Sometimes lately I think I am actually LOOSING ground in my playing. I am really disappointed in most of my latest stuff. When I listen to older stuff from a couple of months ago it seems better. I am finding this rather discouraging. Seems to me like I should be noticing how much BETTER I am getting when I listen to old recordings...I am not noticing that! What gives, man?
Getting worse
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sounds like your in rutt, are you playing the same things over and over? are you comparing one backing track from x months ago.. to the same backing track today?? Could be you have exhausted the BTnroberts said:
Try a new style of music for a while.. then go back
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Happens to me constantly i listen back to things i did a few months ago and just think far out! i couldn't come up with that now ! ...
It's easy to beat yourself up about it and that makes things worse you don't wanna touch the guitar and you feel stupid i know thats how i feel sometimes anyway .. so the thing to do is say fuckit ! and pick up that guitar and play and play and play! force it ! .. it's the only realistic way to get yourself out of a rut i've found lately ... grab a solo you like hearing and try copying it ! it'll give you some new licks and hearing yourself playing something you actually like will do wonders .
just my advice !
It's easy to beat yourself up about it and that makes things worse you don't wanna touch the guitar and you feel stupid i know thats how i feel sometimes anyway .. so the thing to do is say fuckit ! and pick up that guitar and play and play and play! force it ! .. it's the only realistic way to get yourself out of a rut i've found lately ... grab a solo you like hearing and try copying it ! it'll give you some new licks and hearing yourself playing something you actually like will do wonders .
just my advice !
I know what you mean. My guitars had set in a closet almost completely untouched for the better part of 8 years or so, and then I had a re-awakening of interest in it. (Mostly due to G101 I might add) and then I started playing a lot every day. At first, I could tell how my playing abilities were BEHIND where they were 8 years ago, and then in the following 4 or five months I got myself back to where I used to be just by playing / relearning old stuff that I used to play "back in the day". Now I have found myself in a rut, and am feeling like you are. I think what I need, and maybe what you need too, is to dig in to something fresh and challenging. I have even considered going back to take lessons. For instance, I am impressed with the folks here who "shred" - I think that is just great stuff. But I would like to incorporate some shredding techniques in to my existing style which is a bit more bluesy-ish. Maybe you need to find a new direction such as that, or maybe something completely different.
Just my .02!
'
Rj
Just my .02!
'
Rj
rjfoster said:
My story is similar. I have theoretically been playing for 16 years but most of that time I didn't practice much at all. In fact I almost gave my Gibson away!!! But following graduation last year I started playing more. I started grabbing theory and such. In the past I hardly ever played lead, only rythm and only metal. I was, and am still, pretty good at that part. My command of the fretboard and knowledge of theory has greatly improved but the general feel and such of my playing seems to have greatly declined. I don't seem to be improving in the slop factor either. My latest battle recording, which isn't on the site yet, just pisses me off. I think I improved in my recording technique but that is IT...in general the lead I did for that recording is just shit in my view.
Of course there are factors right now. I am pretty busy a lot lately.
I did feel good on Sunday when I jammed with some other people, a drummer and guitar player. Maybe boredom is a big factor. A lot of the ideas put forth in replies could probably help in that.
Another thing I think I lack is goals. I don't really have any. I want to be a decent player and have fun. I think maybe that is too generalistic to really be helpful :icon_neut If I had something more concrete and measurable to work toward maybe I would have better results... I was hoping to get some of that from my last instructor but that isn't how he seemed to work.
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I think there are loads of us that feel the same way. I was a better lead player in 1991 that I am in 2005. Then again, I was 24yrs old and single minded back then about playing and would play for hours. I discovered the delights of partying after that and before I knew it I had let the playing slip. I ended up in a soul revue act just hitting chords 2 times a bar and the highlight of the night was playing soul man because I actually got to play a riff. I did 6 years of it (purely because it supplimented my salary), and apart from the shows, I never played my guitar. When I quit in early 2001, the guitars went into a cupboard and stayed there. until about 10 months ago.
I was just doodling with the guitar and luckily I came across this site and suddenly I got my interest back. I still can't play as well as I would like but I am enjoying music again. Strangely, I am enjoying it more playing for myself than I ever did in bands. I don't have to fight to get my ideas heard and I even started writing songs. I did do that occassionally in the late 80's and early 90's but I was never any good lol. Now I actually find it inspiring when I can create a song from nothing.
