Covers vs. writing your own stuff?

[arpulon5]

I've realized something just now. I've had my Juno-G for about 2 years now, and have seriously played keyboard for about that same amount of time. And, throughout that time, I've done almost nothing but write my own material.

I didn't go into this with a complete lack of knowledge. I knew a decent amount of theory already, I'd taken sort of basic keyboard lessons when I was younger, and I taught myself a whole bunch more theory since.

Nevertheless, I still obviously have a whole mess of weaknesses, like everyone except for The Wizard, may He live forever, does. I know scales and my fingering technique is decent (I just try to find the most efficient way to do anything), but I still generally suck at improvising, and I can't seem to pull off a truly wanky solo without composing it first. I just end up running through whatever scale a few times and then going to my favorite trick in my bag-o-tricks... arpeggios. No matter how much I love them, they really can be overdone :biggrin: I can come up with a more melodic solo fairly easily, but some variety is always nice. I can't go putting some pretty melodic solo into a headbanging heavy song with chugging guitars, now can I?

That's all somewhat beside the point, though. How beneficial do you think it is to sit down and learn someone else's music? To further my technique so far, my system has been to write a song, partially just with my keyboard, and then write something truly challenging in guitar pro that will take a fair bit of practice to learn.

I'll likely be without Internet access for a week, so you have a week to woo me with some awesome, inspirational replies.

[P-dur]

Improvisation is probably one of the most difficult things to master. Sure, everyone can improvise, but to play decent improvisations is difficult and takes a lot of "mental" training.
Composing own material is the way that works best for me to learn to put the theory into practice. One can know which notes a Bm7b5-chord contains (as an example), but when you are going to use it is something one learns through experimentation, and writing material is, if you're not just using things you know perfectly well already, quite an experiment.

[Premetheus37]

It is definitely worth it to learn someone else's material. You can't know what it is you want to do until you hear someone else do something similar first. That's how we, as musicians, learn. Mimicry. That's how you learn to sing as a kid. You hear some do something and without knowing what it is you try to copy it. Eventually you gain an awareness of what you're doing and technique for how to do it. You can't play like JR until you can play what JR plays.

Now, you should never only play covers, you should always be writing your own material, but playing other people's music helps.

~Premetheus

[osiris]

...I can't go putting some pretty melodic solo into a headbanging heavy song with chugging guitars, now can I?

Why the hell not?
Melodic metal is really good fun. who's to say brutal metal and melodic riffs or solo's can't go together?

[P-dur]

Listen to the guitar solo on Overture 1928. It's not very shreddish, more like a jazz impro. The first solo anyway.

[rifaa]

Well I think it depends on what you want to achieve. If you feel like there is something missing in your bag of skills that you really would like to have / incorporate, determine who does it really well and play some of his/her music just to get used to playing it and to get a feel how it is incorporated.

Some examples might be:

Getting better in playing melodic synth-leads: play some of JR´s solos in his solo projects or Rudess/Morgenstein-Project or the mellower DT stuff. Also a few kevin Moore solos on the first 2 DT albums come to mind.

Getting better in accompanying your lead playing with some cool left hand stuff by playing some of Keith Emerson´s parts with ELP

Getting better in funky Clavinet / Epiano playing by studying Stevie Wonder songs

Getting better in B3 playing by playing some of Chester Thompson´s stuff.


and so on.



The point is that this way you will learn much faster and better. On the other hand there is not too much sense in playing covers (besides the fun of playing of course) f you are not gonna use the techniques required.


Hope that helps!

[Bigs]

Getting better in funky Clavinet / Epiano playing by studying Stevie Wonder songs

Hmm I never thought of listing to Stevie Wonder for that. Sounds interesting, any albums or songs you recommend in particular?

[rifaa]

Hmm I never thought of listing to Stevie Wonder for that. Sounds interesting, any albums or songs you recommend in particular?


First thought would of course be "Superstition":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE&feature=related


"Keep On Running":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj08jTHsLuY&feature=related


"Tuesday Heartbreak"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PawDt9dZGc&feature=related


"Happier than the Morning Sun"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W6p1_A88to&feature=related

[Comma]

I was watching Rock Fujiyama hosted by Marty Friedman a while ago and the had a challenge involving a face off with Marty and Paul Gilbert. Anyhow, they'd pick a ball out with a Letter on it, and they'd have to pick a song by the Artist starting with this letter. Each of them did really well, jamming out tunes. They all know licks and riffs from thousands of songs, taking their favourites and creating their own style.

So to you, if you take songs you like, learn the hooks, riffs and styles from them, mix them all together, you'll be able to develop your own style and sub-technique to playing them. My final answer. Yeah, play covers, learn as much as you can, but never let it take away from what you are if you ever hope to make your own music.

[Bigs]

First thought would of course be "Superstition":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE&feature=related


"Keep On Running":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj08jTHsLuY&feature=related


"Tuesday Heartbreak"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PawDt9dZGc&feature=related


"Happier than the Morning Sun"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W6p1_A88to&feature=related

Hey I never saw this reply, but now I do thanks to the bump. Thanks :smile:

[RAN7ARAVE]

i improvise something new every day

[Ardude_rjn]

My music teacher always said:

"The best way to learn how to compose/improvise like a certain person or band, is to first play as much music that you can from that person/band""