"Simplicity is a point of arrival," meaning it takes talent to reduce something down to a few elements that work seamlessly together yet doesn't feel cheap or easy. You see this in cooking when someone makes a dish with a fairly barebones recipe but prepares it in such a way that appeals to your tastebuds.
this is a great point Curtis. simplicity is so key. the specialist syndrome, i've felt that too before, where you want to show all your skills in what you create but only other specialists will understand what we're doing, which alienates us almost from a lot of people who aren't specialists. translating the vibe/feeling in a simple understandable way to connect with the listeners is the goal for real.
This just reminds me so heavily on Lupe Fiascos "dumb it down" track, mainly the hook. But same here. I used to rhyme more complex because my idols like Jay-z did and I wanted to prove that I wasnt far off. and people always told me to slow it down, take my time, get in that bag etc etc. My first live performance i had such a hard time keeping up also (them cigarettes aint help none either tho lmfao) But all in all, you are 1000% correct. These videos have been hitting, keep 'em coming G!
Simple doesn't mean not good. Nor does it make something not bad either. Simplicity has duality. IE: simply good or simply bad. Preferences dictate the measure.
Agree big time. Too many producers on social looking for a pat on the back from other producers. When in reality regular fans that don’t care about any of the technical stuff are the ones that move the needle for ya
Bro, I feel you on all that trying to be complex stuff. I’ve definitely learned in the last 15 years or so of doing this, to take what I think is “cool” and strip it down to story that anyone can follow. I used to try to be complex to prove something to the haters. But you know what I’ve noticed? You know what you find when you go on their pages? Absolutely nothing, because they don’t produce anything, so they have to tear people down. That’s their whole existence.
if you wanna go for placements and working with big artist of any genre "less is more" is very important. making for yourself though you can do whatever you.
LOVE Brother Victor!!! His book "The Music Lesson" plus a VERY personal spiritual experience I had while playing kalimba CHANGED MY LIFE, no joke! Thank you for this Sir Curtis, RESPECT. 🙏🏽
Seen him play with the Flecktones years ago and was totally blown awa. His technical ability earned him bassist of the year 3 times but his grooves were so concise with no extra BS - this is such a great lesson from such a legend
SIMPLE people. The average listener may like simple. But that funky bassline was wayyyyy more interesting. The bounce stays with me way more than the My Girl bassline
The beauty of this is how dude made that funk guitar sound so simple in its own right. What a master. I know he was talking about that transition of sounds and melodies from simple to off the wall in the same song but still got to love the way he laid that funk down
I get it some like trap and all that jibberish ,but I don't feel anything when they say scccrrrrr scrrrrrrr is the new Rap . I love my deep rap bars ,old school type JCole , Kendrick ,The Game ... New school artists should learn from the greats and be humble
Simplicity is key, no doubt. However, I think it's also as equally important to use a different formula and be a little more complexed with the melodies because then it'll decrease your chances of having someone say, "I've heard that melody before". So many hit songs have used millions of simple melodies before. So, I think complexity makes it less obvious and saves you from potential copyrights.
There is no possible way our musical tastes could be more different...(do you have a Gregorian Chant album coming out soon?) But I find your insights to be amazing. Thank you for sharing them.
The thing is there was a time where our musucal ear was elevating because by constantly listening to high level complex songs we were training our brain to get that instant gratification from highly complex compositions. Its been dumbed down to the point were there is no attention span for complexity. I get the point tho as an artist u can get lost in creative art where it can only be perceived by another artist.
Every since I heard Miles Davis say these words this has become my religion from the stage to my writing!!! What you don’t say is just as important as what you do say!!!
I personally enjoy seeing how many midi sampale instruments I can layer as different meldys and still make it sound good, but this is helpful if I wanna make something for the listener or I want my music to make peapal feel something.
Alot of young producers fall into the trap of making music to impress the peers technically. Theres alot of stuff that impressed engineers/producers cus they have a different ear sonically. Yeah its crazy how complex u can make a simple 4/4 hihat pattern that your friends might like such as sidechain n delay/reverb etc but the average listener doesnt give an F
My production ALWAYS have been basic. Banging simple beats simple chords. The importance is making sure your choices of instruments sound good together. Remember how basic most Rock groups are. When Hip-hop gets too orchestrated it's good for a song or two when you're putting an entire record together to show balance and versatility but to do that on every song is not good. I enjoy your commentary❤💯💪👍💥🔥😎
You are right , I find myself taking a lot of sounds out of my music when I come back to it, it just makes more sense. Its like the saying goes "explain it to me in a way that a child can understand".
simple for the sake of being simple is NOT GOOD! simple is nice but there's a reason records like "bitches brew" are classics. it pushed, challenged and innovated. you CAN NOT do that with a regimented adherence to "simple." "a shape of jazz to come" revolutionized what we thought was possible in music overall. it's NOT simple. stop aiming for simple for simple's sake. if it calls for it, good but if the piece of art calls for complexity, that's good too. besides i'm not very interested in what the general public wants in music nowadays. they can't handle music with more than 3 chords so those opinions can go in the trash as far as i'm concerned.
