Something From Something
You know things on the guitar. Maybe it’s a scale you’ve played countless times. Or maybe it’s a song or a chord progression you’ve used for years. It might even be a picking pattern that you could play in your sleep. That’s a great feeling, but it gets even better when you start getting creative with those things!
When you’re ready to take a break and blow your own mind, set aside some private time to play around on your guitar, with fun being your only objective. (I don’t recommend doing this if someone is within earshot!) Begin playing something you know, then start taking chances with it. Keep playing non-stop, moving further from what you know and deeper into whatever emerges. You can’t make mistakes with this—it’s play time! Think “reckless abandon.” Give yourself permission to drop all inhibitions, be adventuresome, and make some noise!
Ideas to Get Started
You’ll probably make some new discoveries when you allow yourself this kind of freedom with your guitar, and you’ll end the session feeling lighter and looser than when you started. If the idea is appealing but seems intimidating, try using the following prompts:
- Can you play any of the chords in different places?
- Can you find interesting sounds using only two or three strings? Try moving them up and down the fretboard.
- What happens when you change the tuning on one or more strings?
- Go crazy with your strumming! Stop time, double time, loud, soft—pretend you’re a drummer.
- Use an open bass string (maybe re-tune it?) as a drone.
- Coax unfamiliar sounds from the body or strings of your guitar.
- Combine or transition between two or more songs or chord progressions.
- Vary the tempo of a song—or even the time feel!
