Playing an instrument is good for the brain

[kettering_baggie]

Its all good Ketts.

Well it is until Christmas approaches. My ukulele band have some gigs before Christmas so, inevitably, the wretched Christmas songs get into the playlist; I think, without exception, they are truly terrible. Almost all of these affronts to music were written for purely commercial reasons, to make money, despite no artistic merit. There is what is probably Elton John’s worst ever song, Step into Christmas, Slade’s shocker, even Roy Wood sank to an all time low with wishing it could be Christmas every day, perish the thought! Most of these dreadful songs actually make Frosty the Snowman sound good! My part in these festivities? Playing bass for them! At least we get food and drink afterwards!

Do any of you actually like any of these Christmas song horrors?

[Albionic68]

Well it is until Christmas approaches. My ukulele band have some gigs before Christmas so, inevitably, the wretched Christmas songs get into the playlist; I think, without exception, they are truly terrible. Almost all of these affronts to music were written for purely commercial reasons, to make money, despite no artistic merit. There is what is probably Elton John’s worst ever song, Step into Christmas, Slade’s shocker, even Roy Wood sank to an all time low with wishing it could be Christmas every day, perish the thought! Most of these dreadful songs actually make Frosty the Snowman sound good! My part in these festivities? Playing bass for them! At least we get food and drink afterwards!

Do any of you actually like any of these Christmas song horrors?

Morning Mike. Your part in the festivities really ought to be as the Grinch and given your disdain for Christmas and Christmas songs you should excuse yourself from the accompanying food and drink.

As it happens I quite like Slade's shocker and Roy Wood's Christmas classic but then I haven't got much of an ear for music and have even less of an idea how to play instruments beyond my banjo so to speak.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas in November of all months if that's allowed. All of the very best to your good self, your lad (sorry but his name escapes me) and of course Geoff. Hope to see you again sometime, take care mate 😎.

[Omegstrat6]

Well it is until Christmas approaches. My ukulele band have some gigs before Christmas so, inevitably, the wretched Christmas songs get into the playlist; I think, without exception, they are truly terrible. Almost all of these affronts to music were written for purely commercial reasons, to make money, despite no artistic merit. There is what is probably Elton John’s worst ever song, Step into Christmas, Slade’s shocker, even Roy Wood sank to an all time low with wishing it could be Christmas every day, perish the thought! Most of these dreadful songs actually make Frosty the Snowman sound good! My part in these festivities? Playing bass for them! At least we get food and drink afterwards!

Do any of you actually like any of these Christmas song horrors?

I quite admire anyone who has the nerve to get up and play in front of others. Recording and working out arrangements for songs (however amateurish my efforts may be &#128513 I find very enjoyable, but it's a lot different from playing with others where I think you are pushed to learn more. Been a long time since I was in a band though!

I do understand that it may not be that enjoyable playing songs you don't particularly like but must be nice when the set list is ones you do. As for those Christmas songs, with a few exceptions, I don't really mind them. Maybe this is because some of them remind me of childhood Christmases? Having worked for years in retail though, where they play the same songs over and over from November, they do become pretty wearing!

[Albionic68]

.......Having worked for years in retail though, where they play the same songs over and over from November, they do become pretty wearing!

Tell me about it. No don't. When Bill Withers used to repeatedly blare out over the tannoy in the supermarket I worked at during the 80s on any given day of the year it was never lovely for me, I could quite happily have walked into the office and smashed the whole place to bits 😄.

[Omegstrat6]

Tell me about it. No don't. When Bill Withers used to repeatedly blare out over the tannoy in the supermarket I worked at during the 80s on any given day of the year it was never lovely for me, I could quite happily have walked into the office and smashed the whole place to bits 😄.

We're definitely on the same page!😂
I sometimes think that it would be so nice not to hear any Christmas music at all in my workplace and then I might actually be able to put them on at home just at Christmas and begin to enjoy them again. If the Grinch killed Christmas, the supermarket and retail outlets killed the Christmas song!

