How did you get out of a mental rut?

[C0UNT3RP01NT]

So I picked up a job at the very beginning of this year that placed me in the middle of nowhere. I had to leave my band, and I couldn’t really join a new one because of the hours and the fact that this job has me bounce to some place new every year or so. I’ve been pretty much left a bedroom player. Most of my stuff is sitting in a storage unit back home, but I did take the effort to bring out my Diezel VHX and a guitar. It’s a lot of amp for a bedroom, but I figured I could really hone in over this year and get even better…

That didn’t happen. I barely touched the instrument at first, but then I started to force myself to do so, and it keeps feeling like I can never get the tone right. It feels like I can’t get the sound I used to love, and the things that used to frustrate me seem ever present. Outside of the tone, I’ve been feeling very repetitive, with a routine that has kept me stagnant. Every time I try to shake it up and maybe learn something new, I lose the motivation.

It’s been this comedown from what was a really solid musical environment to absolutely nothing outside of myself. My band and I had access to this warehouse in the middle of nowhere where we could all just really let loose and play as loud and as long as we’d like. There was a scene with lots of different musicians and bands where we could all drop in and jam with each other. There was a lot of organic inspiration for me previously. Now I’m in an apartment with a roommate where I have to keep it down, and nobody to play with either. There’s barely any venues here as well.

It’s kind of like musical depression? I say that because outside of this I’m doing pretty great, my life is good, I’m not actually depressed. But with this… I’m kind of sad and frustrated that something I’ve put in thousands of hours into and grown to love over the 11 years has kind of withered away. I don’t know whether I should change up my style and get a different amp and guitar. I don’t know if I should start practicing different styles. I’m kind of lost on this. Has anybody else gone through something similar, and then gotten out of it?

 

[Exo-metal]

Learn something thoroughly that you do not understand.

 

[japetus]

Download fruity loops for free and make shitty beats and just play behind it. It's what I do

 

[cobrahead1030]

I got into a similar place a few years ago. Covid put an end to my old band, the death of our drummer put an end to the next one, and new job was just making it hard to find the desire.

Gear-wise I finally embraced lower wattage amps. I still kept my big gigging rigs as I hope to use them again someday.

I also put together a little pedalboard for the first time in years. This gave me a way to explore some new sounds & textures without spending stupid money doing so. On days that I wasn’t feeling the gain on my little mark v, I’d engage a dirt pedal or two & soak in delay to have something that felt different.

Also, I pretty much forced myself to play daily again. Even if it was 10 minutes of uninspired noodling, after a month or two my hands started working more like I remember they used to. After a while, I got to a point that once I started playing I’d usually want to keep going.

 

[RaceU4her]

i would start recording, im sure that VHX has a usb to record direct.

 

[Robostyle]

Learn something thoroughly that you do not understand.

This has helped me in the past as well.

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

I'm trying to psych myself up to start recording again. Setting some goals usually helps me.

Keeping myself accountable is where the trouble starts.

 

[stratjacket]

Sounds like you just miss interacting and playing music with others. Why not try to start an online band or take lessons with Techdeth on here, he does live video. Not saying you need lessons but maybe the live interaction while learning something new may be good for you.

 

[C0UNT3RP01NT]

Yeah honestly my motivation has been in the toilet. This is the first time I’ve felt like I hit an external setback (kinda sorta in a way)?

Ever since I picked up the guitar, I had these clearly obvious natural goals. I want to play this and I want to sound like this…

Well I kinda got there, and then fell into playing with others. That stimulated me for years.

Now I’m in a position where I’m not gonna have a band anytime soon. Hell I don’t even have the same vistas I used too, ones I used to inspire the imagination.

So now I’m just trying to recreate the feeling I had without the same stimuli, or create new ones and frankly there really hasn’t been anything recently to jump start new inspiration.

On the bright side, I’m not moving back to where I was, but I am moving back very shortly for a position that’s gonna put me around my girlfriend and family. My girlfriend and I have never played together, but she’s a classically trained pianist and violinist. There might be something there for me (and her).

