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Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:02 pm
by 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.

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:12 pm
by Gearmond
listen to music that isn;t your sweet spot for like two weeks without touching your instrument beyond exercises.

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:54 pm
by Achtane
Go for a walk, a hike or something. Go see a band or read a book you may not have otherwise sought.

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:09 am
by tuffteef
Achtane wrote: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 :lol:

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:12 am
by Achtane
tuffteef wrote:
Achtane wrote: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 :lol:


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

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:54 am
by Caesar
What's the matter with you people!

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

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:11 am
by Wes Mantooth
Caesar wrote: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 :love: :love:

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:47 am
by 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.

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:45 am
by Bassus Sanguinis
Caesar wrote:What's the matter with you people!

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


:lol: :hug: :ilf:

...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.

:cool: AND then there's the noise synth instruments... :animal: :animal: :animal:

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:13 pm
by thrushes
trying crazy tunings always helps!
go here: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/tab/tuning.html

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:27 pm
by bobloblah
do drugs. go to bars and looks for the most drama causing female and take her home. do more drugs.

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:05 pm
by 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

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:45 am
by Bassus Sanguinis
bobloblah wrote: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 :p - it's not that great method, really.

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:29 pm
by 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

Re: I'm in a rut with my playing

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:55 pm
by mathias
ms1012 wrote: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.