Stuck in a Rut!

Squonk · 2012-07-16T14:10:57+00:00

I have been playing guitar for awhile, and have been stuck in a RUT since I first started. The problem is focus - I just don't know where to put all my energy? I love Nylon, Steel and Electric as well as half a million types of music, one day I am in a Flamenco, Classical mode, the next day could be Folk and alternate tunings, The next day Metal - Killswitch Engage, Opeth etc, then I hear Warren Haynes and then I want a LP, Then Joe Pass or George Benson and I am swayed again. I try and dip into all of these styles and am basically still a beginner.... I have reached the end of my tether (For about the 10th time) and need to put a plan in place to get out of the RUT. Should I find a teacher? But then where would I find someone who could assist me in getting to the next level? Most of the Tutors I have phoned seemed to major either in Rock, or Jazz etc, but I need someone who could advise and point me in directions. Hugely flat and frustrated ☹

aja

tubescreamer63 wrote I hear you. I was there for many years. For me it took new equipment to get me out of the rut, and in particular a vintage valve amp, a fender bassman. I had been using an Ibanez soundblaster , a very sterile solidstate amp. Stuff that sounded dull and uninspired suddenly sounded awesome through the fender, and my playing took off again. If you do not have decent gear, and particularly a decent amp,it can become dificult to lift your playing level.

This has happened to me with the purchases of a 1950's Epiphone Zephyr 1x15" amp and Laney Lionheart 20W 1x12" amp.

The sounds they produce are inspiring on their own. I know exactly what you mean!

And still I cannot get beginners to understand how important the amp is. They spend all their money on the guitar, buy a "shower radio" amp and then lose interest because no matter what they do it sounds terrible...

chilliepot

Join a music club.

exsanguinator

Squonk wrote Have no clue about Theory, everything is done by ear.

Theres your problem right there.

Learn your modes front to back,back to front,x-over and jump all over..then give us some feedback...LOL

Heres a good example...find one of your favorite lead breaks...with a looper its simple enough to work out the notes....but once you work out what mode hes using.. you'll understand the concept and be able to apply it to your own style and music.

Takes time,some people thrive on theory some don't,if you can understand theory its a lot easier..LOL

AlanRatcliffe

exsanguinator wrote
Squonk wrote Have no clue about Theory, everything is done by ear.

Theres your problem right there.

The reverse is also true. Increasingly so these days. People can rip up and down scales, but don't listen to what they are playing. They bend mechanically without listening for tension or resolution. I've seen more than one technically brilliant, super facile guitarist start a song in the wrong key and not realise it for a few bars because their fingers were in the right boxes for the key they thought the song was in.

Ray

exsanguinator wrote
Squonk wrote Have no clue about Theory, everything is done by ear.

Theres your problem right there.

No. If you cant trust your ear are you going to trust the sums?

Dingwall

Ah squonk such a pity we are so far apart! Part of the problem here is that you are a really good player and this can sometimes make it harder to go back to basic theory, i guess like a fluent speaker learning to read for first time by starting with T-H-E. C-A-T S-A-T O-N. T-H-E. M-A-T.

But learning major scales and pentatonic scales all over fretboard together with an understanding of how chords are built and how they relate back to scales has helped me over the years. Doesnt make you a better player necessarily and like anything its what you do with the tools that counts and not the tools themselves!

Failing that join a punk band, turn the amp loud and jump into the deep end wherever possible!

eric-vaxxine

I know the feeling of being stuck in a rut too...
we all probably experience it at some time or another.

These three songs are worth listening to and copying.
They should give you a challenge and supply you with
new ideas, especially rich in chord choice.

Rosanna by Toto
Bodhisattva by Steely Dan
Be My Friend by Free

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