a mushroom cloud: your audio's "visual" component...

[d03nut]

I remember reading an "interview" with Bowie where he was discussing his approach to songwriting, more specifically, the role of "colors". Basically, from what I understood, in addition to hearing, he sort of feels things "visually" as well.

 

I know that I myself do have a "visual" side when it comes to, say, mixing a song where I, for instance, feel that the vocals are too "mushroom cloudy" in the mix. Or in non-visual terms, they are sticking out in a rather unpleasant way with words having a slo-attack and punchy finish. That is no play on words. I actually do "see" a lot of imagery/silhouettes of such nature, at least, whenever I'm listening to music.

 

I was just wondering just how much of an impact do such non-aural factors have in your actual sound or playing, if any? I know there are those that memorize chords and stuff in a "geometrical" fashion (the shapes of their fretting fingers). I guess another form of "visualization" would be the kind that some athletes go through prior to a big meet, or performance. Musicians?

 

But please use words, no pics. It would be a little too "ironic", no? Yeah, I really do think.....

[flip333]

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxEGkB5HrwYAWtZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5N3JmZDQyBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0gwMTlfMTE4BGwDV1Mx/SIG=11svk0r15/EXP=1193271686/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia

 

I do this a lot. From a metaphysical point of view, every sound and sight is a symbol of something deeper, so music and visual expression can be considered related.

 

Those who are completely physically focused would disagree.

 

The term synesthesia refers to involuntary association of senses, but the concept is useful for artistic endeavors.

 

Its fun to make music that causes imagery to appear in your mind.

[guitarist21]

But please use words, no pics. It would be a little too "ironic", no? Yeah, I really do think.....

 

You know, it rained on my wedding day.

 

I think another visual aspect of music has to do with tones and colors. For instance, I visualize the note "A" as being the color green. And "E" is blue. And "C" is yellow. "G" is a pale reddish, "D" is usually brown.

 

I realize it sounds really strange (perhaps I just need to get some more sleep) but that's why people think I have perfect pitch. I hear a song and to me it sounds "green," so I know its in A major. Anyone else hear "colors" of tone?

 

Ellen

[12Pack]

 

I visualize the note "A" as being the color green. And "E" is blue. And "C" is yellow. "G" is a pale reddish, "D" is usually brown.

 

 

 

Thats just weird... I visualize the following:

 

"A" as pale blue. "E" is white, "C" is orange, "G" dark green and "D" yellowgreen. "B" is red to me.

[d03nut]

You know, it rained on my wedding day. I think another visual aspect of music has to do with tones and colors. For instance, I visualize the note "A" as being the color green. And "E" is blue. And "C" is yellow. "G" is a pale reddish, "D" is usually brown. I realize it sounds really strange (perhaps I just need to get some more sleep) but that's why people think I have perfect pitch. I hear a song and to me it sounds "green," so I know its in A major. Anyone else hear "colors" of tone? Ellen

 

oh yeah, you think that's impressive? well, I can "smell" an 'A'......

 

 

 

ok, seriously though, that's kind of what I was talking 'bout. I just can't "picture" how you can "visualize" a sound.....

[brahmz118]

I sometimes describe strumming to my students in terms of textures. If they are using a heavy pick and digging in too hard, I might tell them the grain is too rough or 'spiked,' and that I want them to try for a smoother texture. Not a perfectly smooth glass-like texture (which might be like using a thin pick and gliding over the strings too lightly) but something in between -- the acoustic sound still needs some grit.

 

Another big visual part for me is thinking of an actual line when I'm improvising a lead / solo part (or composing one), though that might be an obvious one. It's not a like string of notes on a manuscript page, it's more like the laser trails left by the lightcycles in the movie Tron (but not as straight or continuous).

 

I'm also thinking that improvisation in general can be very image-based, but I think this thread isn't really about associations (e.g., thinking about a star while playing Twinkle Twinkle), so I won't get into that. I guess we're talking about visual representations of sound.

 

I know that Coltrane's playing was famously described as 'sheets of sound.' Some days my playing is a few tattered rags of sound, and I'm not talking about syncopation...

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Well...I dont think in terms of colours. I hear the tones and associate them with other sounds or the human voice, something like Clapton's "Woman Tone". This was never the right term for me...I have always strived to get the "Hysterical Woman Tone".....

[Queequeg]

 

oh yeah, you think that's impressive? well, I can "smell" an 'A'...... ok, seriously though, that's kind of what I was talking 'bout. I just can't "picture" how you can "visualize" a sound.....

 

If you think of how we describe guitar tones, and the descriptors for wines (some make a little sense, more have no solid basis in reality) but I think what might be going on is that we process these things in the same parts of the brain.

I have recommended this before and I'll do it again, so if you find D03's thread here interesting, read this book: This is Your Brain on Music By Daniel Levitin. If you think in terms of left brain = artistic, right brain = logical, Levitin's book is grad school for this elementary concept. It's much more complex and infinitely more fascinating.

[JasmineTea]

E is red

A is yellow

D is amber

G is brown

C is light brown/tan

B is blue

F is white

F# is gray

C# is reddish gray

 

Green happens incidentaly, along with other colors, depending on the order of the chords and their voicing.

[Queequeg]

 

E is red A is yellow D is amber G is brown C is light brown/tan B is blue F is white F# is gray C# is reddish gray Green happens incidentaly, along with other colors, depending on the order of the chords and their voicing.

 

the world according to D'Addario...

(low)E is brass

A is Red

D is Black

G is Green

B is Purple

(high)E is Silver

[guitarist21]

 

anybody here get an invitation to Ellen's wedding? Hey, what am I; chopped liver?

 

 

Don't worry it didn't happen yet, I promise.

 

Ellen

[Simon76]

I can remember the first time I saw sound as a color.

It was an ELO concert in the mid 70's at a state fair.

They had a single green laser light beam focused up into the sky

vibrating with a cello string.

I was awe struck!

Mushrooms may or may not have been involved.

But, low hanging clouds were certainly in the forcast

[Hamhand]

Queequeg, I laughed out loud!!!!!

[rjoxyz]

Damnit, now I discover I am not only tone deaf, but color blind!