[taylor82]

Hey guys ive been playing for a while now, like 5 or 6 years. I basically learned to play by learning chords, and improvising over them with friends. I usually use the pentatonic for reference and add some semi-tones for some color. However, lately my creativity has been kinda going downhill. My runs and fills, and even rythms arent as creative as they used to be. It like ive been playing for so long i know the guitar TOO well. What can i do to get back my creativity?

This post has been edited by taylor82: 06 August 2005 - 09:36 AM

[Bigfurrywhale]

Try listening to and playing styles and genres that you're not used to. Try learning some different scales. Maybe learn a couple of someone elses songs for a little while.

[jonny_m]

Learn a few new chords and the theory with them, what other chords will they work with etc

[guitarstrummin63]

learn the major scale, and the different modes of them

then start using them instead of the pentatonic scale

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

It sounds to me like you have a fair idea of how the scales and chords fit together. You know if a chord progression has G, Em, D and C in it you'll be fine with the G pentatonic with an F# or C note thrown in for good measure now and then. That's fine as far as it goes, and some really good solos can come from it, but it's not the be all and end all. Are you purely playing the pentatonic in one position? The notes GABDE are located all over the fret board, for example, so don't be afraid to go to different places on the neck than just the obvious.

It's worth thinking about other things that you can use to play lead parts. Interconnected with the Major scale come things like modes and arpeggios, and they are very useful tools for a flexible player. Try thinking about harmonising notes in the scale, double stopping, octaves and so on. Don't forget to keep skills like bends, hammer ons, pull offs and so on honed too.

[Father Fonz]

Listen to different genres...

...play with modes.