Is it music if you don't use a guitar?

[Ryan Woodman]

You know what really grinds my gears? When people say that electronic music, techno, trance, house, progressive, dubstep, 8 bit, chiptune, any genre like that isn’t music because it doesn’t “have instruments”.

 

I have a question for the people who say this: do you know how hard these people work to create this music?

 

It isn’t just pushing a few computer buttons. Great, respectable electronic artists like Deadmau5, Daft Punk, Skrillex, Bassnectar, Markus Schulz, Tiesto, Steve Aoki, Chris Lake, Aero, Boyz Noise, Flux Pavillion, Foreign Beggars, Chrispy, and many MANY MANY MANY  more that I can’t list, are ALL spending hours, days, even weeks or months creating these songs. They learn special techniques with programs like FL Studio, Ableton Live, Virtual DJ, Traktor Pro, and many others. They spend their lives making these tunes for us to jump around to.

The computer is their instrument. Just as the guitar is Jimi Hendrix’s, drums are Tommy Lee’s, and the microphone is Michael Jackson’s. You have no right to devalue their work because it was done on a computer.

 

Also, people like to say “DJs don’t play music, they just click buttons and stand there.”

Let me direct you to this video:

 

 This is just one example of someone “just pushing buttons."

 

If you think any nobody on the street could do this, then you need to think again. This type of thing takes skill, timing, precision, and dedication. Just like ANY OTHER MUSICAL TALENT OUT THERE.

You have to be able to read the crowd, mix the songs on the spot that they would wanna hear, and be able to make it an experience, not just dancing. That’s when you know you’re a true DJ or producer, and not just someone who “presses play and stands there.”

 

What's your opinion on DJs, or electronic music in general? I'd like to hear your opinion now that you've been slightly enlightened on the subject.

[Patrick Norman]

i just think that this kind of "music" is not considered music becuase it could take me probably a day to figure out how to use these softwares. Actual musicains need to have talent.

[Kristina Lopez]

Although it does take some talent to make these types of songs, one can learn the skill relatively quickly. This music is not something you learn while you grow up, it is a "now" kind of thing. I hate this music to be honest. It will take a good guitarist their entire life to work and play to become a little famous. These new "bands" have become popular in the past year, not taking their whole life to achieve this dream. It does not mean as much.

[Patrick Witt]

I think music as an artform has severely been downgraded recently and is primarily referred to as entertainment. If a DJ puts enough dedication and emotion into what he or she does, I definitely consider it music. A true musician is one who creates music of any kind to fit his or her personal quotas. If the musician doesn't get paid much and gives up entirely on music, I lose a monumentous amount of respect for that person. They should create the sounds and effects that they want to. If the listener chooses not to accept it, then that is their choice. In summary, I like to consider electronic music music if the DJ puts emotion and dedication into what he or she does without the regards of others. If all they care about is making money and can make people dance, I consider them an entertainer.

[Michael McWilliams]

It is music as long as it has rhythm, and tone/pitch. Most electronic music, techno, trance, house, progressive, dubstep, 8 bit, chiptune has this at some point of the track so it is music.

[Mike Artov]

Personally i like all types of music(except for country) and i think actually writing music and envisioning it in your head takes alot of skill and talent so, i agree that DJing is hard.

[Jack Andersen]

You have to have a lot of talent to write or perform any type of music. I think that it takes even more talent to do what the man did in the video above because you are doing so many things. Combining songs, working the turn tables, and keeping the beat. I have lots of respect for DJ's. They should keep doing what they're doing.

[whitney cummings (caleo)]

I think all music requires skill and talent. All music is special in its own way. One of the great things about music is how many different genres there are. I personally listen to all kinds of music and appreciate each one for what it is. People shouldn't judge music. What might be appealing to someone else may not be appealing to you, but that doesn't make it "not music."

[Haley Bohl]

I am open to all kinds of music and I would say that I listen to a huge amount of types. I like rap and it is mostly electronic except from the voice and I would say that voices are definitely an intrument and i think that people need to not judge.

[Nick Fallico]

I think that being a DJ is a lot harder than play other instruments. Like for guitar once you learn the cords you just play the same ones over and over again. With being a DJ you have to learn how to use a mixer and a music design software. And put in hours of time to create just a rough sketch. Trust me I know from experience. I just think that anyone who says that electronica or techno is not music should be banned from the world.