Self hypnosis, or hypnosis in general.

[texasfury]

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[atomic charvel guy]

twist a big fat one, i'm not joking, it just may open some doors for you. prince, jimi, and eddie is a hell of a mix,
if you're that good , i'd try anything.

[PowerTube]

Eddie Van Halen always said that he got his best musical ideas in that state between being awake and being asleep. Years ago, I got an idea in this state, then suddenly woke up and hummed it into a cassette recorder. That's the only time I've ever had the presence of mind to do that.

But yeah, I think a lot of people do that. They just don't always talk about it. What's frustrating to me is when I hear a riff or solo piece clear as a bell in my head, but I just can't translate it to guitar. In fact, there's a solo run I've "heard" for 10+ years and I just can't translate it, even though it actually sounds really simple.

[bobafer]

Eddie Van Halen always said that he got his best musical ideas in that state between being awake and being asleep. Years ago, I got an idea in this state, then suddenly woke up and hummed it into a cassette recorder. That's the only time I've ever had the presence of mind to do that.

But yeah, I think a lot of people do that. They just don't always talk about it. What's frustrating to me is when I hear a riff or solo piece clear as a bell in my head, but I just can't translate it to guitar. In fact, there's a solo run I've "heard" for 10+ years and I just can't translate it, even though it actually sounds really simple.

Thats so true!! that happens to me like 3 times a week, both lyrical and musically... the best things come when you are almost asleep it' true...

[dg]

I get a lot of good musical ideas in the shower for some reason. As for hypnosis, it works for some people for some things. I have a friend who is a dentist, and he started using it for some of his patients who have really bad anxiety about going to the dentist but can't or don't want to use drugs or gas. He says it works for more than half of the patients who need it, and he gets referrals from other dentists & happy patients. He even branched out a bit and does some sessions for people with phobias & for smokers trying to quit. This guy is no scammer, and he's very up front about the fact that it doesn't work for everyone, but he really believes it works for what he does. No idea if it would be useful for retrieving things you dreamed or daydreamed, though, and I kind of doubt it.

My friend thinks the "recovered memory" stuff used in UFO research or in abuse cases is unreliable or even worse, because the stuff usually gets suggested during the session and then the subject can't tell what really happened, but can end up really believing they've been abducted, had Satanic ritual abuse, or whatever. What they may be able to do is teach you some relaxation or meditation techniques that might get you to a state where you can be creative, but still awake enough to remember everything you come up with.

[Endrik]

Ideas pop to my head when I'm awake or day dreaming... a lot in the shower... and not just the guitar parts but the whole thing... the bass grooves, the drum beat along with hi-hat shuffle and snare ghost notes, the lead and back vocals, the orchestration and friggin' horns section all at the same time with full on production... I hum that shit and apply it on a guitar and maybe program some of the other sections. But when I'm sleeping and stuff It's always porno or some surrealist visual imagery... I know I have to become a film director

[texasfury]

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[Twitch]

Im like that too. I can remember it afterwards if I immediately act upon it. Two things f it all up, either its too late to grab a guitar and hammer it out, or the instant I play a note it throws off the intonation of it in my head and its lost forever.

[Hellbat]

I'm in the shower club. For some reason I'm at my most creative when I'm just waking up and taking a hot shower. I do all kinds of problem solving and creative troubleshooting in the shower. I also hear some wicked music in my head from time to time. Unfortunately I can't translate it when I pick up an actual guitar. Thats why my first genie wish will be to be able to play whatever I hear in my head on the guitar. Practice and discipline to get there is for suckas!

[Twitch]

What I do when Im looking to be serious and write something instead of just noodling around is to condition my thought process in the style Im wanting to write in. What I mean by that is, for example, my default thought process is nu-metal/ hard alterna rock, which Ive been trying to get away from recently. So, what I did that worked for me was to analyze music in the shreddish genre (I chose Mustaine and L.O.G., been really into them as of late). I put on some Megadeth and L.O.G and instead of listening casually, I concentrated on the guitar parts and basically blocked out the rest and tried to picture in my head what was being played and what techniques I know could be used to play it. Then I went and watched some live video to see how they actually played the songs. By this point Mustaines and Adlers technique were what was running through my head, I grabbed a guitar and basically let loose (like almost let my hands do what they were gonna do, didnt really think about it) and started trying to put together a riff Mustaine/L.O.G. style. It works, at least for me. It especially helps for me as I rarely listen to music for fun anymore, even if its my intention to do so. Im always analyzing the guitar riffs and structure trying to visualize whats being played. After a couple of days doing this on a long trip to and from work, it makes for a very good friday night jam session.

[Spivonious]

I get ideas in the shower too, and while washing dishes. I think the key part is to not think about coming up with ideas. Distract your mind and they will flow. Just keep a tape recorder in your pocket.

[Shawn Lutz]

twist a big fat one, i'm not joking, it just may open some doors for you. prince, jimi, and eddie is a hell of a mix,
if you're that good , i'd try anything.

I alse recommend giving this a shot. I like getting the chops warmed up, burining one and just improvising. Don't try to write on the spot, just record it, let ity sit a while and then listen back to. You'll find all sorts of things you can use that you typically wouldnt think of

[Forrest]

Interesting thread....I read an article about a scientific study they did awhile ago. Being in the shower actually stimulates creative thought and releases beta endorphins. Clearly they were onto something.

[RacerX]

Just keep a tape recorder in your pocket.

"Is that a tape recorder in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

"What do you mean we, do you have a tape recorder in your pocket?"