Hello again,

Ok, this really is getting way too complicated for what is really a simple question. We are starting to trip over our own points here.. It really is getting to the stage where we can't see the woods for the 3's, ha, ha...

Some folks are gonna think one way and myself and others are gonna see it the right way.... joking there..... Really, there is no right or wrong way, what the hell does it matter as long as it produces decent sounding music !

Simple point: A computer in the hands of a talented artist can produce real art but it doesn't make it a paint brush.

We did agree on the main point, you said that a computer is nothing but a tool. That's what it is. A tool that can be used by a musician to make music.

Take care and have a great weekend, Gordon.

Back to my guitar and djembe for some more music making...really..

:band:

No, we DIDNT agree on the main point. I spent a paragraph explaining how we didn't agree on the main point.

NOTHING has a FIXED definition of WHAT it IS. All meaning, reference, understanding and concepts of being, are CONTEXTUAL.

Without everything that exists AROUND an object to give it meaning, the object itself HAS no meaning.

Aside from your point that anything needs something else to have meaning, would you say that terms like "mammal" or "insect" are contextual?

Yes, because of word etymology, descended language, word roots (I don't know if either word is descended from greek or latin, but many other english words only mean what they do by context of latin roots that have been twisted.

They're categorical, but without examples they'd just be gibberish. As it is, I'll admit its nigh-on impossible to misread them for something else, but slang and vernacular uses of 'insect' to mean someone lower than you and worthless are contextual meanings, yes?

Alright, an update to the question then:

When used in the context of making music, can the computer be considered an instrument? And, could people who use the computer exclusively to create their sounds (assuming they're original to them), can you call them musicians?

Hi there,

On some of my African style recordings I have used pots and pans from the kitchen. Are these musical instruments or just something I have used to make music?

Gordon.

In that context, musical instruments.

What if I stood on our cat's tail and got her to squeak at well timed moments in a particular song?

This is getting silly...

Gordon. X :beer:

I often throw rocks at passing pedestrians and record their obscenities.

My question is: which is the musical instrument, the rock or the pedestrian? Or perhaps my hand, for that was the instrument I used to chuck said rock at pedestrian? Or perhaps none of the above, and it's the entire disorderly conduct citation I received from said rock-chucking incident?

Then you are selling yourself short. Even if you did nothing but use garageband loops (which I doubt is all you do) you are still a musician. Whether or not you are a very good musician is for your listeners to decide.