Stuck in a horrible playing rut...

Holy Katana · #1 10-05-2007, 11:26 PM

I've been stuck in a playing rut for quite a while now. It's horrible. I can't really think of any songs or solos that I want to learn, or at least ones I'm capable of playing. I attempted to learn Cliffs of Dover again tonight, and it was disasterous. I've heard the song a million times, but I couldn't even get the intro right, even after practicing it slowed down. The last song I learned was Crystal Mountain by Death, which is one of the few songs I've tried to learn that is challenging, but not so challenging that it makes me lose all confidence and quit it for the time being. I don't know many songs because of this.

Anyway, my question is if any of you have an idea of a song that's not very hard, but isn't so simple it insults my intelligence. It can have a little bit of shredding, but nothing too complex, as my lead chops are terribly bad right now. I don't care what genre it is; these days, I like everything.

quiksilverdew · #2 10-05-2007, 11:36 PM

Some Jake E. Lee Ozzy maybe?

CosmicDebris · #3 10-05-2007, 11:45 PM

Eugenes Trick Bag from the movie Crossroads by Steve Vai. Good licks, and sounds good played at almost any tempo.

Holy Katana · #4 10-05-2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicDebris

Eugenes Trick Bag from the movie Crossroads by Steve Vai. Good licks, and sounds good played at almost any tempo.

I already know it. I learned it in June, I think. Sorry.

CosmicDebris · #5 10-05-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy Katana

I already know it. I learned it in June, I think. Sorry.

The Time, Rubina, or Love Thing by Satch. The Theme to the Benny Hill Show, Deuling Banjos, Orange Blossem Special. All fun tunes and tempo friendly

rob777vdy · #6 10-06-2007, 07:27 AM

ive just learned bark at the moon solo.try it might get your confidence going again

courtney2018 · #7 10-06-2007, 08:39 AM

Why not take what you've learned and make a song of your own?

Ki swordsman · #8 10-06-2007, 09:06 AM

can you do a bit of improv? sometimes a bit of inspiration and ideas are as good as a solo to learn... check out Guthrie Govan's erotic cakes for some crazy innovative guitar work

if you give a better description or example of what sort of level you're at i can maybe recommend a few solos..

Dee · #9 10-06-2007, 10:14 AM

Learn something a bit different than the typical Satriai, Vai, blah blah blah stuff?

Guthrie Govan is a great player, as Ki said. Maybe study some of Allan Holdsworth's tracks, Planet X, CAB, On The Virg, Tribal Tech, Brett Garsed, TJ Helmerich, Joel Hoekstra, etc... all these guys are incredible players and their styles can teach you a lot.

If you're bored, maybe it's because you're studying the same old boring, follow-the-crowd guitar-hero-worship sh*t as the rest of the world? Just a thought.

southpaw_lefty · #10 10-06-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicDebris

Love Thing by Satch.

Your in my head. I was gonna say the same thing!

It didn't help me though. I've been in the same rut for 20 yrs.

rob777vdy · #11 10-09-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Learn something a bit different than the typical Satriai, Vai, blah blah blah stuff?

Guthrie Govan is a great player, as Ki said. Maybe study some of Allan Holdsworth's tracks, Planet X, CAB, On The Virg, Tribal Tech, Brett Garsed, TJ Helmerich, Joel Hoekstra, etc... all these guys are incredible players and their styles can teach you a lot.

If you're bored, maybe it's because you're studying the same old boring, follow-the-crowd guitar-hero-worship sh*t as the rest of the world? Just a thought.

nothing wrong with bark at the moon dee.its one bad ass solo.my son plays on the guitar hero crap.i get sick of telling him to turn it off and play his strat i bought him for xmas

richard1973 · #12 10-09-2007, 09:14 AM

learn some classical tunes, i found a guitar tab of bach's prelude in D Minor, I like doing that kinda stuff and its only a 90 second piece (found an mp3 of the same tab of some guy doing it on guitar so thats handy) Good thing with that classical piece its same rythem throughout and you can slow it down or speed up etc as much as you like.

Eggy · #13 10-09-2007, 09:46 AM

Here is a my cure for being stuck in a rut.

1) Put your guitars away in their cases and store them safely away.

2) Go and mark 14 days from now on your calender

3) Continue listening to and enjoying music, reading guitar forums etc as normal but DO NOT touch any guitar for 14 days.

4) On the 14th day get your guitars out plug in and go nuts.

This method works for me every time. It's not easy though. I can generaly do around 6 - 8 days before I'm realy hurtin' to play again but if you stay focused and hold off until the 14th day all you rut problems disapear as if by magic.

Ben

rob777vdy · #14 10-09-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggy

Here is a my cure for being stuck in a rut.

1) Put your guitars away in their cases and store them safely away.

2) Go and mark 14 days from now on your calender

3) Continue listening to and enjoying music, reading guitar forums etc as normal but DO NOT touch any guitar for 14 days.

4) On the 14th day get your guitars out plug in and go nuts.

This method works for me every time. It's not easy though. I can generaly do around 6 - 8 days before I'm realy hurtin' to play again but if you stay focused and hold off until the 14th day all you rut problems disapear as if by magic.

Ben

thats interesing ben.dont know how you can do that especially with that lovely dy you got.

JJEMMER777 · #15 10-09-2007, 11:26 AM

Double +1's

Quote:

Originally Posted by courtney2018

Why not take what you've learned and make a song of your own?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggy

Here is a my cure for being stuck in a rut.

1) Put your guitars away in their cases and store them safely away.

2) Go and mark 14 days from now on your calender

3) Continue listening to and enjoying music, reading guitar forums etc as normal but DO NOT touch any guitar for 14 days.

4) On the 14th day get your guitars out plug in and go nuts.

This method works for me every time. It's not easy though. I can generaly do around 6 - 8 days before I'm realy hurtin' to play again but if you stay focused and hold off until the 14th day all you rut problems disapear as if by magic.

Ben

Ben....you're not only a fabulous musician, but a geneous

Sometimes ya just have to put it down. Forget about it and go build a tree fort or something

I seldom put the guitar down, but when I do, I seem to come back with a refreshed and renewed vigor and more expanded new state of mind toward music.

And - if you can play U's trick bag tight, then you're doin just fine

As courtney said, apply the ideals you've learned to your OWN creations.

As Ben says, don't stress about it. Just put her down for a while. We ALL go through ruts! I think you'll be just fine my freind

Go play with something else for a while

BTW - how do you spell geneous??