most helpful regarding the experience of rising to the ranks in the “music” industry. I have certainly found it comforting lol
7:30 Catrina Daimon Lee was the first known trans-identified jazz guitarist. Her career was destroyed by her local community's love of talentless power and hatred of sensitive outsiders. Meritocracy does not exist in her country, only mendacity.
From listening to you, one could think that if you are really dedicated, live the music, work hard, etc. etc. etc. you'd churn up pop hits (or become a successful jazz musician, or whatever). Well, sorry, folks, but for every one (dedicated, hard-working, tallented) success story out thee, there are thousands of equally dedicated, tallented and hard-working musicians you've never heard of and never will. Money, connections of all sorts, and just plain luck, determine the "winners", and survivor bias makes people think it's all about their tallent and hard work. Same goes for other fields besides music. Human tallent, contrary to what you've been always told, is incredibly cheap.
Hey Adam, I'm a sax player and have only recently started to learn the importance of transcribing from the masters (Bird, Coltrane etc) so that I can internalise their material, rework it in my own playing and improv and improve my technical skills. I only transcribe by ear, at original tempo, but often I find myself wondering how important it is to even focus on the notes I'm playing and copying, or whether I should just focus on learning a phrase by ear and applying that elsewhere where it would sound appropriate. Surely a musician could go through their whole life mastering their individual instrument, developing relative pitch and being able to jam or improvise with anyone without having to know the key, chords or even tonality if their ears are trained enough so that they are one one with their instrument, beyond any level of theory you could study. This would be a major benefit to an alto player like me who spends their whole life transposing to Eb anyway haha you dig?
Hey Adam I'm just about to go and study sports science at university. All top athletes have perfect genetics for there sport (for example I higher percentage of fast twitch muscles fibres in a sprinter). Do you think that music ability is at all determined by our genetics. For example can someone be born to do music. Hello from England and keep doing what your doing.
I'm not Adam, but I think genetics plays a big role in athleticism because of how much physical activity is involved in it. Genetics can determine how tall, strong, or active you are, even how much weight you can lose and gain is determined by genetics, so athletes are mostly predisposed to athletics due to genetics. But music is more mentally than physically involved, the knowledge of harmonies, scales, chords, modes etc. lend more to the music rather than having chops to shred and play flawlessly. I'm not exactly sure how much genetics determine determines things such as finger dexterity and the ability to adapt to practice, but music is more knowledge-based than physically-intensive, imo. To conclude, I think that musicality is more of an acquired skill, and the ability to actually play may or may not inborne.
Lenard Magtira Actually certain genes have been associated with factors like IQ, anxiety levels and brain structure. Genes do not just effect things like higher and strength but also or mental abilities. Most people cannot be a prodigy in a certain instrument only very few. I takes more than just practice.
Also Wayne / Jayne County of the Electric Chairs. Probably NSFW if you search on TH-cam - #1 result is usually one of their ruder songs - it's good though :)
hey adam, so i just learned last night of a successful trans musician named SOPHIA....Shes mostly epic tho its not my style but thought you should like to know for next time @Erik Holland
Have you ever played with a Boss Line Selector for your bass effects? It's great for creating a blend of clean bass tone and an effected sound. I use one for adding an upper octave (after a distortion pedal) to fill in some of the space during solos for my cover band trio without losing any of the low range. It's also great for adding fuzz if I turn the harmonizer off, so I can blend the low tones with a nasty fuzz.
When I was at university studying music (a decade ago), no-one gave a shit what anyone's sexuality or gender was (there was a certain amount of fluidity in both). Musical talent is what makes you stand out, and this is what people remember you for.
So if i shit for 20h its supposed to be good? I do it with passion btw!!! (Why should i lowe someone for work if in the end its still shit and useless...)
Because pop music means a lot to a lot of people. Also, who are you to decide what's "shit and useless"? Why isn't the music that you like "shit and useless"? _"I do it with passion btw!!!"_ I think the "doing it with passion" part had more to do with the fact that the people that have passion for doing something are more likely also going to come up with better quality stuff. Somebody who doesn't care about pop music and just tries to write a pop song for fun probably doesn't care much about the end result either. But somebody with a passion for pop music is going to care about the end result - "good enough" is not good enough for them. So just because you do something with passion doesn't automatically make it good. But people with a passion for writing pop music are more likely to be successful pop songwriters than people with no passion for it. Even if you don't like a song, you can still appreciate the quality of its production. You can still tell that it's a "professional quality" song and you can appreciate the musicianship behind the song. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it can't be a quality product.
you dont get it man, i am not against you listening to pop but man, when people say wow how much hard work katy perry, and taylor swift put into work i wanna laught my ass, give me a break, it sounds unoriginal and simple, i cant create it, ok good point, but there are people who create same quality instrumentals every deay just go and listen to some free non copyright music playlist, same stuff recycled, unoriginal, if she does it with passion and thats why i should love her, nah i poop with passion love my shit more than yours i do it with passion.
+StripedDash No one said you have to love someone's work--for any reason. If you don't like, you don't like it. He's just saying that there's a big difference between someone who approaches something with cynicism--shit man he explains this whole thing in the video, go back and watch it again. He just respects the passion that goes in to music making, regardless of genre. He didn't say you have to enjoy someone's music simply because they approach it with passion. Kind of a shit and useless comment you've made here....
well shit man respect me coz i shit with passion i pee with passion i smoke with passion i kill with passion i rape with passion and not with cynicism respect me, thats the whole point of cynicism it needs to exist to not overreact the bad or good.
I'm not into mainstream pop, but I still appreciate the music style. It's fine if you don't like it. But there's no need to be an elitist about it. _"if she does it with passion and thats why i should love her"_ Nobody said anything like that. You are making stuff up. _"there are people who create same quality instrumentals every deay just go and listen"_ The sad truth about instrumental music is that it just doesn't appeal to many people. If there are no lyrics, most people will not care about the music. Most people who appreciate instrumental music are musicians. People listen to music for different reasons, and most people just want to have a good time and listen to music with catchy hooks that are easy to sing along with and groovy beats that make you want to dance. That's just how it goes. Not everybody wants to listen to complex progressive music, and most likely they would say "this music sucks, it doesn't have anything catchy in it, it doesn't have a good beat, it doesn't even have a chorus". And I guess there would be some truth to what they say. Sure, that's their opinion and I think they should be more open minded about music. But then again, if people enjoy simple stuff, what's the problem? Complex doesn't equal good, simple doesn't equal bad. Different music styles have different purposes. If you are looking for deep meanings in songs, you may not want to listen to mainstream pop, because most of it is feel good party music. But some people only want to listen to feel good party music. There is no one "correct" way of listening to music. Music means different things to different people, and there is no one correct meaning for music.
