Okay, first I asked ChatGPT to "write a poem about the banjo in the style of carl sandberg"
It responded:
"In the hills of Appalachia,
where the misty mountains rise,
the sound of the banjo echoes,
like a lonesome soul's cries.
"Its strings are made of steel and gut,
and its body of wood so fine,
with a twang that cuts through the night,
like a razor-sharp design.
"The banjo is a humble thing,
yet its music soars on high,
and in the hands of a master,
it can make you laugh or cry.
"From the coal mines to the cotton fields,
its voice has been heard,
the banjo speaks a language,
that needs no spoken word.
"It's the heart and soul of bluegrass,
and the sound of old-timey hymns,
with a rhythm that's infectious,
and a beat that never dims.
"So when you hear that banjo twang,
let it transport you far,
to the hills of Appalachia,
where the banjo is a star."
Then I asked the same thing, but in the style of William Shakespeare:
"Oh banjo, sweetly strung with strings of mirth,
Thou doth make the heart to sing and dance with glee.
Thou art an instrument of humble birth,
Yet thy music doth resound with such esprit.
"Thy notes doth rise and fall like ocean waves,
And in thy rhythm, I do find release,
For every tune, a melody it craves,
And in its cadence, my soul doth find its peace.
"With fingers deft, the strings doth come alive,
As if by magic, thou doth weave a spell,
And in thy harmony, I doth derive,
A joy that words alone could ne'er foretell.
"Oh banjo, thou art like a sunbeam bright,
That chases every shadow from my soul,
And in thy music, I do find delight,
As if the heavens themselves were on parole.
"So play on, banjo, with thy rustic charm,
And let thy music ring throughout the land,
For in thy twang, I find a soothing balm,
That makes my heart, with joy, to take its stand."
This is fun! Just one more, this time in Ogden Nash''s style (I could do this all night):
"In the hills of Appalachia, where the air is clean and sweet,
There's a sound that fills the valleys, and it's mighty hard to beat.
It's the twang of a banjo, with its strings a-ringing true,
And if you're feeling down and out, it's sure to lift your mood.
"Oh, the banjo's a curious creature, with its round and bulging back,
And when it's played with skill and soul, it's sure to make you tap.
Its notes can jump and jive and dance, like a lively little sprite,
And if you let it take control, it'll keep you up all night.
"But some folks think the banjo's strange, with its twang and plunky sound,
And they say it's just for hillbillies, who live their lives unbound.
Well, I'm here to set the record straight, and tell you loud and clear,
The banjo's got a heart of gold, and it's loved by far and near.
"So let us all lift up our voices, and sing the banjo's praise,
For it's a symbol of our freedom, in so many different ways.
And if you hear it in the distance, like a distant rolling stream,
Just close your eyes and listen close, and let it fill your dreams."
Cheers,
ZEPP
Edited by - ZEPP on 03/18/2023 18:53:02
ChatGTP is getting a lot better. We had a thread a while back of songs it wrote, which were hilariously bad.
Way better than I could have done.
quote:
Originally posted by banjo bill-eWay better than I could have done.
That's the scary part.
Very cool! Soon there will be no reason for any student to learn how to write. Essay assignment? This app will churn it out in seconds so no need for a student to write. As a retired English teacher, I see very negative unintended consequences. That said, I was impressed with the poetry.
Shakespeare did not dazzle me, but the other two were good.
In the style of Gertrude Stein!
A banjo, a banjo, what is a banjo?
A twangy thing with strings and a round body, oh
It makes a sound, a sound so sweet
It's played with fervor, by hands and feet
The plucking, the strumming, the rhythm so fine
It's a staple of music, oh so divine
From country to blues, to folk and jazz
It's been played for centuries, with a steadfast pizzazz
The banjo, the banjo, it's a unique thing
It's like a drum and a guitar, it makes my heart sing
It's played by the fire, in a smoky bar
It's the soundtrack of life, it's the beating of our hearts
So let's celebrate the banjo, in all its glory
It's a symbol of music, a timeless story
From the hills of Appalachia, to the streets of the city
The banjo will always be, a beloved ditty.
That first one would make a good bluegrass song. Any takers for the melody? I'll mess with it and see what I come up with.
Is this really Zepp? Or did someone ask ChatGPT to post a compelling message from Donal Zepp, a voice we have been missing for so long?
David
Ouch!! Those are all actually workable and correct for the style. The first one would pass for a very good effort for a High School senior of 50 years ago.
Amazing and frightening technology at the same time.
5 years ago AI and concepts like GPT were still just very much nothing else but concepts.
With the recent serious advances in automation and AI, Makes me wonder what the world will be like in 40 years.
Asimov, Bradbury and Orwell would be very surprised to see how much they got spot on right....
Apparently the AI--like many people, I note!--doesn't know that the second person singular indicative of "do" is "dost", NOT "doth". Still, it's pretty impressive.
To me, though, the biggest fail was the Ogden Nash attempt. I see none of the impish word play that Nash was famous for. I suspect that this AI doesn't have (or can't emulate) a sense of humor.
Moon Mullins (Joe Mullins father) once said that Earl Scruggs' banjo sounded like a dominicker hen peckin' corn out of number two wash tub. When AI can top that, I'll get excited about it.
