Genre change - advice needed

[In Absentia]

For the 15 years that I have played guitar, I have been a metal kid (31 now). However, I am really bored with the genre and want to get into new stuff. This is proving to be a difficult proposition as I don't know where to start. I am getting into more classic based music, and getting into songs that don't feature a guitar chugging. More "tasteful" is the word I would use.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to accomplish this transition? I need to unlearn some of my bad habits.

[Seraphine]

Can you give more information? did you do lead or mainly rhythm? Do you know the diatonic etc and some theory? Most Metal players do know a lot. I wonder Progressive Rock is where you'll be happy. Many Metal bands are either Prog oriented as in a Metal Prog thing... or actually moving into Progressive Rock proper...

If you are interested I can give you quite a few from the whole mix... What kind of bands are in the direction you want to head?

[Dave2512]

I've played lots of metal in the past. IMO it was a great platform for almost anything else I ventured into. Alot of the techniques were easy to apply to surf, country, smooth jazz, new age etc. You name it I've taken a shot at it. I wouldn't be worried about the chugging thing, it's an easy habit to break.

[In Absentia]

Originally Posted by Seraphine

Can you give more information? did you do lead or mainly rhythm? Do you know the diatonic etc and some theory? Most Metal players do know a lot. I wonder Progressive Rock is where you'll be happy. Many Metal bands are either Prog oriented as in a Metal Prog thing... or actually moving into Progressive Rock proper...

If you are interested I can give you quite a few from the whole mix... What kind of bands are in the direction you want to head?

Typically, I have been a rhythm player, but that is one of the things I want to change.

Funny that you mention Prog, because my favorite band is Porcupine Tree. I know a lot of adiatonic theory, but I have never been very adept at adapting it to actually playing.

[tsar nicholas]

Metal --> jazz is a pretty common move


cf. Alex Skolnick

[chucke99]

I vote for Prog, because you can still rip it out when it feels right.

[DrumBob]

Instead of trying something in your comfort zone, go totally in the opposite direction. Start listening to classic country music, early Sun rockabilly and traditional blues with very simple changes, and try those out. You'll find yourself gaining appreciation for the feel of that music. It's not how many chords or notes you play. It's the heart and soul it takes to make that music work.

[Seraphine]

Originally Posted by In Absentia

Funny that you mention Prog, because my favorite band is Porcupine Tree. I know a lot of adiatonic theory, but I have never been very adept at adapting it to actually playing.

Then Progressive Rock it is... There's a huge scene in the States and even Prog festivals ( when they aren't canceled) lol... UK is where it's really going on and there's a huge scene indeed.... Europe has it going on bigtime too...

You might have noticed Symphony X on their recent release is moving in the Progressive direction... ah... Iconoclast.. I think it is... the album. There are many bands and directions to go in in Progressive Rock... to say the least!

Magenta
Solstice
Mostly autumn
Wobbler
Motorpsycho
Atrium
Big Big Train
Comedy Of Errors
Phi TannZek
CCLR
Exhibit A

on and on

*******

Welcome to the club man... I sit right there in Progressive Rock / Jam Band whatnot.... lol

[shredtrash]

I've changed genres many times. You just have to immerse yourself in whatever style you choose. Try to use the things you already know while learning the common licks of the other genre. Eventually, you'll be comfortable but it takes some time. Be patient and keep learning!

[greggorypeccary]

I'm into the go in a completely different direction camp so I say....


Soul music. Dig on some Otis, and Sam Cooke, Stevie, Marvin Gaye, Aretha, or more currently Sharon Jones.

If you've been doing metal, it'll probably be weird for you to slow down and groove. You said you wanted to learn to be more tasteful, this will definitely do it.

[Lucidology]

Check within ... you must be drawn somewhere to a specfic style(s)
Go there ...

[rob2001]

Originally Posted by Lucidology

Check within ... you must be drawn somewhere to a specfic style(s)
Go there ...

Good answer.

[kasperjensen]

Rhianna - Good Girl Gone Bad (Live in Manchester).

Watch that DVD.

[AJ Love]

Whichever direction you go in, make sure to go back and listen to the earliest innovators of the genre, the artists of the past who influenced the best artists of today. That way you will have a much deeper foundation to draw from

[mjtripper]

I have two things that help me keep it fresh and playing different styles, the first is I'll jam with anybody, the second is I don't care what we play. What I do is when we play something that peaks my interest I go get it from itunes or something and then start poking around for similar bands/artists. I think the lines between the various genres should be much more blurred. The last time a bunch of us got together we played some priest, stray cats, miles davis, police, and a couple others I can't remember the name of but had never heard of and were fun to play. Anyway, good tunes are good tunes - genres be damned.