Guitarist's Block

[GuitarManiac2]

Hey fellow musicians!

How do you overcome the guitarist' lack of inspiration? ... The feeling that I'm not getting at right thing when I grab the instrument.

Yeah we get new material out there (i.e SiTT) to learn and exercise but having done such for a quite good deal of time before will not help much on the long run. Of course, I've tried other bands songs. And exercised with few amateur guitarists like me but I stopped because of different technical level and styles: Speed and black metal...

Yeah, I've written some compostions (which are not polished even after months working on them) but I find myself turning in circles... That's what I'm concerned about and it makes the musical experience lots less fun...

How do you guys get on track? ... Learning new progressions? ... New techniques? ... Going back to the music theory?

All advice are welcome. Thanks in advance.

GM


P.S. special hello to ol' guitar buddies if you're still around the forum: blackout1991, Rising_F, Redman, piquet, DiStefano ...

[pridurok]

Lack of inspiration?! I'd advise you to ... FALLL IN LOVE!

[GuitarManiac2]

Ahh! I knew that some ingredient was missing

[Sanya]

Lack of inspiration?! I'd advise you to ... FALLL IN LOVE!

works very well!!!
Rock On!!

[GuitarManiac2]

Any other tips or resources (online/offline) to recommend?

[pridurok]

Yeah, I've written some compostions (which are not polished even after months working on them) but I find myself turning in circles... That's what I'm concerned about and it makes the musical experience lots less fun...

How do you guys get on track? ... Learning new progressions? ... New techniques?

Since u've asked for the tips, I can't stay that indifferent, u know, to leave ur call unanswered.
Well, getting on the track is kinda complicated task. None can really ever help except for a good personal psychoterapeutist. If seriously, it all depends on how do u really feel... Do u mean this state of a composer's mind?

Watch on youtube.com

or... it's just a want of smth NEW?!
Well, as for me I don't see anything BAD in being "turning in circles". ( Our Scorps aren't an exclusion latelly. ) . I believe it's all been said & done long ago!

Watch on youtube.com

...Just for example.
Not a composer can bring another, better piece of wisdom into this such already an old world.
I'm sure u do fine with what u already can... I prefer to travel back in time in search for " a piece of mind" ...
Hope that was helpful. If no - say. ( WTFing kind of tips u need?! )

[Emilie]

Oh yes... falling in love brings inspiration for guitar, I can tell you It's true

[GuitarManiac2]

Thanks pridurok for your comments.
There are days like these when I grab the guitar and try to think about what to play. Come on guitar let's rock sometime ! ... what about "Coming home" ... no ... RYLAH ? ...not into it for now... "Blackout"? ... I start and I feel for awhile till the 1st chorus... and it ends for a day. ...

Nights out, sport buddies lift my spirits sometimes but playing guitar used to do it every time. ... But these last months ... it doesn't work anymore.

Btw, thanks for these 2 songs recommendation. *listening* ...Ahhh .... Swaying fingerpickings ... the 2nd song has special meaning to you for a reason...

@Emilie:
oh! I should find a new lover !? ...maybe it will work... I try

[pridurok]

... the 2nd song has special meaning to you for a reason...

...It does.How do u know?
I meant JUST that the real inventions were made there ------- in rocking 60- ies!
That was the beginning ..of..of ..of ALL, in a word! The best times! PPl, plz, gimme a time machine...

[Emilie]

@Emilie:
oh! I should find a new lover !? ...maybe it will work... I try

The thing is, you get more inspiration when you love someone but you "don't have" this person... Kind of Still Loving You But every one is different

[GuitarManiac2]

@pridurok:
Ahhh ... that song "Hey there Delilah" is having effect on me... I never knew that could happen that way ... Good music will always be there. Because I believe in music's evolution.
Young bands like that one can make great things... Artists don't have to be the legends to create great things . There is a saying that goes like this: "You can find the rarest things in the river rather than in the ocean."

We had a discussion at: "As the history goes by" viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28252

Creativity is such a quality - blessing.

If I had a time machine, I'd like it to take me way back in time ... like 1820-1899


@Emilie:
In that case, we would have more breakup/resentment songs than "I-love-u-" songs.
One thing is for sure, yeah, love is a eternal inspirational in music.

If you knew the love story is going nowhere, would you still go on with it?

[MonkeyMan]

My friend, for whatever comfort it may be, understand that some of the greatest musicians in history have suffered through periods of artist block. Sometimes, when it happens, it is ok to put down the guitar for some time. According to interviews, even Jimmy Page would have times he would get block and put down the guitar for months at a time, then pick it up and write a classic riff. Maybe even an idea as simple as changing your guitar sound to something completely different for a while, can help come up new ideas.

[GuitarManiac2]

...to put down the guitar for some time....

Exactly!

I find myself that getting away from the instrument for a week ... and playing it again to be very revitalizing... I mean I'm enjoying it as much as I did the first times... the music flows ... naturally ... fun again!

Aaahhh! ... great feeling ... when the instrument gives you back ...

Thanks MonkeyMan. Thank you pridurock, Emilie and Sanya for your words... They mean so much to me.

Good night all.

[Swiftfox260]

I just pick up my guitar and let the music flow. Once I get a sound I like I continue with it. Most of my music is all mellow and purty sounding now. And I like that.

[alwayssomewhere]

falling in love is indeed a good inspiration! Love is good motivator for anything/everything! What I realised, when I was running out of ideas, that when you go jogging or for a walk, you get inspired. Also, if you try anything else than actually playing, you likely eventually get back to your instrument... At least when I paint, I also feel urge to play.. don´t no how it comes, but these things tend to feed one-another! Listenning music is also very good inspiration! When looking for melodies, I go for classical records- and I prefer LPs, vinyl is always my first choice!