Now that I've got some feedback on my tutorials about creating music with ChatGPT, I've become aware of some of the issues and problems people still have when using ChatGPT for this task.
Thus, I want to give some general advice about using the method I describe.
1. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence and ChatBot, and is specifically designed to be able to hold an intelligent conversation with humans.
Thus, when collaborating ChatGPT with ChatGPT, it's best to just address and talk with it like you would with a human collaborator. ChatGPT will understand you. After all, it was programmed to understand you!
So forgot stuff about "prompting" or formulating "instructions" in a specific way - just have a chat with the AI.
Just like you would do if you were collaborating with a human. (You can read more about this here: https://laibyrinth.blogspot.com/2023/11/forget-prompt-engineering-there-are.html )
2. And, just like a human, ChatGPT has its strengths - and its flaws.
I've got some feedback like: "ChatGPT created 90% of the elements of the track for me without any problems, but then it failed to do [x]. Why?".
Well, because - it's not perfect.
It knows an insane amount of styles, details and nuances about them, has huge knowledge about music theory and so on. But that doesn't mean it knows, or can, do everything.
Just like a human collaborator would, and could, not do everything you ask them, too.
Think of a human guitar player who has trouble getting a certain chord progression right, or a drummer messing up a certain rhythm.
3. What to do in these cases?
You eventually have to move on, and try to do things differently.
If ChatGPT doesn't create a melody, or bass line, etc. like you envisioned it, you could try to create a different sequence with it.
Or you could try to go 'oldschool', and fall back to your human brain to create something - like writing a melody yourself.
4. And this brings us to another point.
If ChatGPT doesn't create a melody, or bass line, etc. like you envisioned it, you could try to create a different sequence with it.
Or you could try to go 'oldschool', and fall back to your human brain to create something - like writing a melody yourself.
4. And this brings us to another point.
How much you want to involve ChatGPT in your song / track, and for which elements and aspects, is entirely up to you!
Some people desire a way where they could type in one "prompt" and the AI outputs a complete track. But that's not the way to go!
For example, you could let ChatGPT create 95% of the track - and you use your puny human skills for the rest.
Or you could do it 50% / 50%.
Or even write the majority of the song (or track) by yourself, and just use ChatGPT for some tasks - like adding an epic chord progression!
5. And this brings us to the next point.
With these tutorials, it's best to approach it as a *collaboration* with ChatGPT. Similar to a collaboration with a human musician (or producer etc.).
If you would go the opposite the way, and just issue commands to ChatGPT in the hope it will output a perfect track instantly, then this won't work.
6. I already mentioned that ChatGPT sometimes might output bass lines, melodies, rhythm sequences, or any other element in a way that is different to what you wanted. Or, in other cases, simply fails a task.
I said in 2 and 3 that, in rare cases, there is no fix. But usually, this can be solved quite easily - by talking with ChatGPT and letting it know about the problem. It will give an output then that is more to your liking.
For example, I asked it to create an Acid bass line. It was a good one, but too mellow and sweet for my track. So I asked it to give me a more sour and chaotic one - and it did!
Or I asked it to make a percussion more frantic that it had created for my Techno track. And it instantly did!
Easy fix.
7. Talk is king
As mentioned before, you should use ChatGPT by talking with it (instead of issuing cryptic single commands, for example).
Your collaboration should involve a lot of "talking back and forth".
And especially problems and issues should be solved by - talking.
Talk, talk, talk!
8. Context is queen
Context is one of the most important things, too! Give ChatGPT as much context as you can.
What song / track do you want to create? What DAW / equipment are you using? Everything, and every detail!
For example, saying you want to create an Acid techno track is fine - but be more specific!
Should it sound dark, should it sound bright? Oldschool - or modern?
You get the point.
Simply starting your ChatGPT session and saying "Generate an Acid bass line for me" without further context won't do the trick.
9. Keep ChatGPT in the light
You can see your track on your DAW and on your computer screen, but ChatGPT can't.
It depends on you to stay informed on the progress of the track and its content.
Changing things on your own is fine, but let ChatGPT know if you removed a melody, drum pattern, or decided to go for a different mood with the track, etc.
Otherwise you will easily go wrong.
Just like a human collaborator would be very confused if you went into rehearsal with them - but had changed the entire lyrics without letting them know.
