Comments on: How To Beat Musician’s Block

By: Big Bad Block | Robert M Brown

Big Bad Block | Robert M Brown — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:19:20 +0000

[...] do musicians. Probably a lot of other creative professions [...]

By: Has been

Has been — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:11:19 +0000

I’m trying to re-start a music project with an old guitar buddy of mine but I just can’t get motivated. I’ve played guitar since I was 14 & have played in seven different performing bands. I’m nearly 32 now and I’ve been blocked for about 4 years. I think a lot has contributed to it but mostly I’m putting it down to a loss in self confidence. Since getting married I’ve gained a bit of weight and have moved to a new country to be with my husband. I got ripped off in my last band (I’ve now learned to copy-write!) and there isn’t a large community of musicians where I live now so it’s hard to find people to jam with let alone write or perform with. I have been offered potential gigs including some potential shows at some pretty big festivals this year… But I’m super bored with my material & can find no inspiration. Thanks for sharing your stories. It’s given me a few ideas of how I might re-ignite the spark. And it’s nice to know I’m not alone! :)

By: Wolf 666

Wolf 666 — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:58:44 +0000

It really suprises me that the subject of kids has not come up at all. Since having my son a year and a half ago, I’m lucky if I get to noodle around on my guitar for 15 mins. a day. When I do play, I run through the same old stuck in a rut stuff that ended when he was born. I don’t see myself having the time and energy to actually try anything challenging for at least another year or so when my son becomes more self reliant. I guess playing is still playing and I’m keeping myself from become too rusty. But this had me thinking maybe the 15min a day I have I could work on learning new scales and chords for one week, and then try to improvise with them the next. That might just make me ready to try different challenging pieces when I finally can play more often. Thanks for this article.

By: wampus

wampus — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:02:56 +0000

its interesting reading this. i’ve had an approx.2yr block and recently came to the conclusion that i was bored with my relatively limited abilities. learning more in different areas has been helping in that aspect.
However, what i’ve found is that becoming/feeling useless within that 2 yr period has dulled my ability to create how i used to. maybe that will come along eventually, doing what im doing, but im not too sure. the sound doesn’t flow out like it did, nor do i just “hear” it within like i could before.
so, other than regaining the desire to play, if someone has any insight into musician’s block (regarding the creation of sound before a note is strummed) please share the knowledge.

By: CyberCoder

CyberCoder — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 15:37:22 +0000

I was never a real musician, I just played to play. I had a 4 track for years and would play several times a week and record for the fun of it. Then I got away from playing totally, seems I only played when my brother would visit (playing his part of his life).

Now I am like Madelman, writing helped me. My brother and I started a blog that we work on together (CybersMusic.com). We live in different states and it gives us a way to connect daily. And sure enough, I have been playing more and more again.

And subscribing to blogs like this also bring the guitar back to a daily part of my life.

Thanks Cary, great stuff !!

By: Cary

Cary — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 15:22:18 +0000

Hey, I started playing the same way myself – I had this cheap little TEAC 4-track recorder, and my best friend and I would just shut ourselves up in one of our apartments for the weekend, and record like crazy… many, many all-night recording sessions.

One of these days I’m going to convert all of those recordings over to digital, but right now they’re all shoved in a case at the top of my closet… hope they never get any water damage ;)

It’s funny you should mention blogging with your brother, because I’ve been thinking about inviting my sister, who lives out of town, to start co-blogging with me over at my iPod blog… seems like a more interactive way to stay in touch.

Thanks for chiming in you guys.

By: url

url — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 06:10:09 +0000

Hey Cary, what really struck me about your post is that I believe that as musicians we all go through the same things, and there’s something very good in talking about it. Good post; it made me think (or maybe I should practice).

By: Cary

Cary — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 01:13:44 +0000

Hehe…I couldn’t agree more about the effects of writing about music gear on a daily basis – it really makes you want to play (and own!) all of these great new instruments… it could be dangerous to your pocketbook ;)

I’m looking forward to checking out your blog. Good luck!

By: Madelman

Madelman — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 23:14:10 +0000

I also felt a musician’s block some time ago, specially when I stopped playing the bass in my last band. I didn’t touch my bass for a long time and only played the guitar from time to time, but nothing serious. I thought that I had become bored of these instruments and even bought a piano to learn to play it.

It didn’t work, I didn’t play the piano neither, I wasn’t really motivated.

What has worked for me? I have begun to write a weblog about music gadgets with my brother, and this has inspired me to start again plaing. You know, seeing all these cool gear makes you feel like playing again. I hope it lasts a long time as I’m feeling really creative now.

So, my advice is disconnect for a little while and then try to get a new perspective, this may help you a lot.