Hello From Los Angeles!

[ken2esq]

I'm 45, been teaching myself music for about 4 years now including

- how to play guitar,

- music theory,

- home recording, production, and engineering, and

- midi programming

 

My goal taking up the guitar was not to write songs, but to be able to "jam" because I love jam bands, so I pushed myself to improvise more than learning songs.  I would spend hours improvising chords within a key (and sometimes outside the key), finding things that created an emotional connection in me, like taking a journey that builds tension and then resolves it in some interesting and moving way.  I would avoid progressions that I recognized from popular songs because I wanted to be "original."  I finally decided to start writing down the progressions that I came up with that I really liked, and then I'd go back and work on them, maybe find a complementary progression to serve a the chorus, maybe add a complementary bridge progression, trying out different lyrics and melodies that seemed to fit the emotion that the progression created in me.  I now have close to 100 songs "in the works" (though many are still just a chord progression or melodic line).

 

When I started writing these songs, a couple years back, my guitar technique was really sloppy (it's still kind of rough, but better than it was), and so to hear my song parts layered over each other with the right timing, I learned how to program virtual instruments with midi using the Reaper DAW.  It's very basic, but I learned enough to layer a drum line, bass line, chord progressions and lead melodies, to see if my musical ideas meshed well together.  I put some of these synth instrumentals on Soundcloud:   https://soundcloud.com/kenmyers-1.  

 

I didn't mean to make electronica music, that just sort of happened because it was the only way I could hear if the layers I was writing worked well together.  I don't know how to tweak the virtual instruments to make the electronica sound professional, it sounds more like video game music.  My plan is still to further develop those songs as live instrument recordings with lyrics, if I ever get a band, or find online collaboration.  I sometimes also think I might like to learn more about making electronica or collaborate with some one who can help turn these amateurish efforts into more professional electronica music, too.

 

Right now, I am now trying to sort through my original songs, to figure which are my favorites, and then really focus on getting those to a more "finished" state with final lyrics and such.   I'm joining this site as I get more serious about my song production efforts.

 

I could probably use some collaboration, such as with a drummer, bass player, lyricist or singer.  Lyrics are a big problem for me, I'm never really happy with my efforts.  I've been reading some articles on lyric writing lately, to try to improve, so hopefully that'll help.  And I hope I can find tips on this site for all aspects of turning a song from an idea to a finished product.

 

My musical tastes include jam bands (as stated), alternative rock, electronica (progressive trance), classic rock, blues, jazz, and classical music.  I enjoy some rap, hip hop, country, pop but in moderation...I mean, i can flip on polka and groove to it for a while, but it's not what I want to hear on a regular basis.

 

Thanks,

 

Ken

[scotsman89]

welcome Ken

hope you find what you are looking for . we are here to help if possible .

 

john

[Janeva]

Hi

 

Welcome to Songstuff.

 

I hope you enjoy being here on the boards.

 

Jan

[CassieP]

Welcome to Songstuff Ken!  Sounds like your talents could be a great addition to the site!!!

[john]

Welcome to Songstuff Ken