I'm in a rut with my playing

[mathias]

Along the lines of the hammer dulcimer, I found I really enjoy figuring out mandolin parts on my acoustic guitar. Getting them to be consistent at speed has been a challenge.

[Gearmond]

listen to music that isn;t your sweet spot for like two weeks without touching your instrument beyond exercises.

[Achtane]

Go for a walk, a hike or something. Go see a band or read a book you may not have otherwise sought.

[tuffteef]

Go for a walk, a hike or something. Go see a band or read a book you may not have otherwise sought.

this is good too
whenever i see a good band play it restores my faith in music again

[Achtane]

Go for a walk, a hike or something. Go see a band or read a book you may not have otherwise sought.

this is good too
whenever i see a good band play it restores my faith in music again

SERIOUSLY. Even noodling around with my best friend makes me get a huge desire to improve.

[Caesar]

What's the matter with you people!

The easiest solution to getting out of a rut is BUYING NEW GEAR!

[Wes Mantooth]

What's the matter with you people!

The easiest solution to getting out of a rut is BUYING NEW GEAR!

Already did that, I ordered a SnazzyFX Mini Ark

[Fuzzy_Nuts]

Probably not practical or possible for everyone but I find hauling a little gear outside and playing for the trees to be very inspiring. Plus trees love fuzz.

[Bassus Sanguinis]

What's the matter with you people!

The easiest solution to getting out of a rut is BUYING NEW GEAR!

...actually, behind the gear hoarding philosophy and GASsing, this, too, is true: tweaking out the sounds and playing with a new pedal can lead to trying out all new phrases and techniques. Playing with all new gear often gives ideas and encourages to continue the ongoing quest. Plus the Mini Ark should call for some attention to the detail in playing.

AND then there's the noise synth instruments...

[thrushes]

trying crazy tunings always helps!
go here: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/tab/tuning.html

[bobloblah]

do drugs. go to bars and looks for the most drama causing female and take her home. do more drugs.

[Wes Mantooth]

Any ideas of good guitar literature

I'd just like a book with some good exercises and scales to learn as I think it will help me become more technical

[Bassus Sanguinis]

do drugs. go to bars and looks for the most drama causing female and take her home. do more drugs.

...followed drunk intuition and did just this, years ago. Didn't end up too good at all, and didn't improve the arpeggios, so - agains the common sense - it's not that great method, really.

[madmax1012]

i was in a rut a few weeks ago. listened to a shit ton of classical music, especially from different countries. classical Indian music in particular is fucking crazy, and got me out of playing similar sounding things. same with a few russian composers. basically, i think foreign music helps break you out of your normal playing style. idk maybe it's just me

[mathias]

i was in a rut a few weeks ago. listened to a shit ton of classical music, especially from different countries. classical Indian music in particular is fucking crazy, and got me out of playing similar sounding things. same with a few russian composers. basically, i think foreign music helps break you out of your normal playing style. idk maybe it's just me

There's this process where you try to draw with the image turned upside down, so that your visual processing doesn't turn it into a visual "symbol" and you just see lines, shapes, shade, etc. I wonder if listening to different music helps break your brain out of hearing chord progressions, verse-chorus-verse, discrete instruments (I tend to do this to analyze a song), etc. and lets you hear more of the tone, timing/rhythms, harmonies between instruments, and overall sound that you might not otherwise hear.