Being INTP and playing in a band

[gnome]

The best bands I have played in have been bands where I write all the music and the band plays it exactly as I have written it. I record the music and hand it out. The drummer learns by ear and the guitar/bass learn by sheet music. The problem is I become way too controlling. I'm not a nazi I just know exactly what I want. I find that its hard to find musicians of high enough caliber to recreate my ideas. Other musicians simply prefer collaborating. A lot of the musicians in the genre I play value social status. I think I understand why Frank Zappa paid his musicians.

Currently I am playing in a band where I learned the other person's music and they seem to give me a ton of liberty on what I play. We write music together as well and it never turns out the way I initially imagined it. While its an artistic experience it's not satisfying my drive for an abstract idea to come to life.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I think you're too productive and creative for your own good as a member of a band. While I've had zero true experience in a band itself or with an instrument, I say you should find people who can satisfy your needs. You can't let people hold you back when it comes to self-expression.

 

[Jennywocky]

I had the same issue when I found myself in charge of a worship team. Big picture INTP thought means we often "see" the perfect way for the model to be balanced and we try to do a group music experience as if we were a writer and conductor.

However, this stifles creativity. I would suggest slipping into a more Pe mode, where you listen to what unfolds in the moment and be an equal part of the ensemble. The group experience in a band (drums, guitarist, keys, etc.) setting is not to dictate to everyone what they should play and have them conform perfectly, but for each person to listen and contribute to the music unfolding in the moment. It is very much about hearing what is happening and adjusting your own performance to it, to make it as good as possible and provide leads/opportunities to others.

 

[kantor1003]

If thats the case; you have a clear vision regarding style, composition, know how you want it to sound, how the others should play etc. you should be a band leader and avoid democracy. Thats not to say that the other band mates can't come with suggestions, just make sure that they understand that you, ultimately, are the one to decide if the ideas presented are to be kept or not.

Oh, and if you are to be a band leader, you'd better have a clue, otherwise the people your playing with will loose respect for you and the whole thing will collapse.

What kind of music are we talking about btw.?

 

[gnome]

If thats the case; you have a clear vision regarding style, composition, know how you want it to sound, how the others should play etc. you should be a band leader and avoid democracy. Thats not to say that the other band mates can't come with suggestions, just make sure that they understand that you, ultimately, are the one to decide if the ideas presented are to be kept or not.

Oh, and if you are to be a band leader, you'd better have a clue, otherwise the people your playing with will loose respect for you and the whole thing will collapse.

What kind of music are we talking about btw.?

Metal. I am competent at composing music and giving the other musicians all they need to learn it. The drums are super easy to sequence and its all copy paste these days. I usually give the drummer room on fills, but I want him to keep the solid idea the same. Sometimes I just sequence the basic idea with no drum fills and give it to him. I have had drummers good enough to learn it in 5 minutes with fairly complex things going on. I know I can do band leader as I have done it before, but the stress is overwhelming. I really don't care, but it can be overwhelming. I fall into the INTP laziness of knowing I can do something, but not doing it because I have proved I can do it. I guess when I look for new musicians I should just make it clear its a dictatorship, but I will consider new ideas.

Off topic : I discovered I was INTP months ago and didn't think anything of it. I found this forum and found so many people just like me. I thought that was killer because I have only met one INTP in real life. He may have been INTJ though looking back.

 

[kantor1003]

I have never played with a drummer which did things the way I wanted it. Quality drummers is pretty rare. Most of the time I prefer the way I get things to sound using ezdrummer and doing everything myself, however getting a great drummer is obviously preferred.
My problem is also one of laziness.. but also social networking which is a huge part of it.. and perhaps the biggest reason why I probably will end up a "failure".

 

[5k17]

I make music, too, but have never even tried working together with others, until now, as I'm in contact with another musician and we want to do some collaboration. I think we INTPs don't have anything against others being creative and contributing their ideas, but we want to clearly restrict what they may and may not interfere with; nothing must be changed so much that it does not fit into the overall concept any more, but we don't care much about details, such as those drums fills you talked about. When I play self-written songs, I sometimes even improvise variations on riffs or, when having made a minor mistake, decide to integrate it into the song if it isn't detrimental to the song structure.

 

[gnome]

I have never played with a drummer which did things the way I wanted it. Quality drummers is pretty rare. Most of the time I prefer the way I get things to sound using ezdrummer and doing everything myself, however getting a great drummer is obviously preferred.
My problem is also one of laziness.. but also social networking which is a huge part of it.. and perhaps the biggest reason why I probably will end up a "failure".

Holy shit its like looking into a mirror. I have used ezdrummer, drumkit from hell, drumkit from hell 2, drumkit from hell superior and now steven slate drums. I wonder if INTP's could end up working together well meeting each others needs due to the fact we understand each other or something. Anyway excuse my typing I'm on xanax to forget my troubles. My drummer right now is good, he does heel toe double kicks so the 16th notes get a bit imperfect, but I think it'd sound better triggered. We will probably end up failures. I have met some of the successful people in real life and they have incredible people skills. Do you think Devin Townsend might be INTP?

