Feels like...

[MrBud]

Feels like i'm on the outside looking in.. writer's block?  [hate that saying..not sure id i believe it]
Not sure how to proceed...that way for weeks/months ?  Seems...Gone.. ?
Anyone else been here/there ?

[IanR]

There are lots of threads on this.

Search for "mojo"  :-)

But if it's empathy you need, then I feel for you.  It seems to strike everyone.

One of the things I do is "just keep playing".  Doesn't matter how bad you do it, just keep going.  You will come through.

Ian

[AndyR]

I find there's two ways that work for me.

One, like IanR, is "just keep playing". But it might depress me even further before it works (and it does, in the end).

The second, I've only learnt in recent years: "Oh sod it, who cares? Music shouldn't rule me this much ...". I stop and do something else for a while. Couple of weeks later, I'm back writing songs, enjoying my guitars, etc.

As I get older, this second solution seems to be more effective. Sadly, NO WAY would I have accepted it as a solution when I was younger, though!

[fenderbender]

Just keep playing
I always go back to basics-it will pass

good luck


Tommy

[ODH]

Just keep playing, just keep listening, make connections, don't force it.

Make a coffee or something

[Geir]

Try doing some covers ... or learn a new instrument ... or try some weird alternate tuning on your guitar ....... if non of that helps .... do as Andy says ... take a break ... try painting or climb a mountain .....

It'll come back

[Greeny]

It's very frustrating to finally get some music / writing time to yourself but find that nothing is arriving. The chords sound dead, and your mind is a barren wasteland where nothing can grow.

It just goes like this sometimes. And I've been there many times myself.

As Geir says, it can be inspiring to write on a different instrument - a uke, mandolin or cigar box guitar etc. Or learn a strange new chord. New chords always give me 3 or so new songs!

Or sometimes you just have to leave it for a bit. After a couple of weeks of downtime you'll have your appetite and mojo back.

I've not quite been 'on it' recently. Too much other shit to battle with. I was waiting for the gas man to arrive a couple of days ago, so had 15 minutes with my guitar. I was just noodling to pass the time, and a riff arrived. A new, magical Am7 descending riff that was so simple, and I couldn't believe that I hadn't come up with it before. Writing block over... a new song that feels like a 'special one' to me. Right out of nothing. If I'd tried to force something it wouldn't have happened. The muse is stubborn like that... !

We're with you, brother. Solidarity!

[MrBud]

What i've done for several years now,is running,,,many miles,helps generally and i've never had a "bad" run..
Lightens the mood considerably,,
When entrenched in music/writing previously,i could stay in there for days working on something,and miss
more than anything hearing/and feeling -deeply- other's music,,favorite songs,other artists.

Occasionally a song will break through the fog and get me really inspired again,believing -anything is possible-still.
I recently had a conversation with someone about the total magic of writing something out of the blue,,I was saying i could only imagine the day when Freddy Mercury walked into the studio on a ho- hum day,and tells the guys "Hey,i've got this new song.." And on that day lays out "Bohemian Rhapsody" in front of them--The reaction must have been priceless..Gold delivered out of the blue,from nothing more than an idea...in a day.
I guess that possibility keeps my ears/heart open,and i appreciate the advice i've received here,
and will just bide my time,let it pass,and move on,, Try to transcend all of life's " issues" when i can,,,and write.
Thank's very much.   George.