In a rut with your improvs? Read on...

**CanyonCarver** · 03-11-2004, 06:03 PM

I told my teacher today that even though I have a nice collection of licks up my sleeve and know my modes like it's nobody's business, I end up feeling like I sound too much the same.

I'm happy with the progress that I have made since I got back into seriously practicing and jamming, but you know, I want my playing to really kick ass... Don't we all? [img]images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]

This is what he had to say. He suggested I dedicate the next month to no longer work scales and finger exercices AT ALL. Also avoid these familiar and predictable box patterns as much as possible. Instead he told me I should try play along to songs I like, and try to reproduce the singer's lines note for note. A singer is not limited to singing withing a box pattern because it's easier to reach this or that fret with the pinky or whatever.
If you follow what I mean, we tend to play our tried and trued scales and licks (nothing wrong with that) but they can be somewhat limiting.

He also recommended I play a backing track or a drum track and make a melody with the guitar as if I was singing or saying something.

I was aware of all these things as I read something similar from Steve Vai, but I think I will really commit to this and see where it takes me.

Post your comments about this; I'd like to get other sides to this idea. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

Stiglar · 03-11-2004, 08:03 PM

the thing i've done a few times is only play on one string .. it forces you to move out of positions etc .. and it's pretty fun slip sliding around the neck [img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

redemption · 07-17-2004, 02:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Stiglar said:
the thing i've done a few times is only play on one string .. it forces you to move out of positions etc .. and it's pretty fun slip sliding around the neck [img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

dont turn into kirk hammett and his double picking one string madness [img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

poor poor kirk

**Mr Crumb** · 03-11-2004, 08:10 PM

I can't stand my playing. I think it's normal since you hear your own playing over and over. I grew up with a very famous shredder and he too couldn't stand his playing.

I think it's good to play stuff you are unfamiliar with, that you suck at playing at first. Pushing the envelope is what it's all about. This is how you improve. The big mistake many players make is that they do this while on stage. A good player will never push the envelope in public. I see so many players who I would classify as great players if they didn't suck in public. Every player is capable of sucking. It's the good players who know to play this way in the privacy of their practice rooms. That's my take on it.

**CanyonCarver** · 03-11-2004, 08:59 PM

Stiglar — I've started playing not on one string but two adjacent strings tonite. I also forced myself to skip strings and see if I can land on a good note or find an interesting turn or phrasing out of "destabilizing” my playing. Most of the time it sounds awful but I've stumbled on a couple of interesting "sentences” while doing it. I guess it pays off when you get out of the comfort zone.

Mr Crumb — I've heard many times how some good musicians can't stand themselves. Well that won't happen to me, since I'm a hack to begin with [img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

El_jalepeno · 03-11-2004, 09:13 PM

Taking a break is always a good thing for me. When I am in a band, I usually only play when the band practices. If I am on my own, I usually play a few hours a week, and sometimes not for weeks at a time. The last time I took a lengthy holiday was this past November when I recorded Panama. I didn't play for about two or three weeks before I recorded it with VHFanOU812, then played maybe 5 minutes for the next three months. It was a nice break for me becuase it let me clean house and refocus on things that had become common place for me in my playing. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

gutwrench · 03-12-2004, 06:45 AM

i find the more songs you try to learn, the more you can expand and improve your playing... for me its the only way to get out of a rutt... getting a hold of the tabs or sheet music then sitting down and learning tunes all the way thru... you pick up licks like crazy that way... gets me off in tangents most of the time, and exploring the new areas i never really touch....

great topic... cudos [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb1.gif[/img]

**CanyonCarver** · 03-12-2004, 07:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]
gutwrench said:
i find the more songs you try to learn, the more you can expand and improve your playing... for me its the only way to get out of a rutt... getting a hold of the tabs or sheet music then sitting down and learning tunes all the way thru... you pick up licks like crazy that way... gets me off in tangents most of the time, and exploring the new areas i never really touch....

great topic... cudos [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb1.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the input.

I totally agree with this point,

This thread is growing. Le'ts see what others have to add to it... [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

OttawaRocks · 03-26-2004, 09:44 AM

You know, one thing I'd like to find is a "dictionary" of interesting phrases and licks. I find that my musical "vocabulary" is limited, and that I stay mostly within that limited vocabulary, with only moderate amounts of exploration outside of that. Some of those excursions are great discoveries, while others are not that good.

I remember learning a "phrase" in my early guitar playing years, and that phrase has stuck with me, evolved, and eventually became my own.

And the one thing I'd like to get hold of now is a collection of these "phrases" so that I can accumulate some and build them into my repertoire.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find such a resource.

Anyone here aware of such a tool, be it a book, url or recording?

Failing that, perhaps we could start a tread where people post their favorite lick, riff, phrase, whatever, in tab format?

