Loss Of Creativity
Nihilist1
Nov 2 2011, 08:50 AM
Learning Apprentice Player
Posts: 977
Joined: 1-September 11
From: Chino Hills, California
I know that all musicians go through this(except maybe Mozart, but he was special.

How do you get your creativity back after you lose it? I haven't actually been able to write a song for almost two or three years now. I have just been working on technique the entire time, and seemed to have forgotten how to write.

So what do you do for inspiration?

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
All the elders have fallen down...

Heal her now...

All the elders have fallen down...

Heal her now...

Grandfather elk
Turned to me
And spoke:

Light the fire deep inside.
Light the fires!

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Ben Higgins
Nov 2 2011, 10:03 AM
Instructor
Posts: 13.792
Joined: 11-March 10
From: England
Ah man, sorry to hear that.. I hate slumps like that. But it does happen to us all, and I gaurantee it happened to Wolfgang Amadaeus as well ! smile.gif

I'm not sure how to advise how to get out of the slump itself but I know this: I can only really write when my mind is free and untroubled by life's problems (to a point). I find that whener I've tackled some problem or some difficult situation I seem to have a writing spree.

In short, a healthy mind leads to being creative.. if you're not burdened by something(s) then it leaves you free to create. Some people are able to create even in the midst of adversity but I think they are the minority.

I'm not saying this applies to everyone, this is just how it works for me smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Ivan Milenkovic
Nov 2 2011, 10:38 AM
Instructor
Posts: 25.396
Joined: 20-November 07
From: Belgrade, Serbia
Don't worry it's a normal thing. We all go through this, check out these two topics on some general tips on how to go through that phase.

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=41275

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...?showtopic=6556


You should spend some time playing some songs or the things you like. Check out my improvising workshop series for some advices on how to approach every note individually, and also check the songwriting sessions link in my signature - you can find some cool tips about creativity boost/flow in those chat sessions.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
- Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons
- (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel
- Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Gabriel Leopardi
Nov 2 2011, 03:52 PM
Instructor
Posts: 36.043
Joined: 3-March 07
From: Argentina
I'm sorry of reading this man! I get inspiration from many things... life experiences, reading, watching movies, going to see bands, etc. I think that Creativity is something that you have to train.. so if you have been some time without dedicating time to composing you'll have to train this ability again. Try creating short ideas, riffs, melodies and record them if its possible. Make your own archive of ideas and then try to develop them a bit every day. This method could help to become creative again.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
My lessons

Do you need a Guitar Plan?
Join Gab's Army

Check my band:Cirse
Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud

Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Daniel Realpe
Nov 2 2011, 11:45 PM
Instructor
Posts: 5.655
Joined: 11-October 09
From: Bogota
I think lack of creativity is due to aiming too high sometimes. Look at punk rock. They didn't really aim that high musically, meaning, they didn't complicate things too much, but they were really creative!

So, sometimes limiting yourself can be good, meaning, just be creative rhythmically, or only use 3 notes. or only chords. Or maybe get another instrument.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
Visit my:
INSTRUCTOR PROFILE

"If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music."
Gustav Mahler


Subscribe to my Youtube Channel here
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Nihilist1
Nov 3 2011, 07:01 AM
Learning Apprentice Player
Posts: 977
Joined: 1-September 11
From: Chino Hills, California
Thank you for all the dedicated responses.

Thank you for the re-direction Ivan. I will begin looking through your chat sessions after I practice my speedpicking happy.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
All the elders have fallen down...

Heal her now...

All the elders have fallen down...

Heal her now...

Grandfather elk
Turned to me
And spoke:

Light the fire deep inside.
Light the fires!

