Creativity

This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 11 months ago by MSzymanek.

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- January 5, 2009 at 7:26 pm
MSzymanek
Member

Recently, I feel absolutely drained from ideas. It´s getting worse, I don´t only feel drained from ideas, I also feel incapable of playing what I would like to play. It´s so bad that sometimes I´d rather not pickup the guitar, so that I don´t depress myself by my inability to play fun stuff. Before whenever I came to rehearse with a guitarist from my band he would show me some riffs and I´d say – yeah bud, that´s cool, but I´d rather hear something like this – and then we would exchange ideas and melodies. But lately I feel like I just can´t come up with anything acceptable for myself.

Maybe it´s because I never digged this kinda band at all, I don´t know. I´ve been singing in a band before, which was more of a classic Megadeth / Death trash hybrid with loads of attitude and it was a blast. The band collapsed and I did some solo work with more classic rock sound to it. That was cool as well. Now I´m playing (guitar) in a band that is more like Kreator/Iced Earth and it feels a bit awkward. Mainly because I don´t feel like the stuff we write is as enjoyable as any of my previous work. Even though it seems more fast, technical, whatnot – it doesn´t have quite the energy to it.

I might post some of the songs for reference.

Cure for lost creativity?

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

Replies

- January 5, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Sean Conklin
Member

Hey Marcin,

Yeah feel free to post those tunes if you want.

I think we all lose the creative magic every once in a while. It really depends on what you’re shooting for, but I always think creativity gets an extra boost when you learn a style you don’t normally delve into. Maybe try learning some classical tunes and see how that influences your metal playing etc. Listen closely to movie soundtracks too. I always get inspired by epic soundtracks.

And it might sound counter-productive, but it’s really okay to take a break from the guitar every now and again. Sometimes a break is all you need to re-energize those creative juices. Maybe take a week off and see what happens.

Keep at it man!
Sean
- January 6, 2009 at 8:42 am
arc_of_descent
Member

I like to think of creativity as a process rather than a sudden burst of insight. What would you rather be? A man with loads of ideas but no execution, or someone who’s willing to put in the hard work and create something over a period of time?

I’ve been learning a lot of songs lately and what I’m realizing is that rather than them having some ultra cool tunes or arrangements, the artists stuck through and finished the damn song, even if it takes them a year to do so.

Another way to increase your creativity is not to be analytical about your creative decisions. The brain would then need to switch between the “creative” and “analytical” modes constantly which would affect your output. After you get creative with a bunch of ideas you can then later sift through them and gather the diamonds.
- January 6, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Tom Quayle
Member

Hey Marcin,

I know exactly what your going through. When I graduated from Leeds College of Music I was a really depressed musician and felt very uncreative and stuck in a really deep rut. I’d realised that I wasn’t ever going to be a truly great Jazz musician like my favourite players and just felt really trapped by music and guitar playing in general. I was also far too influenced by what other people thought of my playing and by what others thought I should be playing and writing. After a great deal of thought I realised I was approaching things from completely the wrong angle. I’d set too many pre-determined criteria on where my playing should be by that point in my life. I felt like I’d just finished a degree and should be able to do all the things I wanted to and be a much better player than I was at that point. I’d stopped simply letting myself enjoy music any more and placed too much pressure on myself to achieve.

A few things really helped me to enjoy playing and music again, one of which was to take a short break from playing as Sean mentioned. I took 11 days off and went to New York on holiday, did the whole tourist thing, had an awesome time, played no guitar at all and came back feeling really refreshed and ready to play again. Sometimes just a week off playing can totally refresh you and things seem much easier once you come back to the guitar. I also went back to playing the things that were the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place and stopped putting so much pressure on myself to play these crazy chord changes and improvise in crazy time signatures and actually really started to enjoy music again. This was where I re-discovered my love of shred and got back into players like Greg Howe and Brett Garsed again and really began to develop my own thing instead of trying to sound like all my favourite jazz players. I’d learned not to care so much about what other people told me I should be listening to and playing and just did my own thing.

