Creativity often comes from going against the grain or mixing things together in ways other people wouldn’t expect. Sometimes this happens with your personal interests, which you then incorporate into your music (Hey, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers eats cat food!), and sometimes it happens with the other people in your music group.
As part of this section, let’s explore some different ways to mix together genres and bring unique styles into your creative process.
Table of Contents
1. Learning:
Take online music lessons with professionals in each genre or style.
Playing around with the instrument is one way that you can learn, but don’t forget about working online with the experts, locals, friends, and family. Many bands will never really achieve their potential because they are blinded by who they think they are and how they think they’re supposed to play. When you listen to the skill and experience of others in each style, you invite new ideas into your musical experience, and that helps expand your usefulness.
2. Focus on Rhythm:
Taking elements of rhythm from different genres will help you to develop your groove and master essential rhythmic skills. Understanding how Latin music grooves, how blues grooves, and how rock grooves differ will help you invent new grooves. The groove in music comes from the culture it comes from, so try new styles, experiment with different techniques, and keep adding to the mix.
3. Get Visually Inspired:
There are movies, art, pictures, and music videos that offer great creative inspiration. Adding art to your music can help you achieve a sound that is more unique and more relevant. Research artists from around the world and then try to bring together aspects of their creative process to help you create your own art.
4. Listen to Great Artists:
Listening to great music can help you get inspiration about how to play more intricate rhythms and melodies. Music is often about where you come from and what you’re around, so find a great artist and listen to some of their music. Pay attention to how they perform. Are they confident and creative? Do they use complicated chords, or do they use simple chords and play them with passion? Listen to their recording process and imagine that you’re there. How do they choose the drum patterns? What is the bass player doing?
Conclusion:
Let the music and creativity inspire you and keep adding to it. The whole point is to reach your potential and be the best that you can be with what you’re already good at. You don’t always need to study music to excel. You just need to focus and use what you know.
