Members pixelchemist Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 For the last several days, maybe a week or more actually, I feel like my playing ability has taken a massive step backwards... i just can't seem to get into a groove... timing is off, dead notes, etc... i think I need to take a rare few days off from playing and clear my head.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Pull out that Zoot Suit SG and rip off some "Heaven and Hell'! If that fails, I say, buy a Rickenbacker 330/6 or 360/6. That will get you out of your comfort zone for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jkater Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 It happens to many of us. Your idea of taking a short break is a good one, I think. Have fun getting back in the grooves when you do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strung_Out Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Perhaps put down the electric for a while and switch to acoustic, or vice versa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 For the last several days, maybe a week or more actually, I feel like my playing ability has taken a massive step backwards... i just can't seem to get into a groove... timing is off, dead notes, etc... i think I need to take a rare few days off from playing and clear my head.. You sound like you have something else on your mind, are you stressed about something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cross.bones Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Go play the bass. Or basically any other instrument. Sounds stupid but I'm playing bass in a band and its actually opened up my playing. And I find that if I practise bass THEN guitar, my stretches and fingering is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members schiz Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Perhaps put down the electric for a while and switch to acoustic, or vice versa? +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members curseoftruth Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Happens to us all. I'll go through several months of not really moving forward, hell I don't really move forward anyway anymore lol. But for me its about writing songs/riffs and I hit that brick wall. No real way to break out of a rut, it just happens naturally usually. The key is to not give up and just keep pushing. Sometimes I'll switch to a different tuning, a drop tune for instance and that helps. Strange enough. one of the things that REALLY gets me inspired again is watching one of those Classic Album shows like they play on VH1 Classic. Seeing other musicians going through periods of inspiration seems to help me get over a rut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yell03 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 You mind is on something else.... Look, you even spelled "Lately" wrong and it slipped by you. Take a couple of days off and clear your head. Your talent won't disappear in a few days, but when you get back to playing it will increase immediately once you are ready to play. You'll know when you want to play, right now you probably feel like you are forcing it and that is causing your problems. Don't play/practice because you have to, play because you want to. Don't force yourself to learn anything new right now, just play for the fun of it. Hope this helps, Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Engl Kramer Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Sounds like you're putting yourself under too much pressure. My advice would be to restring a guitar you've not played for a while and just have fun without setting yourself new goals. Concentrating on your technique is probably not going to help at the moment. Anyway I'm sure its just a bump and you'll get over it soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kujozilla Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Perhaps put down the electric for a while and switch to acoustic, or vice versa?+100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faber Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Been in the same spot for the last week or so. it sucks, but I've been in these ruts before and they pass. Unless you have playing obligations to fulfill take it easy and put the thing down for a bit. It'll be there when you feel like going back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AndrewGG Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Try playing/learning something out of your normal comfort zone. There's nothing worse than idly noodling with your brain in neutral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hurtzher Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 When I get in that state I pickup my favorite guitar and.........CHANGE THE STRINGS! Gets me out of the slump everytime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Now I don't know what you play most of the time, but anything that can shake up the norm can help sometimes. A different tuning, a capo, different effects or sounds, even a different pick....whatever. Just find something that is new to you that would effect your playing and hopefully steer you out of the slump of crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveAronow Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Step away from the guitar. Take a break. Spend a week just listening to all your favorite music. Come back in a week. Youll be fine. It is hard to see progress when you microanalyze it every single day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scuzzo Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 writers block or uh... players block happens to every one... it will pass..some times you can play through it by switching up on styles try funk or weird world beat kinda stuff... but some times you just need to step away from the guitar and let it be for a bit.. when you have some thing to say you will be able to play again... it sucks when it happens... but it happens to every one.. thats by best advice..jmho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paulskirocks Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 My last break was over a year... I came back with a new interest and my playing got better... Try printing up a new scale and writing (and practicing!) a piece to it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cbh5150 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Yup - happens to us all. Some days you feel like you're not getting anywhere, and then from nowhere, you hit the zone and play for about 2 hours straight, and when you realize that those two hours seemed like 15 minutes you think "What was THAT??? That was AWESOME!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Axeslinger Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 That happens to me from time to time.. I liken it to a "Guitar Bio rhythm" of sorts and I'm just in a valley.. I don't let it bother me anymore because I know it's temporary and I'll end bouncing back just slightly improved from before and it usually leads to a period of inspiration and I write.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metalheadUK Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I know exactly how you feel.Somedays my fingers just stumble around and I'm thinking "WTF! I can't play" so I do as guys here have suggested and pick up an acoustic, play some slide on a resonator, or pick the Bass up.When I come back, I usually feel better...I probably aint playing any better, but I FEEL better, and that counts for a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roy Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Try playing/learning something out of your normal comfort zone. There's nothing worse than idly noodling with your brain in neutral. try practicing the symmetric whole/half scale. that'll keep you busy for a while. http://jguitar.com/scale then try this technique http://lessons.mikedodge.com/lessons/IndSlide/indslidehome_frames.htm so much to learn, so little time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FoonkySteve Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I agree with half the other posts, Taking a wee break is the way forward. You'll come back stronger;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ottobahn Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 You may be depressed. Do things that you enjoy. Exercise. Most of all, try not to put yourself down. I go through the same thing frequently. I'm there right now. I'm not all that talented or accomplished but I do enjoy it when I manage to play well enough to please my own ears, at least. Musicians (and artists in general) are some of the most self-loathing and depressed people. There are many reasons for that and some of them have to do with creativeness, the personality of the artist, unfulfilled need for affirmation, etc. However, one big reason is that any instrument you choose to play can never be completely mastered. Frustration and disappointment are inevitable when you pour your heart and soul into something that cannot reciprocate your feelings and will always demand more from you no matter what level of mastery you reach. Find an avocation that provides you with a sense of accomplishment, progress and achievement. Start jogging, lifting weights, doing push-ups, writing, reading, take a class, teach a class -- anything that can provide you will some affirmation of having accomplished something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarman3001 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I feel that way a lot. Sometimes it even changes from day to day. Friday I played a gig and felt like I couldn't play to save my life. My phrasing was way off, I couldn't string together a lead no matter what I tried. I hit clam after clam after clam despite trying not to. My leads had no sense of melody to them and sounded like a 1st week student who just learned a pentatonic scale, etc..etc... Saturday night I played another gig and my fingers felt like they were moving on their own and couldn't hit a wrong note if I purposely tried. Phrasing was back on, leads had some melody to them, no clams, etc... I have no clue what was different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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