h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi H.L.E
Just a query that I thought you might be able to help me with seeing as you're a member of the musicians Guild.
Do you use computer software when you record music, to write it down and stuff? I just wondered if there's any programs you would recommend, so I can just play music into the computer and it'll write it down for me.

Thanks.

Kaz.

?Computers? No I use old fashioned pen and paper to write down all my ideas. I haven't actually got round to recording ahnything so I have loads of ideas in my head.

Oh I see. Cos I learn music mostly by ear, as a result I've learnt a number of songs but unless I keep practising them I forget them. I can't write down music terribly well, so thats how the idea of the computer came in, but thanks anyway.

Kaz

I'm a guitarist so i'm terrible with Proper music. Quite a bit of the stuff i play I've never written down. The best stuff i don't have to learn

I think I get what you mean.
I know what you mean about Proper Music though. I've been teaching myself the Guitar for about a year now. I'm not very good but I get by. I can read the chord boxes and thats about it! I can't do the tabs.
Taught myself piano for a couple of years up until recently. Figured there was so much stuff I wanted to learn to play I needed someone to help me out with it! I can read basic music but I'm not that good.

I'm there going right a, b, a, c, plink plink plink etc etc. Very time consuming

hmm, yes.

I much prefer my method of making music.

Theory: If it sounds good play it.
Practical: Play until something sounds right.

That's a good idea! If you're making up you're own music of course. I'm not v. good at making up my own stuff, cos it just sounds messy. I reckon I'd be better at arranging other people's music, you know, like after they've recorded it.

I'm hitting a good patch at the moment.

How do you mean?

I managed to write a love song the other day. I've been trying for ages but they all turned into cynical hate songs.

Well done.
I wish I could write songs. I can write poetry, but I just can't put it to music.

It takes me a while. I've got a backlog of about 15 songs to put to music.

Wow!
You could put together an entire album with that lot!

I almost have got an albums worth of vocal and guitar tracks written. I need to record and bulk them out a bit. One of my tracks i wnat to rewcord with a full scale orchestra.

Cool!
Go for it!

Have you ever heard Motorcycle Emptiness by the Mnaics? There's a long i'd like to hear with a full orchestra.

Haven't heard it unfortunately. Actually, I haven't heard a lot of the Manics stuff. I ought to borrow a couple of their CD's from the library at some point I guess, along with Coldplay's first album which was recommended to me quite some time ago.

Listen in this order

Generation Terrorists
The Holy Bible
Gold Against The Soul
The newer three.