Getting out of slumps

[Davey]

Y'know that feeling when you pick up a guitar and feel useless? bored of the same ol' routine? If your name happens to be Yngwie you're probably thinking "No..." but if you aren't a prick, how do you get out of that way of thinking?

Sometimes I just pickup the guitar and mess around with the whammy (one of the reasons I'm after a PGM, to prevent myself from ****ing around with whammy bar!) I want to play and I'm happy having the guitar in my hands, but I feel lethargic to playing.

So what perks you guys up? learning a new song? writing one? anyone want to share some fun exercises?

[jaken777]

Bro when i get sick of the same old thing i go for the slide on a strat or a Les Paul & stuff around with effects to see what sounds i can do for new songs & stuff, you can do slide guitar with a trem to, it adds a new colour to the sound, if you get sick of the (same old same old) give it a try, it will stop the bordnes & maybe give you a new insight for diffrent things in a song.

Cheers- Jake

[ibanezcollector]

listen to music you normally wouldnt, especially stuff with out guitar if possible

Take a listen to some Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, etc etc..

Then try to incorporate there phrasing on there instrument if its a sax or a banjo an see if you can pull it off on the guitar.

SO much of my inspiration and ideas come from music I generally dont associate with my way of playing.

[Chud]

Originally Posted by ibanezcollector

listen to music you normally wouldnt, especially stuff with out guitar if possible

I took that to the extreme and now all i really want to listen to is Drum'n'Bass...


Doh!

[mi2tom]

Get out of your room .... Go and play with other musicians... Jam along with them

[lyconxero]

I haven't really been able to come up with any new solo ideas as of late or any new ways of moving my fingers, but I have been writing a LOT of new music so I don't feel like I'm in a slump. Right now is my time to right new stuff and later will be the time to come up with some new licks.

[dannypuk]

I know how you feel, i go through stages, it ive been playing so long now i can almost predict when its going to happen, seems like after i practice alot i get bored or lathargic, i cool down for a bit and think to myself **** the endless regimated practice and just noodle or not even play it for awhile. and i find my body seems to come back up and all of a sudden im motivated to play and a feel much better than i did, even tho i just noodles.
i think its just the fact that too much of one thing leaves you subconsiously unmotivated, its like looking at a minute hand on a clock, very focused but very boring.
take a break and dont feel you have to get better just play for the sake of playing, and by the time you look back at the clock it will have moved along much further

^^^^ that was a metaphor by the way.

so i guess my point is chill relax, play what you feel and dont worry about anything else and then your brain will suddenly get motivated to play some hardcore rock!

my 2c



dan