"Simplicity is a point of arrival," meaning it takes talent to reduce something down to a few elements that work seamlessly together yet doesn't feel cheap or easy.
You see this in cooking when someone makes a dish with a fairly barebones recipe but prepares it in such a way that appeals to your tastebuds.
3:15 “that boys RAPPIN” 😂😂😂😂😂
Victor Wooten has many gems about music and life plus his bass playing is ridiculous! 🙏🏿👊🏿💪🏿
this is a great point Curtis. simplicity is so key. the specialist syndrome, i've felt that too before, where you want to show all your skills in what you create but only other specialists will understand what we're doing, which alienates us almost from a lot of people who aren't specialists. translating the vibe/feeling in a simple understandable way to connect with the listeners is the goal for real.
in the words of CMP "keep it simple but do not be basic"
This just reminds me so heavily on Lupe Fiascos "dumb it down" track, mainly the hook. But same here. I used to rhyme more complex because my idols like Jay-z did and I wanted to prove that I wasnt far off. and people always told me to slow it down, take my time, get in that bag etc etc. My first
live performance i had such a hard time keeping up also (them cigarettes aint help none either tho lmfao) But all in all, you are 1000% correct. These videos have been hitting, keep 'em coming G!
From the Manny Fresh post to this one, it’s a lesson on how much simplicity kills. Not only in music but in Life! Salute King 👑
You’re the first person to catch that connection between those 2 posts 🙏🏽🫡🛠️
Simple doesn't mean not good. Nor does it make something not bad either. Simplicity has duality. IE: simply good or simply bad. Preferences dictate the measure.
Agree big time. Too many producers on social looking for a pat on the back from other producers. When in reality regular fans that don’t care about any of the technical stuff are the ones that move the needle for ya
Bro, I feel you on all that trying to be complex stuff. I’ve definitely learned in the last 15 years or so of doing this, to take what I think is “cool” and strip it down to story that anyone can follow.
I used to try to be complex to prove something to the haters. But you know what I’ve noticed? You know what you find when you go on their pages?
Absolutely nothing, because they don’t produce anything, so they have to tear people down. That’s their whole existence.
Victor Wooten is a serial gem dropper. I have learned and continue to learn so much from him. Thanks for doing this video!!
I think I was there for that, and he signed my bass guitar. Cool dude, I randomly emailed him to ask a music question and he responded!
Such a 🔥 moment to be present for
It’s all about the feeling. Word from GOD
if you wanna go for placements and working with big artist of any genre "less is more" is very important. making for yourself though you can do whatever you.
LOVE Brother Victor!!! His book "The Music Lesson" plus a VERY personal spiritual experience I had while playing kalimba CHANGED MY LIFE, no joke! Thank you for this Sir Curtis, RESPECT. 🙏🏽
Seen him play with the Flecktones years ago and was totally blown awa. His technical ability earned him bassist of the year 3 times but his grooves were so concise with no extra BS - this is such a great lesson from such a legend
I haven’t seen this clip before. Thanks for bringing this clip and gem to TH-cam.
Balancing simplicity is an art in itself.
Great video, Curtiss! Thanks for sharing!
5:14 everybody's so creative
😭😭😭
SIMPLE people. The average listener may like simple. But that funky bassline was wayyyyy more interesting. The bounce stays with me way more than the My Girl bassline
1000 percent! Something I've been working on for the last year! Thanks for the gems Curtiss!
Literally the 3rd straight video I've just watched. I enjoy the presentation for sure...new subscriber right here my g!
Victor Wooten is the man. Victor has been dropping gems for a long while.
I get more from watching your videos 👌
And from that part of Perfomance I relate🤣.
