Since I was 14, my main outlet in life has been music. I started playing percussion at an early age, picked up the guitar, piano, violin, cello, bass and was bored enough my senior year of high school to start learning how to play the clarinet, (short lived.)

For the past 3 months or so music has become... I don't know what else to call it other than way too predictable. I've studied music theory for 4 and a half years or so, looking into things like analysis, part writing, counterpoint and applications of theory in jazz and blues. It seems like everything I listen to now I can predict the chord changes, modulations and things like time signature/tempo changes, (I listen to a lot of prog music, so it's pretty commonplace for shifts in meter.) I've been trying to seek out new bands or obscure classical compositions, (some of Bhrams earlier work, the Lord of the Rings symphony by Johann DeMejj) to sit and analyze, but it's not enough. I have nothing new to inspire me, thus putting me in a rut of sorts, I've been grasping for straws trying to apply new ideas to my own compositions, I've been listening to a lot of improv sessions I've taped in the past couple of weeks, (piano and guitar.) It's getting to the point where I didn't even notice I had been playing in the same key at the end of each session- usually C minor. This level of "comfortableness" bothers me, and I'm not really sure what I should do about it. =/

Anyone have any ideas? Any music geeks wanna throw some random music theory stuff at me to maybe get my brain thinking in a different perspective?

Any ideas are welcome. lol

Wow man, I can so relate to that, i've been playing guitar for 5 years now, and listening to metalcore for 2, and I can predict all the chords. haha.

I have no idea man, just try different things, try out different types of music on your guitar for example. I've been playing for so long now I can play everything I hear by ear =p.

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Yeah, I have perfect pitch.

I sit and transcribe full orchestra scores out of boredom. heh

I only wish I could do that.

the best music is not played, but felt. take an emotion your feeling and try and put it into musical words.

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75WHM / 37SMN / 61BLM / 37RDM / 70BRD / 75NIN / 75RNG / 56THF / 37WAR / 37DRG http://www.myspace.com/dan_wyld

get drunk?

Yeah SS, I remember you telling me on AIM that you were never in a band, you should make one with friends. It's a great way to express feelings.

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I used to play guitar for about 6 years. Gave it up though. Mainly, because I sucked at it, and I wasn't having fun playing it anymore. I find it more enjoyable to listen to music then to play it. Never got big into theory but had fun writing songs with friends. Always could make up better stuff with buddies. If your in a rut, try changing your suroundings. Listen to music outside in a park, someplace different the the normal. Listening to new music was always good. Try styles that arn't the norm. And if all else fails, do drugs :D :D


Some bands that I suggest, that arn't to well know that have a little different style are Jets to Brazil, Sunny day realestate, at the drive in.

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I'm just a question knowing my answer,
hope I'm wrong.

well, whenever i've hit creative ruts in the past i've looked to friends and peers who had more talent than me and hung out with that person and watched them work.. it almost always worked. but in your case you sound like some freak musical mad scientists.. so that might be impossible.. still if you can't look at someone who's better than you, at least look at people's who's ideas inspire you.. also don';t be afraid to take time away from it.. explore a different creative avenue, or hang out with friends.. do something to get away from it for a bit, that way when you pick it up again it's sorta new and interesting.. well that's all i got, good luck with your block

BTW, you can be in a good band that comes out of Iowa, and not a terrible nu-metal. *coughslipknot*

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compose *cough*

i've been playing the violin for about 8-9ish years, sax for 4ish, and i can find my way around the piano for tuning purposes, but i haven't had any in depth formal training in regards to theory etc.. because of the lack of a music program at my high school. whenever i get bored with the violin, which rarely happens, i like to chill with some radiohead or recordings of itzhak.

i have just recently discovered a contemporary composer by the name of max richter. i'd suggest that you check his stuff out if you have not heard of him already.

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OMG!

I do compose. lol

I've done my share of score study ranging from classical to contemporary periods. I studied Bach like... exclusively my first year of theory, (good and simple for analysis purposes,) and moved on through the reniassance, romantic, post-romantic, impressionist and comtemporary periods. I really got into impressionism... it's just really hard to analyze, not to mention being taught all these part writing rules, (parallel 4th, 5th and octaves, melodic augmented seconds, etc.) looking at some of Debussy's work just make me want to claw my eyes out. Aurally, the dissonance, (chromatic passing tones, tritones,) is enough to entertain my head for a while, but even then after a while it gets boring.

My problem with composing is that I have a hard time staying in one key. Apparently I've been playing/listening to too much progressive, (Dream Theater, Rush)

Here's how my head works, trying to do a simple progression (I just sat down and wrote this out as I played it.) Hopefully at least Devrim knows what I'm talking about.

Cmaj Em7 Fmaj G7 // (phrase breaks) Am Dm7 Esus4 E7 // Fmaj G13 G#dim7 Am9 // A#m7b5 B7 D#dim Emaj.

So... in four phrases (16 bars) I've modulated from C major to A minor to E major. It's not an uncommon modulation or anything, but I was trying to keep it simple. >.>