5 Ways to Change Up Your Playing

Tips for getting out of a rut and trying new things.

Last Sunday I reached into my guitar case to pull out my capo and found I had left it at home.

It ended up being a blessing as the whole set took on a fresh feeling as I approached with alternate forms on the neck. It got me think about breaking out of the ruts I get in. Here are a few of my favorite ways to force myself to switch it up.

1. Lose the Capo

Might as well start with this one. If the song is in E it might not make all that much of a difference, but try taking on something in Bb. You might start coming up with some voicings that you haven’t tried before. Not sure what to do? Check out this post.

Even if hiding your capo scares you a bit, try capoing and playing in some unusual keys. There are actually some really great chords in the key of F, but how often do you capo and play with F shapes?

2. Turn Off Your Delay Pedal

Effects make you play differently and how many worship songs have you played without your delay pedal on? I’d wager not many. Try turning off your go-to effects and see how that impacts your playing, you might be surprised.

3. Listen to Different Music

What we listen to informs what we play. If I find my playing getting repetitive, it usually means I’m not listening to enough different kinds of music. Those influences aren’t finding their way from my ears to my fingers. Use Spotify and Apple Music to help you discover new music.

4. Restrict Yourself

We often try and break out of ruts by adding to what we are already doing. One of my favorite exercises is to restrict the strings or frets I allow myself to play on. If you are working lead riffs, don’t allow yourself to leave the D and G string or the B and E. If you limit your options it forces you to get creative with the options you have. Need some help in those other positions? We can help you with that.

5. Learn Something New

Learning, practicing and playing are all different activities. It’s easy to get in the habit of always playing and never building up other skills. If you haven’t been challenged in awhile, take a step out and learn a new skill. Ever learned to play slide guitar? How about some more percussive strumming? Try perusing the 101 skill set lessons and then jump into the song tutorial collections to find a level that pushes you. '

Jason Houtsma is the co-founder and guitar teacher at Worship Artistry, where he is helping musicians of every level answer the call to worship with passion and confidence. Jason has been leading worship and writing music since he was 15 years old and currently serves as Worship Pastor for Mosaic Church in Bellingham, WA. He is husband to Alli and father to Bjorn and Asher.

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Comments

Listen to & Play Different Music

Submitted by brian.k.yaw on April 14, 2016 - 8:03am.

Hi All...

Great list of suggestions! The third one hit home to me when I started playing in worship in the mid 90's. I graduated from High School in the mid '70's and undergrad college in the early 80's. What chord forms were prevalent then? Barre' chords and abbreviated barre' chords that came to be called power chords. So, when I started playing worship music in the mid '90's, what did I do? I played barre' chords and power chords. I realized that my chord forms weren't producing the same sound as the recording even when I was playing the same chord as the recorded musician. It wasn't until I heard of open voiced chords that I realized chording had left me behind! BUT! I took the challenge, did some study, and I'm playing the open voicing when it is needed.

If that weren't enough....I played last weekend with a Christian band made up of very good players who were about the same age as me. As we progressed, I realized the electric player was playing only barre' or power voicings. Everything sounded 60's & 70's - like...in other words old....tired (vision: Brooke Fraser Ligertwood's Hosanna with only power chords in the electric guitar). This doubly brought the message home. Not to be redundant, but, music is not static and to be effective leaders we must be willing to continually learn and renew.

Brian

same school

Submitted by Bill M. on April 14, 2016 - 10:53pm.

Brian,
We come from the same era. My formula used to be 3 chords 2 fingers and 1 ( certain part of one's anatomy I can't mention on here!)When I started playing worship music I had to change the way I thought and played about everything.

It was painful for awhile. Now I wouldn't go back to playing the way I use to for anything.
In fact you described it perfectly "old....tired"

Learn and renew. Well said.

I really need

Submitted by Jason Houtsma on April 15, 2016 - 8:18am.

a laughing emoji right now :)