Everytime I watch something to me rings a 🔔
Your content is power 👌
The beauty of this is how dude made that funk guitar sound so simple in its own right. What a master. I know he was talking about that transition of sounds and melodies from simple to off the wall in the same song but still got to love the way he laid that funk down
This video and the Mannie Fresh video go hand in hand, more than often, less is more, that's how the saying goes right? Lol
I get it some like trap and all that jibberish ,but I don't feel anything when they say scccrrrrr scrrrrrrr is the new Rap . I love my deep rap bars ,old school type JCole , Kendrick ,The Game ... New school artists should learn from the greats and be humble
Love this content!!!!! Thank you King, this is the wave!!
I’ve heard this expressed/explained many times; but it hit different this time…well done.😎🙏🏾
I love your perception on music and the way you teach it! Keep it up brother you earned my sub👌🏾
Love These Typpa Videos Bro!
Fye Shirt Aswell!😂
Simplicity is key, no doubt. However, I think it's also as equally important to use a different formula and be a little more complexed with the melodies because then it'll decrease your chances of having someone say, "I've heard that melody before". So many hit songs have used millions of simple melodies before. So, I think complexity makes it less obvious and saves you from potential copyrights.
I met Victor asked him how hard it is to win a Grammy ...and he told me it's pretty easy 😂😂😂😂 ..I took his word as truth 🎉🎉🎉
🤣🫡 salute the legend!
Thats a gem indeed
I had to learn this not about beats but about scratching the hook as a DJ I was trying to apply complicated cuts instead of scratching WITH the beat
This is a dope channel thank u for sharing your perspectives
There is no possible way our musical tastes could be more different...(do you have a Gregorian Chant album coming out soon?) But I find your insights to be amazing. Thank you for sharing them.
Nice video! So much wisdom and knowledge!
yea keeping it #simple make it more memorable, ive been do that a lot lately and seen a difference.
Only one person can do both masterfully by playing skillfully but still make it sound simple yet still everyone feel it… and that is stevie wonder
Ok maybe prince too
Wooten is a legend, highly recommend his books!
Which one would you recommend?
The thing is there was a time where our musucal ear was elevating because by constantly listening to high level complex songs we were training our brain to get that instant gratification from highly complex compositions. Its been dumbed down to the point were there is no attention span for complexity. I get the point tho as an artist u can get lost in creative art where it can only be perceived by another artist.
Man, that's love fr that being said I do everything simple that's all I can do I just embrace it 😂😅
Every since I heard Miles Davis say these words this has become my religion from the stage to my writing!!! What you don’t say is just as important as what you do say!!!
I personally enjoy seeing how many midi sampale instruments I can layer as different meldys and still make it sound good, but this is helpful if I wanna make something for the listener or I want my music to make peapal feel something.
Yo thanks for this man
Bro, are you the one that posted the Elon musk thing on your Instagram now?
Alot of young producers fall into the trap of making music to impress the peers technically. Theres alot of stuff that impressed engineers/producers cus they have a different ear sonically. Yeah its crazy how complex u can make a simple 4/4 hihat pattern that your friends might like such as sidechain n delay/reverb etc but the average listener doesnt give an F
Great post as usual
My production ALWAYS have been basic. Banging simple beats simple chords. The importance is making sure your choices of instruments sound good together.
Remember how basic most Rock groups are.
When Hip-hop gets too orchestrated it's good for a song or two when you're putting an entire record together to show balance and versatility but to do that on every song is not good.
I enjoy your commentary❤💯💪👍💥🔥😎
excellent and beyond
Very excellent and humble man
Can we get a Jam session from Victor & Thundercat????
YESSSSSS!!!👊🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
You are right , I find myself taking a lot of sounds out of my music when I come back to it, it just makes more sense.
Its like the saying goes "explain it to me in a way that a child can understand".
As a songwriter ,I'm continuously learning & this just made me learn that simplicity wins ,thanks browski💥💥💥💥💥...this channel is the G.O.A.T
true story
simple for the sake of being simple is NOT GOOD! simple is nice but there's a reason records like "bitches brew" are classics. it pushed, challenged and innovated. you CAN NOT do that with a regimented adherence to "simple." "a shape of jazz to come" revolutionized what we thought was possible in music overall. it's NOT simple. stop aiming for simple for simple's sake. if it calls for it, good but if the piece of art calls for complexity, that's good too. besides i'm not very interested in what the general public wants in music nowadays. they can't handle music with more than 3 chords so those opinions can go in the trash as far as i'm concerned.
You can’t be serious
You don't realize this is what he was talking about? 🤦🏾♂️
1st 🔥🔥🔥🔥
In other words dont be a rappers rapper.