Influences other than musicians

[Digit]

Just wondering if anybody else has inspirations they use for guitar other than musicians. Like phylosophies or work habits of succesful people who've made a change in the way you think about learning and playing.

[Akira]

Just wondering if anybody else has inspirations they use for guitar other than musicians. Like phylosophies or work habits of succesful people who've made a change in the way you think about learning and playing.

I find Steve Vai's approach to his life and his instrument inspiring.

[Cryptic Excretions]

Almost everything. The world is full of too much inspiration for me and I often feel down in fear that I won't be able to do something with everything that's inspired me.

[Willdridge]

Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" was a very big inspiration for me - although it is written for martial arts, (which I'm sad to say I haven't studied), it offers a lot of thought provoking which makes you re-think your approach to situations. I've found these concepts and philosophies can be applied specifically to guitar, and have incorporated the ideas into my practicing.

I've also found reading Buddist philosophy to be very insightful, although it's all a matter of taste I suppose.

I'm with Cryptic and Arika, everything and anything can be an inspiration, and I know I've been able to gain a lot from reading Steve Vai's philosophies on guitar and life; but ultimately, like everything else, it's all about what fire's your imagination and makes you stop and think - that sort of "wow!" factor I guess.

[Jolly McJollyson]

My love of humor and the English language have made me more ready to write lyrics.

[markc2005]

im inspried generally by what happens everyday in my life, but as playin is only 1% inspiration it doesnt make a huge differance cos im not that good yet lol

[rockonn91]

My love of humor and the English language have made me more ready to write lyrics.

which you do extraordinarily well, may i add.

i rember when i was an even younger youngun i wanted to play guitar like all those sweet people and look cool and stuff.

so begging my parents to let me play, they signed me up.....for piano. so i was stuck on that for 4 years, untill i finally got my first acoustic- a 12 year old yamaha. i still have this baby, it sounds like crap but is built like a rock.


so basically my inspiration is looking cool.
but it hasnt helped much over the years :D :rolleyes:

[quickfingers]

the movie "Rockstar" because playing in coffe shops kick ass.


haha, in all reality, i love playing acoustic sets so much better than shmabbing it up, becuase your voice can come through so much better. a weird visual inspiration i have is wood...dont ask me why or how, it just makes me want to play guitar when i see wood.

on a side note, i encourage everyone, no matter the age, to go to an open mic night at starbucks or something and play. no virtuosity necesarry, just some thoughtful ideas and imaginations.

[Willdridge]

on a side note, i encourage everyone, no matter the age, to go to an open mic night at starbucks or something and play. no virtuosity necesarry, just some thoughtful ideas and imaginations.

I second that motion - I've been going to a local "Plug-and-Play" for years, and it's been some of the most musically eye opening experience's of my life; (although, it's also been..urrmm..."interesting" at points too...)

[PonyOne]

quite a few things and people have influenced me.

Cars.
Alphonse Mucha.
My neurological problems.
Birds.
Children.
Autumn (specifically in New England).
Everywhere I've been.
Most of the people I've met.

[Kevin Taylor]

I've been majorly influenced by guys who have nothing to do with music.
I used to go to the library and read up on guys like Charlie Chaplin, Issaac Asimov, Steven Speilberg, George Lucas etc...

If you read those guys autobiographies you learn a hell of a lot about work ethics and how they apply themselves to their work and inspirations.
Like.... Charlie Chaplin.... Alfred Hitchcock, redoing the same takes a hundres times just to get the right take. Or Asimov, spending years honing his craft by writing hundreds of novels....

Go to the library and read their auto biographies and you wouldn't believe the amount of work they put into their projects.
Like... Charlie Chaplin, spending weeks redoing the same 3 minute over and over again just to get the right mood.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm very heavily influenced by robots.

[Cryptic Excretions]

Jolly reminded me, I'm also very influenced by the dead. Particularly when they're eating the living.

[Akira]

Jolly reminded me, I'm also very influenced by the dead. Particularly when they're eating the living.

Shaun of the Dead must have been a wet dream for you, no?

[Willdridge]

Buddist philosphy to brain-munching zombie's in three easy steps...listen up kid's! ;)

(that sound's far more flippent than I intended...)

[ericthecableguy]

Dreams > Good and Bad.
Also, Magnolia the movie-huge influence and i highly recommend this one for anyone looking for any kind of inspiration.

[equator]

Nature.
High mountains, volcanos, lakes, rivers, jungles, etc, etc

[rockonn91]

Buddist philosphy to brain-munching zombie's in three easy steps...listen up kid's! ;)

(that sound's far more flippent than I intended...)

i enjoy big firey explosions..... can that be an added step?