Similarly, let ChatGPT know if an element it created or an idea it suggested turned out well and you decide to use it for the track.
10. ChatGPT can be quite the itch
I said that most issues can be solved by talking with ChatGPT. But in some cases, ChatGPT can appear quite stubborn, and insist it is right and you are wrong, or even claim things that are entirely incorrect, and so on, and this will go nowhere. (Once again - something that reminds one of human collaborators).
In this case, you just have to go a similar way like in points 2 and 3 - accept it, and do things differently.
11. Dumb
I hate to say it, but as much as ChatGPT is very smart, intelligent and knowledgeable - it sometimes fails at quite simple tasks. Like giving the correct notes of a specific tonal scale. Giving the wrong chord. The wrong time signature for a rhythm. And so on. This is rare - but it happens. (Humans ain't perfect either, btw.).
If it does, simply follow the same method as described above - try to find a fix or workaround, or do the thing you want to do - on your own.
And now: have fun collaborating with ChatGPT on music!
Some people desire a way where they could type in one "prompt" and the AI outputs a complete track. But that's not the way to go!
For example, you could let ChatGPT create 95% of the track - and you use your puny human skills for the rest.
Or you could do it 50% / 50%.
Or even write the majority of the song (or track) by yourself, and just use ChatGPT for some tasks - like adding an epic chord progression!
5. And this brings us to the next point.
With these tutorials, it's best to approach it as a *collaboration* with ChatGPT. Similar to a collaboration with a human musician (or producer etc.).
If you would go the opposite the way, and just issue commands to ChatGPT in the hope it will output a perfect track instantly, then this won't work.
6. I already mentioned that ChatGPT sometimes might output bass lines, melodies, rhythm sequences, or any other element in a way that is different to what you wanted. Or, in other cases, simply fails a task.
I said in 2 and 3 that, in rare cases, there is no fix. But usually, this can be solved quite easily - by talking with ChatGPT and letting it know about the problem. It will give an output then that is more to your liking.
For example, I asked it to create an Acid bass line. It was a good one, but too mellow and sweet for my track. So I asked it to give me a more sour and chaotic one - and it did!
Or I asked it to make a percussion more frantic that it had created for my Techno track. And it instantly did!
Easy fix.
7. Talk is king
As mentioned before, you should use ChatGPT by talking with it (instead of issuing cryptic single commands, for example).
Your collaboration should involve a lot of "talking back and forth".
And especially problems and issues should be solved by - talking.
Talk, talk, talk!
8. Context is queen
Context is one of the most important things, too! Give ChatGPT as much context as you can.
What song / track do you want to create? What DAW / equipment are you using? Everything, and every detail!
For example, saying you want to create an Acid techno track is fine - but be more specific!
Should it sound dark, should it sound bright? Oldschool - or modern?
You get the point.
Simply starting your ChatGPT session and saying "Generate an Acid bass line for me" without further context won't do the trick.
9. Keep ChatGPT in the light
You can see your track on your DAW and on your computer screen, but ChatGPT can't.
It depends on you to stay informed on the progress of the track and its content.
Changing things on your own is fine, but let ChatGPT know if you removed a melody, drum pattern, or decided to go for a different mood with the track, etc.
Otherwise you will easily go wrong.
Just like a human collaborator would be very confused if you went into rehearsal with them - but had changed the entire lyrics without letting them know.
Similarly, let ChatGPT know if an element it created or an idea it suggested turned out well and you decide to use it for the track.
10. ChatGPT can be quite the itch
I said that most issues can be solved by talking with ChatGPT. But in some cases, ChatGPT can appear quite stubborn, and insist it is right and you are wrong, or even claim things that are entirely incorrect, and so on, and this will go nowhere. (Once again - something that reminds one of human collaborators).
In this case, you just have to go a similar way like in points 2 and 3 - accept it, and do things differently.
11. Dumb
I hate to say it, but as much as ChatGPT is very smart, intelligent and knowledgeable - it sometimes fails at quite simple tasks. Like giving the correct notes of a specific tonal scale. Giving the wrong chord. The wrong time signature for a rhythm. And so on. This is rare - but it happens. (Humans ain't perfect either, btw.).
If it does, simply follow the same method as described above - try to find a fix or workaround, or do the thing you want to do - on your own.
And now: have fun collaborating with ChatGPT on music!
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