.... I hate plateaus

MatthewLeisher · 07-20-2012, 02:45 AM

It hasn't happened to me in a while, but I feel I've hit a plateau with my playing. All the riffs I'm writing end up sounding really similar and my playing feels stagnant because of it. What are some tips to get out of this funk and shatter that damn glass ceiling?

Stealthdjentstic · 07-20-2012, 02:46 AM

Play something else all together always works for me. Or just stop playing for a bit.

Thrashmanzac · 07-20-2012, 02:50 AM

i thought you were talking about these for a moment:

ot, i agree with stealth. start playing some completely different styles of music

SchecterWhore · 07-20-2012, 05:31 AM

Hell, doesn't even have to be a different style. If you don't like what you're writing because it all sounds similar, just write something else. If everything you're doing is an A minor riff in 4, try going to a compound or odd meter and changing the key and mode. There's a reason we quantify all this stuff.

gandalf · 07-20-2012, 06:21 AM

I find interrestingly enough that not listening to music for a while gets the creative juices going and often in ways I was not thinking of when I as I do a lot listen to music at home. Also try to listen to music styles you are not familiar with

MatthewLeisher · 07-20-2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandalf

I find interrestingly enough that not listening to music for a while gets the creative juices going and often in ways I was not thinking of when I as I do a lot listen to music at home. Also try to listen to music styles you are not familiar with

Hey, that's a great idea. I listen to music pretty much 24/7, so maybe taking a break or listening to a totally different kind of music might help. Thanks for the ideas guys, but let's keep them coming.

Solodini · 07-21-2012, 01:34 AM

Similarly to SW, I'd say to try to wrote something with a different structure: either a longer riff or something which isn't a riff, like an interesting chordal thing or a melody which can be fitted to whatever kind of accompaniment you want.

Durero · 07-21-2012, 04:16 AM

Buying a new guitar can do wonders for busting through a plateau.

Seriously.

Grimbold · 07-21-2012, 12:12 PM

i'm with durero
every new guitar opens new possibilities!

MatthewLeisher · 07-21-2012, 03:38 PM

Well I just got a DC800 so I probably won't be getting a new guitar any time soon. It did help with my creativity, but the progress was so quick I quickly hit a plateau haha

Konfyouzd · 07-21-2012, 03:43 PM

Go do something else for a while.

viesczy · 07-23-2012, 04:35 PM

Can you sight read music? If so, hit free scores for plenty of public domain pieces in different genre than what you're currently in.

Can't do that because of needing to have a piece of music so you won't get it wrong? Flip it upside down. That's a trick that I do. Sure it'll have a similar sound, but it won't be the same piece your ears are used to hearing or that your hands are used to playing.

Derek

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07-20-2012, 02:45 AM	#1
MatthewLeisher Ghostmaker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hawthorne, CA Posts: 812 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	.... I hate plateaus It hasn't happened to me in a while, but I feel I've hit a plateau with my playing. All the riffs I'm writing end up sounding really similar and my playing feels stagnant because of it. What are some tips to get out of this funk and shatter that damn glass ceiling?

07-20-2012, 02:50 AM	#3
Thrashmanzac plays in 69/42 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Melbourne, VIC Posts: 3,780 Thanked: 53 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i thought you were talking about these for a moment: ot, i agree with stealth. start playing some completely different styles of music phrygian12 and Ginsu like this. ...Each guitarist has an evil fat 40 year old blueswankler trying to get out, If you give in to temptation you'll be sitting next to a fender playing john lee hooker while trying to keep your combover in place. -Desecrated being black and enjoying watermelon, i think this thread needs more watermelon. budda

07-20-2012, 05:31 AM	#4
SchecterWhore Theory God Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,218 Thanked: 67 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Hell, doesn't even have to be a different style. If you don't like what you're writing because it all sounds similar, just write something else. If everything you're doing is an A minor riff in 4, try going to a compound or odd meter and changing the key and mode. There's a reason we quantify all this stuff. failshredder and Solodini like this. Skype theory lessons. PM me.

07-20-2012, 06:21 AM	#5
gandalf SS.org Regular Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 112 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I find interrestingly enough that not listening to music for a while gets the creative juices going and often in ways I was not thinking of when I as I do a lot listen to music at home. Also try to listen to music styles you are not familiar with Get the FREE 2 hour Shred Guitar Program The Secret Of Playing Fasthttp://www.nielsvejlyt.dk

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07-20-2012, 02:46 AM	#2
Stealthdjentstic Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canadia Posts: 19,969 Thanked: 338 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Play something else all together always works for me. Or just stop playing for a bit.

07-21-2012, 01:34 AM	#7
Solodini Thread Killer. Join Date: May 2011 Location: East Lothian, Scotland. Posts: 2,190 Thanked: 21 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Similarly to SW, I'd say to try to wrote something with a different structure: either a longer riff or something which isn't a riff, like an interesting chordal thing or a melody which can be fitted to whatever kind of accompaniment you want. Check out my book: "Playing Guitar Musically: A Guide to Creativity on Guitar & Bass" FREE Sample Chapters Here Buy the full book here. PM me if you want to discuss it or just fancy a chat. I also give lessons over Skype, Bandhappy and within the Lothians.

07-21-2012, 04:16 AM	#8
Durero prototyping... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Qualicum Bay, Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 5,367 Thanked: 41 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Buying a new guitar can do wonders for busting through a plateau. Seriously. CNC Luthiery Instructor: Summit School of Guitar Building & Repair band: Alpha Trion

07-21-2012, 12:12 PM	#9
Grimbold SS.org Regular Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Paris, France Posts: 310 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i'm with durero every new guitar opens new possibilities! Check out my metal blog twoguysmetalreviews.blogspot.com Also come chat about guitars and bass's on facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/292706424100375/

07-21-2012, 03:38 PM	#10
MatthewLeisher Ghostmaker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hawthorne, CA Posts: 812 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Well I just got a DC800 so I probably won't be getting a new guitar any time soon. It did help with my creativity, but the progress was so quick I quickly hit a plateau haha

07-21-2012, 03:43 PM	#11
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,665 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Go do something else for a while. "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

07-23-2012, 04:35 PM	#12
viesczy SS.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the fretboard! Posts: 435 Thanked: 5 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Can you sight read music? If so, hit free scores for plenty of public domain pieces in different genre than what you're currently in. Can't do that because of needing to have a piece of music so you won't get it wrong? Flip it upside down. That's a trick that I do. Sure it'll have a similar sound, but it won't be the same piece your ears are used to hearing or that your hands are used to playing. Derek Solodini likes this.

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