playing an instrument

[def1nition]

just curious do you think producers should learn an instrument and have some formal knowlege of music or do you think it doen't matter most of my favorite producers can play instruments like Jay-Dilla, Mad lib, Dre, Neptunes but I also like producers who only sample like Hi-tek, Pete Rock, Primo whats you opinion.

 

[Equality 7-2521]

i dont think it matters although obviously it would help to know keys. knowing an instrument will expand your options but is not mandatory as far as im concerned.

ofcourse the best instrument in the world are turntables.

 

[PrOLifiK]

Yeah its not mandatory but knowledge of musical notes and theory definately can make a big difference, and make things easier as well.

 

[1d3nt1tY]

Not mandatory, but I admit if I didn't know anything about music in general, I wouldn't be able to do as much as I can... it really does help to know the stuff.

But there's hella people who don't and have made it.

 

[hanayalator]

Ya I think the learning curve for someone that plays an instrument is a lot quicker.

 

[monumental]

i think it all depends, some producers just sample , but it's pretty tedious shit, digging through records all day. Plus you not really making your own music. I think you just have to choose a route. I think to become a top level producer the more instruments you play or atleast understand the the better. Because with samples you take what somelse has played, with your own shit you make whatever you feel. Myself i sample a little and make beats using a lot of live instruments i play bass and my dad plays the guitars, i work with him to find something we can use. Also what i mean about understanding is ie: dr dre, has a whole band that makes his shit, bass player, guitar player and keyboard player, but he undertands all those instruments so he can lay the blueprints and his band makes it happen, you dig, hope this was helpful.

 

[def1nition]

yeah I agree I definitely think knowing an instrument and music theory is important when you can play an instrument your not limited to what you sample, you can get your ideas across more easily. I sometimes use live instr too I play Drums, keys, a little guitar my brother plays bass so between us we got a band. I also think it's important to know how to tweak sounds to fit the mood of your tracks. I know good musicians who's tracks aren't all that because they just take midi patches with no effects or and layer them. A large part of making tracks is your choice of sound pallette. You can have something simple and if the sounds are tweaked good make it sound tight. If you have music knowlege on top of knowing how to freak sounds and samples it makes you that much better.

 

[dacalion]

I look at turntables as instruments especially in hip hop but I feel what youre saying. Yes I think that producers should be able to do more than "just sample". Sampling is cool and all but at some point true talent should play a role in music production.

dac

 

[gram green]

do what you want... but it aint a requirement... i think it is a natural thing though and it would obviously expand your abilities... i started playing guitar atand was in some punk and metal bands before i ever started makin beats.... im tryin to learn some piano basics now so i can fuck it up on a rhodes....

 

[Cold Truth]

It really is up to the producer and the direction he wants to go in. either route is beneficial if they have something that people want to hear. there is no prerequisite, because there is a niche audience for everything.

for me, it is very beneficial to spend the time to build up both skills. versatility is a major plus if you want to "hit it big" (depending on your view of big..).

 

[Loose Cannon]

Dont use my words against me, because i know theres people who can touch your sole with just samples. But i really think that when you see if somebody plays an instrument or not, a lot of the time you can tell whether they jumped on beats/hip-hop/music in general for the money or for the love of the music and tryin change your views/perspective/attitude.

Me personally. I got into makin beats cuz i thought it was crazy how just listening to something through some headphones could change your mood or attitude. Example:

Mobb Deep= Get you ready to kill.
Rakim= Get you to go write.
Outkast= Make you wanna blaze and make some soul music.
Etc...

Its crazy. So i got a job at the supermarket so i could pay for drum lessons. Then trumpet, then sax, piano, etc. And i did that because i wanted to understand music better.

 

[afriquedeluxe]

helix i feel u on that, am havin to do what you did, getting a part time job so i can get some formal training in piano. its always up to the individual tho. theres lots of sick! producers that play keys with one finger lol.

 

[N.A.R.]

A word on instruments

Yeah U definitely don't have to learn how to play an instrument, but it's like a known fact that the farther u want to go the more u have to know.....I.e. Dre....he's on top of the world for some reason and this cat never samples, except his own shit.....So basically knowing how to play an instrument can only benefit u and take u farther.....If u know how to play for instance the piano.....Do u realize how easy it is @ that point to make a beat? 5 minutes done.....Thiink about it this way, sooner or lata a cat that samples his stuff is gonna have to pay for those samples @ whatever cost the supplier desires or no beat....The best instrument flat out to learn w hip hop is da piano....ie ur'e basically playing a keyboard with lots of sound patches together so puttin sounds together @ that point is easy if u know how to play it, and know something about music theory....I can play piano, but only like most hip hop producers with 1 hand.....Hip Hop is also not the hardest genre in music to make...So I would say U don't have to, but if u want to BLOW with longevity then its almost a must!!!!!

 

[Architect]

To be honest with you in my opinion it's easier to create music from your own abilities than it is to sample someone else's works. Mainly because when you sample your constrained into working on a composition according to how the original musician played and recorded the instrument, unless your really skilled at working with samples. But in some cases no matter how much you accelerate the sample or twist it you just can't get it right.

Knowing how to play an instrument is a benefit but not necessarily a prerequisite. You have to have a good ear for melodies, you have to be able to distinguish a variety of instruments for instance, know when your hearing a tuba, trombone, flute, harp, steel drum, etc these are essential things. A lot of people don't know how real instruments sound. You have to have rhythm, be able to play on beat without a metronome or quantization helping you out! These things may not be for everyone to know but atleast know some of the principles of music in order to enhance the art and respect it.

 

[pReMise]

ive been takin piano lessons so i can master the art of midi.......

 

[Manji]

Dre can't play any instruments can he? I saw him on BET and he was all like "I never learnt how to play the piano, I thought it would jinx me. Hell yeah compton" or something

 

[Holla]

I think having some knowledge of keys in an instrument gives an advantage. Im in the process of learing what certain keys are. Im so used to playing by sound, its kinda difficult, but its comin around.

 

[UnOwn]

Yeah U definitely don't have to learn how to play an instrument, but it's like a known fact that the farther u want to go the more u have to know.....I.e. Dre....he's on top of the world for some reason and this cat never samples, except his own shit.....!

Hey, I may be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure Dre samples, otherwise he probably wouldn't be getting sued so much for sampling.... or sometimes he just copies stuff he heard and replays it, whats the difference.... Try a Google search for stuff like "Dr. Dre Sampling Lawsuits" or combinations of those words. I'd say that is a pretty blanket statement, are you saying RZA never went far cuz he samples? I think it all just depends on how dope your beats are no matter what.

 

[MarkN]

yea its not essential but it definately helps a lot when it comes to producing, even if you only know a bit its better than nothing. I get ideas in my head all the time but as im not that good at playing any instruments i find it hard to make things sound the way i want them to sound if you are a good instrument player it only takes a few minutes to put down what you want !

 

[sYgMa]

Well, I do think it's usefull, specially if you use sample. I heard too many producers using samples and messing them all up. Of course, if you have a natural musical ear, that would also do the trick, but knowing your keys helps you in the long run to reinvent yourself and not be confined to samples only.

I play drums actually, an I also learned my notes, so my beats are... lets say "drum predominent"... you feel me?