Matt you are never too old to rock...
I play guitar and practice my scales wiith the radio playing and personally think there is nothing really new. The other thing I notice is that depending on your ëffects" settings often sortta dictates the music.
I recorded a drum, rythem (bass and guitar) turnaround (a repetative chord progression) on a four track and then added a lead which is there to compliment the earlier track combination.. You make it up as you go along really
.. I played the rythem and drum track (drum machine not me) to a mate with my lead not playing so he could do a lead.. He had not heard my lead but when we compared the two they went very much in the same direction and anyone listening to the two leads at once would have said they are the same..strange but I think this is what happens.. and form what you would call a melody
. I play along with all stuff from JJJ to the clasical music when doing scales..well scale notes that fit the idea of the song..and even classical you find that it is sortta obvious to play it the way they have or if you dont it is complimentary. Most guitar players learn by doing cover versions of the favorite band ...a huge mistake because this imprints on your style... So if you were a Led Zep fan you would have used their music to start you song list, but when you get to writing your own stuff it will really show.. also most lead guitarist do not go past the pentatonic scale..a five note scale that fits a certain group of chords and you can only do so much and personally I think every combination of notes has been used with only rythem and emphasis offerring distinction.
Another mate wrote a song and without realising it ripped off an old favorite that he would never have heard before... dont be too harse as I suspect they may not realise they are even doing it.
I dont like or dislike them personaly as there is only one band that deserves any respect and thats... ZZtop and they are simply a 12 bars band (blues) but they have it wired... simple stuff but gets you tapping your feet and feeling good. If they dont do that dont let them get to you as I doubt if they realise they are copying.. maybe. I dont bother to learn covers as you can roll up and play them by ear..first time up..its like whistling a tune easier really because you have a wider range and can include effects.. I believe you can learn to do this in one lesson if you practice the one lesson every day of your life...mmm ground hog guitar
alex