How To Use Someone’s Musical Style Without Losing Your Own

How To Use Someone’s Musical Style Without Losing Your Own

Musical Style musician man guitar recordingLearning how to use someone’s musical style without losing your own is quite tricky. There are various things that you have to consider, especially the technicalities of the thing that you are about to do.

Even if you are a seasoned composer already, you cannot still guarantee that you won’t experience these musical “lagging.” In fact, it is an inevitable predicament that you will tend to copy the music of other people. And the biggest deal about it is that you can be unconsciously doing such. Of course, it is a bad thing. Why? Well, because it is the epitome of plagiarism.

So if this is the case, are there any plausible options where you can somehow imitate the musical style of other musicians without stepping into a legal landmine? Yes, there are. Just take the time to read this article so that you will be guided. Don’t worry. These pieces of advice that I will give you are just basics and doesn’t require too much stressing on your part.

Pay Attention To The Roots

If you have heard a song that really tingles your ears and mind, you probably want to replicate it on your own. Of course, attempting such will make you susceptible for copying the entire song without really noticing it. The best thing you can do here is to look for the artist of the song and listen to his/ her other works.

Once you can do this, you will be able to analyze the kind of concept that the musician applies to his/ her pieces. Of course, you could also look for related artists that share the same style as the one that you are listening, too. Try to dig deeper until you can find the original style that inspired these people. Start from there. Trust me. You can make your own music through this, even without having to worry about being similar to other music creators.

Spotify, Bandcamp, and Youtube are among the most useful platforms for this matter. They have a lot of recommendations for artists and music that falls under the same genre. You can even make a comprehensive playlist to make sure that you won’t get out of track.

It Is Always About Analysis

Making music is not just about feeling. Most of the time, it requires extreme analysis. If you encounter a piece that you want to replicate, you better focus your senses on it. Try to dissect the music, regardless of how simple or complex it is. Assess the placement of chords, rhythms, and any elements that were used in the song. You should also understand how its chord progression was modified. Also take note of the melody, too.

It is quite essential that you know the instruments that are involved in that piece as well. Specifically, you must determine if the composer used “doubled instruments” for certain sections. For instance, I have a tendency to combine piano and bass guitar most of the time. You can safely assume that this is my trademark as a musician. You can try to replicate it or modify it slightly so that it can be used for your song.

I completely understand that a lot of you don’t really like doing this. In fact, I am also aware that I suffer from such kind of inconsistencies. After all, it is quite bothersome to be “analytical” when it comes to music. However, we have to understand that this is a form of practice that we have to do. In the long run, it will improve our versatility and musical affinity.

Always Set Your Standards

Don’t be easily taken away just because you have heard a song that rendered your ears with excitement. After all, music is not all fun and games. In a particular music that you have taken an interest upon, it is not really necessary that you like all about it. As a matter fact, there is a good tendency that there are only a few parts in the song that you want to take in.

I am not saying that songs, in general, are inconsistent and flawed. However, you should always consider the fact that you are your own. It should be a given already that you have your respective tastes and preferences. It is not a bad thing. In fact, such nuance makes you unique as a musician. You have to use it to your advantage.

Once you can get the right elements, you can already arrange them in already so that they can make sense. Start making the chords, rhythm, and melody of the music that you want to create. Doing this at first might be difficult. But if you can already get the hang of it, such phase should be doable enough.

Never Stress Yourself

musician woman playing violin

This is the last advice that I can give to you. As a musician, it is pretty understandable that you have certain goals you want to reach. It is natural if you have been driven by the need to match or surpass the quality of this particular artist or song. There is nothing wrong with it. After all, the will to refine our skills is essential for our progress.

However, this should not distract or agitate you. The more you want to chase another person, the more you are inclined to copy his/ her skills or works. Being inspired is quite different from being overdriven. Do not eat more than what you can chew. Just stay on your pace and always be true to your goals. With this, you can create your own music that would not be “comparable” with other people’s pieces.

Conclusion

From the start, learning how to use the musical style of other people is not an easy task. It will require serious focus and determination to extract the right elements so that you can pour it into your song. Plagiarizing and copying are both serious blunders, after all. An artist like you will have to do these practices that I have mentioned so that you can always be on the safe side.

Did you like this article? If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask me. I will be waiting!

I’m Monica Harrison, and I am self-confessed guitar geek. I created Guitar Trance is to share this knowledge with any interested fellows. I hope that our enthusiasm will get syncopated along the way!
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