It's a student about to go to a music school and is concerned about the social environment asking a question to someone that has been to two different music schools. It's a perfectly appropriate context and a legitimate concern, maybe you should ask yourself why it bothers you anyway.
I don't think the person was anxious to label themselves. Being young is difficult because you feel like you're under constant judgement from your peers, which is true to an extent. Any of your anomalous characteristics is liable to invite ridicule, alienation, and so forth. I think they were just trying to figure out how to minimize or avoid this so that they could just enjoy music without such trivial matters interfering with their experience. If we haven't lived their life, then it's hard to tell them that their music is the only thing that'll matter, because they'll likely still face discrimination that we'll never have to.
Yeah. Try being obviously different from everyone around you before you say something like that. Everybody will label you whether you accept or reject your label. If the only thing that truly mattered is one's music, that's a ridiculous concept because it doesn't happen.
What makes a pop song a pop song is not the quality of the material, but the money the label is willing to spend on promotion. Sprint's buying a million copies of Jay-Z's 4:44 is how 4:44 got on the charts. Hip hop labels are famous for buying back songs of their artists with the only cost of doing so going to the seller's cut. Smaller labels can't afford to do that. It's been at least three decades since a song hit the Hot 100 that wasn't backed by a major label.
Also on the subject of cajon, I think it's important to note that instruments and means of making music aren't meant to achieve any one musical purpose. At least, I personally believe that artistic intent should not be limited by the instruments we use to make music. Don't get me wrong here, cajon was absolutely made specifically for Latin American music. However, I personally believe that using the cajon in the way the drummer in that clip did was okay. I hope it doesn't feel as though Americans are stealing and warping your long-standing musical traditions, because that isn't what he's trying to do. I think some people just like the sound and style of the cajon and want to incorporate it into their music, without changing all of their artistic goals and desires. I hope people understand what I mean here. Of course, it's not my instrument to share with people, so it's up to those of the specified culture to decide, but, I would hope everybody would be willing to share the instruments used frequently in their individual cultures.
Adam, I really your comments on why you appreciate pop music. For me, personally, I have known for a long time that I do not and possibly cannot write a catchy pop tune that will be commercially successful and grab that audience, whoever they may be. It doesn't mean I can't appreciate the effort. I mean, if you listen to/study enough music it really doesn't matter what genre it is to some degree. I'm more interested in the delivery or the composition than I am the overall style of it. Anyway, random question: You ever thought of making pop music in prime number time signatures? I know that's weird but the thought crossed my mind if it were even possible and you seem like the person to ask. Thanks
I like you a lot bro, and despite me being a guitarist, I still check you out a lot. But on that tip, do you have any guitarists who are doing what you do vlogwise I could check out? Thanks man.
"Capitalism, for all of its flaws, does kind of work." :( I prefer government grants to being a workaholic, tbh. Stress is bad for your health, shortens your life-span. Most people don't "make it" in the end, even though they work themselves to the brink, and they honestly don't deserve any worse than people who are lucky as well as talented and hard-working. Good things happen without precarious situations, good art can come out of a stable situation as well as from a caffeine filled, poor workaholic. Do you want art and happy people or art and unhappy people?
What I'm saying is not embrace Stalinism, but instead that an ideology that values productivity over and at the cost of health and happiness is stupid (I think we might even agree on that part). It just happens to be the American "Capitalism is good" ideology. I also hate the communist view that a person is only valuable because of their labour. I've been to a choir concert here in Berlin, twelve voices, experimental, amazing. It wouldn't exist without money from the senate. Choir music is especially hard to finance, experimental choir music, fogeddaboutit. Should all choir music be gospel-pop medleys because that is what sells well? Or should there be a place of financial security for amazing and weird art? Also, the most tax revenues should come from people who have more money than they could ever need, who let their money work for them via speculation and don't contribute anything material. Just, imo. Relieve the workers all the way.
I get your criticism with "happy" and subjectivity and all that. It's an unreliable metric inreality and subjective. I just think we have different experiences with government and all that due to the states/areas we live in. Corruption is an issue that falls outside the binary left/right dynamic but touches both. I'm just afraid of less or no government because like in the UK, if for example disabled people loose their grants, they might die! Paying taxes doesn't kill people, but having no money kinda does (even though my example is drastic it remains that poverty shortens your life span and people having enough money to spend on more than just the basics helps te economy.) And would you call Germany a Denmark-style country? Because most people here generally believe that the government is not totally broken, even tough there will always be criticism.
That's an application of statistics facing from reality. When you apply statistics in a case like this you'd be better off talking about the probability that someone would be a transgender musician, not that you "statistcally" wouldn't know one. It would also be more accurate to mention the statstics on how many percent of musicians are transgender. In some cases transgender people might be over- or underrepresented - as in the transgender community (they're 100%).
LVX156 Once you're part of a scene, this is actually very plausible. 300 musicians is not hard to encounter once you've been at it for a few years. And yes Ive met a trans musician.
There is only a 90% chance at meeting a trans person if you see 300 people at a 0.3% chance per person. You need to see 334 people for it to be 100% (in theory) to meet a trans person.
Regarding transients, in choral music I was taught to put the vowel on the beat, which implies the consonants before it. Certainly mixing mashups I've found that to be the case.
I'm a trans musician - AND I play bass! In my experience, the best way to make friends is to be a great player. Musicians are more likely to respect you if you're an amazing musician rather than what you look like or how you identify.
So why trans musician then? It's as weird as saying someone is a male musician
@@the_Rade Because there is literally a question at 6:19 in this video where a trans musician asks if it's ok if they stand out because of that, and Adam, the video creator, says he doesn't know any trans musicians, so I thought my comment might be warranted? Or do you not ever provide context about yourself before giving input in a discussion on something that is relevant to you?
hey me too! it’s cool to know it’s possible to succeed aha often times i feel like i’ll never succeed bc im trans :)
@@vesper4697 It definitely has its hurdles but just go out and have fun, meet cool people you can network and collab on shows with, and play your best. You'll be surprised how many people want to hear your music.
May I add, I was there when boy jorge became popular. Literally everyone thought he was coming out as trans, and it was a wonderful vibrant thing. It didn't happen of course, but the discussions it inspired were interesting and I thought, dammit, Janet, he's going to get away with this, the time is right, and he's such a good musician that many people who are abborant to the idea are letting a crack of the light of everythingness of everything pry open their minds a bit and sign off on it. Of course it didn't happen, turns out he was just using femininity as a way to get attention and retracted it when the haters spoke up. Then Rupaul cruised in and cashed in on the controversy and femininity was kept in the closet and kitchen for a while longer, pleasing the patriarch into submission for awhile longer.
