If you’re looking to learn more about music or want to consume some eccentric YouTube videos about music you need to check out Ben.
Category: Hobbies for Crafty and Handy Folks
How to Clean Your Guitar
Learn how to clean your guitar, and you’ll be able to keep it shiny and looking like new. These tips will help you get rid of the dirt, streaks, and …
How to Clean Your Guitar
Mechanical Relay Percussion In A Eurorack Format
There are plenty of analog and digital synthesis modules available in Eurorack format. But how about one that actually does physical percussion while…
Mechanical Relay Percussion In A Eurorack Format
Cleere’s Bar and Theater, Kilkenny, Ireland – Artist Unkown – PPAC Challenge
I’m really happy to combine my PPAC Challenge entry this week with my musical content.
This hand painted sign is a repurposed old door outside Cleere’s Bar and Theater in Kilkenny.
I’ve got another post planned to describe the incredible musical experience I had at Cleere’s, but for now, please be sure to check out their YouTube channel below. Also, be sure to check out my recent post about the music in Dublin. Perhaps it will hold you over until you can plan a trip to Ireland.
Hobby #8: Active Listening
This is a common sense hobby – you probably don’t need someone like me to suggest it. But I bet for most of you it’s been months or even years since you’ve done it… so indulge while I nudge you a little bit.
Dedicate Time to Focus on Active Listening
Minimize distractions: let the dog out, put the kids down for nap, and silence your phone.
Grab a note book and pen so you can take notes. Scribble what do you like about the instrumentation, any lyrics that stand out, and any emotions you feel.
Consider headphones: this will help you hear the depth and spacing of the instruments better. Any headphones will do, but noise cancelling over ear will help block out the world and let you get lost in the soundscape.
Get comfortable: Dim the lights, light a candle, and pour some wine.
Listen to your favorite tune, or try out something you’ve never heard before. (See the playlist below for suggestions if you’re looking for something new).
Set a reasonable volume: heavy metal should me loud, classical music should be loud enough to hear dynamics, or whatever is appropriate for the tune you’re enjoying.
When the song is over, review your notes in silence- add any final impressions you have. If you feel compelled, listen again.
Move on to another tune. Then when you are done with the session take a moment to reflect. Did you learn anything new about your artist, album, song, genre etc? Can you draw any new conclusions?
Is there something that you’d like to share? Publish on social media or share with friends or consider starting a song club.
The most important thing is that you make the time, because if you don’t, life will get in the way and you’ll miss out. Get listening!
Homemade DeWalt Guitar
As many of you know, I love trying new things. This week my urges went into seeing if I could make a guitar out of a DeWalt drill case. I cut out the…
Homemade DeWalt Guitar
Touch Tone MIDI Phone And Vocoder Covers Daft Punk
’s Touch Tone MIDI Phone is a fantastic conversion of an old touch tone phone into a MIDI instrument complete with intact microphone, but this …
Touch Tone MIDI Phone And Vocoder Covers Daft Punk
PPAC Challenge: BJ’s Bar Fredonia, NY
The Always Write blog challenges users to post art found in public places. Here is my submittal for the PPAC Challenge #61.
BJ’s bar has been a staple for bands passing through western New York State for nearly a century. It’s dark and moody and there are so many trinkets to catch your attention.
Be sure to stop in and have a beer if you’re in town and certainly be sure to mention if it is your birthday.
Hobby #7: New Goblin Ears Images Created by Artificial Intelligence
Usually for my posts I either rely on stock photo images or photos I’ve taken personally. I’m no photographer, readers of this blog can probably easily tell which are mine and which aren’t.
I’m really excited to have learned a little bit about using artificial intelligence, or AI, to create images and I plan to start including some of them here. I’ve just experimented a little bit and I’m in awe of how the AI can take my instructions and generate something beautiful and original. Sometimes it turns out like I hoped, sometimes it’s much worse, and sometimes it’s much better. It’s always fascinating. Here are a few I made based using the command: “goblin taking off earphones with gold earrings.”
Below are some more examples that demonstrate the various styles and fidelity that the system was able to create. I particularly like the abstract nature of the one in the lower left corner. The prompt for that was “Grace Potter screaming into a microphone next to an organ.” The image is reminiscent of Grace’s face, but it is distorted stylistically to the point where it is barely recognizable. The other faces were generated entirely by the AI including the dog.
I know this post isn’t really about music, but take a moment to ponder the possibilities:
- Do you need artwork for your next single or album release?
- Do you need to make posters to advertise your next show?
- Do you need a band logo? I updated my recent Hasty Music Review of the song “Pisces” by Jinjer with artwork generated using the prompt “heavy metal logo of the Pisces symbol.”
Who knows, perhaps soon you’ll be able to generate an entire music video using AI. It’s a wild world out there – be creative, have fun!
If you want to learn how to generate your own artwork check out this video.
Do you use AI for your content creation? If so, what tips and tricks do you have to help others get started? Leave a comment below.
PPAC #54: Harbor District Guitar
Here is my entry in Marsha’s, Always Write Blog, PPAC Challenge. This challenge it to take pictures of public art and share with others. There is an …
PPAC #54: Harbor District Guitar
Plan M: Finding Joy in Music Blog 