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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → "Breaking out of" this Rut!
I may have to try that JohnTB. 
I'm a visual person, so I like to associate notes with a color. That's probaly why I don't like reading sheet music, it's black and white. But when I hear something on the radio, I can imagine what chords is the key or root, and where it goes from there. Sort of like how red turns brown when you mix green into it. Hard to explain. 
I also hear songs on the radio and associate certain notes to songs I can already play. I can now learn songs without even needing a guitar. lol
Ear training is so underrated... Music in a hearing art... If you can hear properly ( as in listen to things and decipher them quite accurately from records, the radio, TV... ), everything starts sounding a lot more natural to you and you tend to gain a whole lot of freedom that wasn't there before.
Also learn the modes and how they relate to the main major and minor scales as well as the pentatonic scales. You'll be able to conjure up "modal moods" at will and that is a great way to get out of improvisational dead-ends...
Here's an article I wrote that might help you.
There's a missing picture in the article, but it shouldn't be a problem really...
Here's a couple of Threads that may be of use to you. Hope you enjoy them!
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1778
And:
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11048
And:
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8439
Budda: Funny, I was just checking out that first thread about an hour ago. Thanks! I'll check out the others!
Chris: Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely look into learning more about how scales relate with modes and such! (Never learned a *ton* of theory. I'll feel much more comfortable once I do)
NPB: Wish I could learn without a guitar 
I guess it just takes a long tiem of play? 
NPB: Wish I could learn without a guitar
ALSO
Jam along to NPR, the Weather Channel, commercials - I make it like a game. Always have a guitar in your lap.
Oh - and give up or just spend less time in video games if you play them. Spend the same amount of time playing guitar. Video games are fun, but they suck of a lot of quality time you could be learning and getting better playing guitar.
NPB: I used to be a Counter Strike: Souce addict I don't play much anymore, guitar's taking that up. 
Jamming to the weather channel sounds fun, I'm seriously going to try that tomorrow morning. Most excellent idea
Status Update One of the open jams says they don't mind minors, as long as accompanied by a Parent. Hopefully I'll head out there this Sunday or maybe next.
Looks like it's on this Sunday! I'm really feeling the whole bitter-sweet blues here lately (Kinda depressed about something, but hey, gives me musical substance ), so hopefully I'll be able to pour that out through playing. I'll let you guys know how it goes
Looks like it's on this Sunday! I'm really feeling the whole bitter-sweet blues here lately (Kinda depressed about something, but hey, gives me musical substance
Good stuff you will have a blast!!
Definitely had a blast Lot of talent there, though I didn't see any guest guitarists for the 2.5 hours I was there. Great singers showed up, and some guy who's apparently pretty big around here and did a show at a blues festival over in France (Roland Johnson - Anyone ever heard of him?). All in all cool stuff! Hopefully I'll play next time. I was more scoping out music style and skill level with this visit, and getting my bearings. Next time I'll hopefully go up
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → "Breaking out of" this Rut!
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