I'm in a creative block right now

what are things you do that you when you can't seem to make any beats no matter how hard you try?

i do it anyway.. i have never had any creative blocks since i started doing that.

if anything, a creative/writers block is just an irrational mental block stopping you from doing something you actually could be doing.. and imo, there is no better way to get out of it than to "just do it"

so, i could be in a state where i don't at all feel like making music.. but i start anyway, and just from the act of creating something.. a beat, a melody, some chords.. it is enough to inspire... because even if i don't feel like it, my taste in music is still there.

and it doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be original.. you can be doing the same as you have done before.. but at least you have the ball rolling, and that's the only way to have one thing lead to another..

i have had some "this is the best thing i have done so far" moments from just doing it even when not at first feeling it... and i think that is because you are then not initially in "producer mode" and you start creating from a perspective that is a bit different.. which can lead to some good things.

so unless there is something that is physically preventing you from making music, then you can ignore any creative block that you feel and just do it over and over until you have things rolling again.. and keep on doing that each time you feel blocked, and then for practice do it at times where you are not feeling blocked, but just not feeling like making music as well.

There a few things I do when I'm not really feeling creative. One thing is to make kits. I go through records, not looking to sample loops or phrases, but to find clean drums. Sometimes you find the best stuff when you're not looking. Another thing is that single drum hits can be found in almost any genre. So you might play a record that you sampled from before or that you thought was wack and find something because you're listening with "new ears" so to speak. The other thing I do is experiment with the machine and go over the manual to see if there's a feature that I haven't used. Maybe that could lead to a new way of working. Sometimes my blocks come from falling into a formula that either starts to bore me or makes my beats sound too similar. Lastly, I pick up a new instrument or practice one I've only dabbled with before. Even if its still the MPC. That's how I got into finger drumming... practicing anything will most likely lead to you stumbling on something that "works".

Ibunshi wrote:i do it anyway.. i have never had any creative blocks since i started doing that.

if anything, a creative/writers block is just an irrational mental block stopping you from doing something you actually could be doing.. and imo, there is no better way to get out of it than to "just do it"

so, i could be in a state where i don't at all feel like making music.. but i start anyway, and just from the act of creating something.. a beat, a melody, some chords.. it is enough to inspire... because even if i don't feel like it, my taste in music is still there.

and it doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be original.. you can be doing the same as you have done before.. but at least you have the ball rolling, and that's the only way to have one thing lead to another..

i have had some "this is the best thing i have done so far" moments from just doing it even when not at first feeling it... and i think that is because you are then not initially in "producer mode" and you start creating from a perspective that is a bit different.. which can lead to some good things.

so unless there is something that is physically preventing you from making music, then you can ignore any creative block that you feel and just do it over and over until you have things rolling again.. and keep on doing that each time you feel blocked, and then for practice do it at times where you are not feeling blocked, but just not feeling like making music as well.

what you said really inspired me

RepRSP wrote:

Ibunshi wrote:i do it anyway.. i have never had any creative blocks since i started doing that.

if anything, a creative/writers block is just an irrational mental block stopping you from doing something you actually could be doing.. and imo, there is no better way to get out of it than to "just do it"

so, i could be in a state where i don't at all feel like making music.. but i start anyway, and just from the act of creating something.. a beat, a melody, some chords.. it is enough to inspire... because even if i don't feel like it, my taste in music is still there.

and it doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be original.. you can be doing the same as you have done before.. but at least you have the ball rolling, and that's the only way to have one thing lead to another..

i have had some "this is the best thing i have done so far" moments from just doing it even when not at first feeling it... and i think that is because you are then not initially in "producer mode" and you start creating from a perspective that is a bit different.. which can lead to some good things.

so unless there is something that is physically preventing you from making music, then you can ignore any creative block that you feel and just do it over and over until you have things rolling again.. and keep on doing that each time you feel blocked, and then for practice do it at times where you are not feeling blocked, but just not feeling like making music as well.

what you said really inspired me

I second at that. Thanks dude.

maybe try listening to some new beat tapes by other producers... sometimes when listening to other people's beats i get so inspired that i need to turn the music off and turn my MPC on... find some producer you've heard people mention but never really checked out.

try sampling new/different genres of music or search for some new instruments you'd never heard of before... new sounds & sources = new ideas.

just get out and go for a long walk... headphones with music is optional... but a simple change of scenery helps... and sometimes you'll see something that'll change your entire mood that day.

smoke weed, but not too much... if it's good shit, just 1 or 2 hits will put you in a creative zone... smoke multiple bowls and you're gonna get too lazy to even wanna chop samples...

i'll probably think of some more soon...

Take a dap or hit some hash. That's what I do. And listen to Beethoven. The 9th always gets me.

Take a break, open a window. That's what Nintendo Wii says.

collaborate with somebody. Preferably in person

dopedee wrote:collaborate with somebody. Preferably in person

thats actually a great idea.

vmt420 wrote:Take a break, open a window. That's what Nintendo Wii says.

Yeah, I've been playing dreamcast for like 2 days now. I Think I'm about ready to start making beats again. Thanks guys.

Tell your girl to suck it for once.

Ill-Green wrote:Tell your girl to suck it for once.

she's in that stage where she doesn't want to give it to me. Hence the creative blockage.