I'm not sure why the post on guitars and drugs was locked. It didn't seem to be out of control and it is an interesting issue. In fact it leads on to quite philosophical musings on the connection between external influences, state of mind and playing music.
While it is probably generally agreed that playing guitar in an altered state of mind is not usually beneficial towards actual technique, it can have interesting effects on creativity. Creativity is always spurred on by new external stimuli which is why people are often inspired when camping out in nature, travelling to new countries, or lying on a beach looking up at the stars. Other events can also change our point of view, allowing us to see outside our normal reality and translate this into new music - things like being dumped by your girlfriend, the death of someone close to you, political upheaval etc. Drugs can have the same effect by temporarily changing our view of reality and perhaps letting us noodle away on guitars where no one has noodled before. Drugs are certainly not the only way to get creatively inspired however.
Perhaps some of you could tell the rest of us if there are any things in particular you do to be inspired creatively (excluding drugs)? I almost always come away from seeing live bands with inspiration and new riffs in my head.
I always laughed at the start of the Tool song Third Eye from Aenima. I think it's a sample of comedian Bill Hicks but I'm not 100% sure of that. I'm putting a link here instead of the quote because it contains words and topics I probably can't post, so please don't click it if you think you'll be offended. http://chrisl.zip.com.au/aenima.html#Third
I hope I didn't stomp too badly on anyone's toes by re-raising this post, but this forum seems to be fairly mature and I thought it could handle a discussion on this topic. I don't see why we have to dance around this when music and drugs have historically had close connections with each other. For the record, although I have dabbled in various illicit substances in my time I don't recommend drugs as a pathway to creativity, and now that i'm old and grumpy I leave that stuff up to the crazy kids.
I like to get into "higher" states of mind and creativity by talking about philosophy with friends. (No mention of drugs, just philosophy)
Also, I meditate to Tool A LOT!!!! They are without a doubt my favorite band. I usually get into a really creative and calm trance after zoning in on Danny Carey's drumming. Then I pick up my guitar and let it all out, best feeling in the world.
P.S. I am listening to Tool as I post this, Parabola from the Lateralus album.
"That’s what takes place when a song is written: You see something that isn’t there. Then you use your instrument to find it."
- John Frusciante
By the way, that is Bill Hicks.
"That’s what takes place when a song is written: You see something that isn’t there. Then you use your instrument to find it."
- John Frusciante
Hey jwishart777 glad to meet you:D Actually that thread did take a ugly turn, nick just removed some of the later posts. I personally tend to be more creative when I come home from work REALLY STRESSED OUT and just start playing the heck out of first guitar I can lay my hands on. I just get into my own world, almost like a trance :shock: --the dog
Oh ok - thanks for the info Smokindog.
I'm not trying to stir anything up, I just tried to reply to that post and found it locked, which surprised me based on what I was reading in it. And I have this thing about political correctness.....in that i can't stand it!!! :)
Anyway, If this topic gets locked or shutdown, I might start another one just based on non-drug-related-ways people get creatively inspired
I'm surprised at what you wrote about coming home from work stressed - I was actually going to use that as an example of something that totally screws my creativity! Different strokes for different folks....
Anyway, If this topic gets locked or shutdown, I might start another one just based on non-drug-related-ways people get creatively inspired
How 'bout we just make this thread the non-drug-related one about creative inspiration?
I find that breaking up/falling in love with a girlfriend is an awesome way to spark your creativity and get some inspiration. No really. If you need some inspiration, go get out and fall hopelessly in love with someone.
At this time I would like to tell you that NO MATTER WHAT...IT IS WITH GOD. HE IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL. HIS WAY IS IN LOVE, THROUGH WHICH WE ALL ARE. IT IS TRULY -- A LOVE SUPREME --. John Coltrane
Thats pretty good voodoo, The Layla album ( your avatar) is all about falling in love with someone who don't love you or is married to your best friend or some variation on that theme. Its Clapton's very best work IMHO :D --the dog
I get really inspired when I go to concerts as well. I come home and I play for hours the next day. Live music is great.
I'm with Taso. Any live music really. Does not have to be a big name band. A local gig will do just fine.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
I don't know, the anti-inflammatories and beta blockers, Zoloft, Prozac, Ritalin, Atenolol, Lipitor and Ambien seem to inspire me to the very heights of creativity. I am so proud to be drug free.
I find I get in a zone when I'm really creative. It's a mental hyperfocus kind of thing. It has a similar effect to meditation.
personally im a giggly drunk
i cant play smashed. i can, however, speak German.
but ive found a drink or two loosens me up and i feel more fluid because im relaxed. i play better when im not tense, and seeing as i'm just a tense guy, i tend to flub a bit.
but the key is moderation
....I still haven't figured out how to quote people in my reply :oops:
But in reference to Sport the Trapped X's comment about happy people who take mushrooms seeing smurfs and teletubbies, I think that sounds more like a nightmare!!
For god's sake if you're happy don't take magic mushrooms :lol:
Nick, you wouldn't need 1/2 that stuff if you were not mod'ing a forum. :)
Seriously, I found myself in percocetland after some painful oral surgery last year and picked up the guitar. I figured out a part I had been struggling with for a week prior, and did it in like 30 seconds. Weird the way the mind works.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
....I still haven't figured out how to quote people in my reply :oops:
Just click on the "quote" icon located at the top right hand corner of the post in question. And a favor? If at all possible, try to trim it to just the part you want to reply to. It gets tiring to have to read someone quoting the answer to the answer to the reply to the question to the response to the original statement with each successive post. :wink:
Back on topic, I'm kind of like Smokindog in that the more I have on my mind the more creative I seem to get. It doesn't have to be a stressed out sort of thing, but it seems that the more there is to work with the more there is to create.
As the cliche goes, different strokes...
Peace
OK...just hit the Quote tab (upper right) :wink:
Edit...I see David beat me to it :D
