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Original message:139 days 10 hours 28 minutes ago
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Member: Zak
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I've been playing for over two years, and recently I seem to have gotten stuck. I practice all the time, but I haven't gotten any better. Lessons never seemed to help, but I could try again if that's what will work. Advice?
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Look at all the little piggies in their starched white shirts....
Reply:139 days 9 hours 25 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002
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Learn a completely different style. Pick up an acoustic or a bass for a little while. A change of scenery sometimes can do wonders.
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Reply:139 days 8 hours 54 minutes ago
Member: charles
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try reading some books even the ones you think your to good for. that always helps me
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Reply:139 days 4 hours 18 minutes ago
Member: Erk
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Whenever I've gotten into a rut, I try getting into a totally different style. Listening and playing. Usually what I do is put the drum machine on some weird pattern that I'm not familiar with and try to come up with something that fits it. Or I'll try to find riffs from people like Mozart or John Lee Hooker or whoever and fiddle with them until they sound like me.

If none of that works, I switch to booze and herb. But I'm not recomending that for you, hangovers hamper your playing.
My music recommendations:
"Nobody understands me, but my guitar."
Reply:138 days 22 hours 22 minutes ago
Member: jobabrinks
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It's a common ailment of a lot of musicians to think they are getting nothing out of their practice time. If your'e putting in the time, you'll improve, albeit subtly. Judging from the amount of time youve been playing, I'd assume when you say rut, you mean a technical plateau. One thing you could do is build your repertoire of songs that you can play at your current level, and join a band. This will have the important result of giving your practice more focus. Bands are fun too - well, sometimes...
Reply:134 days 8 hours 28 minutes ago
Member: Erk
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I couldn't agree more! Over the years I've taken lessons, gone through tons of books and videos. Yet nothing has improved my playing more than being in a band with musicians who were as good or better than I was. It will not only push you to be a better player, it will expose you to a wider range of ideas and influences.
My music recommendations:
"Nobody understands me, but my guitar."
Reply:138 days 20 hours 47 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002
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I also highly recommend checking out some videos. John Petrucci's "Rock Discipline" is on Youtube, and I really think if you just follow his suggestions you'll find yourself advancing quickly.
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Reply:138 days 19 hours 51 minutes ago
Member: eds1275
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What I do is throw on a video [or youtube has everything nowadays] of something that's like WAYYYY above my abilities. It inspires me.
Reply:133 days 8 hours 29 minutes ago
Member: Seth Stoxen
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this usually does the complete opposite for me. i try to go for something out of my range of course, but not completely unrealistic
Reply:138 days 19 hours 50 minutes ago
Member: The Rocker
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what I will say zak is that we all suffer from this problem I get realy upset about it sometimes, then I review the situation by learning some new material, ive been bogged down with theory in the past and the whole learning thing, having said this though it has opened my vocab, it takes years to learn the bastard instrument. but it is a great thing to be able to play. I love it when people come to the house when im practicing and jamming around, they all get bemused by it. playing live is another one. I hate it and I love it at the same time. when people record the gigs either audio or worse still video. you cant hide from the fact that all the learning and practise does pay off ,you just need to be persistant. Im not a great player by any stretch, but I love it and I have come to accept plateau is a fact of life. im 40 years old today hehe and when I think back to when I first started playing it amazes me that I have come this far with it. I never really had much in the way of a second wind, but guitar keeps me coming back like the guitar biotch that I am. happy 4th of july.
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Does Humour Belong in Music.
Reply:138 days 19 hours 44 minutes ago
Member: RuiOlasBrandon 's
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I'm in the same situation...
Playing with a slide on open tuning.
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Hey, I'm stupid!
Reply:138 days 18 hours 5 minutes ago
Member: Zak
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Yeah, I tried the Petrucci stuff and really liked it. I'm planning on buying an acoustic guitar anyway so I can take it with me when I go to camp in Tennessee, but I'm not sure about the whole changing styles thing. I already play pretty much everything I can get my hands on, so what can I do? Pick up flamenco or something? (And that was not meant to be taken seriously, friends)
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Look at all the little piggies in their starched white shirts....
Reply:134 days 8 hours 25 minutes ago
Member: Erk
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544
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I wish I could play Flamenco.

The truth is, no matter what style you play there will always be something in another style that you can use and make it your own.
My music recommendations:
"Nobody understands me, but my guitar."
Reply:138 days 18 hours ago
Member: charles
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144
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this might be really lame but sometime back i wrote up an RPG type thing where i get exp for practicing different things and i would set goals for myself. not only did it help me be honest with my practicing but i would get a lot don trying to meet the goals and i always felt like i was moving forward because of going up levels.

that might not work for you but the idea of finding your own thing that works might be what you need to do.
maybe skip the Rpg and just think of a list of goals
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Reply:138 days 17 hours 50 minutes ago
Member: Zak
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That makes a lot of sense, aside from being really out there, hah. Good idea, charles.
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Look at all the little piggies in their starched white shirts....
Reply:138 days 16 hours 34 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002
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that's actually a weird but interesting idea. I could be a Level 47 minstrel with 40m gold and the Stratocasterius of Hendrixium
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