[jswiderski]

I have been playing guitar for nearly 7 years now, Im an avid music theory buff but im a little stuck when it comes to creating certain types of songs. I can create songs that are very guitar virtuostic *ie simple rhythems* and use my theory to create bad ass solos over them *like Michael angelo, or Tony macalpine stuff*However if i create very complex rhythems (even in just simple 4/4) i cant seem to "settle" on any solo leads for the whole song, its like the heavy progressive style doesnt fit any of my knowlege of modes.. ect.. What is my problem? Have any of you guys had this problem before? How should I go about fixing this?

[Desecrated]

Start with some semi-complex rhythms, like a very straight 5/4 or maybe a 7/8, And try to make melodies instead of solos, just to get a hunch on how phrasing works with other rhythms.

One of the problem I see is that people jump right into meshuggah, DEP stuff. They go from 4/4 to 13/8 with a 5:4 polymetric riff and start to figure out how to flow on that.

[BrianCarroll]

IMO complex rhythm + complex solo is just too much, a lot of people forget balance...

[Dushan S]

I have noticed that some people have problems because constant workout and guitar techniques learning makes them think too much in "guitar terms". Vocalizing melodies over the riff is often better way to come up with something nice, catchy and melodic than composing melody with guitar because fingers (well, not really fingers, but brain, mind) tend to play same stuff you have already learned. One more good idea is to play just with thumb when composing melodies, because it forces you to play just melody instead of licks you play all the time.

So just try to loop part you want to compose melody for and try to sing or just imagine melody inside your head without touching guitar, you may come up with interesting stuff that would never come out from your fingers in usual way.