So while I am not as technically able as I used to be I am being more creative than I ever was in the past. I would love to be a better player but only to realise some of the riffs and tunes I have written in my head that I can't play yet. but it will come...
As you said - setting goals is the key. and all the other advice on this thread is all good, especially stiglars. If you feel you are stuck in a rut then play through it. Working out other peoples tunes is beneficial too.
There must have been a reason why you wanted to pay guitar in the first place. Maybe it is time to reassess why you play. If your tastes in music have changed then maybe it is time to set a new series of goals.
Whatever that case is, Good luck and stick with it.
I was just doodling with the guitar and luckily I came across this site and suddenly I got my interest back. I still can't play as well as I would like but I am enjoying music again. Strangely, I am enjoying it more playing for myself than I ever did in bands. I don't have to fight to get my ideas heard and I even started writing songs. I did do that occassionally in the late 80's and early 90's but I was never any good lol. Now I actually find it inspiring when I can create a song from nothing.
So while I am not as technically able as I used to be I am being more creative than I ever was in the past. I would love to be a better player but only to realise some of the riffs and tunes I have written in my head that I can't play yet. but it will come...
As you said - setting goals is the key. and all the other advice on this thread is all good, especially stiglars. If you feel you are stuck in a rut then play through it. Working out other peoples tunes is beneficial too.
There must have been a reason why you wanted to pay guitar in the first place. Maybe it is time to reassess why you play. If your tastes in music have changed then maybe it is time to set a new series of goals.
Whatever that case is, Good luck and stick with it.
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I'm pretty much in the same boat as the others. I think one of the problems is the new technology. Back in the day, when I mainly played live, whether professionally, or just jammin with friends, and I would woof a note here or there, at the end of the night I would generally feel pretty good about my playing, conveniently forgetting the bad notes, etc. But now with all the new digital recording stuff, I don't get to forget that my finger hit the g string while pulling down a bend on the b string, or that there seems to be a lot of finger squeaks, you get the idea. I honestly think part of the problem is that we have the capabilities to be super critical of ourselves. Just my .02, YMMV.
Maybe this question will generate some interest in folks (besides me.)
First of all a confession. I am self taught, have never taken any lessons, and can not read music (at least not for guitar). (I can read tabs, if that counts...)
I have never bothered learning scales of any kind, and dont know pentatonic from dorian. I am sure that I would be a better player if I did learn these fundamentals, but never have because I have relied on my "ear" instead of doing any hard work.
SO - I have been thinking that I need to start learning some of this stuff, and I have visited a few web sites that show scales and progressions and such, like the tabs that show a given scale in a given key. However when I look at this stuff, I think " ok - this is nice, but how is it going to integrate into what I already know? How will it improve my playing? I also dont know what to do with these scales they present. How do you practice them, how do you integrate these scales into your playing? And most of all I guess, how do you make practicing this stuff INTERESTING?
This is kind of embarrassing to admit because I have been playing for a long time, and have had people tell me that I play well, however inside I just feel kinda sick because I dont "really" know how to play. Make any sense?
Oh well I'll shut up now! heheheheh
Rj
First of all a confession. I am self taught, have never taken any lessons, and can not read music (at least not for guitar). (I can read tabs, if that counts...)
I have never bothered learning scales of any kind, and dont know pentatonic from dorian. I am sure that I would be a better player if I did learn these fundamentals, but never have because I have relied on my "ear" instead of doing any hard work.
SO - I have been thinking that I need to start learning some of this stuff, and I have visited a few web sites that show scales and progressions and such, like the tabs that show a given scale in a given key. However when I look at this stuff, I think " ok - this is nice, but how is it going to integrate into what I already know? How will it improve my playing? I also dont know what to do with these scales they present. How do you practice them, how do you integrate these scales into your playing? And most of all I guess, how do you make practicing this stuff INTERESTING?
This is kind of embarrassing to admit because I have been playing for a long time, and have had people tell me that I play well, however inside I just feel kinda sick because I dont "really" know how to play. Make any sense?
