Why am i in a rut?

[jacksonkellyfreak]

Why can i not progress after 17 years of devotion to the guitar? Im bored with it and sick of playing the same shit over and over. and my mind just refuses to open up and come up with new patterns. anybody got any good scales and interesting chord shapes or progressions?

[BenoA]

Jumpin' in and hope that thread will evolve into something interesting.

I know how you can feel. I go into that "phase" at least once a year and can be in that mood from a few days to some months...

I've noticed that trying something completely different gets me out of this.

Trying to convert a classical piece into a rock/metal version did it for me a few months back. Worked on a Mozart tune for a few months.

And recently, I joined a "lunch-break-band" at the office. We play once a week together during the lunch break. I bring my cheap acoustic guitar and we play some songs together. It's fun and different than my other projects. Gets me out of my confort zone and as we don't have a drummer, gotta follow a singer.

3 things I've noticed that bring that "sick and boring mood" to me:

- lack of time to devote to the guitar
- being tired (when I get super busy at work)
- band drama (my main band goes into this at least once a year)

All of the above aren't easy to deal with but gotta live with them!

[DonP]

Is it a life situation?

I was big into guitar from 1985 to 1993. Then work, marriage, kids, buying homes, etc. took me out of it until 1998. Still didn't really get back into it until 2003, and have been very into it since then.

[jacksonkellyfreak]

Idk, im just feeling stuck. i get all the time i could want to practice outside work, because Jodee is very supportive of it, but im just not feeling anything new. and i kinda feel i should be better with 17 years of it under my belt, but sadly im sloppy and untechnical.

[tonemonster]

try the xylaphone.

[Richard W]

I'd say just play what you don't, for example if you're a metal player try some jazz or country, just something you're not used to playing, then incorporate what you learned to your playing style and keep expanding on that.

[dvscool]

Meh. It happens to the best of us. Don’t sweat it dude. I think we have all been through it for one reason or another.....

Try some different tones. Listen to something you would NEVER listen to. Break out some tunes you haven't heard for a while. Think of what it was that made you want to play 17 years ago. Give it some time you be ight.....
If you’re looking for scales you know Google and YouTube is your best friend. I like to cruise YouTube for new shit.:idea:

Although, YouTube can be a bit disheartening when you see a 10 year old playing Paul Gilbert tunes note for note with his eyes closed. Maybe avoid those for now....

[CowboyFromHell]

For me what works is going back and listening to that one song, maybe one from early in your teen years, that just "got you off". Maybe it was one that you always loved, one that just blew you away when you heard it, or maybe even one you've always tried but never quite got right. Throw on the tunes, rock out with some you're familiar with for a bit to warm up, then hit that one and give it your best shot.

[jacksonkellyfreak]

see the problem is i listen to hair metal, satriani, vai, eric johnson metallica, some country, megadeth on and on, so i should have this massive library of licks, but instead, im bluesey. i am the only guy in the world i think that could play deathmetal and end up sounding like a blues player. idk, i just cant shake the stuff off. i mean dont get me wrong, srv is one of my heros, but i just need to expand my horizons. preferably without drugs or alcohol lol. oh yea, i used to hang out with this guy named rodney from atlanta and he was big into fusion players like gambale and greg howe. and he really opened me up to some new technique, but sadly he got diagnosed with sickle cell and killed himself. i miss that guy man.

[levantin]

For me the solution is working with other guitar players, as they usually have a different take on your stuff, which opens the material up letting you take it in other directions. Varying what you listen to also helps, I don't mean steal a lick, but if you listen to newer music or things outside your comfort zone your playing will change in some ways.

[horns666]

For me the solution is working with other guitar players, as they usually have a different take on your stuff, which opens the material up letting you take it in other directions. Varying what you listen to also helps, I don't mean steal a lick, but if you listen to newer music or things outside your comfort zone your playing will change in some ways.

Perfect advice IMO!

[BenoA]

For me the solution is working with other guitar players, as they usually have a different take on your stuff, which opens the material up letting you take it in other directions. Varying what you listen to also helps, I don't mean steal a lick, but if you listen to newer music or things outside your comfort zone your playing will change in some ways.

I'm levantin and agree with horns!

As long as you can find someone that brings you out of your comfort zone. And sometimes it's difficult to find that person.

[tonemonster]

some country,.

well, there is your problem right there. look no further.

[veemagic]

I too agree with playing with as many different players as you can. Also what I do is switch between acoustic and electric. I do that a ton. I will go for months on one or the other and then both. I find it refreshing and sometimes it in itself can be enough to shake things up.

[Argos]

Have you considered taking some lessons?