It will no doubt be an interesting topic of conversation for people for awhile, and that will promote your music, so I hope your music matches your image, personally. It's so disappointing when any woman,trans or born, over exploits their femininity with nothing to back it up.
There's a lovely story from way back when sending deps / subs to orchestral gigs and rehearsals was endemic in London (1950s/1960s?).
At the end of half a dozen rehearsals for a concert (yes, I know, "luxury!"), the famous conductor went up to one of the double bass players and congratulated him on being the ONLY member of the orchestra that had attended ALL the rehearsals without sending a stand-in.
'Oh', he replied, 'I can't actually make the actual concert - I'm sending a dep...'
WOAH!
That’s so Spïnal Täp.
XD that's nucking futs
"The most important pedal in this contemporary landscape is..."
[Anticipates BS answer like "groove" or "your fingers".]
"...The octave pedal."
[Oh snap. A legit answer.]
I've got a couple your fingers pedals and none of them are that great, then again, I bought them pretty cheap.
I didnt realize one week had passed until i saw your new video.
Time flies man
+peter wurst
Wat
@peter wurst: You should write a book on your firsthand experience.
peter wurst I much prefer Lampshade by Kashmir
Are you sure youre on the right channel tho?
The topics here seem to be a little complicated for you.
IT'S BEEN
ONE WEEK SINCE THE LAST NEELY
HOW ELSE WILL I LEARN MUSIC THEORY
ONE WEEK SINCE I HEARD THE LICK
ALTHOUGH TO BE HONEST IT CAME KINDA QUICK
There needs to be another Adam Neely for drums😄
Harry Miree
What about harry miree?
gamegye8 Yeah love him! Hope he'll keep uploading stuff more frequently
There are tons of 'em on drums, we need one on piano tho
+Yotam Ishay I dont know any music channels doing piano tbh
I love this channel. there's nothing on TH-cam like this.
Not many trans people... 7:57 Music is a really Euuuh a very transcendental experience...
Hey Adam. Is there a perfect pitch equivalent for rhythm. For example they can listen to any rhythm and be able to write it down.
Maxime Ansell I asked this on the last Q and A video, it got nearly 150 upvotes and there was a great conversation if you want to check it out, upvoting this so that he might finally answer It!
What if I told you pitch and rhythm were the same thing
noreaction What if I told you we've all seen that video of Adam's
That's largely about practice, the more you play the more your ability to tell what's going on rhythmically evolves. Not sure anyone could just listen to a polyrhythmic modern prog metal song once and write down the drum part perfectly on the first try but hey, this is the internet, I'm sure some people have taken it that far.
Tony- Atkinson A newborn doesn't have perfect pitch. They have no concept of music at all.
Hi Adam, the cajón rather than a Latin American instrument is a Peruvian instrument, and fyi it's not traditional to cumbia (which is from Colombia), it's traditional to Afro-Peruvian music (like Música Criolla, Zamacueca, Negroide, etc) and northern Peruvian coast music like Marinera, etc. Taken in the 70s to Spain be Paco de Lucia, this is just to clarify, hope you care. Best regards
Whenever I finish an Adam Neely video I feel like I gained a better understanding of art.
Adam... you videos have a perfect blend of intellect, wisdom, experience, humor and education ! Keep up the good work Bro !! :)
I feel that your experience as a bass player has informed the way you speak. Thank you for your work.
Do you think artists like Kendrick Lamar and Lorde who don't play an instrument beside their voice often get too much credit for their work? When To Pimp a Butterfly came out Kendrick was pretty much hailed as a creative genius even though I'm fairly certain he had nothing to do with all those complex, jazzy arrangements, that was a team of great musicians and producers (It would interest me how much he actually contributed to the music besides the rhymes). What's your opinion on the matter?
MrCookie31c In my opinion somebody has to be given the credit. If they mentioned everybody that contributed to the making of the song in the songs title it would be crazy. Even the best musicians have mentors that help them make their music. Rap and hip hop get blamed for having "ghost writers". It's everywhere though.
MrCookie31c This is the essence of why musicians hate on pop music so often - it's not that the music sucks per say but that all credit for the music gets placed on one "idol." The idolism in pop music is idiotic because it often gives the most credit to the frontman who gave the least amount of creative input. In essence pop music is associated with inauthentic cash schemes. I also think pop music is pushed so heavily because it's the easiest to produce COMPARED with any other genre. When I say pop music here I also am talking about punk, funk, metal, basically anything with a pop structure, mimics without innovating, and isn't original/creative. So in essence this shitty music is popular because $$$. Idk, I guess my point is, not all pop music sucks but it's the easiest(only) genre to become a no-talent inauthentic plastic idol and get richer than the greatest jazz musicians alive.
I guess I don't hate pop, but I hate the culture surrounding it where non-musicians only listen to what they're exposed to on repeat ad nauseum. It wouldn't be so bad if non-musicians cared enough to branch out and find things to listen to beyond what is pushed onto them. Pop music is like trash TV. Easy to get sucked into with low attention span but there is so much else out there that is so much deeper and more genuine.
I don't get why this criticism only seems to pop up when talking about music. Direction isn't arbitrary. You would never call a film director like Kubrick or Scorsese overrated just because they don't do all the technical work and are relying on talented production/costume designers, sound engineers, film editors, a cinematographer etc. People seem to accept that the same applies in other areas as well, such as video game art direction. Similarly, artists like Kendrick are praised for their artistic vision and ability to guide a team of talented people to bring projects to fruition.
Well, I personally do believe that cinematographers and all the others you mentioned are criminally underrated, it's the same principle. I don't know if the creative influence of a director on a film can be compared to that of a musician who doesn't play an instrument on a piece of music that are intricately composed and encompass a wide variety of music theoretical concepts such as harmony, time signatures, voice leading etc.
MrCookie31c It depend but I have a exemple. You probably know Jamiroquai and their signer, Jay Kay. Jay Kay is «just» a singer but he is the real brain behind Jamiroquai. He comes up with the main musical ideas. He said once that he see musicians as tools and he uses them to express the ideas he have in mind. So, just a signer but he deserve the credit. Plus, he is such a band leader.
I've always loved that you always respond to comments that have some distasteful motive, in a respectful manner, tackling all sides of an argument.
A sound perspective on elitism in music. Definitely something that made me reconsider my position on the subject, as I tend to fall within the category of dismissing pop music as generic factory churning.
