inspiration for playing..

[_tom_]

Recently I get bored of playing guitar after probably 10 minutes, I just cant think of anything to play, all I really do is play a load of riffs I made up, pentatonic noodling, and thats about it.. I dont really know how to get out of this rut, but it sucks to be honest. I dont see how people can play for hours on hours, what the hell do you guys do to keep entertained?! I was watching a TG Brian Setzer guest lesson thing and he does some cool fingerpicking stuff that I'd like to learn, any ideas for sites that can help me learn this kinda stuff, like how the little riffs are constructed or whatever etc? Also, Indy has got me into surf guitar, what kinda scales are commonly used in surf, coz the usual pentatonic just aint workin for me  :lol:

Cheers!

[Dakine]

Dunno bout surf guitar but surf orientated :)
I spent time in a certain American Island chain long ago (as diver) and could'nt help but get into surfing.
Then saw the movie "Endless Summer II" and loved the soundtrack which was Gary Hoey. Maybe try looking at some of his tabs?
Just a suggestion (maybe too modern surf though :)).

[badgermark]

get an acoustic and write some songs. thats all i seem to do now, im so bored of electrics. use capos, alternate tunings, whatever, experiment.

also listen to music you wouldnt usually listen to, i recommend the lemonheads and the talking heads...

[_tom_]

I allready have an acoustic, its still boring to me  :? I dunno, its cr@p..

[Peterku]

Here's what comes to my mind:

Listen to different kinds of folk music and try applying the melodies to guitar.

Listen to singers like Alicia Keys and learn their phrazing on guitar.

Listen to classical music and learn how to be 'melodic' in a cleaner way.

Learn some jazz standards without wanting to improvise. Just the chords and the melody line.

Have sex.

[_tom_]

Here's what comes to my mind:

Listen to different kinds of folk music and try applying the melodies to guitar.

Listen to singers like Alicia Keys and learn their phrazing on guitar.

Listen to classical music and learn how to be 'melodic' in a cleaner way.

Learn some jazz standards without wanting to improvise. Just the chords and the melody line.

Have sex.

Jazz standards eh.. can you elaborate on these? I have no idea really.. I remember this guest lesson in TG again, by Johnny A doing some cool things, I might try and re learn em.

[maliciousteve]

Sometimes i try and learn a classical piece. Last one i did was Canon in D. I learnt it with tab and by ear because alot of the tab wasn't right. So it'll be good for developing your ear plus it's pretty exciting playing a classical piece.

[_tom_]

Ok I'll try some of Canon in D, there was a good one in total guitar (yet again!) that was tabbed, I'll have to find that one.

[indysmith]

find songs you love that don't have guitar (i know for you there aint many tom), and write guitar for it. nothing rocks harder!

Also play some dick dale, ubangis, monsters from the surf, tornadoes, surfaris, beach boys, ventures, shadows etc. join the surf, dude! 8)

[Searcher]

Pick a song and revamp it.  The best songs are ones with simple chord progressions and no riffs; they're challenging to make interesting.  Write a cool riff for it.  Figure out a more interesting rhythm arrangement.  

Then change the feel of it and do it again.  So if it's a straight beat, make it swing this time.  And vice versa.

Make sure one of the arrangements calls for extended chords and then try to fit passing chords in there too.

[_tom_]

Right I gotta find a song that I like with no guitar in now... this could prove tricky  :?

[Jp.]

Find new people to play with. New ideas from new people can do wonders for your motivation.

[38thBeatle]

I'd echo what the Badger said- listen to stuff you wouldn't normally listen to. You don't want to go too far at first as you might lose interest. Have to listened to Robben Ford for example- he takes blues a little way off but not too far- you might not be a blues lover but the point I am trying to make is that it is rooted in one genre( I thought only film critics used the word genre) but enters another-if not Robben Ford then someone similar-great guitarists tend to be those who draw influence from different areas and fuse them into their own style. You mentioned Brian Setzer -wonderful player- possibly different from what you may have worked on before- even if you don't go the full hog, it could add elements to your playing. Ratty will possibly elaborate as I think that he is a big fan of Mr Setzer. I know exactly how you feel Tom-Ilove guitar but tend, these days not to get the time I would like to work on and develop new things.I use guitar to song write- apart from the covers band. Sorry, I am  waffling again!

[Muso]

Tom I'm in the same boat as you, I've been playing guitar for like 10 years now and I used to be obsessed and play like 6 hours a day, but now its quite often for days to go by without me even touching a guitar. I've started an 80s pop/rock/metal band to try and inspire me to get back into it properly.
In my opinion people get bored of guitar when they feel it is a chore to do it, practising scales and stuff aint fun. Just learn sections of songs you like, no point in learning a whole song unless youre gonna perform. Maybe try another instrument as well, I started piano about 5 years back and its gotta be one of the most satisfying solo instruments and its good to learn theory on.

Peace

[Peterku]

Jazz standards eh.. can you elaborate on these?

http://guitar-primer.com/Charts/index2.html ;)

The melodies are simple, and it's an interesting challenge to find out how to play the chords, if you don't know some of them. Here's a little help:

http://guitar-primer.com/Concepts/Z-00.html

Learning the chord progression usually gives you a picture of the mood of the song. Blue Bossa, How Insensitive, and The Girl from Ipanema would be a nice start. Having learnt a few standards you'll have a lot of new ideas, both progressions and melodies.