I am not hitting a wall, in fact I have been writing a couple of things that sound pretty cool. I am having trouble writing certain parts for songs, but this seems to be a symptom of larger problem I have. It is difficult to describe, and certainly sounds crazy. The best way I can put it in words is:

I don't like the style of music I write.

Most of you have heard my recent stuff, some of you have even collaborated on it. I don't think it is bad, but if my songs were written by someone else, I am pretty confident I wouldn't really dig it. Maybe it is due to my stress level (high), but I feel like my songs always end up way more aggressive than I intend. Maybe I need to stop using my supah-fuzz for a while and get back into the cleaner toanes. Maybe I need to go back to trying to write simpler stuff.

Shit, the annoyingly simple background music I made for my wife's video is probably one of my favorite pieces as of late, and took me about an hour to compose tops.

I don't feel like I am being overly self-critical, as I said I think the stuff is decent-to-good. Has anyone else gone through this? Am I just crazy?


My money is on crazy.

Edit: I think I am going to start learning songs by my favorite artists (something I have always avoided for some strange reason) and hopefully that my focus my inspiration in the right direction.

If you figure it out, let me know. I have been writing music i don't like for a while now.

And if I remember correctly you also avoid learning songs by people you like.

Something along the lines of you like to keep their little tricks a mystery?

Truefacts. I am impossibly picky though, because i *also* don't want to sound very much like anything i like.

I figure that eventually something will crack: either i will start enjoying what i write, or i will just let go, start trying to copy what i like, and in failing at it, find the thing i am looking for?

I need something to make me want to make proper noise again anyhow. Lately i feel like i am almost only trying to keep myself busy/producing. In a way, i don't know that i should be surprised that i am not that into what has been coming out. I think i need more of a reason, other than the compulsive need to build things coupled with the self-applied implication that failure to do so would amount to a complete failure to be a useful person right now.

Like, perhaps i have developed the wrong type of desperation, to build anything that could ever be expected to be what i would consider solid.

I also feel like I am trying to make my relatively simple songs more complex for complexity sake.

I should stop that.

Working a double today.

Printed out a bunch of tabs for my favorite modest mouse and sonic youth songs.

Brought my guitar and shit-box amp to work.

I'm gonna learn me some music.














Also, based on my "LOL IMA HIPSTAH" style of playing, any other suggestions for bands that might help develop my ability a bit. I already plan on learning more Beatles songs (they were actually one band I did bother to study), probably some Smiths (guitar and bass), and probably some stuff by The Cure. I might also try my hand at some Smashing Pumpkins.

I think I have finally cracked. I just want to be able to enjoy the shit I am writing.

As absolutely silly as this sounds (I feel silly typing it), have you considered starting a blog or something along those lines? I could see you creating a pretty awesome DIY blog, maybe one specifically geared towards musicians? You have the skills, the know-how and most importantly you can explain things well. Plus you can throw up some Google ads or something and maybe make some spare dough. You could probably start it one Tumblr and go from there. Shit, if I still had my site hosted I'd throw up another domain for you, but alas. You could probably post links to your stuff on HCFX, those guys seem less douchey and would probably be interested in such a thing. It might also open the door to do some custom builds or mods for folk (something I know you are bit uncertain about). I'm sure a few of us Maplitonians will be wanting some stuff built that you can document and use as material. Despite all that, it might be a nice way to focus some of that energy.

I've had the "writing music I don't really like" thing for ages

Good to know I'm not the only one.

Maybe this is why musicians commonly use drugs.

It's odd because I still enjoy putting together my tunes, but the last 3 I've written have been pretty generic pop-rocky sounding. I'm trying to embrace it but I wish I could write something more interesting.

Drugs don't help either If anything they make it worse.

This is most likely true (drugs)


I've actually just recently quit smoking teh budz, so maybe that will help bring about something a bit more interesting. Also, sooooo much extra cash in hand.

Take a break for a week or a month.

Hmmm, not a bad idea. I might dedicate the next month or so to working on my technique and other instruments, then give writing a crack again.

I am learning some Johnny Marr riffs right now, goddamn he was beast rhythm player.

I go through this also.

Learn some tunes by people you wouldn't normally listen to.

While I was a fan of some old Stones I never learned any of it. I read Keith's book this year, learned me some open G with 5 strings and learned every Stones tune ever. Now, I won't write anything Stonesy, but it opened up some possibilities and cleared my mind. I approached things differently. Keefs way of writing I found was so easy... but somehow it works so well. Well for him anyway.

I've been learning a lot of CAKE recently. I love them, and listen to them all the time, but have never really gotten into learning much by them. Their guitarists (Greg Brown and later Xan McCurdy) have an awesome sense of melody. Very minimalist in their playing, they do a lot with very little. I really appreciate that.

I've also been learning Johnny Marr stuff, (a couple of Smiths songs but mostly his work with Modest Mouse) and am starting to realize how similar his style is to how I originally wanted mine to be when I started to play guitar. Coming from playing bass, I dug the guitar as a rhythm instrument that was able to take the lead when necessary. Marr does that, and does that well.

I've also been studying Thurston Moore's stuff from Sonic Youth, and his approach to guitar is really fucking unique. Outside of the ridiculous tunings he uses (probably the most aggravating part of learning his stuff, every song requires another guitar/tuning), his right hand technique is interesting. Lots of quick triplets thrown in and lots riffing in between quick chord progressions.


It is refreshing to step away from focusing on my own shit for a while, and studying some of the greats (definitely going to learn some Stones). It's not just about picking up neat little tricks, but learning a variety of approaches to a single instrument reminds me of ... well ... learning new instruments. After I picked up banjo it helped me to approach guitar differently, just like learning guitar helped my bass playing. Fuck learning piano helped with playing EVERYTHING.

Also, I have enjoyed playing guitar more in the last couple days than I have in the last couple of months, and my playing has already improved a little bit. I'm excited to see how much I can push my playing. I am also planning on starting to learn shreddy stuff (my kryptonite). My soloing and lead playing pretty much blow, and while I have never really focused on that sort of playing (I enjoy the minimalist approach), I think that might be just the thing I need.

Ok round two, I need more recommendations for stuff to learn.


Suggest me some songs/bands with good riffing. Nothing too technical, as I suck, but I wouldn't mind pushing myself and my playing a bit.

Every Time I Die is good for your rhythm playing.

Noted. They have some riffage too.

TIL I am taller than most of this forum.

Probably, seeing as you're fourteen meters tall.

Re: influences and writing, part of it, for me at least, is the context they come up in. Re-purpose things to suit your own ends. I was never one to shy away from learning stuff for fear I'd start to sound like them- what of that influence popped up- which in some cases was not much- was already there anyhow. I mostly can't be arsed to learn cover songs though.

That being said, in the days I read guitar magazines (I liked Guitar One, as it had the most lessons of the common ones ten years ago or so), I would go through and try and play everything in there I could, even poorly, just to take a stab at it, regardless of whether it was something I liked or was interested in. The more outside or peripheral stuff is fun to tamper with. Also, look into the influences of your influences.

I find it near impossible to intentionally write- or at least start writing- a song though. Ideas happen. Developing them, that I can do, but I need a starting point.

Also, on frustration with what you're writing: I spent a long time kicking myself for writing lots of metal, because I didn't really want to, but that's what I knew how to write as a guitarist. Breaking out of your stylistic box takes a while.