As far as my creativity went the thing that I always go back to when my creativity is waning (and it happens all the time) is ear training. I can say quite firmly that this helps me out creatively more than anything else I’ve ever tried. I always find that after doing even basic interval work my ears are more in tune with what my mind is trying to hear and I start to hear new ideas with much greater frequency. My improvisation, ability to hear and interpret an idea, write a melody/chord progression or appreciate music in general all improve no end.This is something that I always feel needs ‘topping up’ and I can’t express it’s importance enough. Try simply singing through some scales whilst playing a chord underneath or singing through some arpeggios or intervals or do some transcription (hugely important in opening up your inner ear). Think of your ear as your most important musical muscle and it needs a serious work out every now and again to keep it healthy.

I hope this helps you Marcin, I’ll try to do an ear training tutorial soon that might help you out. Best of luck with this and let me know if you want any help with anything.

All the best

Tom
- January 6, 2009 at 9:26 pm
arc_of_descent
Member

@Tom Quayle 6186 wrote:

Think of your ear as your most important musical muscle and it needs a serious work out every now and again to keep it healthy.

Words of wisdom!

All this while I’ve been concentrating on my fingers and they do obey. The ears are the most difficult organs to train. As they say – efficient communication is around 80% listening!
- January 7, 2009 at 5:44 pm
billmeedog
Member

@Sean Conklin 6179 wrote:

Hey Marcin,

Yeah feel free to post those tunes if you want.

I think we all lose the creative magic every once in a while. It really depends on what you’re shooting for, but I always think creativity gets an extra boost when you learn a style you don’t normally delve into. Maybe try learning some classical tunes and see how that influences your metal playing etc. Listen closely to movie soundtracks too. I always get inspired by epic soundtracks.

And it might sound counter-productive, but it’s really okay to take a break from the guitar every now and again. Sometimes a break is all you need to re-energize those creative juices. Maybe take a week off and see what happens.

Keep at it man!
Sean

Hey Marcin, 🙂

Sorry to hear about your distress as it pertains to a lack of creativity! All I can say is hang in there, and it’ll probably pass. Also, I’ve noticed that sometimes, creative inspiration can come in some of the most unpredictable forms. As far as stimuli goes, try to “mix it up!” Read a new book. Go to a “fine-arts” museum. Watch golf on TV! (OK, that might sound ridiculous, but I’ve even been inspired by the rhythmic flow of a great golfer’s swing (Ernie Els from South Africa, if you’re wondering…) You just never know! :confused:

Also, I’ve noticed that if I’m in a rut in my “personal-life,” sometimes that can hinder my musical creativity. Try to “turn that around.” I’ve written some of my best stuff, when I’ve been an emotional timebomb! (If that’s even an issue. That’s none of my business bro!) 😉

Also, EVERYTHING Sean recommended is ACES! (as usual!) Great advice from Sean, IMO! 😎

Good luck bro, and “hang tough!” 😉

~Bill Meehan~ 😀
- January 7, 2009 at 5:48 pm
billmeedog
Member

Marcin,

I just wanted to add that I just read Tom Quayle’s advice, and MAN does he hit the nail-on-the-head! I like what I told you too, but add to that all that Sean and Tom recommended too! Great stuff! 😎

~Bill Meehan~
- January 8, 2009 at 6:41 pm
MSzymanek
Member

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the advices! I must say all of them are pure gold and it´s encouraging to see, that I am not the only one with this problem.

Bill actually that´s quite right, I´m going through a very stressing period right now and feel kinda exhausted of energy (also the creative one 😉 ). I think I might follow Seans advice and drop the guitar for a bit.

Also another point that I found important is that I can´t figure out how to play many of the tunes I´d like to play – or I´m not skilled enough for that. It didn´t seem to hinder my creativity before, but right now it´s more discouraging then I´d want it to be. It´s not really driving me to practice more, more like driving me away from the guitar.

Thanks for all the advices. Pure Gold.

M.
- January 12, 2009 at 4:47 pm
melanie2009
Member

@Tom Quayle 6186 wrote:

I’ll try to do an ear training tutorial soon that might help you out.

I look forward to seeing this.
- January 12, 2009 at 10:49 pm
MSzymanek
Member

Update:

It showed up, that there is a bar in nearby town, where there is like a jam session from time to time. I´ve been there last friday and…couldn´t…resist…the…urge… 😀

Oh God, I love jamming 😉 . That was a revitalizing experience.