 

[guitarded_1]

If you don't own a good tele - buy a good tele and write with that. You might be surprised at how many pro guitar players (really heavy ones) don't play teles for their day jobs, but constantly grab one at home. I second the suggestion of pulling up drum loops for inspiration. If you don't use cannabis products, dabble with some and play. If you do already use cannabis, then it probably won't be much of a lift to you. Listen to music that you don't normally listen to, and don't just listen to it, listen inside it. Bowie, Jeff Beck, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, whatever. Don't reach too hard for the muse. Set the mood, invite her in, and let her speak to you. Once you learn to do that, she'll usually arrive with gifts. It sounds goofy, but spend more time setting up creative circumstances and listening to what comes across in your imagination vs. trying to bend the instrument to your will. Good luck!

 

[thegame]

Take up schizophrenia as a hobby

 

[Robostyle]

Can you somehow connect with your old band remotely and try to play with them that way?
Obviously not the same thing but it seems like with modern technology it might be possible?

 

[Techdeth]

Yeah honestly my motivation has been in the toilet. This is the first time I’ve felt like I hit an external setback (kinda sorta in a way)?

Ever since I picked up the guitar, I had these clearly obvious natural goals. I want to play this and I want to sound like this…

Well I kinda got there, and then fell into playing with others. That stimulated me for years.

Now I’m in a position where I’m not gonna have a band anytime soon. Hell I don’t even have the same vistas I used too, ones I used to inspire the imagination.

So now I’m just trying to recreate the feeling I had without the same stimuli, or create new ones and frankly there really hasn’t been anything recently to jump start new inspiration.

On the bright side, I’m not moving back to where I was, but I am moving back very shortly for a position that’s gonna put me around my girlfriend and family. My girlfriend and I have never played together, but she’s a classically trained pianist and violinist. There might be something there for me (and her).

Not just selling my lessons but my main job is motivating people to play more and learn new things . Motivation can learned as well

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Only requirement for membership is to be above ground & breathing.

 

[Chris6870]

I feel for you. I am kind of in the same headspace since my band and gigs ended last year.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Glue has always worked for me....

Buuuut seriously folks, writing and recording on multiple instruments has always been my creative outlet, almost from the very beginning. I used to trigger a drum machine live for demos, but one of the best musical things I've ever done was getting a full kit and teaching myself to play it (electronic is fine). Made me a better guitarist too by forcing me to think more about locking into the groove (and specifically the bass drum) more than before. I usually start with guitar ideas first, but drums can steer the song at times. I enjoy playing drums far more than bass actually, but you can't have a great (or even good) song until both of those are nailed first. Even bought a synth and taught myself to play backing chords or soundscapes with various patches. Keys can heavily influence song ideas, even though they are in the background for me.

As for motivation, it comes from inspiration. And you have to write about either what you know or what you want to know (captures your imagination). Sometimes you have to step away from music to experience life, can be travel or other hobbies. I did this for over a year in the early 2000s when I was feeling creatively drained the then "current" music scene was full of suckage to my ears. Came back loving guitar and music more than ever........and I no longer care about what is "current".

It's tough to write new songs (for those who do) and you've only got so many good ones in you in a lifetime. One of my favorite things is to do obscure covers, often slightly reimagined with some of my style or extended like the original bands might do in concert with some improv. This helps you learn "what makes this song so great?".

 

[RaceU4her]

Sometimes life happens and interests and priorities change, i look at dates i upload music and sometimes there’s six months between where I barely picked up an instrument in that time, then there’s times like the last couple weeks where im playing hookie from work to sit home all day and night to work on things. thinking you need to force yourself to do something you're just not feeling at the moment i feel can lead to even more burnout

 

[Beyond Black]

The obvious solution is to quit your job and move into your old jam spot.

 

[Geo]

A new toy usually gets my juices going again.

 

[Frehley12]

Try listening to "new" music. Maybe you will find a band that can get your juices flowing. This has happened to me. As a teenager I didn't get into Iron Maiden. But in my 30s I did. Then in my 40s, got into Accept, Loudness, UFO, WASP, Krokus. Yes, I "regressed" that was because I couldn't stand the current day music. I still can't. (Even Metallica's last 2-3 albums. My genre is 70s/ 80s/early 90s rock, metal etc. I'll be 52 soon. That music makes me feel like a kid. Better late than never! A lot of bands I am into were introduced to me by my friends. "Hey check this band out!" Inserts cassette into car tape player and cranks it. Ohh those good times!