Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day...

[erogenousjones17]

I'm stuck in a deep blue funk and I need some help getting out. I'm having one of those "I suck at everything" spells. I suck at rhythm guitar, I suck at lead guitar, I suck at improvising, I suck at composing, I suck at writing lyrics...you get the idea. Any suggestions on what to do? What do you folks do get out of ruts like this? Any tips on improving my improv & songwriting skills? Those areas particularly cause me a lot of inner turmoil. To be perfectly honest, whenever I try my hand at writing a song, I end up feeling really depressed for anything from a few hours to a few days over how bad I am at it. Makes me wonder if I just don't have the knack, and should therefore just give up trying. But for some reason it's something I really want to do. Go figure. So any advice, or is my problem a sign of some deep-seated mental problem?  :laughing7:

 

[GoDrex]

Here's some advice that Frank Zappa gave to people aspiring to be composers or musicians: The first thing to do is don't stop and the second thing to do is keep going.

Maybe you need to learn something new to get out of a rut? Like some guitar lessons...

I don't know what level of player you are, but here's a bunch of loops I made that you can practice improvising over:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=190778

 

[Superbeast520]

I read an article in the 90's by Joe Satriani, and have followed his advice ever since when these times came up....he said during those tough moments the best thing a guy can do is go out and do all kinds of non guitar related stuff and gather as much fun and fulfilling life experiences you can, he said those are the things that sparked his creativity and made him feel satisfied and inspired to play. I have applied this advice ever since reading it, and its one of my "guitar rules," when Im doubting or feeling uncreative or unhappy with my playing, I take a break completely from playing and it is so absolutely funny, I will come back a day or two, or a week later, and I actually play and sound better than if I had been woodshedding the whole time, oddly those licks I was having a hard time nailing and getting the timing down on are miraculously smoother and easier to pull off. go figure.  

You owe it to yourself to let yourself be a cool human being too, not just a guitar player, you'll be amazed at how much more relaxed and smooth your playing will become when you apply this ....I cant say I could listen to Satriani 24/7 but I will say that guy knows his sh*t, no wonder he was praised for his teaching above all else.  :icon_thumright:

 

[exaN]

This will solve all your problem, or at least it did for me :hello2:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As0qoBUvJnE[/youtube]

 

[mayfly]

The most useful tool of the song writer is the garbage can.

I wrote 100 songs before I had my first good one.  Keep doing it.  It's a muscle.  Needs to be worked.

In times of need, a nice single malt can help...

 

[Return of Guitlouie]

The most useful tool of the song writer is the garbage can

Writers, painters, photographers and, well, musicians all agree (those that are any good, anyway) that you have to write, paint, photograph, or write a thousand horrible stories, pictures, photographs or songs and let them all go before you get the one.  Very few people are satisfied with everything they do, and those people just really suck. 

 

[baskruit]

I'm stuck in a deep blue funk and I need some help getting out. I'm having one of those "I suck at everything" spells. I suck at rhythm guitar, I suck at lead guitar, I suck at improvising, I suck at composing, I suck at writing lyrics...you get the idea. Any suggestions on what to do? What do you folks do get out of ruts like this? Any tips on improving my improv & songwriting skills? Those areas particularly cause me a lot of inner turmoil. To be perfectly honest, whenever I try my hand at writing a song, I end up feeling really depressed for anything from a few hours to a few days over how bad I am at it. Makes me wonder if I just don't have the knack, and should therefore just give up trying. But for some reason it's something I really want to do. Go figure. So any advice, or is my problem a sign of some deep-seated mental problem?  :laughing7:

First, accept your limitations. I don't have a talent for writing songs either. I did write a song once for a cd that was produced by the university and while people liked it, I found the whole writing process stressful and frustrating. That was eight years ago and I haven't even bothered ever since. I'm perfectly happy playing covers.

If you want to get better at playing, get lessons and work HARD. Practice, practice, practice. There are no short cuts.

 

[whyachi]

I go through phases where I can write songs while I'm asleep to occasional multi-year stretches where putting pen to paper results in some doodles and drooling. It happens. To everyone. I'd suggest taking Mayfly's advice: Scrap whatever you're working on, walk away. Go do something that gets your body working instead of your mind. I play laser tag. Distract yourself properly, and you'll be sitting around a few days later and go, HEY! and start writing or playing again.

I'm stuck in a deep blue funk and I need some help getting out. I'm having one of those "I suck at everything" spells. I suck at rhythm guitar, I suck at lead guitar, I suck at improvising, I suck at composing, I suck at writing lyrics..

You mentioned a blue funk... Have you tried bass? Blues and funk = good with bassists!  :guitaristgif:

 

[kboman]

I like Superbeast's and Mayfly's ideas the best here, they work for me too. Another thing that has always worked to some extent is to play something completely different for a while.
Not happy with that Metallica tribute song? Play nothing but first wave ska for two weeks!
Not satisfied with the songs for your post-rock album? Start a Miles Davis cover band!

Whenever I feel that all I'm writing is samey, boring nonsense the reason usually is that all I'm writing is samey, boring nonsense and it's time to move on, at least for a time.

 

[AprioriMark]

A lot of this comes down to practice habits, and as has been mentioned, how you live your creative life.

1) Don't EVER play the same things when you first pick up your guiitar.  DO NOT LET you hands do something you're familiar with.  Rediscover the wonder of creation, even in a small way.
2) Allow yourself to do what is fulfilling at all times possible.  Find beauty in everything, and hear music with new ears.  I find that my greatest leaps in playing come when I've been away from the instrument loving something else for a while.
3) Don't suck.  Don't tolerate things that are subpar.  I'm not saying that you should beat yourself up, but don't keep working on ideas or songs that you're not in love with.  Like Mayfly said, get rid of it!