 

[kantor1003]

Pretty much used all those listed except Steven Slate drums. How are they in comparison?
How do you record your drum tracks? Midi programming only, V-drums, or keys?
I pretty much use keys only (kinda considering buying v-drums though) as I can get the drums to play what I want to right there and then without spending time plotting it in, or tweak an already existing sample to get what I want.. the downfall is that, if you want it to sound anywhere near the samples, you have to spend a lot of time afterwards noodling with the midi file, adjusting dynamics and so on.

Pardon me too, had a terrible day at the tables (poker) so I'm kinda in a shitty mood.

Regarding Townsend.. after watching most of his interviews (love the guy, his music and his character) he made the impression of being kinda extroverted when he was younger, but I gotta say that the thought have crossed my mind. I am not the one to answer that question though. Perhaps some other forumites can shed some more light on it.

Oh, and gotta love townsends humour and thoughts. He was depressive too btw, so your in good company.

 

[gnome]

I got them for free with an interface I bought. The Steven Slate samples that is. I have been too lazy to mess with them. This is just pure midi duke nukem style sequenced. Here is how they sound. Just a quick noodle to mess around with them. No processing on the drums other than levels.

http://www.filedropper.com/jamcpr

 

[kantor1003]

Haven't head phones with me now, but just hearing on my laptop it seems pretty good. Sounds organic and the snare is way better than the dkfh one (not that that is a difficult feat)
Will check the clip out with headphones later. Guitar sound is good as well. What do you use? podxt? axe-fx? amp?
You like to shred up the harmonic minor I hear. Didn't hear any diminished arps though :P

 

[gnome]

Haven't head phones with me now, but just hearing on my laptop it seems pretty good. Sounds organic and the snare is way better than the dkfh one (not that that is a difficult feat)
Will check the clip out with headphones later. Guitar sound is good as well. What do you use? podxt? axe-fx? amp?
You like to shred up the harmonic minor I hear. Didn't hear any diminished arps though :P

Can't take credit for the guitar tone. Andy Sneap gave a midi file out for settings he uses. I simply loaded them up. I can dial in my own tone, but I was bored and I tried his out and I was like damn this is good. PODxt pro. I was going to get the AxeFX, I was even on the list before the thing got famous, but I didn't buy because the price. Tab out a diminished arpeggio for me. I'd like to implement them so the drunks at the bar can shake their fingers at me while I execute.

Amp model is the dual rectifier one.

 

[kantor1003]

Can't take credit for the guitar tone. Andy Sneap gave a midi file out for settings he uses. I simply loaded them up. I can dial in my own tone, but I was bored and I tried his out and I was like damn this is good. PODxt pro. I was going to get the AxeFX, I was even on the list before the thing got famous, but I didn't buy because the price. Tab out a diminished arpeggio for me. I'd like to implement them so the drunks at the bar can shake their fingers at me while I execute.

I have probably wanted the axe fx for about two years now but can't justify buying it yet.. I'm too glad in my engl invader.. and the pod will do for now as far as recording is concerned.

Diminished is just 1, b3, b5.. from C; C, Eb, Gb then span it over as many octaves as you'd like.. but I know you probably want tabs... have never been a tab dude myself, but here is an example (this lick is used all the time in various forms by metal guitarists)

E--------------5---8-pulloff-5--11--8----------------------------8--11--pulloff---8--14--
B---------7-------------------------------10------------------10----------------------------
G--5--8----------------------------------------11---8--11-----------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and just continue the sequence up in minor thirds.

Of course, you also have the two dim scales.. either whole half, or half whole.

 

[gnome]

I have probably wanted the axe fx for about two years now but can't justify buying it yet.. I'm too glad in my engl invader.. and the pod will do for now as far as recording is concerned.

Diminished is just 1, b3, b5.. from C; C, Eb, Gb then span it over as many octaves as you'd like.. but I know you probably want tabs... have never been a tab dude myself, but here is an example (this lick is used all the time in various forms by metal guitarists)

E--------------5---8-pulloff-5--11--8----------------------------8--11--pulloff---8--14--
B---------7-------------------------------10------------------10----------------------------
G--5--8----------------------------------------11---8--11-----------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and just continue the sequence up in minor thirds.

Of course, you also have the two dim scales.. either whole half, or half whole.

I get it. I had no formal musical lessons or training so I had to use tabs to learn. That and by ear which I hate doing for some reason. I have the ENGL Savage 120 myself and I haven't found a better amp for my needs. It has the most usable mid range ever. I am fucking snowed on Xanax right now. Jesus christ benzos are addictive. I'm going to stop posting for the night in fear of my inhibitions being lost.

 

[kantor1003]

Yeah, the savage is great for metal. Ok.