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Cosmin Lupu
Nov 3 2011, 09:49 AM
Instructor
Posts: 22.808
Joined: 14-June 10
From: Bucharest
Mate, Ben and the guys are right smile.gif I once read an article called Creativity Under the Gun

It's business related, but if you extrapolate, you'll discover that pressure does the same thing to a musically creative mind, so, here's my advice:

When you want to create, start by placing yourself in a total musical focus state of mind, meaning that you should lock away all the worries, even if only for 10 minutes smile.gif 10 minutes means a lot of time for a creative mind! If in those 10 minutes you come up with a catchy riff or vocal line/ guitar theme, you have accomplished more than just shredding away the same scales over and over and at the end of the day, when you want to put your hand on the result, you'll just wander around, not being sure if you did something! A musical phrase is a result, and if it's played fast, well interpreted and clean, the result is even better smile.gif

Start from this point and see what happens wink.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Ivan Milenkovic
Nov 3 2011, 02:02 PM
Instructor
Posts: 25.396
Joined: 20-November 07
From: Belgrade, Serbia
QUOTE (Nihilist1 @ Nov 3 2011, 07:01 AM) *
Thank you for all the dedicated responses.

Thank you for the re-direction Ivan. I will begin looking through your chat sessions after I practice my speedpicking happy.gif


Excuse me if I didn't answer you in detail, let me tell you a little story of mine:

My biggest demotivational crisis was some 7-8 years ago when I made long term plan with all kinds of technical exercises that took me 8 months to complete. During that time, the practice routine was pretty uniform and repetitive for me: play exercise "a" for "x" number of minutes, increasing metronome by "n" bpms.. etc.. So after this, I was a better player technically, but I lost motivation, didn't know what to do with those exercises and didn't feel like playing at all. During that time I didn't sit down once to write a decent song. Well, it happens to be that I didn't know how to write songs in the first place, because I didn't even try from all those technical exercises. It's best to keep things balanced and focus on more areas at the time. It's like creating a house, imagine that good land to build on is talent, proper foundation is theory, one wall is technique, the other wall is gear knowledge, third wall is songwriting, fourth wall experience, inner walls rhythm feel, roof is motivation and desire to play and move ahead. Just as house cannot support itself without any of these components, that's how musician cannot support himself without developing all the proper tools needed to create music.

It's time to start writing more songs, whatever they may sound. It's time to dedicate time on it if this is truly what you want. It's never to late. We can do this anytime in our lives. We must believe in ourselves and should do whatever we like to do. For some tips on how to boost your creativity you can check out the songwriting sessions link.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
- Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons
- (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel
- Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Amir Razmara
Nov 3 2011, 09:14 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 129
Joined: 5-February 11
From: U.S.A
QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ Nov 3 2011, 01:02 PM) *
Excuse me if I didn't answer you in detail, let me tell you a little story of mine:

My biggest demotivational crisis was some 7-8 years ago when I made long term plan with all kinds of technical exercises that took me 8 months to complete. During that time, the practice routine was pretty uniform and repetitive for me: play exercise "a" for "x" number of minutes, increasing metronome by "n" bpms.. etc.. So after this, I was a better player technically, but I lost motivation, didn't know what to do with those exercises and didn't feel like playing at all. During that time I didn't sit down once to write a decent song. Well, it happens to be that I didn't know how to write songs in the first place, because I didn't even try from all those technical exercises. It's best to keep things balanced and focus on more areas at the time. It's like creating a house, imagine that good land to build on is talent, proper foundation is theory, one wall is technique, the other wall is gear knowledge, third wall is songwriting, fourth wall experience, inner walls rhythm feel, roof is motivation and desire to play and move ahead. Just as house cannot support itself without any of these components, that's how musician cannot support himself without developing all the proper tools needed to create music.

It's time to start writing more songs, whatever they may sound. It's time to dedicate time on it if this is truly what you want. It's never to late. We can do this anytime in our lives. We must believe in ourselves and should do whatever we like to do. For some tips on how to boost your creativity you can check out the songwriting sessions link.


Hi Ivan

When I was reading your detailed reply I noticed some thing that was cause for curiosity!
1- in the 5th line you say "it happens to be that I didn't know how to write songs in the first place" & your reason was not trying to do so.
Then how did you learn to write songs? and can you talk more specifically about balancing and focusing which you mentioned and how they led to your progress because what you mention in the above paragraphs , although you have a nice story, are very general.
Thanks

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


This post has been edited by Amir Razmara: Nov 3 2011, 09:16 PM
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 




RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 01:00 AM