[boingy]

Omeg, I had difficulty getting the midi drums to work yesterday (as I said I don't use the Ableton drums usually as I have a huge selection of wav drums) but Could you try something for me? I have just loaded up from DRUMS-HITS-UNSANED KIT 01. Its working fine to record for me. Let me know if its working for you. (Or even if you have that kit)
Its actually Under DRUM RACK.

[boingy]

Well it is until Christmas approaches. My ukulele band have some gigs before Christmas so, inevitably, the wretched Christmas songs get into the playlist; I think, without exception, they are truly terrible. Almost all of these affronts to music were written for purely commercial reasons, to make money, despite no artistic merit. There is what is probably Elton John’s worst ever song, Step into Christmas, Slade’s shocker, even Roy Wood sank to an all time low with wishing it could be Christmas every day, perish the thought! Most of these dreadful songs actually make Frosty the Snowman sound good! My part in these festivities? Playing bass for them! At least we get food and drink afterwards!

Do any of you actually like any of these Christmas song horrors?

Not me but The royalties can be huge if someone writes a popular one because every year there are an abundance of royalties.

[Omegstrat6]

Omeg, I had difficulty getting the midi drums to work yesterday (as I said I don't use the Ableton drums usually as I have a huge selection of wav drums) but Could you try something for me? I have just loaded up from DRUMS-HITS-UNSANED KIT 01. Its working fine to record for me. Let me know if its working for you. (Or even if you have that kit)
Its actually Under DRUM RACK.

Hi Boingy
Firstly, many thanks for taking the time to look into this for me

I can't find this particular kit. Mine is Ableton Live 11 Lite program so may be different from your own.


To access drums in mine, I can either select Drums under "categories" on left Collections column which then brings up a selection in the right hand column of patterns all under " Drum hits". This selection includes Drum Rack but this only opens a box at the bottom of the screen labelled drum rack with what looks like 16 squares numbered C1, C#, D1 etc There is no sub menu under drum rack

Alternatively, I can select Instruments under "categories" in the left column which brings up a submenu on the right for drum rack, impulse, instruments rack and simpler. Selecting drum rack brings up the same drum rack display at the bottom of the screen.

[Omegstrat6]

Hi Boingy

Just spent more time today trawling through various drum tutorials on Ableton but they all seem to involve using the preloaded kits to create your own beats from their individual components rather than being able to simply use the samples as the are. For creating a "proper" drum track that fits a song, I totally understand the need for this ability in the program but all I want is to use these kit samples on a loop to play over and record, a bit like a having a kind of more sophisticated click track. Maybe this option simply isn't available?

Think I will have to spend quite a bit of time learning how to program drums on Ableton so may be sticking to my old Yamaha or Alesis for a while yet!

If you do, at some point, find out whether what I would like to do is possible then I'd be very grateful if you would let me know but in the meantime please don't spend any more of your time on this for me and very many thanks for the time you have already put in 👍

[boingy]

Hi Boingy

Just spent more time today trawling through various drum tutorials on Ableton but they all seem to involve using the preloaded kits to create your own beats from their individual components rather than being able to simply use the samples as the are. For creating a "proper" drum track that fits a song, I totally understand the need for this ability in the program but all I want is to use these kit samples on a loop to play over and record, a bit like a having a kind of more sophisticated click track. Maybe this option simply isn't available?

Think I will have to spend quite a bit of time learning how to program drums on Ableton so may be sticking to my old Yamaha or Alesis for a while yet!

If you do, at some point, find out whether what I would like to do is possible then I'd be very grateful if you would let me know but in the meantime please don't spend any more of your time on this for me and very many thanks for the time you have already put in 👍

Will do. Look up Jim Dooley for drum tracks it’s a good option. You can put the downloads in a folder and add it to your DAW. You can also chop them up as required. Just split-copy-paste etc.