Bored Musically. Who/What Influences You?

[Aristocat]

As it says, I'm wicked bored ATM.

Looking for something outside the box to draw from. Songs, theories, modes etc. I've been working on my right hand technique for months all the while studying the Harmonic Minor and different Systems. While that's useful, it isn't necessarily musical.

So what gets you guys going?

 

[Aristocat]

Crimson!
If you want to open up your mind, just put this on and let it sink deep. there is always a lot going on and can really be inspiring. (if your into this kind of music that is)

Love Fripp.

My favorite cd of their's is actually the Bootleg from Argentina. That really is some otherworldly, out of the box stuff.

 

[suhrimmetal]

Andy Timmons!!

Some Joe Bonamassa LIVE

Andy Timmons!!

Joe Holmes, John Norum, Doug Aldrich.

Andy Timmons

... sometimes i just go back and 'listen' to the music/bands I was into before I got really into playing. Just get back to the love of music without being in 'musician' mode. It can re-light that fire and reinspire. Cheers

 

[lespaul6]

Everything listed above... I also listen to smooth jazz (yes that sax playing is fantastic inspiration)

 

[Aristocat]

Everything listed above... I also listen to smooth jazz (yes that sax playing is fantastic inspiration)

A lot of what horn players do translates to guitar beautifully.

I know I'll get banned, but I'm tired of playing the typical 80's shit. Same goes for most of the 70's. I know almost every song off of each of Aerosmith's first five records. That's sad.

I mean my influences are mixed; for sure (Brian May, Nuno, Joe/Brad, EVH, Eric Johnson, Sykes/Holmes) but it's just boring ATM.

 

[lespaul6]

lol...it happens in cycles for me too. I'm an 80's hard rock/metal guy too but right now I'm listening to Huey Lewis and the News!!

 

[Anonymous]

Blues? SRV, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Freddie King, Albert King, older stuff like Elmore James, Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker
Funk? Eddie Hazel, Nile Rodgers
Spacey Stuff? David Byrne, Kevin Shields
Jazz? Pat Metheny, Al DiMeola, Frank Gambale, Kurt Rosenwinkel

 

[roodboy]

Maybe get outside the whole 6 string thing and listen to horn players like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker or Coltrane.
Or violin like Jean Luc Ponty.

 

[RJF]

Crimson!
If you want to open up your mind, just put this on and let it sink deep. there is always a lot going on and can really be inspiring. (if your into this kind of music that is)

What the frick? I'd like 7:58 minutes of my life back now.

 

[Racerxrated]

Audley Freed...he doesn't have a lot of stuff out there but the Cry of Love stuff is great. Such awesome feel..and a little Ty from King's X, Gary Moore...I guess I've got a Rock n Blues thing going on myself so these are my go to must listens.....even though my sig is RacerX I've never been a great shredder lol...but yes like everyone else I love me some 80's lol...maybe cuz I'm 47?

 

[Aristocat]

It's not that I dislike 80's tunes. It's just that as a musician, I tend to loose sight of the next thing. Like, my right hand has always been a weak point in terms of consistency (wicked fast alternate picking). So I've worked on that for six months now. I never really learned arpeggios or the harmonic minor system, so I decided to work on that for last three months.

By no means are the above perfect. But for now, I've progressed as a player. I think I got really lost in an amalgam or tone stalking, gear and life.

At this point, I want my old AC30 back and to work on some tasty licks.

 

[ibenhad]

I say listen to song structures. Guitar players always want to wank. Great songs aren't about guitar and wank they are about structure. Hell even non structure but they are memorable. I love shredders but do they do much stuff that people walk around humming to? Not really. Personally don't care for the Beatles but they wrote some catchy stuff. Just saying take your guitar hat off and look at music from other view points. The other thing typical guitarists tend to want to do is fill all dead space (overplay) with something. Sometimes nothing (dead air) says so much more. One last thing is take some lessons from a classical or jazz teacher and learn some new techniques. Best of luck 30+ years of rut and I still play and love it. Being ADHD makes it so much more fun, NOT! But what the hell. You want me to learn what? HAHA

 

[scottburrow]

Try truefire.com or one of the other learning websites and learn a different style. Try to apply it to your current style. Grow as a musician. I'm 47 and I try to learn something new everyday, or at least every week.

 

[Aristocat]

I say listen to song structures. Guitar players always want to wank. Great songs aren't about guitar and wank they are about structure. Hell even non structure but they are memorable. I love shredders but do they do much stuff that people walk around humming to? Not really. Personally don't care for the Beatles but they wrote some catchy stuff. Just saying take your guitar hat off and look at music from other view points. The other thing typical guitarists tend to want to do is fill all dead space (overplay) with something. Sometimes nothing (dead air) says so much more. One last thing is take some lessons from a classical or jazz teacher and learn some new techniques. Best of luck 30+ years of rut and I still play and love it. Being ADHD makes it so much more fun, NOT! But what the hell. You want me to learn what? HAHA

What kills me is that I moved to FL for an internship so I'm so isolated for everything right now. Back in NC, I had an incredible instructor (who actually was a Classically trained guitarist) who blew my mind and opened things up from me. I wouldn't have come as far as I have in the past four months had I not taken lessons with him.

As far as lessons now, I work 50+ hours while finishing my last year at University. Oh, and I'm saving for an engagement ring.

 

[sytharnia1560]

Maybe get outside the whole 6 string thing and listen to horn players like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker or Coltrane.
Or violin like Jean Luc Ponty.

this is what I do, stop listening to guitar music all together and mainly listen to baroque era

 

[metalmaniac93]

Listen to some Jazz like old Miles Davis or some Coltrane. So much other music out there, but will always be hard rock/metal for me!! Pick up some Jazz instructional books or DVDs or get basic to basics like the blues!!

 

[spirit7]

Just put on Red, Larks Tongues in Aspic, Discipline, Beat or Three of a Perfect Pair by King Crimson and revel in the Fripp/Belew/Bruford/Wetton majesty.

-C

 

[Greazygeo]

The main ones….

Uli Roth….anything really

Greg Howe….anything

violin solos….i just pick up random violin music books, open them up and work them out….you can do the same with really any other instrument, clarinet, sax etc….

John Lord's keyboard solos…..or any cool keyboard lines.

Larry Carlton….

anything that is jazz but not guitar players.

 

[sivad]

Alice in Chains Devil put dinosaurs here cd is pretty cool--got me tuning down and laid back

 

[datriani]

Check out Jimmy Herrings solo stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hkC6Rd88uA

He's got a very unique approach that's pretty linear with solid jazz influence that's kind of like Guthrie Govan but less shredding and technique. His interviews and instructional lessons online are great and informative. He seems like a very humble guy who's carved out his niche and style.

Greg Howe is another monster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqa_PMh0Xgw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFzsubukigM

Greg and Jimmy's jazz approach to rock takes me out of my comfort zone and although I'm not looking to cop their style and learn their songs note for note like I did with Satch and VH, it's been motivating as I try to understand their approach and work some of their stuff into my own style.