I need a unique idea!!!!!!!

There's nothing you can learn anymore eh? Then start composing. Or get a new instrument. Seriously though, there's always something to learn. Sit in front of your piano and start playing something that no-one would play because it's impossible, and learn that.

I am trying, on multiple instruments. I play electric guitar, and play mostly progressive rock, acoustic, and I actually play a style of my own which is kinda like blue grass picking but with an eerie sound. I have grown intrest in African and Indian drumming and hope to one day find someone to teach me these styles. I also play the cello. It is hard though to form an idea of your own when everything you write shows influence of other artists. I don't want to be influence, I want to be the one who influences others. I don't want people to say my music sounds like Cage, Dave Brubeck, or Dream Theater... I want it to be my sound. I have composed music since I remember... mostly ragtime and jazz for piano, but recently a lot of progressive rock. I am best at makeing the music instead of playing, therefore I need band members but it is to hard to get people who actually know what they're doing to cooperate and not interfere with my ideas... that may seem selfish but its how I truly feel.

Playing out of 3/4 or 4/4 naturally takes special creative talent that one is born with. Also, recognize that the generally speaking, from childhood, we are exposed to 4/4 and 3/4 rhythms only. 

Honestly, still being in high school here, the best guys I've seen are all in band.  Most guys who just pick up drums and start going can only do the 4/4 hi-hat/snare beat that you hear everywhere.  The guys in band, being taught how to read music and such, playing percussion (bells, xylophones, timpani), are all better drummers than those with informal training.  Maybe you could look up if there's any people in your area who went to your college, Berkely, or any other arts/music college.

laplace wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Playing out of 3/4 or 4/4 naturally takes special creative talent that one is born with. Also, recognize that the generally speaking, from childhood, we are exposed to 4/4 and 3/4 rhythms only.  I disagree, and this "certain people are born with" thing can only lead to hero worship. ;P any idiot can become adept at playing in any signature, all it takes is practise.

Ummm..no.   Maybe you've never been around a person with natural talent. It is astonishing. 

And no, not everyone can become adept at it, regardless of practice. I been around and have seen those who can, and those who can't. That's like saying anyone can become a good painter.

^^^Nicely put The metric must follow the music, not viceversa.

A new, unique idea? That's a tall order.  I imagine it's all pretty much been done before (experimentalism should not supersede listenability I feel).

I suggest you go without a drummer, as you don't need one to create interesting rhythms.  If you want to add such percussion, there are many ways you can do it yourself, through overlaying and editing.  You could even play the drums yourself this way with limited knowledge of percussive techniques, but with knowledge of percussive/ rhythm theory.

I think I'd use the piano as the primary percussion instrument -- and other world instruments for rhythm and texture.

  Yeah -- you come on here saying you need X (a drummer) but you want to do Y (the unknown or originality).

Look at bands like van der graaf -- no bass player (bass was handled thru organ pedals) and no lead guitarist (guitar is sparingly used) however they are one of the darkest bands.

The minute you start asking for X, consider moving on without X; that may give you the originality you seek!

timesignature wrote: Why do the drummers where I live suck! They just bang around and the only time signature they can play is 4/4, most don't even know what a time signature is! Everyone here is tonedeaf and they know absolutey nothing about music theory! Maybe it's normal to be the only one who knows anything in your local area... My dad has his masters degree in music theory, and I used to live in knoxville, Tennessee where there are schools of the arts where I studied classical and jazz piano... maybe I'm just lucky to have had some musical education.. but I want to know more, and no one here can teach me. I want to know new ways to experiment with my music. Irregular time signatures, polytonality, and poly rhythm have already been done... I need a new unique idea.

Forgive me for finding your post highly amusing.  Its normal to live in an area where there are few virtuoso instrumentalists in the area you wish to specialize.  Welcome to life.  If you really want to learn those techniques, there is a very simple way to go about it; listen to recordings, watch videos, and experiment on your own.  Polyrhythms are not actually very hard to create if you understand it intellectually.

Additionally, why do you want to learn how to play different percussive techniques and rhythmic variety from other people if you are obsessed with creating a new form or expressing a new idea?  Your contrary nature is what's making you unhappy.  In order to create something completely new, you need to reject the past ideas, not mix them together differently.

It sounds like you are trying to hard to be original, without putting in the time to create personally for yourself and evaluating the work.  Its the same in any field of art.  Create organically, work beyond your influences, create a vision or concept you wish to achieve, and work to achieve it.  Perhaps you suffer from what almost every artist suffers from at some time, laziness (yes laziness).  Just keep composing, and eventually you'll strike upon something original (if you have the talent).  Of course, its best not to have a predisposition coloring your thoughts when you prepare to start the composition process (such as:  make something unique).

I must say that I think it's a funny idea to ask for other people to offer new , unique ideas when considering new/ unique ideas for your music.  If someone else suggests it and you use it, then it's a not a new or unique idea by the time you get around to utilising it. Ergo, you're still more of a follower than an innovator.

If we heard some of your music, we could offer some suggestions on how to improve it and make it more interesting.

Better to come up with your own ideas -- and one that suits the kind of music you can play, and that you like to compose.  But in asking such questions, I don't think you're approaching the making of music from the right direction.  Make it a personal statement, find your own ways to experiment with your music -- ones that work for you. And remember, being experimental and innovative doesn't make the music good.

Draw inspiration from others (you can't help but do that), expand on others' works, but give it your own twist and personality.  Better to be favorably compared to others, than considered a worthless composer of noise who resides in your own little, bizarre world.

Who knows, you might be responsible for a new subgenre of Prog some day.

As for me, I'm hoping to do some experimental electric kazoo music.  I like the thought of being a major force behind Kazoo Prog, and Kazoo-Related Prog.