Idea 6: You take the high road, I'll take the low.
One of the simplest ways I can think of is to transpose what you are playing to another area on the neck. If you really want to add power or growl to the phrase you're playing then look no further than the 5th fret. Or if you want to add some excitement, try playing above the twelfth fret. I don't think much more needs to be said about this so I'll just throw out an example and move on.
So far I have been talking about your fretting hand and techniques for that but when half of your guitar playing comes from your other hand, I think that it is a good idea to examine that a bit.
Just like when you speak, your picking hand can control the dynamics of the note be playing. If you pick hard, the note sounds rings out and can emphasize certain sections of the song more than others.
Try playing any of the previous examples and use the exact same force to pluck the string all the way through the riff. Now repeat the riff but adjusting the amount of force you use to pluck the string. Try emphasizing the first note on every measure or play a lick softly by picking lightly and then repeat the lick, this time pick with more pressure. You can add punctuation to phrases in the song, signal a change, embellish a word in the song, and much more.
Idea 8: Listen to different music.
Listening to new music is probably one of the best ways I know for coming up with new ideas. And when I say new music I don't mean your favorite band's new album or even music that is similar to your favorite genre of music. If you like country music and that's all you mainly listen to, try listening to some jazz music. If you are a die-hard metal head then go out and have a listen to some reggae. What listening to new music does is open your eyes and ears to new ideas. You may even want to consider researching the roots of your favorite genre of music. For example; how did rock and roll become popular and who were the musicians that helped shape what hear today. Even deeper, who influenced the guitar legends? What did Chuck Berry listen to? These are all questions you can ask yourself when looking for new musical inspiration.
Conclusion: Don't stop here.
I have listed some examples of how you can get out of the rut you have been stuck in. It's up to you to incorporate these ideas along with other ideas you can think. You most have patience and an open mind when you are trying to expand your current limitations. Unfortunately there isn't an easy way to overcome the learning process so I implore you to work hard and stick with it. You will succeed.