In the style of Edgar Allan Poe;
Amidst the sultry summer eve
There comes a sound, so strange and sweet
A twang of strings, a rhythmic beat
That echoes through the air like grief
The banjo's notes doth fill the night
With mournful strains that pierce the soul
And as the melody takes hold
It seems as if the world takes flight
Oh, banjo, how thy music speaks
Of pain and sorrow, loss and woe
And yet, amidst the darkest throes
A glimmer of hope doth seek
For in thy strings, there lies a voice
That whispers of a brighter day
When all our troubles fade away
And in its stead, we shall rejoice
So let the banjo play its tune
And let its strains enchant us all
For in its melody, we may find
A solace for our troubled minds
second attempt:
In a darkened room, I heard a sound, A twang, a strum, that did astound. A banjo played with eerie glee, Its notes like ghosts, haunting me.
I searched the room, but no one there, Just the banjo's eerie, haunting air. I approached it slow, with trembling hand, And plucked a string, as if commanded.
Its notes did rise, in mournful tune, Like a lover's sigh, in the pale moon. The banjo's voice, like a mournful wail, Echoed in the silence, like a ghostly tale.
I played and played, lost in its spell, As if the banjo had a soul to sell. Its voice grew louder, filling the night, A haunting melody, to my delight.
And then, as sudden as it began, The banjo's voice, it did disband. Silent now, in the darkened room, The banjo's song, a mournful tune.
And yet, I know, in my heart of hearts, The banjo's voice will never depart. For its notes, they linger still, Haunting me, like a phantom's thrill.
Edited by - deestexas on 03/19/2023 08:21:11
I remember reading an article some years ago about the recording industry and the way music could be produced artificially to fill in the background on records. The author made a big thing about how some day actual musicians would no longer be needed to make music.
I can't say I found that article very comforting. If artificial intelligence can be used make music, what will become of us? If there is no need to learn how to play instruments, how many people will be inspired to do so?
I find the program in the OP to be interesting but a little bit disturbing.
quote:Originally posted by dbrooks
Is this really Zepp? Or did someone ask ChatGPT to post a compelling message from Donal Zepp, a voice we have been missing for so long?
Yep, really me. Not playing any more (burnout +arthritis). Still surrounded by banjos, though!
Cheers,
ZEPP
quote:
Originally posted by Ira GitlinApparently the AI--like many people, I note!--doesn't know that the second person singular indicative of "do" is "dost", NOT "doth". Still, it's pretty impressive.
To me, though, the biggest fail was the Ogden Nash attempt. I see none of the impish word play that Nash was famous for. I suspect that this AI doesn't have (or can't emulate) a sense of humor.
Good points.Of course, in theory, it can learn from mistakes. I have corrected it on several occasions when it has made biological errors about spiders, and it does learn from the corrections.
I too was disappointed in the Ogden Nash response for exactly what you point out. Of course, humor is hard to learn: Even when one can speak another language well, it's really hard to grasp the nuances of another culture's humor. E.g. when I've asked ChatGPT for limericks, I've gotten the right poem structure, but nothing intended to be funny. It will repeat jokes and attempt puns, but I've yet to have it fabricate a good one of either. (Not that I could do any better in a couple of seconds when put on the spot!)
Cheers,
ZEPP
quote:
Originally posted by Ira GitlinApparently the AI--like many people, I note!--doesn't know that the second person singular indicative of "do" is "dost", NOT "doth". Still, it's pretty impressive.
It does know, but it tries to be predictable more than it tries to be right. If you ask it directly, it knows:
I ask: What is the second person singular indicative of "do" in Elizabethan english?
ChatGPT Replies: The second person singular indicative of "do" in Elizabethan English is "dost."
Getting a good result out of chatgpt often involves a bit of back-and-forth while you clarify exactly what you want, and offer some suggestions.
Edited by - A Drum On A Stick on 03/19/2023 16:11:51
quote:
Originally posted by ZEPPquote:Originally posted by dbrooks
Is this really Zepp? Or did someone ask ChatGPT to post a compelling message from Donal Zepp, a voice we have been missing for so long?
Yep, really me. Not playing any more (burnout +arthritis). Still surrounded by banjos, though!
Cheers,
ZEPP
You don't know how many times I've watched your videos and wished you were still a banjo dealer.
Welcome back Donald, don't be a stranger!!!
I think I can modify the Shakespearian version to fit the tune of "Greensleeves." The (recycled) tune that fits the first bluegrass version strikes me as the same as White Dove: "In the deep rolling hills of old Virginia..."
Edited by - Lew H on 03/20/2023 15:40:45
quote:
Originally posted by CullodenI remember reading an article some years ago about the recording industry and the way music could be produced artificially to fill in the background on records. The author made a big thing about how some day actual musicians would no longer be needed to make music.
I can't say I found that article very comforting. If artificial intelligence can be used make music, what will become of us? If there is no need to learn how to play instruments, how many people will be inspired to do so?
I find the program in the OP to be interesting but a little bit disturbing.
As I watched animation make huge strides I felt the same way about film actors. Film is a directors medium, and soon there will be no need for actual humans in the movies. A director can make any film they want, and include any actor, living or dead, in any roll. Since most movie scripts are formulaic, there's probably no need for writers either, and how long before the director's roll is obsolete? No sets, no studios, lots of people out of work.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Banjos are brown,
Mostley
Top that thrashin machine...
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