Guitar players... I have plateaued. Help me.

[hpdrifter]

About 4 years ago I plateaued on guitar and have pretty much not played it at all since then. I try to pick it up but when I look at it it looks back at me blankly. I don't feel anything from it anymore, I don't see any shapes, I don't hear anything when I pick it up. I look at the finger board and it has ceased to make any sense to me. I end up playing the same riffs from songs that I like over and over and I can't even play those with good timing any more.

Help me, I want to reconnect with this and I don't know how. :(

[b i o n i c]

distortion pedal

[hpdrifter]

I have a ton of pedals but I don't want to hide behind that crap. I want to actually be able to play. With other people.

[saz]

i usually drink when i play. i don't mean getting wasted, but it helps to relax and sort of clear my mind. i also just let my fingers wander and explore to come up with new arrangements, riffs etc. do you finger pick or are you classically trained at all? i've come up with some of my best material that way. also playing stoned can be kind of challenging, you need a little more time to get warmed up, but afterwards the creativity starts flowing big time. i'm big on my crybaby pedal, reverb, delay etc. playing along with music is good too.

[b i o n i c]

i used to watch tv with my guitar on my knee and try to play any music that came on. if it was a commercial, id try to get the bass line down before it was over. good way to train yer ear sorta kinda

a coupla months ago i picked up my guitar after about 5 years. try learning a new song that you love, that should do it

[saz]

yep, last night i figured out the riff and lead bits to that blue oyster cult tune in the autotrader.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcPUvv_EtTM) commercial that's always on tnt.

open tuning is pretty sweet too, it definitely opens up new worlds.

[mickill]

You could take up playing the harmonica at the same time.

[ericlee]

I have a ton of pedals but I don't want to hide behind that crap. I want to actually be able to play. With other people.

woman, it's 2009. It's not hiding behind them, they enhance, yeah but you still need skill to make them sound right.

Try reading a book, take a note on a walk with you and just jot down your random thoughts. Try putting your thoughts into lyric format and from there, try making guitar riffs.

Watch movies with your guitar at hand. Play what you feel while watching. I watch cartoons on many occasions to get my ideas.

You'll break the block if you seriously love to play.

[thegoodmrbrodie!]

get some friends together. have a jam. start a band. play some shows. :)

[paul jones]

get some friends together. have a jam. start a band. play some shows. :)

that's true.Jamming is the best way(y)

[Rock]

i used to watch tv with my guitar on my knee and try to play any music that came on. if it was a commercial, id try to get the bass line down before it was over. good way to train yer ear sorta kinda

(y)

[jabumbo]

jam sessions really are the only way i get to playing anything these days...

[hpdrifter]

Thank you Kings of Leon "Closer".

I think I've broken it.

[roosta]

playing a guitar on a plateau is the pinnacle of guitarmanship.

I assume you had a helicopter circling you?

[b i o n i c]

haha, november rain solo in the music video = epic

[hpdrifter]

No helicopters just some time alone with my guitar and amp, a song I like, and my ears.

[hpdrifter]

After that I didn't play for a month. I played tonight and wrote a song.

It's finally talking to me again.

[b i o n i c]

me too, i played today - i didnt write a song but i strummed about for few minutes. nothing like a sunny lazy sunday to get the creative juices flowin. actually yeah there are, but you know what i mean

[hpdrifter]

I was raining and thunderstorms here, god it felt good. I hope it can keep it up for some period of time this time.

[jabumbo]

you should record yourself and post it up!

[hpdrifter]

I thought about it but I am not sure whether it sucks or not. That and I don't have anything with which to record it. How does one go about that the cheapest and easiest way?

[b i o n i c]

youtube and a webcam with a post it note over the lens

[jabumbo]

who needs the post it note? might as well go all out if you're going to do that!

[pshabi]

Go and play at an open mic night. I did a couple weeks ago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8zW47tK3qY) and I've been a fiend for my guitar ever since. Even have callouses(sp?) back and everything.

[hpdrifter]

It's crazy how fast they come back. One 3 hour session and my fingertips were all tingly in the shower the next day.

Anyway, I have only written two songs in my life. I play primarily electric but the two songs easily translate to acoustic. Maybe I'll try the open mic thing.

[ericlee]

how much are you looking to spend on recording equipment?

An 8 track digital is perfect and you can get a used one on ebay for around $200.

You don't need an amp, just plug direct and they have preset drum patterns as well as a metronome. If you want to record acoustic, there's a built in mic and the majority of 8 tracks are fairly easy to pick up on.

[hpdrifter]

That sounds do-able, I might even have some disposable income in the near future as I'm selling some old equipment now that my band days are behind me.