Writer’s Block is pretty much the worst, most frustrating thing on the planet. We’ve all felt it. As a musician, graphic designer, and editor for Wired Guitarist, I’ve been struck with Writer’s (Creative) Block more times than I’d like to admit. Sometimes, it takes more than just waiting it out to overcome a lack of creativity.

Use these 6 tips to try to keep your brain in it’s best performing shape!

1. Take a Break From Music

This might sound a bit counter-intuitive, but taking a short break from thinking about music or anything at all can make a positive impact on your brain.

If I’m stuck on a guitar riff, I just can’t stop thinking about it till I get it resolved. It often helps me to totally remove the idea from my mind so I can come back at it with a fresh start. Leave your guitar in it’s case and go do something. Go for a run, visit a park, enjoy some nature. Disconnect yourself from what you’re working on and let your brain reset. The idea is that when you finally go back to what you were doing, your brain can jump in with fresh ideas. This does wonders for me.

2. Express Yourself

Music isn’t the only way to express yourself.

Engaging in an art form or activity outside of your usual medium is a great way jump start some creative energy. Try drawing, painting, sculpting, photography, or even cooking (my personal favorite).

Regardless of the activity you go with, just have at it. Feel no pressure to create a masterpiece. No pressure equals no stress..You’ll be surprised how cathartic it is.

3. Expand Yourself

Sometimes it’s easy to be a bit narrow minded.

If you’re writing a metal album and are looking for inspiration, it only makes sense to listen to a bunch of metal. Right?

It couldn’t hurt, but it will most certainly hurt to ignore other styles of music entirely. All music is related in one way or another. I’d strongly urge anyone and everyone to expand their musical taste and take inspirations from all genres of music.

You’d be surprised how much inspiration you may draw from a rapper, big band track or even a classical piece.

4. Challenge Yourself

Sometimes, staying creative is more than just writing music. It is also about challenging your brain.

Here’s a few examples:

Learn a song outside of your comfort zone: If you’re a metal player, try a jazz or blues song.

Do something outside the box: Try writing something “heavy” in a Major Tonality.

Work on your Chops: Try to learn a song or technique that’s just slightly “too hard” for you.

If you aren’t sure what to try, check out our Shred Lesson Videos and expand those chops!

5. Lose The Guitar

Sometimes, your hands can inhibit your brain’s ability to be creative.

If your hands aren’t cooperating, put the guitar down and hum some tunes in your head (or play on another instrument). If you come up with anything neat, try to figure it out on the guitar.

I’ve actually written a bunch of really great riffs without the use of a guitar.

On another note…

If you have a day that you’re feeling particularly creative and don’t have a guitar with you, record a voice memo on your phone and hum any ideas that randomly pop in your head. You may look silly as hell, but at least you’ll have a great idea for when you pick up your guitar next!

6. Sound Inspiring

This one many seem obvious, but it needs to be mentioned!

A crappy guitar tone can make the best guitarist in the world feel uninspired. If you haven’t, set a day aside and just work on your tone, rather than trying to write! You’d be surprised how much better you sound and how much more creative you are if you spend some more time dialing in your tone!

Check out our Guide to Dialing in a Heavy Guitar Tone if you want some guidance!

 

We hope you enjoyed this article! If you did, make sure to check out more, because we upload new reviews, technical articles, lessons, and more daily!

Also, we are a dealer for many beloved brands such as PRS, Ibanez, Mayones, Schecter, ESP, and more! Feel free to stop by our shop and we can help you find the right guitar for you at the best price possible.

This article was written by Zac Buras, our editor located in Louisiana

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