Oh well I'll shut up now! heheheheh
Rj
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I'd say who 'really' knows how to play? If methodology means that you learn scales and add them to your songs, I wouldn't feel you were playing your own music unless you used the scales as a way of hitting all the 'right' notes rather than a conveyer belt approach to make it all easier. You HAVE to hit the 'correct' notes or your and my ear will cringe. However, using a scale as a big hammer to knock the notes into place doesn't work for me. I teach (one of the guys on this site gets lessons on an infrequent basis) but I go for the major, minor, pentatonic and blues for a starter. Then I show how the major and minor are interconnected and then I STOP teaching scales until I can hear MUSIC coming from the fingers! I also ask that we do EARS first and FINGERS second...what do I mean by this? Well, I like to put a backing track on and watch as the student searches for unfamiliar territory...everyone has a habit of playing stuff and then hitting an octave higher by taking it up 12 frets on the same string...we're all guilty of it!
Scales are the blueprint for music but they don't add the soul, texture, feel etc. YOU do that by searching within the scale.
For the record, it didn't connect with me until about 5 years ago that the minor and major scale passed thru each other and each had it's relative. I'd been playing guitar for about 30 years then! I still couldn't play most of the modes without looking at a chart-it's just not the way I do my stuff. Others DO it this way and sound fantastic but don't let a lack of knowlege make you feel a lesser player if you can create sound that is interesting and memorable.
:icon_thum
Scales are the blueprint for music but they don't add the soul, texture, feel etc. YOU do that by searching within the scale.
For the record, it didn't connect with me until about 5 years ago that the minor and major scale passed thru each other and each had it's relative. I'd been playing guitar for about 30 years then! I still couldn't play most of the modes without looking at a chart-it's just not the way I do my stuff. Others DO it this way and sound fantastic but don't let a lack of knowlege make you feel a lesser player if you can create sound that is interesting and memorable.
:icon_thum
I can relate to what you say there Rythameen. The new digital technology is a 2 edged sword. While it's great for recording for it's ultra low noise. It does reveal places in your playing you never though where there. But I think thats a good thing because it opens up your ears to a new world.Rythameen said:
Hey NRoberts!
Hang in there bro! You have the spirit and drive to make it happen. Don't get side tracked! Keep your dream alive anyway you can. Hey, I've been there like you - a lot of us have. I have tapes and videos of my band when I was gigging all over the damn place. Sometimes when I listen to how I played back then I freak out - because I feel I've let my chops go in the tank.
For me the drive to continue can sometimes be spured on by a new guitar, or some new equipment. Or just go out and watch some bands on the weekend - that should inspire you.
If you have to, take some private lessons and get back to where you want to be. Being a good guitar player is not something that usually just shows up on your door step - I'm sorry to say, you'll have to work at it like the rest of us. But don't be afraid of the work - dive in! Pick a new song to learn - or grab one of the many BT's that POD GOD and other have made. Find that drive to play and ride it all the way home!
Now ROCK on!
:rock:
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I'm self tought as well. The only scale I've learned is the blues scale. I learned it when I started playing and used it more so I could know what notes not to hit, than wich ones to hit.
Over the years I've found you can hit a bunch of the tones outside of that scale as well. You just get to know the fretboard more and more without any special theoretical knowledge.
I've never been one for practicing either. Just listening, playing, and hopefully things will fall into place.
Now to the problem at hand.
I experience this from time to time as well.
Some periods I just think that I really suck at playing guitar. That I've got no feeling, no creativity and so on. Just feeling uninspired.
Then again, other periods I think that I kick ass and feel really good about my playing.
I dont think this has to do with theoretical knowledge or the amount you practice.
For me, when I get out of a low it usually gets me further ahead in my playing than I was before. So first its good, then it gets bad, and then better than it was from the beginning.
Just keep on playing, keep on having fun, and hopefully you'll come out of it soon.
I would never consider to stop playing even if I got worse and worse every time I played. It's just too much fun!
That's the way it works for me. Of course it's all different from person to person, and some of the other guys tips might give better or faster results.
Sorry if this post came out a bit rambling. I was just typing my thoughts as they flew through my brain.
Over the years I've found you can hit a bunch of the tones outside of that scale as well. You just get to know the fretboard more and more without any special theoretical knowledge.
I've never been one for practicing either. Just listening, playing, and hopefully things will fall into place.
Now to the problem at hand.
I experience this from time to time as well.
