I've been playing guitar for sevral years now and about 4 months ago I got a band going. I've written about 5 songs and i'm just not sure i'm completly pleased with the direction our music is going. I feel I need some better rythem and style. I use some effects now and I like them sometimes but I just really need to get out of a rut i've been in because all I feel I now do is just play the same songs just on diffent keys. what suggestions dose anyone have

Broaden your horizons
Listen to different types and styles of music so you have a wider range of influences

its funny you say that because I just went and bought a few new cd's. Now this is a question, do you suppose I should learn how to play some of the songs? I got all week to practice and make up so new stuff since its spring break for college.

What type of music are you writing...are you singing and writing...are you just writing the guitar parts and having someone sing over it...just wondering.

I was in a rut for a long, long time but then i started listening to old rock and old country and it gave me sooooooooooo many new song ideas!!!!!

I did the same thing when i was stuck with things to write. I was bought a couple of CD's for my birthday (CREAM and Davy Graham) and i found it much easyer to write more tracks.

A friend of mine also said to play songs other people have written and instead of finnishing at the end carry on and make small changes(tempo, key, add a completely different riff stuff like that) until it becomes a completely different song, it never worked for me but he told me the Beatles did it so it can't be ALL crap then.

i hope this helps matey and good luck with the writting.

Frenchcrusader.

Rock on, Rock Hard and Rock Heavy!!!

Hi, my suggestion is to learn a bit about musical theory, if you're not already doing so. I found it opens up whole new possiblities, and is great for getting out of the creative rut!! I found that I could link up larger sections of the neck musically, which boosted my confidence. A good idea too is to play the same chord in a different shape ie, play three notes of an Aminor chord triad,but do it higher up the neck, or in a different order. Also, try joining some of those little doodles you play when idly warming up into longer sections. And try changing the tuning of your guitar (standard, drop d, downtuned half step or whole step, open d,for examples), and then playing the same chord patterns and riffs - they could take on a whole new life. Telefreak has a good suggestion there too. Listen to a wider spectrum of music - as suggested here too! Do you ever record yourselves and listen back to it from an audience viewpoint? Hope this helps! Good luck.

Thanks for the ideas

I have listened to some more range of styles to a small extent some indie rock and alternative stuff, and I feel it has helped. I was noodling around last night with diffrent modes and combining them with diffrent keys and It helped a bit.

I like the idea of listening to a song and then just trying to make up a next riff for it and so on. I've kinda done that where I'd make up a 3rd guitar for the song but never a new riff for it.

I listen mainly to rock/emo/indie music and I guess I feel thats the kind of music I write but when I record it and play it back it just seems to predictable to me. like i'd claim the song as mine but I don't know if I could nessasarly say that i'm proud of it.... I don't know....

we've entered the battle of the bands here in our city.. and for the past week they have been doing online voting... and we've been dead last out of nine bands..... so if any one wants to give me or "holiday"(my band's name) some tips please do so. (www.thespectrum.com/battle)

The song Your eyes im asuming is yours since you mentioned the band holiday...The way my guitar is tuned I have you starting in Eb or something however these riffs can be moved up or down the neck depending on what chord your starting with...I dont tune to piano pitch and tune by ear so Im not sure if your in E or Eb or whatever...it doesnt really matter though as these riffs can be moved around.

You dont have to use them or anything however I felt like adding some stuff to the song.

I would start the song with this riff.

This symbol / means slide up to next note without striking that last note.

E-------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------
D------4-----6/-8--------4----6/-8-------4-----6/-8-
A---6-----6------------4----4----------2-----2---
E-----------------------------------------
=======================play this last part twice



When the drum solo type thing starts...I came up with the riff below.
You have to start playing it as soon as the final chord is struck right before the drum part.(which I like alot until the singing comes in then Im not liking it so much)...also the vocals are not loud enough...the singer needs to project their voice more...the volcals and melody need work...start with some riffs first.

E----------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------
G------------------------------------
D----------------------------------
A------1-----2-------4------2--------
E---2----2------2-------2---------

play with fingers banjo style pretty fast to fit the song...keep repeating during drum thang.

If you dont like the riffs thats ok...you dont have to use them or anything...these are just ideas floating around...they may not fit your style...If you like them then use them...I find it easier to come up with riffs to other peoples music because its fresh and not mine...its easier.





[Edited on 3/17/2006 by Spidercents]

Go listen to some punk, proper punk, not this modern rubbish.
The Stooges, The Clash, The Buzzcocks, that'll get you fired up, works for me. Especially The Clash, great musicians and amazing songwriters