" ... If notoriety is your most important goal as a artist, I think maybe -- change your perception. Because you're not going to grow as an artist, and you're not going to grow as a human being if that is your main mode of creating"
Great life advice right there.
"In it for the money." That's a good one.
I feel like it’s hard to not be in it for the money in a world where you need money to survive. Like, I love music but at the same time it is gonna be way harder to explore music if I can’t get a roof over my head.
A few years back I saw a really awesome trans bassist with the Stan Kenton Alumni Band! Jennifer Leitham -- she even has a documentary about her, "I Stand Corrected"
what a sweet & practical answer to the trans girl! as for trans musicians: anohni (i think you'd love her), genesis breyer p-orridge of psychic tv & throbbing gristle, laura jane grace of against me!, kim petras...
Genesis!!! RIP
What is the name of your cat?
Baron Von Dickweed
Catty McCatface
If he had A dog, it would be called sub-woofer
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
ADAM ANSWER PLS
My friend has a dog with those kind of markings, he's named jigsaw :-D
Hey Adam,
I work at a baseball stadium, and there's often a heavily delayed echo off the outfield wall that occurs when someone sings the National Anthem before games. The delay is such that the singer often seems to create chords with their own echo. Therefore, my question is this: Is it possible to consistently harmonize with one's own echo, and if so, could you show off an example?
Jack Drummond check out Prophet's Song by Queen. Therein lies your answer! The middle section starts about 3 minutes in.
that is the Main thing in gregorian music
At 10:25, as a percussionist, for me it is definitely the second. Instruments like a beatring or a gong/tam-tam have a small but very noticable startup time, which you have to adjust for.
as an amateur keyboardist who recently discovered jazz I noticed jazz artist often hum along while they solo. I've tried humming along with my solos and found that they become more creative and expressive. have you ever tried it do you think it helps?
schel sullivan this is something you find in every good book about metal lead guitar. Because when you hum the notes you have to create them in your head first, which improves your inner ear and helps you express the melodies you want to play. There is a video about this on this channel
schel sullivan my teacher tells me to do that.
I'm thinking he's completely right..
It naturally makes you audiate. Audiation is one of the most inportant skills you need for improvisation
Hendrix was really popular back in the day in my neck of the woods. I was still in high school then but he was at the musical pinnacle as far as my contemporaries were concerned. Nearly everyone had at least one of his albums in the pile.
If the trans person sees this or anyone in a situation who may feel different then know this. I attend a music course in an arts college in the UK in an area that unfortunately is on the lower end when it comes to acceptance of people with differences in their gender, sexuality, etc. I have found that people who study the arts and more specifically music tend to be a far more accepting group of people than the average. Within my building there are students studying Music, Performing Art, Media, Art and more and I have never seen or heard of anyone being treated badly for these reasons, despite their being a higher amount of transgender and none hetero people in these courses (which I think it also common).
Hopefully this makes someone fell more confident in themselves as they shouldn't have anything to worry about when being themselves in a music community.
i know my reply is coming two years later than your comment, but thank you for writing this.
@@moardoor9772 I'm glad you found my comment and that it may have instilled some confidence. I can add that I have now moved on to studying music at the university level and the sentiment in this comment still lives on. I feel arts people are far more accepting than the average when it comes to LGBTQ+ people and similar. Hopefully some day soon the rest of the world will catch up.
12:06 refreshing to hear some truth against cynicism and ignorance
15:17 i felt the passion in your voice
Hey Adam:
I used to play the tuba in high school. By the end of my senior year, I figured that was always something I would continue pursuing, so much so that my parents actually bought me one for my graduation. In college though, for a number of reasons, things didn't go as planned. As I steadily approach my goal of (finally) attaining my degree, I sometimes find myself getting nostalgic for tuba playing, but I don't really have much of an outlet or reason to play it. I was probably, when I played regularly, at most slightly above average in terms of tone and skill set. I'm quite rusty these days, but still not too keen on selling the thing because, hey, who knows when the situation will arise when I need to play the Veggie Tales theme or the intro riff to Cowboys From Hell or For Whom The Bell Tolls? Yeah, as you can tell I'm a bit of a metalhead, guitar player as well, (and I always appreciate the odd references you make from time to time about Cannibal Cropse or Animals As Leaders.) TL;DR, where I am in Southwest Ohio, I can barley get enough people to commit to a standard metal band. What the hell am I supposed to do with a goddamn tuba?
Being a musician in NYC or being a success in any endeavor in the big apple is enraveled in the city’s pulse. That city had a drive. It is like an energy grabs you by the back of the neck and commands “ GO-GO-GO !!”
thanks for being so accepting, Adam!
Luna You're an amazing person. :)
thank you! ^~^
Luna No problem :)
Thanks for the answer. It was the right way to play for the music/place and not a matter of lack of musicianship.
DUDE, LOOK AT THAT DUDE'S REFERENCE!
Gilvan Ferreira absodudely
I usually hate generic questions but you’ve always seemed to make interesting answers for them
Enjoying your videos Could you consider doing one for EQ settings in different environments? Getting the bass to "punch" through without interference from either the guitar player or the kick drum. Over the years I have found that this can sometimes be a big challenge. Especially as it relates to your onstage volume compared to the overall sound in the mix through the mains.
So glad you dropped Harry's video in on the cajon question. He is doing a great job, as are you. Keep it up!
If you're interested in learning more about the craft of pop music, I recommend the podcast Switched On Pop. The two hosts (a professional songwriter and a musicologist) deconstruct top 40 hits in a number of unique ways.
Hi Adam, I'm trans and I know a lot of other trans musicians. Not as much in a lot of genres like Jazz or Prog but more in the experimental electronic/noise/punk area. I'm actually wearing a shirt for a trans-fem punk band (GLOSS) at the moment. Depending on what kind of music you're going into, there can be a comparitively decently large trans community. Just thought I'd give my input.
ash for a sec i thoight i read your wearing a skirt jeje
gloss is a nice band :)
Gloss rules!
I don't understand why "trans" people get so worked up about being different. Their politics actually take away from the concept of equality, because much like vegans, it's all a lifestyle choice that begs for special treatment. You don't play music with whatever you have or don't have between your legs. If you're considering a career in music, then worry about your chops. Antony and the Johnsons have been around and in the mainstream here and there for two decades now, and few people who love their music care about the "trans" thing. I'm not discriminating, but if you bring the issue to the forefront, you're better of being an activist.
aTeólogo De Virtud-wtf are you talking about fam I’m a big fan of Antony as well as Anohni and if you don’t think that plays into the music and lyrics you’re not listening-and you def don’t get to speak for all fans lmao
Hey, noticed the cat! I knew there was something so right-on about this guy!
pop music is not easy,
ive recorded and help produce a few underground people. just as lessons, so they could start themselves. its hard; melody writing, bass, mood, lyrics, organization, mixing and mastering. mixing and mastering is a craft onto itself. its hard in its own right. like all other music its a craft, make the music you want and dont tell other people whats good or bad.
