Petals Around the Rose
I would like to challenge you to a duel of wits. Try this little challenge to your mental acuity, it's called "Petals Around the Rose". Someone brought it up in this thread on Slashdot.I suppose it is pretty geeky to get worked up about a simple puzzle, but that's what got me. It seems so darn simple, and I couldn't see the trick to it. I was prepared for a late night session of figuring, when it came to me. And now I get it. Faster than the time it took Bill Gates to figure it out. The story says that he tried it with brute force at first, remembering and regurgitating past results rather than understanding the game itself.
So besides that mental stimulation, I have a real hankering to study music more. I don't know how to read notes, and I think the only song I can play on keyboard is "joy to the world"... so not too much talent other than my amazing whistling skills.
That said, my brother picked up an acoustic guitar, and I tried to hit the music store by my condo, but it is closed on Sundays. I'm trying to decide between acoustic and electric. I was leaning towards electric due to the lighter strings and because it would be something different than what my bro got, but then again, I would have to deal with the extra hassle of carrying an amp around. Last week I was playing a bit of Nirvana - a very short and simple piece I assure you - and it was great. I forsee a lot of playing in my spare time, it's really fun.
Has anyone else been tempted to read/write/compose/play? I know DJ Derelict has his turntables, and rhythm and timing definitely play there, but don't you want to be spinning your own stuff? Of course, no record "burners" for PC yet eh?
posted by Blight @ 10:47 PM
6 Comments:
Yeah, I got the "Petals around the Rose" fairly quick. Of course, its the same as the "Bears around the icehole" thing we did in math class one day.
Yeah, I don't know why I bothered to mention that.
First post though! WOOT!
Neat one! Lucky guess maybe, but I solved it after observing the first roll. The name, plus the fact that the answer can only be even or zero, gave it away. More neat brain teasers at: http://hlavolamy.szm.sk/brainteasers/
I've done some original tracks in some software called Reason. It's basically a software version of hardware drum machine, mixer, synth, sampler, and effects. It's pretty good, and I like a couple of my tracks, but I'm having trouble getting a good sound. I really need to buy some good monitors, but good monitors cost quite a bit. But, yeah, download Jesse James and Drunken Love for some stuff I've done. They still need some work, but I like the drum programming.
Oh yeah, I also bought an external sound card that's pretty sweet. It records sound at DVD quality (96kbps at 24 bits) and has 4 channels in and 10 out. I'm hoping recording samples with my new card will make the songs sound less muffled.
I messed around with composition when I was in Montreal. At that time, I had a computer with a decent sound card. I didn't do tracks like Derelict, instead, I'd record a lead and a rhythm off my guitar, and then program a drum beat and a bass line.
It was damn cool, but I moved and got a laptop, which has shitty sound.
I do remember a really cool drum line you made once Derelict, not sure if I heard the two tracks you mentioned. I'll try them out. You made those with Reason?
Cibbuano, that sounds cool. You composed your own stuff and then played it? Sweet. Any samples? I think I wouldn't mind thinking about that, but I have to be able to play, so I'll work on first things first.
I tried out the demo for "Noteworthy Composer", and it seems beyond me, but very capable.
Using a composer like Noteworthy is a lot of trouble and a lot of time. It's mainly for composers/songwriters, if I'm thinking about the same program. If you want to make listenable songs, it'd be better to use Reason, like Derelicte, or Acid, like I did.
samples... yeah, I think I left china with one sample... let me see if I can find it...
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