A guitar rut is a common feeling of guitar and music underachievement. A lack of progress and ideas. A brick wall we all hit many times along our guitar-playing journey. I’ve always found a way out, but I fear this time it could be terminal!
So what are the factors behind this terminal guitar rut, and is there a way out?
The Terminal guitar rut: Age, family, and work situation
There’s a lot to cover here, but as I’ve got older I’ve found myself with less free time, and more responsibilities. Back in my 20s and even 30s, I could be fully focussed on guitar, because I had nothing else in my life. Now I have a family and job I love who need and deserve my time and full attention.
The guitar
When I think about it, I’ve owned my Fender Player Stratocaster for 3 years now. It’s a guitar I’ve aspired to for quite some time, but what has it actually achieved for me? It features on a single recorded song: Autumn Breeze by Harson Robkus, and it’s made it to rehearsals on three failed band projects. Other than that? Its issues (and the Stratocaster’s in general) have been widely documented both here and on my YouTube channel.
Sometimes the guitar just doesn’t work out, and you need to break free from it, which is why I’m looking at the Yamaha Revstar series.
The Terminal guitar rut: Bad Band experiences
As touched on above, not everything is rosy in the world of guitar. There are a ton of negatives, especially when it comes to bands: Rejection, disrespect, having your time and money wasted, criticism, rudeness, and even flat-out abuse. There comes a time in your life when you don’t need that anymore, so you consciously or subconsciously avoid it.
Home studio setup
It’s not all about the guitars and bands though. For me, a big thing has always been songwriting and music production. In simpler times, I could knock out three songs in a week. Now? I’d be lucky to do that in a year. I think the reason is twofold: One, My 1000th song idea is never going to be as fresh as my 1st. These days, there’s always the hang-up over repetition. Also, my songwriting was a lot braver when I first started, I cared less about stuff, and just wanted to get ideas out there quickly. Second: As technology has progressed, so has my setup, to the point where I now use iPad Garageband with a Presonus iOne audio interface. It’s the best setup I’ve ever had for sound quality and convenience, but has it produced on the same level as my old BOSS BR800? No.
Result? I’m recording less, and picking up the guitar to record less.
Then, of course, there’s the whole finding the time aspect when you have kids running around. It’s more difficult to get motivated and inspired.
Getting out of the Terminal guitar rut
But work doesn’t take up my whole day, and families are understanding. If there’s a will, there’s a way. I can find the time.
Would a new guitar be the answer? I don’t think so. The Fender Stratocaster is a classic ubiquitous instrument I’ve both been with and pined for my entire life. Its flaws are known, and people get around them. Another guitar would be just another, perhaps lesser, guitar gathering dust in the cupboard. I could be wrong, but I don’t think I’m prepared to drop £600 at this stage to find out. I need to get my Strat out of the case and play it more often.
For recording. I could switch back to a DAWless studio setup. But would that get me going again or would that be a backward step into the past? I can’t blame the tools, so that’s sounding like an excuse. No, I just need to find the time and hit record.
As for the actual songwriting side? Maybe the fear of criticism has taken over. Maybe I need to throw more ideas out there more often and be brave again.
Maybe the answer lies in going back to the start, possibly learning flamenco guitar, being the child, and getting inspired again. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never found the time. I can find the time.
Concerning bands, do I simply need to get in a room with like-minded people to play music, rather than trying to shoehorn myself into something I’m not? Do I need to be in a band at all? I’ve had experience with many scenarios. Good musicians with bad people. Bad musicians with good people, and all combinations. It’s really hard to get a balance but the truth is, for me, these days, if the situation is fun, I’ll do it. If not I won’t. Simple as that. Life’s too short, and often band situations become very unfun very quickly.
All things considered, maybe this guitar rut isn’t terminal after all. All the excuses I’ve mentioned above, all those factors, The guitar, work, family, bands, studio setup, when it comes down to it, the only thing that has gotten me into a terminal guitar rut and the only thing that will get me out of it is, you’ve guessed it.
Me.