Pop bass=all chord tones
That Harry Miree shoutout!!! DUDE!!!
Dude.
Dude!
OH YUHHHHHH
Edud
I love Adam's insights regarding the universe of music and the making of it :-) A regular bastion of sensibility and level perspectives :-)
Hey Adam, you've really opened my eyes when it comes to actually creating music and note just playing the ink. As a euphonium player I was curious what the New York scene was like or if you've ever gigged with a euphonium player?
I love this channel, keep doing what you're doing!
Ok, so I'm not sure if I'm gonna be able to eloquently express what I'm trying to say, but I'm gonna give it a shot. I've come to understand that pitch and harmony is essentially made up of complicated rhythms, but there's something I'm not sure if I quite understand.
So if I'm not mistaken, 1Hz is equivalent to 60bpm, but we don't hear it as a pitch because human hearing doesn't start until about 20Hz. Similarly, 16th notes at 120bpm would be equivalent to 8Hz, but once again we would hear it as a rhythm as supposed to a really low pitch, right? So here's my question. I read that some whales can hear down to 7Hz, so does that mean that they would hear 16th notes at 120bpm as a pitch instead of a rhythm? Sorry if I'm completely misunderstanding this, it's just really messing with my head. How can other animals perceive something as a pitch that we perceive as a rhythm?
I'd really appreciate if you could talk a little bit about this in your next Q&A.
I would recommend that you would watch a couple of Adam's videos about this topic. Namely, What is the Fastest Music Possible, Musical Fractals, and the Coltrane Fractal. Hope this clears some things up!
The reason that I am asking this question is because I have watched those videos and am very interested in those types of topics. The question that I asked however hasn't specifically been touched upon in any of Adam's videos and I can't find an answer to it anywhere, so I am hoping that Adam may be able to answer it, or at least provide some insight.
Oh, my bad. Well, I ought to at least offer some real help then. Marine animals in general have different auditory systems than land animals, so whales may not hear 7Hz in the air like we do. Now land animals who have these low hearing ranges probably can perceive this as pitch. Hearing is all in the brain. Actually, everything is sensed through the brain. Organisms can have sensors fire off, but without the signals being translated into palatable information, they cannot use the information.
I could have sworn that he did that in another Q&A. I don't know which one is was, though. Either way, he probably won't answer the question again.
Dude I paused the video to read your question, I am intrigued! if only someone could tell the number of qna video where Adam answers! I'm gonna watch all his vids anyway and if I find first I'll return and write!
Regarding overdriven bass: I use a boss line selector pedal (aby) and leave channel A bypassed for the clean sound and have channel B contain my overdrive or fuzzed sound. There's an A+B mix setting with volume adjustments for each channel, so you can dial in the fuzz while maintaining all of the low end quality of the clean bass sound.
I could not agree with you more on the pop music. I roll my eyes so hard when people on channels geared towards metal music do things like metal musicians make a pop song in less than a day and the music clearly isn't pop. They have solos and it ends up sounding like punk music because they hear pop and think play simple stuff. It's the most cringe-worthy thing when you scroll down and all the comments are "better than anything on the radio today" or "this is too good and made by people that are too talented to be considered art.
Cam Dore jahahahahaha dude im 100% with you its so fucking cringe
I really enjoy listening to you talk. You're showing a lot of professionalism not only by your content but also because of how fricking well spoken you are, which makes it very easy to listen and pay attention to you.
Keep it up!
Musically, how does writing for instruments on a computer versed writing while playing them change what you end up creating?
Depends on the writer, obviously. Different musicians will have wildly different approaches to writing regardless of the medium.
Personally I tend to write much more repetitive music on the computer and much more varied music on an instrument, it's more of a "hassle" to add variety to the former and restriction to the latter. I think that's a personal failing rather than something intrinsic to either environment though, although since it's the path of least resistance I wouldn't be surprised if it were a common issue.
It won't change much, your melodic sensibility and harmony knowledge is still applicable, and you'll end up programming something you would've played anyways. Once you get used to it, you can start exploring differences in limitations on both mediums.
On computer/ Most of the time MIDI instrument samples/simulations sound like shit. Also real instruments vibrate for looong time. When MIDI tend to cut as note end.
So in MIDI many times fast and not "ideal" notes sound weird. Or changes of notes for example 4-4-8-16-4-4.
So it's rly hard to know does it rly sound like shit or is MIDI shit in given example.
Your answer for the pop music question really opened my eyes
ADAM!!! LOOK OUT!!! BEHIND YOU!!!
That painting though is kinda creepy
no the cat!!!!
Rodrigo Alvarez what cat?
Its a LICC
Regarding using bass effects, if it is possible for you to put out two signals, having one amp with the effects you want and one clean normal tone will achieve what you're going for. I believe the most important effect is a compressor/limiter. If you set it right, it will help you cut thru without being louder as well as give you sustain and make your playing more even. The opposite setting will make it punchy rather than fat.
Love your channel! How would you approach EQ'ing an amp for a 5-string bass vs. a 4-string in the context of a small funk/jazz/soul band??
Oscar Woodrich .
wikiwikiwee wikiwikiwee
I remember when I used to help out with medium size events in the UK (for an organization a bit like Rotaract ) - one event had months before they booked the band (The Blue Bells") that was currently no 1 in the UK and they honored the gig they had also got DR and the Medics who where also in the charts as well.
Yes! You mentioned classical guitar!
Hey Adam, love your videos. I'm studying classical guitar, but I'm becoming more and more interested in jazz, even though I understand very little about it. Question: Do you think it is possible to learn jazz by yourself (e.g. from the internet) or do you need a teacher?
Transcribe your ass off!
Most jazz greats learned by ear.
I know i'm late to the party but I really needed to hear what you said in relation to the trans girl. I'm a trans girl to, but I'm also a contemporary-classical composer and the classical music world can be very closed-minded. I really appreciate your "just do it" attitude, it means a lot me me!
4:47 Is it bad that every time I hear the word "sub" I don't think of "substitute" and instead my mind immediately goes to "submissive" in a sexual context?
Salamander "like, comment, and sub" 🍔
Salamander Yeah because no one shortens the word submissive into sub.
