Writer's Block, ...this is driving me nuts Options

[Caelumamittendum]

This is just taken of another forum, where I wrote the same some time back. I can't really put it any other way, so I thought I would just copy/paste it here.

Alright - this is driving me nuts.

For the past 1½ year or so I haven't written any music at all. Well, I have, but after listening to it 4 times I don't like it anymore. It's usually only like 4 beats of music and then...BANG, I don't like it anymore.
Before all this I have written tons of stuff (literally) - e.g. one full album that I was originally planning to record, but now I want to re-write all the music, because I think some of it isn't as good as it could be. Anyways:

Anyone has any advice on how to get me off this grand, grand writer's block-ish thingie?

[ZakkWylde]

GET INSPIRATION by listening to new bands or go to a live gig..

[Caelumamittendum]

That's actually something I already have been doing a lot since then. Especially started listening to more guitar virtuosi, and I started practicing more not so long ago too.

[DeepRoots]

im sorry man, im not alot of help here. All i can suggest is to record eery lick, every riff that every pops in to your head. Make a big library and catagorize it all in folders. Perhaps you could eventually piece together a song? I dunno though- i'll look forward to other responses though.

[Caelumamittendum]

Haha. Thanks for the responses so far. Of course, I can always keep myself busy practicing the guitar - no need to be too creative to do that

Anyways... I remember a long time ago, when I couldn't write any lyrics, I would just open a dictionary and take 10 words out of that and make a song for that. Maybe I could somewhat do that on guitar too.

[JVM]

Don't worry. I think it happens to everyone. And in the end, of course, it'll only make your stuff better. I think its good to be able to say "that's crap, I can do better than that", but at the same time not everything really is.

My suggestion is twofold. First, definitely upload some of your stuff. I've heard some of it, and I think you know without me telling you that you're really good. But like jordan said, just record a ton of stuff and then I say upload some of it for us to here and make suggestions and stuff.

[stickyfingers]

since i restarted playing guitar 1 1/2 years ago i always felt like my playing abilities are not sufficient to write the kind of music i want to play.

so for know i'm trying to incorporate as much licks, riffs and techniques as i can to build up my repertoire and hope to utilize that knowledge in future compositions.

when ideas for new riffs and licks hit me, i usually try to record them instantly as deeproots suggests. sadly i'm a bit chaotic and should organize those pieces better.

[fkalich]

This is just taken of another forum, where I wrote the same some time back. I can't really put it any other way, so I thought I would just copy/paste it here.
Alright - this is driving me nuts.

I would not worry about it. Nobody says you have to write anything. Nobody says you have to do the on the fly improvise thing (I never want to do the improvise thing, I always will want to play a set piece, same as have most musicians traditionally, such as in the time of Mozart). Nobody says there is anything wrong with playing other people's stuff, if that appeals to you. There are plenty of virtuoso musicians who never did anything else.

I would just do what you enjoy, and if later writing comes natural to you, let that time happen when it happens. I would not try to force it. Do what you like, if you are not enjoying it, don't do it, you don't have to, even if others are doing it.

Myself, I have no desire other than to work on lessons here for the time being, maybe even another year of just that. I figure anything I try now will be as you are saying, not satisfying and forgotten. I will think it is neat at first, and then carp. Because until I reach a level where I feel I can at least be in the same room as these teachers, I see no point in doing other than keep learning from them. Anything I come up with will be crap. Like a little kid learning classical piano a few years in, thinking he will write a symphony. Kind of ridiculous when you think about it.

This post has been edited by fkalich: Aug 1 2008, 10:34 AM

[Muris Varajic]

One useful thing is to listen to some music
you're not listening or playing often.
Per example if you're metal player and
wanna write metal music,listening only to metal
kind a limits you cause you have all those great
metal riffs from other bands in your head
and many things you come up with you might not like it.

Another way is to leave it for a while without
pushing at all,inspiration is matter of moment,
it just pomps in.

But whatever you write be sure to record it.
Even if you don't like it atm you might like
tomorrow or re-arrange it latter on,just don't erase it.