Just a thought...

Dan

**CanyonCarver** · 03-26-2004, 06:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
OttawaRocks said:
You know, one thing I'd like to find is a "dictionary" of interesting phrases and licks. I find that my musical "vocabulary" is limited, and that I stay mostly within that limited vocabulary, with only moderate amounts of exploration outside of that. Some of those excursions are great discoveries, while others are not that good.

I remember learning a "phrase" in my early guitar playing years, and that phrase has stuck with me, evolved, and eventually became my own.

And the one thing I'd like to get hold of now is a collection of these "phrases" so that I can accumulate some and build them into my repertoire.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find such a resource.

Anyone here aware of such a tool, be it a book, url or recording?

Failing that, perhaps we could start a tread where people post their favorite lick, riff, phrase, whatever, in tab format?

Just a thought...

Dan

[/ QUOTE ]

Ottawarocks. I have found This Web site very useful. I found lick that I liked there are good exercices that ended up alowing me to create my own l icks.
Check back often, as it get updated by members. You are also welcome to add your own licks and sound samples if you wish to share them with others and help them creatively.

I hope this helps.

**SactoFan** · 08-14-2004, 08:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
OttawaRocks said:
You know, one thing I'd like to find is a "dictionary" of interesting phrases and licks. I find that my musical "vocabulary" is limited, and that I stay mostly within that limited vocabulary, with only moderate amounts of exploration outside of that. Some of those excursions are great discoveries, while others are not that good.

I remember learning a "phrase" in my early guitar playing years, and that phrase has stuck with me, evolved, and eventually became my own.

And the one thing I'd like to get hold of now is a collection of these "phrases" so that I can accumulate some and build them into my repertoire.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find such a resource.

Anyone here aware of such a tool, be it a book, url or recording?

Failing that, perhaps we could start a tread where people post their favorite lick, riff, phrase, whatever, in tab format?

Just a thought...

Dan

[/ QUOTE ]

The Guitar Lick-Tionary by Hal Leonard has licks in NUMEROUS styles...Comes with a cd and a book...It's pretty dope!!

adhalen · 04-21-2004, 08:33 PM

this is the best thread i have seen because it lies at the very heart of why we spend so much time and money playing the guitar: "to become better players in our own right".
i've been playing for 20 years and the only way to stay
sharp is to be constantly inspired by the players that
you have always listened to but also players that you have only read about but not heard.i know we all have our heroes
but sometimes we have to look outside the circle.the players that i mention i'm sure you have heard but they all
bring something different to the table.these albums and players inspired me. i hope you have a couple.
gary moore "corridors of power"
yngwie "rising force"/ "alcatraz first album"
thin lizzy "black rose"/ "live and dangerous"
dio "holydiver"/"sacred heart"
greg howe "first album"
joe satch "surfin with the alien"
paul gilbert with racer x "street lethal"
john noram with europe "final countdown"
my only other piece of advice is use your pinky and solo to songs on the radio that aren't guitar songs,you can fill in the gaps ie solo over the latest version of lady marmalade it's got a funky rythum.the key is if the music has a good chord progression especially minor you will be inspired to play along.hell just writing this makes me wanna play. [img]images/smilies/rock.gif[/img]

dealwithit · 04-26-2004, 04:23 PM

Whenever I have found myself in a rut, I go digging for a seriously funky tone from my amp. I mean the strangest sound you can dig up, wah-wah pedal all the way back, treble rolled way off, mids up way too much, etc. (preferably not all at once, but you get the picture).
Once I've found a suitably off-the-wall tone, my solo playing changes somehow to adapt to that new tone. Things that used to sound good don't anymore, others that may not have sounded good before suddenly do.

Not sure if it works for others but it does for me, give it a try.

-Deal

06-08-2004, 07:25 PM

My suggestion for better improvisaiton would be this: Stop staring at the neck, shut your eyes, and let the fingers do the talking.

**guitarwizard2003** · 06-09-2004, 10:36 AM

i have to agree with what stiglar said way up on the top of this post.. try to play on 1 string, that is how i actually taught myself to play, and i also agree with what your teacher said, i also try and make my notes sound like a vocal line by trying to come up with a melody to what i am playing too.. another thing i do is to change genres or change a technique, if i been playin rock alot i will try to slow the pace way down and do some acoustic type stuff or fingerstyle stuff for awhile, then it seems like when ya go back to playin rock your refreshed with a whole new set of ideas.. i never been big on playin to other peoples records because i feel you have a tendancy to wanna play like them, which dont get me wrong its fine, who wouldnt wanna play like them, but i would rather have my own style that people think is kickass then to copy someone elses.. anyways this is just some of the ways i taught myself to play and what has helped me when i was in a rut..these are just my opinions so please dont take them to heart if you dont agree..jusr tryin to help thats all [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]