TallicaMan1986 I hear it all the time
@@TallicaMan1986 literally everyone I know who's into BDSM and openly talks about it uses the term sub.
Yes
On the point of Sisyphus and truly learning by experience, I think it really helps to think of the brain as an associative machine rather than a logical one. Learning a theory doesn't automatically cause your brain to edit all its registries that could relate to that theory, that would be so astronomically slow and take a huge amount of brain power and energy. Instead, your brain relates experiences to one another just by their proximity, so that's why you truly have to live out an idea in order for it to become meaningfully integrated into your brain.
What's the context behind the question about the myth of Sisyphus and Adam's senior recital?
#italiano
I completely agree about your discussion of pop music. I personally don't like it but I understand why people do.
Hey Adam, here's a question! I'm studying for a Bachelor's of Music in Composition. I love music, but I often wonder if I will be able to use it professionally and make survivable money with it. I'm a classical guitarist, and while I've grown a lot in college, I'm still not stellar there. I think of myself as a stronger composer than guitarist, but I know it isn't guaranteed that I'll find precessional success there. I do happen to be adept with music theory, the one thing in my department I'm better that most at, but I don't know all of it's practical applications in the music world. Do you have any tips on what I need to know outside of the music department to help me make some money for my music? And is this something where I can work hard toward my goal and get there, or is there a high chance that I could work very hard and see no fruit?
Thanks!
Lmao Harry Miree came straight to my mind as soon as you started talking about cajon. God bless that beautiful man.
I know that the transgender musician will see this. But myself also being a trans girl, I want to say something.
While I’m not in the music industry, I’m in the indie Game Dev industry, which culturally is very similar to the indie music industry.
And the best thing you can do is just make trans friends. They don’t even have to be irl friends, just some trans friends. They can help you with so much, whether it’s transphobia or medicine, they can help you
man i needed me some adam neely
As a sort of rebuttle (which evolved over the course of writing it, please bear with me) to the statement that pop musicians making the music they do because they believe in their music and craft: there are times I question that, for instance when an artist gets popular doing something that isn't pop, but after so many albums suddenly decides to go with a full-pop sound. I don't doubt that sometimes they really do just want to make that jump, but I'm not convinced it's 100%. At that massive international scale where record labels still matter, I wonder if there is some exec telling them to change their sound for the sake of making more money. On the other hand, I've read that the backing tracks on many top 40 artists' songs are produced "by committee." They (the committees) write all of the music, then have the artist change enough of the song so they can claim some authorship and earn money. Point is: somehow a song by committee doesn't feel honest, it feels like a business, and I think it's supposed to be about making music that matters to the writer, not writers completely catering to the masses. As is the way with many of my ramblings, I often happen across different angles, so hopefully this thought is helpful to others disillusioned as I sometimes am with the situation: what if those committees / producers / "pop artist sellouts" make those hits as their way of making ends meet, and they still make what fulfills them on the side? This still leaves one issue: music that is getting vast attention actually means very little to the writers. The only consolation is that it means something to listeners, as much as many of us musicians want to bemoan the situation.
Jeremiah Sweeney pretty sure a lot of pop music is constructed with the lowest common denominator in mind. It still takes a certain level of craftsmanship to make a catchy song using a specific formula, but I believe music made in that way is much more accurately described as entertainment than art.
Perhaps. There's no conflict with one point I proposed that the producers of those major pop hits do it as a day job to make ends meet. Still, some of those songs end up having huge meaning for certain people, even if it doesn't make sense. Yes, it's made for the widest number of people to enjoy, but that doesn't mean those people are wrong for liking it.
Also, where does the line between "entertainment" and art lie? Is not the point of art to enrich our lives? And can enrichment not mean many things? If it's music, and if music is art, than it's all art, no matter how banal anyone thinks it is because there is someone who holds it in high regard. If it pleases the listener, than it's entertainment, so then all art can be entertaining. I know people who thoroughly enjoy some of the most a-melodic and a-rhythmic pieces of music who light up just the same as someone listening to a familiar top 40 hit on the radio.
This is a great comment.
Another great video! Thanks, Adam!
It always bugs me when people complain about music not being a meritocracy. It is. We're successful based on our merits. I would argue that making music that people want to buy has more merits than being able to solo over giant steps with a double time feel in 7.
Levi Clay They're just different skills. One makes you millions, one means you'll probably live in a basement.
So you find Justin Bieber better than Scotty Anderson? 😁
No, but i find he has plenty of merits
oh man that one guy with the Justin Beiber argument haha
Actually this was more of a Scotty Anderson argument, I just couldn't help myself..
Finally somebody respects the chainsmokers! He said he didn't like it, but he respected the work put into it, and I love that!
Oh man. Are alt-right trolls gonna come in and berate Adam for recognizing and affirming a trans person's identity? Is it gonna be like that time he used the word "microagression?"
Also, kudos to you, Adam, for being a cool person. I play in a punk band with a genderqueer lead vocalist. Our bassist and I like your videos.
Most serious musicians are like common people, if you aren't a jerk, can do your part, and don't feel sorry for yourself, then you won't have any issues
@Dan Massoglia
That's disgusting. I would never associate myself with a trans/"genderqueer" "person" or be in a band with one. I don't care if that makes me a "intolerant stupid homophobic bigot troll" or whatever generic buzzword you'd like to throw at me. I'll wear the "bigot" label loud and proud. :)
imagine being so mad about people existing lmao
@WRAITH you could have saved some time and just said "I"m a bigot" lmao
WRAITH why are you so mad at people being happy? are you sad? the quotes around "person" suggest that you're sad about the comfort of others. i've found a good cure for sadness to be socialization with others you don't know. maybe you should join a book club.
Perhaps Camus’ inquiry into the Myth of Sisyphus would be most helpful regarding the experience of rising to the ranks in the “music” industry. I have certainly found it comforting lol
jimi hendrix was not so popular in his day? mmmm
Amazing tons of knowledge in a few questions. I really love that tolerance vision of music community.
check out the video "Dude, but what if I don't wana play Cajon?"
7:30 Catrina Daimon Lee was the first known trans-identified jazz guitarist. Her career was destroyed by her local community's love of talentless power and hatred of sensitive outsiders. Meritocracy does not exist in her country, only mendacity.
From listening to you, one could think that if you are really dedicated, live the music, work hard, etc. etc. etc. you'd churn up pop hits (or become a successful jazz musician, or whatever). Well, sorry, folks, but for every one (dedicated, hard-working, tallented) success story out thee, there are thousands of equally dedicated, tallented and hard-working musicians you've never heard of and never will. Money, connections of all sorts, and just plain luck, determine the "winners", and survivor bias makes people think it's all about their tallent and hard work. Same goes for other fields besides music. Human tallent, contrary to what you've been always told, is incredibly cheap.
