Stuck in a rut!!!

[MondoMarcus]

Hey guys... I have been browsing this forum for a day or so, and it seems you all have some really fantastic advice for players who are sub-par as far as technique and ability goes.
I'm into classic rock stuff like Sammy Hagar era Van Halen, and I really want to play like Eddie. Not like him exactly. But I love his rythym skills and the harmony and emotion he puts into his solos more than his speed.
My question is this:
I'm really stuck in a rut right now. I can't come up with anything new and exciting. My chord proggressions are weak, and when it comes to soloing I am totally lost on the fretboard and I sound more like a beluga whale than a guitar god.
How do I go about putting the same feeling and emotion into my playing as say : david gilmoure or EVH?
I'm sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but I'm short money right now, and I can't really afford lessons.
Thanks in advance!!!

[forgottenking2]

It's not a stupid question at all, and you will get yourself into a rut every once in a while (it happens to the best of us :D ) something that seems to work for me is doing something different; with a life full of routine (if you're an A.W.A. (american working adult :p ) you know what I'm taliking about) it's very easy for your music to sound stale, boring, tired, etc So I try to do something different, it can be as simple as popping a new cd into the cd player or (if I'm extremely lucky and have some more time) go out and see places, take a long walk (those are extremely effective if you want some new ideas), visit an art museum or just go out to a bar and have fun... in order to emulate emotions you have to feel them first, then they just seem to come out in your music.

Something else, listen to as much music as you can, in as many different styles as you can take (let's admit it you can't force yourself to listen to something you don't like) and listen for instruments other than guitar.

If you're blessed with the gift of sight reading (that's a nice way to put it :D ) get some saxophone lines book (I have some Charlie Parker patterns somewhere) or a piano book (Chopin Etudes? Maybe?) or whatever you like.

Go to a music store and just sit around and listen, it's not true that all you hear in there is plain wanking; I have heard some very good licks and chord progressions in music stores.

All this can be summed up in one sentence "Do something different" so just think of any other things you could do to trigger your creativity.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

[Caffeinated Cat]

Definitely do something different. I'm really into Eddie and Gilmour as well, but I also like the blues. So when I get bored practicing heavy metal and rock, I work on the blues for a while. If I'm just working on songs, I switch to working on technique, and visa-versa. Or work on rhythm playing instead of lead for a while. There are all sorts of book / CD instructional packages available, buy one that sounds interesting and work on that. Or pick up a book on theory and study that. Do some songwriting and record your stuff. That's a great way to get out of a rut. The best way to improve your chord progressions is to write a lot of them (and learn theory). Then record solos to go along with them. It's a lot of fun arranging stuff as well.

Heck, a whole world of stuff to do. No excuse to be in a rut. So why am I in one too? :D

[curiousgeorge]

Jam along to CD's or better yet, get out and JAM with a band or a good drummer. Learning to lock in with a drummer is very important and fun too! You will get lots of creative inspiration from other musicians, so try to jam as often as possible.:)

[MusicM@n]

Here`s what I do sometimes when I find myself in a rut: Jam over Satriani`s songs using only the 5 pentatonic-box patterns. :)