Experiments in music and life
译：以实验来对待音乐和生活
译注：2020年08月03日，原文地址：https://sivers.org/eml。补上周日的一篇翻译。是在周日晚上12点以后翻译的，今天自己重新校对了一遍。 译注：生活有太多可能性，是可以有所选择的，选择按照自己的规则来生活。
原文时间：2019-11-07
One approach to music is to do whatever you want. Absolutely anything goes. But to me, that’s too free. It’s anti-inspiring because having infinite options is overwhelming.
译：做音乐的一种方式是做任何你想做的。确实任何方法都行得通。但是对我来说，那太过自由了。它压制灵感，因为拥有无穷的选择让人不知所措。
Another approach to music is to follow tradition. You stay within the guidelines of a genre or style. But to me, that’s too strict and sad. It was someone else’s innovation. To imitate it now with rules and recipes is just nostalgia. It’s uninspired and dishonest.
译：另一种做音乐的方式是追随传统。你待在一个流派或风格的准则内。但是对我来说，那太严格和乏味。它是别人的独创。现在模仿其规则和方法只是在怀旧。这样毫无创意，也对自己不真实。
So my favorite approach to music is in-between. You make up your own rules, and apply them to a piece of music. You know what this is called? An experiment!
- Experiment with limitations. Write a piece using only two instruments and five notes. Write a lyric using only nouns and no verbs.
- Experiment with textures. Record an arrangement using only children’s toys or samples of birds.
- Experiment with density. Write a piece featuring fifty instruments. Then do a solo piece using only your left hand.
译：所以我最喜欢的做音乐的方式介于两者之间。你构建自己的规则，将其应用到一段音乐上。你知道这叫什么吗？实验！
- 实验多种限制条件。写一段只有两种乐器和五个音符的乐曲。写一首只有名词没有动词的歌。
- 实验不同的乐感。录一段只有小孩玩具或者鸟鸣的改编曲。
- 实验不同的密度。写一段五十种乐器演奏的曲子。然后只是用你的左手来独奏。
I loved learning and applying specific techniques. Like I’d learn a certain way of developing a melody, then go write melodies using that method. I’d learn about re-harmonizing — where you keep the same melody but change the chords underneath, completely changing the mood — then I’d go apply that to all of my songs. Techniques to build tension. Techniques to change time.
译：我喜欢学习和使用特殊的技巧。比如我会学习某种改进旋律的方法，然后使用那种方法去写旋律。我会学习重配和声–你保持相同的旋律但是改变和底层的和弦，这会完全改变旋律的气氛–然后我去把它应用到我所有的歌曲中。建立紧张气氛的技巧。改变时间的技巧。
With each new thing I learn, I have to try it, and make something. It might not even sound good, but that’s OK. The goal was just to see what happens, so there’s no way to fail. It’s all just fertilizer for future creations.
译：对于我学到的每样新东西，我都会去尝试，并做一些东西。它可能听起来并不好，没什么。目的只是看看会怎么样，所以没什么可失败的。这只是未来创作的养分。
I’m not an active musician anymore, but now I find that the way I approached music is the way I approach life.
译：我不再是一个活跃的音乐人了，但是我现在发现我对待音乐的方式正是我对待生活的方式。
After I sold my company and life was a blank slate, I found that having too much freedom was overwhelming.
译：在我卖了我的公司，生活变成一张空石板以后，我发觉拥有太多的自由让我不知道怎么办好。
But I’m not going to buy into an -ism and follow a set of ancient rules.
译：但是我不会步入哪一个“主义”中，并遵守一套古老的规则。
So instead I do experiments. I make up rules, and apply them to my life for a while. Like…
- Experiment with limitations, fear, detachment, or my definition of home.
- Experiment with fame, boundaries, expanding, quitting, or my self-image.
- Experiment with vulnerability, commitment, saying yes, or saying no.
译：相反我做一些实验。我构建规则，然后在生活中应用一段时间。比如：
- 实验约束，恐惧，独处，或者我对家庭的定义。
- 实验声名，界限，提升，退出，或者自我形象。
- 实验弱点，承诺，接受和拒绝。
I usually try the opposite of whatever I did before.
译：我经常尝试不同于以前的相反方式。【意译】
I still love learning and applying specific techniques. Techniques for conversation. Techniques to stretch time. I’m glad I know how to re-harmonize because there are melodies in my past I can’t change, but I can change the thoughts underneath.
译：我仍然喜欢学习和使用特殊的技巧。交谈的技巧。扩展时间的技巧。我很高兴我知道怎么来重配和声，因为我的过去是无法改变的旋律，但是我能改变底层的逻辑。
With each new thing I learn, I have to try it. It might not even feel good, but that’s what experimenting is about. The goal is still to see what happens, so there’s no way to fail.
译：对每一个我学到的，我都去尝试。这感觉可能并不好，但这正是实验的意义。目的仍然是看看会发生什么，所以没有失败可言。