Basically, I've been stuck in a rut playing endless blues, jazz, and fusion runs/solos/improvs out of various Scales (Mostly Dorian, Blues, and Minor) and I do not know the next step in my playing. I am in a limbo of where I know pretty much what you would need to know to play in any rock band live and write solid songs (about the equivalent of a well versed hobbyist/intermediate player), but I wanna further progress. I've been told to dabble in music theory, but that crap is repetitive, complicated, and overall boring and I can't really translate any of it into guitar. Can anyone please help me by pointing me in the right direction?

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You could try learning all of the modes of the major scale.
You should probably also try and learn at least some theory, its mostly not all that difficult.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

See, thing is ik the major scale and the major pentatonic, but i end up doing the same thing and endlessly jamming on em. Ik how to identify certain notes and I know basic chordal sequence in terms of music theory, but it gets stupid boring after that

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Start learning to combine diminished scale ideas into your rock and blues playing. The diminished scale and arpeggio's can really work well to create a nice tension release thing in blues/rock. Also instead of thinking about scales think of intervals and how you can work in different types of intervals into your playing; 4ths 5ths 6ths all the way up to 10ths and 13ths. Not as common in blues and rock but really helps you break out and play music instead of just thinking scales all the time.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Change your music listening comfort zone.
Listen to what you normally would not...Outside of Rock music especially...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

One of my favorite exercises that I do daily, I simply call "speaking". Listen to (or think of) vocal melody lines of songs and recreate them using your guitar. You'll find that it can be a lot of fun, and it will help to break the endless scale running rut.

Have fun with it. Sometimes it may mean sliding up or down on a string, or bending and having to hit an odd note you wouldn't normally do. You can start to develop your own style by doing this, and it should open your eyes again to how much is possible on your guitar. Scales are like manuals, but they have no inherent attitude or style attached until you learn to really speak with them. I would say it's time to attach your personality to what you know, and open yourself up to the idea that there really are no rules when playing. Think of the Matrix.. Bend the spoon.

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Well, play covers!!!
Get yourself backing tracks (check YouTube!!) and rock your house!
Learning theorie can get really boring! Same with licks all over again and again.

I usually "grab" a song and say: "You're mine now! Face it!"

Practice it, play it at home, make a video and put it online for feedback!
Don't just PLAY it! THINK about what you're doing, respectively what the COMPOSER might have thought about it and how he managed to get the feel of the song.
Sounds totally stupid but I'm positive: after a couple of songs you'll see what I mean.

Go and study those parts of the song which you like best. Compare it to other similar songs which don't "grab" you like this one. Try to find out WHY there's a difference.

It's a good thing to learn theory, notes, licks etc...... sometimes you just gotta "escape" and simply follow and LISTEN to your heart when playing different covers. You might be surprised what comes up when you simply "forget" about theory and simply let your heart speak and then try to analyze WHY it feels the way it feels!

What I mean is: theres nice notes and tones but there's also notes and tones within a song that send a shiver down your spine. Try to analyze WHY this happens and how the composer did that!

Wooohooo, that's difficult for me to explain in English and I consider myself to be pretty good in English, ha ha ha.

I just hope you get what I actually mean?

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Covers and backing tracks are frequented in my repetoire of guitar routines to do daily. I listen to jazz but that only encourages my experimentation and endless improv. I think I might try out applying arpeggios.

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Put your guitar pick down and spend some time focusing on chords and finger picking during practice sessions. Compose some simple chord based songs and then let loose over that with your lead work. Then, work on hybrid playing -- alternating between picking and finger picking, plus finger picking with the pick while using the rest of your fingers!

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"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover

To the above I would add...pick up some Chet Atkins and Doc Watson, Vince Gill..
Look up Tommy Bolin, here's a player that in about six years was about as varied in his playing as you will find in Rock
(1) Zephyr
(2) Replaced Joe Walsh in James Gang
(3) Replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple
(4) Played on Billy Cobham's Spectrum album
(5) Two excellent Solo Albums.

Bolin's playing should keep anyone occupied for quite some time, Funk, Reggae, Soul, R& B, Rock
etc...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

It's high time you put down 'the book' indefinitely and start exclusively learning/playing tunes you like. In time, you'll be figuring out and retaining lots of good stuff while at the same time, incorporating many tidbits of said tunes into what will be developing into your personal stylings. It is at this point that you'll then be well on your way.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?