How To Develop Creativity In Your Guitar Playing - Part 1

Introduction

Many guitarists find themselves struggling to express their creativity despite being comfortable with the technical aspects of playing. This often results in music that sounds stiff, uninspired, or lacking in originality. If this resonates with you, this article will help you identify the root causes of this issue and provide steps to enhance your creative expression.

The Common Struggle

It's a common question: "How can I become a more creative guitar player?" Overcoming this challenge requires time and effort, and working with a skilled teacher can significantly expedite the process. For guidance on selecting a teacher, refer to How To Choose A Guitar Teacher.

Identifying the Root Causes

Most musicians experience periods of feeling uncreative or uninspired. The key to overcoming this lies in understanding that the issue is not a lack of creativity as a person but rather a lack of mastery over fundamental musical skills. Here are some common factors that contribute to this problem:

Music Theory Issues

1. Fretboard Familiarity: Not knowing your fretboard well enough to play without thinking.
2. Key Memorization: Not having memorized all the notes in the key(s) you're working with.
3. Chord Knowledge: Not knowing what notes are in what chords.
4. Consonance and Dissonance: Not understanding which notes are consonant or dissonant and how to control dissonance.

Aural Skills (Ear Training) Issues

1. Listening Skills: Not listening closely enough to recognize consonance and dissonance.
2. Aural Control: Not knowing how to use and control dissonance aurally.
3. Predictive Hearing: Not knowing what notes and chords will sound like before you play them.
4. Emotional Function: Not being able to understand the emotional function of each pitch in a scale and a chord by ear.

Guitar Technique Issues

1. Physical Technique: Not having enough physical technique developed to be creative.
2. Technique Control: Not knowing how or when to control your technique.
3. Mental Focus: Thinking too much about what your hands can do instead of what you want them to do.

Overcoming These Challenges

If you identify with any of the above issues, focus on addressing them. These skills are essential for creativity and expression on your instrument. The human mind can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, but the more tasks it handles, the harder it becomes to excel at any of them. To be truly creative and expressive, you need to free up as much mental energy as possible.

Advanced Creative Techniques

Once you have a good grasp of basic musicianship skills, you can delve deeper into the creative aspects of playing and writing music.

Drawing Inspiration from Other Art Forms

I often find my most creative musical ideas come from non-musical sources. For example, I once analyzed the process of stone sculpture, where the artist removes material to create art, unlike music or painting, which are additive processes. This concept of "destructive creation" inspired new ways for me to write music.

Using Storyboards for Music Composition

Another technique I adopted came from watching a Disney movie. The filmmakers used storyboards to communicate ideas clearly. I applied this method to my music composition, charting out non-musical ideas (emotions, thoughts, experiences) to better organize my creative process. This approach helped me stay focused and achieve the desired emotional impact in my music.

Conclusion

Thinking about what you want to express before writing the music can significantly enhance your creativity. While this method may be new to some, it offers a structured approach to composing music that can be beneficial regardless of your skill level.

Interesting Stats

• Creativity and Practice: According to a study by the University of Cambridge, musicians who practice creative exercises regularly are 25% more likely to produce original compositions (source).
• Ear Training Benefits: Research from the Berklee College of Music shows that students who engage in ear training exercises improve their improvisational skills by 30% (source).

By addressing the fundamental skills and exploring new creative processes, you can unlock your full potential as a guitarist and express yourself more freely through your music.