-Mark

 

[BigBeard]

I'm stuck in a deep blue funk and I need some help getting out. I'm having one of those "I suck at everything" spells. I suck at rhythm guitar, I suck at lead guitar, I suck at improvising, I suck at composing, I suck at writing lyrics...you get the idea. Any suggestions on what to do? What do you folks do get out of ruts like this? Any tips on improving my improv & songwriting skills? Those areas particularly cause me a lot of inner turmoil. To be perfectly honest, whenever I try my hand at writing a song, I end up feeling really depressed for anything from a few hours to a few days over how bad I am at it. Makes me wonder if I just don't have the knack, and should therefore just give up trying. But for some reason it's something I really want to do. Go figure. So any advice, or is my problem a sign of some deep-seated mental problem?  :laughing7:

Buy a Harley.  Seriously, you'll feel better while you are riding it and maybe it'll inspire you!!!  :headbang:

Just kidding.... I tell everybody that is having a problem to buy a Harley. 

I don't write songs, and I'm pretty happy playing other people's music.  I wish I could, but I know I can't.  Definately not something to beat yourself up about.  Just keep on keepin on, you know.  Things happen when we least expect them to.  Don't sweat it.  I don't agree with throwing it all out, I think you should archive what you have done good or bad, because you never know when something might pop up in your head that might make this or that work.

Oh yeah the Harley..........http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/home.html

 

[erogenousjones17]

Thanks everyone. There are a lot of good suggestions here. Matter of fact, I have made a list and pinned it to the cork board over my desk. Special thanks to AprioriMark #1: "Don't suck. Don't tolerate things that are subpar." That PG clip is also pretty awesome. Thanks exaN.  :icon_thumright:

A lot of these things are things that we hear all the time (practice, stick with it, etc.), but they're often hard to put into practice. It takes effort, and effort is hard. I've gotten to where I am as a guitarist without pushing myself super hard, and I guess I realized that where I am is far from where I could be (if that makes any sense). But I really do love making music, so I'm not ready to give up on it. I've been seriously considering taking some more guitar lessons (I did a couple years of jazz a little while back) or picking up a new instrument, either bass, trumpet or trombone.

So thanks again for all the help. Jeez, I'm already feeling better...and excited about guitar again!  :headbang:

 

[BigBeard]

... picking up a new instrument, either bass, trumpet or trombone.

So thanks again for all the help. Jeez, I'm already feeling better...and excited about guitar again!  :headbang:

I'm telling you my friend, throw your leg over some iron!

 

[erogenousjones17]

Haha, I'll consider it. But in the name of full disclosure, I've only ever ridden a motorcycle once in my life, and it was a rather unpleasant experience. I was in my early teens, and my older cousin invited me to try out his new dirtbike. So I got on and opened 'er up... and promptly popped a wheelie and fell flat on my back. Knocked the wind right out of me. Scared the life out of me too, and I've been wary of motor bikes ever since. Though I do love the look (and the sound) of a Harley. It sounds crazy, but to me there's a parallel between the sound of a Harley (or a big V8) and a set of humbuckers or P90s through a tube amp. It makes sense in my head, and it's the sound I strive for.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

Also remember, many of us artiist types have been tortured souls throughout the years.  Think Van Gogh, Sylvia Plath, Elliot Smith, etc.

But all is not lost.  Your art will set you free.  It just sometimes feels so damn hard.  Keep at it like the other have said.  Exercise always hurts while its doing the most good (sort of--at least as a metaphor.)  So while you may not be realizing the fruits of your effors yet, you may be laying the foundation for your future success.

BigBeard has a good suggestion, but motorcycles kind of scare me too.  I ride bicycles.  Nothing against Harleys, I love 'em, but bicycles are more my speed.  Good for the soul and body.  Cheap to get started with too.  There is a certain rhythm once you develop a cadence on the pedals, I find this helps musical and lyrical ideas to flow.  Give it a shot.

 

[dbw]

Take LSD!  You will instantly start to play like Hendrix!  But for some reason, it never sounds any good if you record it and play it back later...  :icon_scratch:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

A songwriter that goes unremembered said that his writer's block was all in his head.  He kept writing but he didn't like any of the things he wrote.  That doesn't really help.

I've heard that a challenge of another style of playing can help.  If you're into Jazz, learn punk.  If you're into metal, learn country.  Other styles can change your approach to writing and playing.

Surely noone can know everything they've wanted to learn.  With the internet, learn that Jeff Beck, Steve Morse, Vai, Angus Young lick you've always wanted to learn but never did.  A new facination can get you out of a rut sometimes.

 

[ptirman]

2 things might help.
First guitar related: I downloaded some "intermediate" lesson videos from ivideosongs.com. Amazing stuff and I have actually written 2 songs from a couple of riffs I learned that spawned ideas. Pretty cool stuff. Not expensive either.
Second not guitar related: My significant other is a psychological therapist. Go to one. It's changed my life - great place to vent and say anything (btw I don't go to her).
Best of luck coming out of the funk.

 

[wingchun1976]

The most useful tool of the song writer is the garbage can.

I wrote 100 songs before I had my first good one.  Keep doing it.  It's a muscle.  Needs to be worked.

In times of need, a nice single malt can help...

...or even a double single malt...even... ccasion14: