Taking a break.

Does this happen to anyone else?

Lately i've not been playing... Maybe at most 2~3 hours in the last month. Just been busy with life stuff, painting my new guitar and what not...

Monday night, I said enough is enough... tooo much slacking on my playing. Picked up my Jackson and starting messing around...

I was amazed at how many new riffs I came up with. How things seemed to flow so well for. Kind of like writers block had been removed or something.

HOWEVER, and I hate to admit this... While what I was coming up with sounded great, I have no idea what I was playing.

That happens to me to. I think that it is all just a part of the learning process. Sometimes you have to take a break to let all the clutter clear out and let your mind (and hands in this case) reset. When I find myself hitting a dead end with my learning and playing, I make myself take a break. When I get back to playing , I always seem to have improved even though I haven't been playing.

I can vouch for that happening. I remember it most from my drumming days. I took a break for almost a year and when I started back up, it was like I forgot I didn't know how to do certain things and started pulling them off.

I'm a big believer in the subconcious at work :)

Yeah, been working hard, planning some projects around the house, trying to make a human. But still finding a few hours when I can. Feels good though to come back to things after a break.

I could relate to this. I think the most logicall explanation is that you going back to playing guitar, feeling like you want to play and learn more and are motivated to do something with your instrument. If you play you instrument with your head full of other stuff, you wont be in the mood and be able to concentrate on what you want it to come out.

Originally Posted by: swright00Yeah, been working hard, planning some projects around the house, trying to make a human. But still finding a few hours when I can. Feels good though to come back to things after a break.

Making humans is a very fun project. :D

I took a break once, for about 6 years.

When I picked up a guitar again, I couldn't remember a bloody thing!

Creativity happens when you stop thinking about it.

Rick, that's EXACTLY what happens to me

this definitely works. also, if you have multiple guitars, picking up a different one usually brings some fresh ideas.

Its crazy... I'v been excited again. Lots of fresh ideas and melodies coming from nowhere.

I can vouch for the picking up a different guitar idea. It even helps sometimes just using a pick-up setting or effect you don't usually use. Also, to keep from getting frustrated from constant drills and structured practice, I try to make sure I set aside time to just jam and have fun playing whatever I want. If all else fails, then I take a break for a while, maybe go catch a show or listen to some tunes.