Stuck In A Rhythm Rut Options

[crazytrain101]

Guys i need help fast before it goes to far. It seems every time i pick up my guitar i get stuck in the same rhythms. I have tried various methods to start playing something new. I have tried listening to different bands before and while i play to try to spark some ideas. I have also tried going into guitar pro and to come up with different rhythms but it they sound stale and not exciting. Any advice is appreciated.

[Jesse]

We all get that sometimes! I'd say, do you know the 12 bar blues ? If not, look it up its easy. Probably some lessons on it too. Then just play with the rythms within the 12 bar progress. Its really fun because it all sounds good, but not the same. Also, listen to some surf music, dont know if youve tried that , but it has fun rythms. Jazz too, Dont know if you've tried that yet.

[crazytrain101]

We all get that sometimes! I'd say, do you know the 12 bar blues ? If not, look it up its easy. Probably some lessons on it too. Then just play with the rythms within the 12 bar progress. Its really fun because it all sounds good, but not the same. Also, listen to some surf music, dont know if youve tried that , but it has fun rythms. Jazz too, Dont know if you've tried that yet.

I know the 12 bar blues i just don't do it alot, but maybe i will start doing it more. I was thinking of starting to some jazz because i know that some amazing metal players like Alex Skolnic studied it and he said it helped alot. Thanks for your advice Jesse.

[Fran]

Practice some GMC lessons and songs that use different rhythm patterns I'd say, then try to take all that into your playing. Every time I learn a new lesson/song I find out later down the road that I use some of that stuff when I improvise, it's like it gets hidden in your brain and then you mix it all together, like new licks, chords etc.

[Bogdan Radovic]

Fran is right! Try learning some GMC lessons that have completely different grooves then ones you are used to playing..It will open up a lot your rhythm dictionary...Learn as many new things as possible as all these lessons/rhythms/licks go into your "vocabulary" and then when you are improvising you make your own versions of stuff learned before..Also , it happens from time to time to get fixated with a particular rhythm, I guess till we do something cool with it (song or something)...everyone has his favorite "rhythm" as well as licks etc..

[Ramiro Delforte]

I think that the rhythmic variations may come with different styles

If you like metal you could try

-trash
-death
-black
-math
-progressive

But also could be

-jazz
-jazz/blues
-blues
-funk
-punk
-hardcore

Or maybe latin rhythms

-salsa
-merengue
-reggaeton

I think if you manage to comp in those styles you'll get a lot of different rhythms to elaborate.

[Daniel Robinson]

Do not, discount your own rhythmic idea's as trite either.

I think guitar players in general sometimes think they are in a rut, because you hear yourself all the time. I know from time to time i find myself doing alot of certain things over and over. But if you could step outside yourself and listen, you might be pleasantly surprised that you are doing subtle changes that you are not aware of because you can't escape yourself (listening wise).


You might come up with a rhythm that you think is boring and unexciting, but someone who has never heard it before might think that is the most awesome lick in the world.


This is not to say you shouldnt grow as a player, but don't dismiss your own creativity so lightly either.


Daniel

[Pedja Simovic]

Guys i need help fast before it goes to far. It seems every time i pick up my guitar i get stuck in the same rhythms. I have tried various methods to start playing something new. I have tried listening to different bands before and while i play to try to spark some ideas. I have also tried going into guitar pro and to come up with different rhythms but it they sound stale and not exciting. Any advice is appreciated.

Best advice I can give you right now is to learn more about rhythm. Transcribe your favorite songs, sections, solos, riffs - anything. Analyze them and learn from them ! Openings and endings to the riffs, rhythms applied, tempos, melodic shape etc. A lot of things come into play but if you just sit down and do the work, a lot of things will reveal themselves

[Ivan Milenkovic]

Learn some rhythm theory as well, what is a bar, note values, pauses etc. Then practice some chord strummings, and GMC lessons on rhythm. Type "rhythm" in advanced search and choose level of the lesson. There are tons of lessons. You don't have to learn them all, just watch for a while and you will get some new ideas and directions for sure.

This post has been edited by Ivan Milenkovic: Mar 15 2009, 04:42 AM

[Vasilije Vukmiro...]

Try jamming along with some different rhythm, it doesn't have to be rock, pick jazz, blues, techno, house, seriously, you'll start to think different, and as soon you explore some non-typical rhythm patterns, whole new world will open for you:)

[MickeM]

How about running a few lessons from GMC in a genre that not familiar to you?