Best way to expand your creative toolbox?

[arcadeko]

So, I have written about 10 songs recently and I feel like I have kind of maxed out the basic style I have. I mean I could keep on writing songs mixing up the chord changes and picking patterns some more, but i think I need some fresh inspiration.

So I was thinking I could either:

a) go through some guitar exercises and learn some new string/picking patterns

b) maybe learn a few songs from other bands that I like and use that for some fresh ideas

I was wondering what people here do when they feel like they are in a bit of a rut, or maybe hit a plateau. I have all my pentatonic scales and modes memorized and I am pretty comfortable with all the major and minor chords... I have only been playing about 9 months now.

Any suggestions? (I mostly play alt/rock/punk)

 

[mjbphotos]

"Find your muse"!! Seriously, don't feel you HAVE to write songs continuously. Take a break - play with others, learn some songs from bands you like. I've gone years without writing songs, then write one and it goes off again!

 

[c7sus]

Magic mushrooms and tons of killer weed.

 

[ocnor]

Magic mushrooms and tons of killer weed.

Yes shrooms and skunk buds are extremely important. Mastering another instrument such as the kazoo, jew's harp, or washboard can also be very helpful.

 

[c7sus]

Yes shrooms and skunk buds are extremely important. Mastering another instrument such as the kazoo, jew's harp, or washboard can also be very helpful.

And cheaper than an ex-wife by orders of magnitude!

 

[arcadeko]

I don't need creative inspiration...

I just seem to keep playing the same 7 or 8 chords



And I don't like Major chords... I only like minor chords...

limits my capabilities some

 

[c7sus]

There's more than 7 or 8 chords?

Since when?

 

[arcadeko]

There's more than 7 or 8 chords?

Since when?

=/ Only a few more...

I guess it's between the chords where I need to do something

- I am playing all rhythm guitar and I feel like its all the same

 

[c7sus]

Figure out the passing notes and chords that would fit in with your self-written material. Work out solos based on the melodies and expand upon those. Diminished or augmented chords, minor 7ths, walking bass lines, stuff like that.

 

[grimtraveller]

Take 3 of the samey sounding songs and crunch them together to make one song, but keeping all the bits. Put them in different orders and time signatures.

 

[miroslav]

I just seem to keep playing the same 7 or 8 chords

See...that's your problem right there.

I would get rid of 4-5 chords and stick to no more than 3-4....that should open up all kinds of creative possibilities.

Any Rock/Pop/Country tune with more than 5 chords, is just showing off...and one step from Jazz masturbating.

 

[arcadeko]

See...that's your problem right there.

I would get rid of 4-5 chords and stick to no more than 3-4....that should open up all kinds of creative possibilities.

Any Rock/Pop/Country tune with more than 5 chords, is just showing off...and one step from Jazz masturbating.

LMAO - hell i don't play all those chords in one song!

I usually have 2 for the verse and 3 for the chorus

I don't make the songs that complicated cause I don't like getting jazz stains on my shirt...

 

[arcadeko]

Screw it I just wrote a great song that's all

E - D - A - D

yay i - iv -v - iv