There are three problems which have always limited me and I wan't to finally overcome them. The first is when I come up with a cool sounding riff but can't seem to figure out where to go from there. Most of the time, I end up going off into a whole other direction trying to figure it out and lose my original idea in the process. I'll try different things like making a few different versions of the riff, screw around with chord inversions or the relative key, etc..
The second problem is when I have a riff in my head, I can't seem to find the right notes to express it even if I work out all the notes in key. Sometimes I try to hum the notes and figure out what sounds right. Sometimes what sounds right doesn't even fit the mode shapes, then it's like what the fuck am I supposed to use now?
Then the third problem comes when I figure out a backing rhythm in one key, but trying to solo in that key either sounds bland or some notes in the mode patterns don't seem to sound in key. I typically use the 3-note per string mode shapes or pentatonic shapes. Sometimes where the mode shapes seem like they should work, they don't, but the pentatonic shapes do.
The thing is that I've always wanted just a simple way to go about jamming and composing, but I just don't think there's really a simple way to go about it, so I'm spending some time learning more theory. Anyway, that's what I've got to fix right now. Any tips would be a great help.
The second problem is when I have a riff in my head, I can't seem to find the right notes to express it even if I work out all the notes in key. Sometimes I try to hum the notes and figure out what sounds right. Sometimes what sounds right doesn't even fit the mode shapes, then it's like what the fuck am I supposed to use now?
Then the third problem comes when I figure out a backing rhythm in one key, but trying to solo in that key either sounds bland or some notes in the mode patterns don't seem to sound in key. I typically use the 3-note per string mode shapes or pentatonic shapes. Sometimes where the mode shapes seem like they should work, they don't, but the pentatonic shapes do.
The thing is that I've always wanted just a simple way to go about jamming and composing, but I just don't think there's really a simple way to go about it, so I'm spending some time learning more theory. Anyway, that's what I've got to fix right now. Any tips would be a great help.