How has the internet changed life for us as musicians?

From my point of view, let's look at exposure first. Back in the late 70's / 80's when I first started playing, getting your music heard meant a record deal which was almost unattainable. Rock stars were Gods... Now with the internet, MySpace, Reverbnation, YouTube and personal websites anyone (including late 30s like me) can get their music heard!

Next, in terms of buying. In the "old days you had to visit your local music store and either (1) buy what they had on offer or (2) wait ages for a special order. Now with eBay etc. you can get what you want, when you want and often things you didn't know you wanted until you saw them listed!! In terms of guitars I still try to have a "hands on" before scouring the net for the best deal. Strings, accessories, effects etc. are all fair game on the net though....

Thank God for the internet (although my credit card wouldn't agree!)

it DEF has changed how music is done. ANY song is available whenever you want it. and also, you can meet other musicians on the internet. just like this forum really.

yes, the internet is really great opportunity for musicians for example, all of my friends from my band use the internet to send new riffs written down in guitar pro. we have a chance to compose together even when we have no possibility to meet

I thank the internet for giving me the ability to buy equipment that I wouldn't have been able to try before simply because the stores around here don't carry everything.

One other thing not mentioned in this post is using the internet to promote your band via an e-mail mailing list. In the old days, bands would have a mailing list of physical addresses and then have to waste money on postage stamps to mail out postcards promoting their shows. Now, all you have to do is get a fan's e-mail address and you can notify them free, with just a click of your mouse. Anyway, I agree, god bless the internet.

~josh

^that's very true

all you have to do is set up a website and go from there. put some songs on and your good to go

Here's the way it used to be back in 1977/1978 for bands. You start a band in San Francisco. Most of us couldn't play so we started punk bands. We'd get a gig at the Mabuhay Gardens. If we did well, we'd play there on a regular basis. Then you had to make a record. Bank then $500.00 would get you studio time and 300 45 rpm singles. However, you'd have to assemble the single yourself, do the artwork, etc. For getting your band name known, you'd have to stay up all night and put up flyers.

Today, you can do everything with the internet as far as getting your band know, announce shows, get your songs heard. Computers have made home studios possible. I have a recording studio built into my house (both analog and digital). It saves us a great deal of time. I'm able to record both my bands, record song ideas and then post them on line. Myspace has connected me to almost all the musicians I used to do shows with as well as connect me with new bands. It's great and saves me a whole bunch of time.








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I've been playing 26 years. I live to play guitar and will die a guitarist.

Johnny Genocide wrote:

Here's the way it used to be back in 1977/1978 for bands. You start a band in San Francisco. Most of us couldn't play so we started punk bands. We'd get a gig at the Mabuhay Gardens. If we did well, we'd play there on a regular basis. Then you had to make a record. Bank then $500.00 would get you studio time and 300 45 rpm singles. However, you'd have to assemble the single yourself, do the artwork, etc. For getting your band name known, you'd have to stay up all night and put up flyers.

Today, you can do everything with the internet as far as getting your band know, announce shows, get your songs heard. Computers have made home studios possible. I have a recording studio built into my house (both analog and digital). It saves us a great deal of time. I'm able to record both my bands, record song ideas and then post them on line. Myspace has connected me to almost all the musicians I used to do shows with as well as connect me with new bands. It's great and saves me a whole bunch of time.

Exactly!! Way to go Johnny!

I've just started on the delights of digital recording - very cool! Almost painting by numbers with music! In the old days, bum notes means a re-record of a track or a drop in which was never quite at the same attack. Now it's all just copy / paste!

Sorry, that had nothing to do with my original point....

the internet has changed everything! although i believe statistically, less than 30% of north americans actually have the internet.

This question for me is two-pronged. Firstly, as a musician it (the internet) has allowed me greater access to information such as music & songs - both as sheet music AND in tablature. It's also given me a much wider forum to access tech info on how artists were able to achieve certain sounds and tonalities through their utilization of particular kinds of gear, or even the subtle nuances of the attacks of pick angles etc.
On the other hand, as a radio producer/host it has provided me the where-with-all to research new & interesting music & bands to provide the listeners of my programs. More importantly the web has provided the opportunity to provide well researched background information on the bands that I present to the listeners of the programs I've produced.
Yes indeed!! THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET!!!!








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Shut up and play!
'87 Blk Ibanez RG550
'90 Laser Blue Ibanez RG550
'70s tobacco sunburst Fender Strat Hybrid
'70s Ibanez Roadstar II
Oscar Schmidt el/Ac.
'70s blk Ibanez Concord acoustic
Digitech GSP21Pro FX processor
LabSeries L5 100w combo

The internet has changed the way I ignore bands that I don't like. :)








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Play what you want, play what you feel and don't look so suprised when the people you play for don't get it.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!

If there was no Internet I really wouln't know that many bands or that much about guitars and guitar gear.

12ax7 wrote:

The internet has changed the way I ignore bands that I don't like.

Ha that great.