[Nathan333]

I might not be great help here, but like muris said: try something completely different. If you want to write metal songs and all you do is listen to the metal songs that you really like, all of your songs will just sound like watered-down versions of the stuff you listen to. Try writing a song in a COMPLETELY different style, like a theme tune to a kids TV program or something Look in genres like jazz, classical or western or something. The influences you get from these places could sound outrageously cool when incorporated into a metal song (I'm guessing you play metal?)

Anyway, that's my opinion on it.

[Caelumamittendum]

Well, during the past year I've been trying to expand my musical preferences - and I do like jazz, and I do like fusion and all, but having done that didn't help much - yeah I started to listen to Gambale and such about a year ago. However, it didn't do much, so I tried to go back to those things that inspired me in the first place - early Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation etc. No luck either. But of course you're right.

That said, I just finished my education (before going to uni in 2 years, for now I'll just be having a job and all) and during those three years of education, you're very much told to not think outside of the box. I did that first and was somewhat punished for it So it's a very fascistic way of educating people.

Maybe I just need some time, thinking outside the box to re-generate those ideas.

[Muris Varajic]

Try not to listen to guitar players at all for a while!!
Go for singers,any genre, sax players,piano players etc.

[Henry Dietzel]

I agree with Muris. I am not sure what other music you are into, but I listen to stuff like this when I am stumped.
Charlie Parker John Coltrane Antonio Vivaldi
Also, listening to guitar players you may not be into can give some inspiration. Ex. If you don't listen to jazz often maybe a month of just jazz. In the past I would get obsessive and only listen to one album for long periods of time, no radio, limited television, lots of reading, and then sit down and write for days.

I hope this is helpful and I wish you good luck

[Caelumamittendum]

Thanks for the advice so far.

My musical interests are actually very varied. Metal - tech. metal, prog. metal, general heavy metal, alternate, Doom etc. besides that general rock and prog rock too. Besides all that I'm quite fond of electronica and jazz with drums, guitar and bass. Not too fond of all the big band-ish stuff.

I think I'll just have to get back at it now that I'm not in any education - and here I'm allowed to think outside of the box.

[Eat-Sleep-andJam]

Explore genres you havnt looked into yet. Youtube is a wonderful source for this !
If you have been playing metal, look up some classical guitar. Maybe even step into some jazz or funk.
Explore the genres is my idea

Hope you get through it

[Caelumamittendum]

Well, as said, I really do think I've explored a bit of every genre - metal, rock, electronica, jazz fusion etc.. Not too much funk though, neither emo.

Funny thing is... this writer's block thinie started when I met my girlfriend 1½ year ago! - before that I used to always find some negative things as inspiration, but I haven't been able to do that these days.

[Muris Varajic]

Thanks for the advice so far.

My musical interests are actually very varied. Metal - tech. metal, prog. metal, general heavy metal, alternate, Doom etc. besides that general rock and prog rock too. Besides all that I'm quite fond of electronica and jazz with drums, guitar and bass. Not too fond of all the big band-ish stuff.

I think I'll just have to get back at it now that I'm not in any education - and here I'm allowed to think outside of the box.

I get the idea.
I have similar problem,it's the one when I try
to break each song I hear on the radio into chords and tabs right away,in my head.
Kind a overdose.
Good thing is to listen to music just as a music,
without paying attention on which instrument has a solo or som.
Chill-out or ambient music in fine example,kind a Twin Peaks soundtracks.

[Caelumamittendum]

Yeah, definately.

I see what you're all saying. Hopefully I'll soon find the right vibe again. We'll see

[Siggum]

I get the idea.
I have similar problem,it's the one when I try
to break each song I hear on the radio into chords and tabs right away,in my head.
Kind a overdose.
Good thing is to listen to music just as a music,
without paying attention on which instrument has a solo or som.
Chill-out or ambient music in fine example,kind a Twin Peaks soundtracks.

Lol ive began to suffer same, when i hear something i sometimes only think about the chordprogression, how they pan the instruments, what sound they use for drums and so on...

[Muris Varajic]

Lol ive began to suffer same, when i hear something i sometimes only think about the chordprogression, how they pan the instruments, what sound they use for drums and so on...

Yep

I sit in a bar with my girlfriend and doing that all the time.
She is trying to explain to me something and I'm just like..yeah..sure..aha