Another Day Off

Image by The Bazddha via Flickr

Part of me feels like I didn't get enough done today, even though I was able to finish a couple loads of laundry before hosting game night. I guess it is just because I didn't work on any music, which is a rarity for me lately. I also never got around to calling some people I have been meaning to call.

I will probably still pick up the guitar for a few minutes here before I go to bed, so I guess it's not a total loss. Yesterday, I had a fun practice. Instead of my usual drills and video lessons, I just picked up my guitar and jammed, playing whatever I felt like playing. I feel like you need to do this every once in a while. After all, this is why we really play the guitar isn't it? To have fun. It is good to take the chops I have been working so hard on, and just let loose and have fun. Grab my processor, and dial up some effects I don't usually use. This is also a great way to help break a song writing rut too. I came up with some really fun stuff last night that I can't wait to record. I will probably record this one riff tonight before I go to bed.

As for the people I was meaning to call, well, it's to late for that now, that will have to wait. Maybe I will just send out a couple of texts. Well, times a wasting, time to go pick up my guitar.

Song Writing vs. Guitar Playing

Image by RcktManIL via Flickr

I really want to get back into the habit of writing songs, rather than just working on my guitar playing chops. I am a bit divided on this issue however, because song writing, just like guitar playing, requires time, practice and study. Perhaps even more so.

I have been a bit reluctant to do anything that takes time away from drilling with scales, progressions and riffs on the guitar, or studying general music theory. However, I don't want to become one of those guys that can play guitar, but cant write songs.

I have to find a balance. I also have to become comfortable with the fact that I will never be as good as I want to be on guitar. I just have to keep learning, keep improving little by little, and make time for working on lyrics and trying to come up with simple catchy songs.

It helps writing with other people, that way I can show up at band practice with a riff or an idea, and other people can expand on it. Collaborating with my band mates is one of my favourite things about working with original music. At some point though, I would like to be able to show up with more than just a few incomplete riffs.

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