Hey Adam, I'm a sax player and have only recently started to learn the importance of transcribing from the masters (Bird, Coltrane etc) so that I can internalise their material, rework it in my own playing and improv and improve my technical skills. I only transcribe by ear, at original tempo, but often I find myself wondering how important it is to even focus on the notes I'm playing and copying, or whether I should just focus on learning a phrase by ear and applying that elsewhere where it would sound appropriate. Surely a musician could go through their whole life mastering their individual instrument, developing relative pitch and being able to jam or improvise with anyone without having to know the key, chords or even tonality if their ears are trained enough so that they are one one with their instrument, beyond any level of theory you could study. This would be a major benefit to an alto player like me who spends their whole life transposing to Eb anyway haha you dig?
Hey Adam I'm just about to go and study sports science at university. All top athletes have perfect genetics for there sport (for example I higher percentage of fast twitch muscles fibres in a sprinter). Do you think that music ability is at all determined by our genetics. For example can someone be born to do music.
Hello from England and keep doing what your doing.
Also would like to know about it!
I'm not Adam, but I think genetics plays a big role in athleticism because of how much physical activity is involved in it. Genetics can determine how tall, strong, or active you are, even how much weight you can lose and gain is determined by genetics, so athletes are mostly predisposed to athletics due to genetics.
But music is more mentally than physically involved, the knowledge of harmonies, scales, chords, modes etc. lend more to the music rather than having chops to shred and play flawlessly. I'm not exactly sure how much genetics determine determines things such as finger dexterity and the ability to adapt to practice, but music is more knowledge-based than physically-intensive, imo.
To conclude, I think that musicality is more of an acquired skill, and the ability to actually play may or may not inborne.
Maxime Ansell No. Music doesn't require much special to learn
Lenard Magtira Actually certain genes have been associated with factors like IQ, anxiety levels and brain structure. Genes do not just effect things like higher and strength but also or mental abilities. Most people cannot be a prodigy in a certain instrument only very few. I takes more than just practice.
So why there are descendants that are far away from relatives talents and capabilities?
Adam, thank you for the advise about an OCTAVE affect for my bass parts. It's really what my 3 piece needs! :)
Hello adam, what do you think about bill wurtz?
+1
He commented elsewhere that he likes him.
dope as always Adam
Transgender person in music? I can only think of one - Dee (David) Palmer. Played with Jethro Tull back in the day.
Robert Houtsch Mila Caputo, formerly known as Keith Caputo, singer for Life of Agony.
Oh, yeah! Yes - I remember her now.
Jordan Raskopoulos from Axis of Awesome
Robert Houtsch
*him
Also Wayne / Jayne County of the Electric Chairs.
Probably NSFW if you search on TH-cam - #1 result is usually one of their ruder songs - it's good though :)
The Transformers movie analogy is spot on.
hey adam, so i just learned last night of a successful trans musician named SOPHIA....Shes mostly epic tho its not my style but thought you should like to know for next time @Erik Holland
:(
SOPHIE! RIP
I appreciate you defending pop music. A lot of musicians have a chip on their shoulder over it.
Is replying to your own comment uncool? Anyway, I'll add there is a LOT of really interesting pop music out there.
any recommendations?
Why can't fruit be compared?
Lil dicky anyone?
Have you ever played with a Boss Line Selector for your bass effects? It's great for creating a blend of clean bass tone and an effected sound.
I use one for adding an upper octave (after a distortion pedal) to fill in some of the space during solos for my cover band trio without losing any of the low range. It's also great for adding fuzz if I turn the harmonizer off, so I can blend the low tones with a nasty fuzz.
I'm a trans musician. Your support was really inspiring ♥️
Is being trans relevant to you being a musician?
@@the_Rade did you even watch the video?
When I was at university studying music (a decade ago), no-one gave a shit what anyone's sexuality or gender was (there was a certain amount of fluidity in both). Musical talent is what makes you stand out, and this is what people remember you for.
So if i shit for 20h its supposed to be good? I do it with passion btw!!! (Why should i lowe someone for work if in the end its still shit and useless...)
Because pop music means a lot to a lot of people. Also, who are you to decide what's "shit and useless"? Why isn't the music that you like "shit and useless"?
_"I do it with passion btw!!!"_
I think the "doing it with passion" part had more to do with the fact that the people that have passion for doing something are more likely also going to come up with better quality stuff. Somebody who doesn't care about pop music and just tries to write a pop song for fun probably doesn't care much about the end result either. But somebody with a passion for pop music is going to care about the end result - "good enough" is not good enough for them.
So just because you do something with passion doesn't automatically make it good. But people with a passion for writing pop music are more likely to be successful pop songwriters than people with no passion for it.
Even if you don't like a song, you can still appreciate the quality of its production. You can still tell that it's a "professional quality" song and you can appreciate the musicianship behind the song. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it can't be a quality product.
you dont get it man, i am not against you listening to pop but man, when people say wow how much hard work katy perry, and taylor swift put into work i wanna laught my ass, give me a break, it sounds unoriginal and simple, i cant create it, ok good point, but there are people who create same quality instrumentals every deay just go and listen to some free non copyright music playlist, same stuff recycled, unoriginal, if she does it with passion and thats why i should love her, nah i poop with passion love my shit more than yours i do it with passion.
+StripedDash
No one said you have to love someone's work--for any reason. If you don't like, you don't like it. He's just saying that there's a big difference between someone who approaches something with cynicism--shit man he explains this whole thing in the video, go back and watch it again. He just respects the passion that goes in to music making, regardless of genre. He didn't say you have to enjoy someone's music simply because they approach it with passion. Kind of a shit and useless comment you've made here....
well shit man respect me coz i shit with passion i pee with passion i smoke with passion i kill with passion i rape with passion and not with cynicism respect me, thats the whole point of cynicism it needs to exist to not overreact the bad or good.
I'm not into mainstream pop, but I still appreciate the music style. It's fine if you don't like it. But there's no need to be an elitist about it.
_"if she does it with passion and thats why i should love her"_
Nobody said anything like that. You are making stuff up.
_"there are people who create same quality instrumentals every deay just go and listen"_
The sad truth about instrumental music is that it just doesn't appeal to many people. If there are no lyrics, most people will not care about the music. Most people who appreciate instrumental music are musicians.
