Originally Posted by: maestro shaz
When I went back home, I started to play again :o I changed my mind.

I dont know why, but I could play better than ever. All the techniques I've ever practised was just the same with not much difficulty.

When I say stop for a few days or a week, I mean to rest your brain. It's amazing how the brain works.

Trust me

Exact same thing happened to me, I went to Japan for 5 years when i was 21 and didn't play at all during that time. Before I went I was pretty fast but a poor player in my opinion, some good ideas but too little focus on melody and getting techniques right. Anyway, I came home and after a year or so bought a guitar - after about 2 or 3 months I was 100% better than I was 5 years previously. I believe that I improved simply by listening to the masters - Vai, Satch, Yngwie, Vinnie Moore etc. Actually thinking about how a song flows and visualising how a guitarist plays certain techniques worked for me. When I write lead now, I imagine it first, play it, then spend a few dsays listening to it in my car during work. I can then hear how it should go and imagine playing it, when I sit down out it pops directly onto the fretboard. Everyone has a different approach - whatever works best for you is the way to go.