Some periods I just think that I really suck at playing guitar. That I've got no feeling, no creativity and so on. Just feeling uninspired.
Then again, other periods I think that I kick ass and feel really good about my playing.
I dont think this has to do with theoretical knowledge or the amount you practice.
For me, when I get out of a low it usually gets me further ahead in my playing than I was before. So first its good, then it gets bad, and then better than it was from the beginning.
Just keep on playing, keep on having fun, and hopefully you'll come out of it soon.
I would never consider to stop playing even if I got worse and worse every time I played. It's just too much fun!
That's the way it works for me. Of course it's all different from person to person, and some of the other guys tips might give better or faster results.
Sorry if this post came out a bit rambling. I was just typing my thoughts as they flew through my brain.
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like everyone is saying ... its common among ALL guitarists so i really wouldn't worry about it . try playing some nylon string classical guitar for a day or so then when you go back to electric it will feel ultra easy . also , try watching some guitar videos and just try n rekindle any passion that possibly you may have lost . and most importantly of all ... try n feel cool :lol: . another week and you will like be back on track man :icon_thum seriously . and a final note ... if you are trying to outdo yourself as far as recording songs goes ... then dont worry when you fall short ... i have stuff from a month or so ago that is better than stuff i did in the last week . its not that your playing is worse , its just that you might not be quite in the zone or might not quite have the feel for it at that particular time . it will happen eventually and you will set a new standard for yourself .
Great thread! I'm another self-taught player who regularly gets caught in a rut! I know my pentatonic scales, blues scale and that's about it. Modes confuse me... I can memorize the notes and relationships to each other but I just can't figure out which modes work best for different progressions. It drives me crazy cause I hear a great solo in my head but don't know what scale it would b based on, so I don't know where to start:wutblau: I think knowledge is key to getting out of the rut but some other things that help me are:
- a great tone! Or at least a new tone, lol. If you play metal...try jammin to a clean sound for a while. The fresh sound will inspire you.
- a great backing! Especially when matched with the perfect tone always inspires me to just jam and improvise.
- a break! Alot of the time, I'm just tired (mentally and physically) and a short break and then comming back to it can really help:thumb:
- a great tone! Or at least a new tone, lol. If you play metal...try jammin to a clean sound for a while. The fresh sound will inspire you.
- a great backing! Especially when matched with the perfect tone always inspires me to just jam and improvise.
- a break! Alot of the time, I'm just tired (mentally and physically) and a short break and then comming back to it can really help:thumb:
Excellent advice PG! Yeah - the tone can play a huge part. I think getting the CyberTwin with all of its tonal possibilities has helped to inspire me to play types of music that I wouldnt have bothered with before.POD GOD said:
Here's something that works for me that helps to come up with fresh ideas. Its dead easy, but you may not get away with it depending on your circumstances. Get up in the morning, put on your robe, grab your coffee and IMMEDIATELY JACK IN! It seems that playing before your brain has a chance to wake up can give you fresh ideas - oh - and record what you play - you may not remember it otherwise.
Rj
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This is a great thread and it happens to everyone. It seems like no matter how good a person is at the moment.....they are never satisfied. Playing guitar is so complex you can never learn it all....and it get's frustrating to everyone at times. You need to set small goals and realistic expectations. Not everyone (almost none) can master the instrument like a Vai....and I'll bet he even feels a rut from time to time. I would like to play a lot better...but never took a lesson and don't like to practice at all......so I have to be realistic that I won't ever get there.
Most of the things I do to get renewed motivation are listed above:
Try a whole new tone....a Vetta or POD/Vamp can do about anything.
Buy a new guitar or effects pedal.....always fun.
Take a BT of an old song you loved and record it.
Watch a DVD of Eddie i.e. Right here right now....makes me want to play everytime.
Listen to some of the recordings of others on this site.
Grab a 6-pack and crank up the volume to 11.....can't hurt.
Most of the things I do to get renewed motivation are listed above:
Try a whole new tone....a Vetta or POD/Vamp can do about anything.
Buy a new guitar or effects pedal.....always fun.
Take a BT of an old song you loved and record it.
Watch a DVD of Eddie i.e. Right here right now....makes me want to play everytime.
Listen to some of the recordings of others on this site.
Grab a 6-pack and crank up the volume to 11.....can't hurt.
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