People listen to music for different reasons, and most people just want to have a good time and listen to music with catchy hooks that are easy to sing along with and groovy beats that make you want to dance. That's just how it goes. Not everybody wants to listen to complex progressive music, and most likely they would say "this music sucks, it doesn't have anything catchy in it, it doesn't have a good beat, it doesn't even have a chorus". And I guess there would be some truth to what they say. Sure, that's their opinion and I think they should be more open minded about music. But then again, if people enjoy simple stuff, what's the problem?
Complex doesn't equal good, simple doesn't equal bad. Different music styles have different purposes. If you are looking for deep meanings in songs, you may not want to listen to mainstream pop, because most of it is feel good party music. But some people only want to listen to feel good party music. There is no one "correct" way of listening to music. Music means different things to different people, and there is no one correct meaning for music.
Another great video. I love your channel Adam. Keep up the good work.
no need to label yourself a trans musician, if it's about music the only that matters is your music
a lot of people have a need for labels. that was a completely non musical and unnecessary question.
It's a student about to go to a music school and is concerned about the social environment asking a question to someone that has been to two different music schools. It's a perfectly appropriate context and a legitimate concern, maybe you should ask yourself why it bothers you anyway.
I don't think the person was anxious to label themselves. Being young is difficult because you feel like you're under constant judgement from your peers, which is true to an extent. Any of your anomalous characteristics is liable to invite ridicule, alienation, and so forth. I think they were just trying to figure out how to minimize or avoid this so that they could just enjoy music without such trivial matters interfering with their experience.
If we haven't lived their life, then it's hard to tell them that their music is the only thing that'll matter, because they'll likely still face discrimination that we'll never have to.
Yeah. Try being obviously different from everyone around you before you say something like that. Everybody will label you whether you accept or reject your label. If the only thing that truly mattered is one's music, that's a ridiculous concept because it doesn't happen.
It's of human nature categorize what they don't understand.
What makes a pop song a pop song is not the quality of the material, but the money the label is willing to spend on promotion. Sprint's buying a million copies of Jay-Z's 4:44 is how 4:44 got on the charts. Hip hop labels are famous for buying back songs of their artists with the only cost of doing so going to the seller's cut. Smaller labels can't afford to do that. It's been at least three decades since a song hit the Hot 100 that wasn't backed by a major label.
hey
Also on the subject of cajon, I think it's important to note that instruments and means of making music aren't meant to achieve any one musical purpose. At least, I personally believe that artistic intent should not be limited by the instruments we use to make music. Don't get me wrong here, cajon was absolutely made specifically for Latin American music. However, I personally believe that using the cajon in the way the drummer in that clip did was okay. I hope it doesn't feel as though Americans are stealing and warping your long-standing musical traditions, because that isn't what he's trying to do. I think some people just like the sound and style of the cajon and want to incorporate it into their music, without changing all of their artistic goals and desires. I hope people understand what I mean here. Of course, it's not my instrument to share with people, so it's up to those of the specified culture to decide, but, I would hope everybody would be willing to share the instruments used frequently in their individual cultures.
my name jeff
Adam, I really your comments on why you appreciate pop music.
For me, personally, I have known for a long time that I do not and possibly cannot write a catchy pop tune that will be commercially successful and grab that audience, whoever they may be. It doesn't mean I can't appreciate the effort. I mean, if you listen to/study enough music it really doesn't matter what genre it is to some degree. I'm more interested in the delivery or the composition than I am the overall style of it.
Anyway, random question: You ever thought of making pop music in prime number time signatures? I know that's weird but the thought crossed my mind if it were even possible and you seem like the person to ask.
Thanks
I know you hate cajon too. a membrane can sing a furniture can't.
lololololololol
I like you a lot bro, and despite me being a guitarist, I still check you out a lot. But on that tip, do you have any guitarists who are doing what you do vlogwise I could check out? Thanks man.
"Capitalism, for all of its flaws, does kind of work." :(
I prefer government grants to being a workaholic, tbh. Stress is bad for your health, shortens your life-span. Most people don't "make it" in the end, even though they work themselves to the brink, and they honestly don't deserve any worse than people who are lucky as well as talented and hard-working.
Good things happen without precarious situations, good art can come out of a stable situation as well as from a caffeine filled, poor workaholic. Do you want art and happy people or art and unhappy people?
What I'm saying is not embrace Stalinism, but instead that an ideology that values productivity over and at the cost of health and happiness is stupid (I think we might even agree on that part). It just happens to be the American "Capitalism is good" ideology. I also hate the communist view that a person is only valuable because of their labour. I've been to a choir concert here in Berlin, twelve voices, experimental, amazing. It wouldn't exist without money from the senate. Choir music is especially hard to finance, experimental choir music, fogeddaboutit. Should all choir music be gospel-pop medleys because that is what sells well? Or should there be a place of financial security for amazing and weird art?
Also, the most tax revenues should come from people who have more money than they could ever need, who let their money work for them via speculation and don't contribute anything material. Just, imo. Relieve the workers all the way.
I get your criticism with "happy" and subjectivity and all that. It's an unreliable metric inreality and subjective. I just think we have different experiences with government and all that due to the states/areas we live in. Corruption is an issue that falls outside the binary left/right dynamic but touches both. I'm just afraid of less or no government because like in the UK, if for example disabled people loose their grants, they might die! Paying taxes doesn't kill people, but having no money kinda does (even though my example is drastic it remains that poverty shortens your life span and people having enough money to spend on more than just the basics helps te economy.) And would you call Germany a Denmark-style country? Because most people here generally believe that the government is not totally broken, even tough there will always be criticism.
government grants run out because communism does not allow for profit.
cringe
The goal of capitalism is to allow the rich to steal from the poor without being murdered for it. So I'd say capitalism works very well.
As a musician the thing that needs to "stand out" is your ability to play and honor the music. The other stuff is just stuff.
Only 0.3% of the population is trans, so unless you know 300 musicians, statistically not a single one of them would be trans.
That's an application of statistics facing from reality. When you apply statistics in a case like this you'd be better off talking about the probability that someone would be a transgender musician, not that you "statistcally" wouldn't know one. It would also be more accurate to mention the statstics on how many percent of musicians are transgender. In some cases transgender people might be over- or underrepresented - as in the transgender community (they're 100%).
LVX156 Once you're part of a scene, this is actually very plausible. 300 musicians is not hard to encounter once you've been at it for a few years. And yes Ive met a trans musician.
LVX156 there's a decent amount at berklee
There is only a 90% chance at meeting a trans person if you see 300 people at a 0.3% chance per person. You need to see 334 people for it to be 100% (in theory) to meet a trans person.
Regarding transients, in choral music I was taught to put the vowel on the beat, which implies the consonants before it. Certainly mixing mashups I've found that to be the case.