Practicing too much = slump??

[JJEMMER777]

Thanks friends for ALL of your input, comments and excellent advice. That's why I really love this place. It's full of people who genuinely care

Originally Posted by andy7jem

It may be that outside worries are subconsciously affecting your concentration on the guitar.Just a thought bro.
Please,please,PLEASE don't blame those gorgeous,beautiful,sexy,desirable guitars of yours!!! Of course,if they really are an issue,i would greatly give a loving home to those 2 florals of yours!!!

VERY good point Andy. I've NEVER been unemployed EVER before and your damn right it's affecting my mental state After all, I can't pay the bill with my looks It; kinda surprises me cuz I'm one of those Zen "find your center" kinda freaks, lol. I just don't want to lose me forest : (

And NO Andy, you can't have my Florals : )

Originally Posted by Ibanez249

I'd leave your guitars alone until your new spangly Jem arrives, then blast the sh*t out of it.

"Spangly" ?? Heck If I wait till it arrives I may be 80 years old ; (

Originally Posted by Ant1981

Get on the PS2 for a while, then go back to guitar.

I actually HAVE been doing that. But don't tell Doctor Tommy, else he'll tell me that playing video games causes tension / promote tendon damage and quarantine me to bed

Originally Posted by jaken777

you need some time out bro & get some fresh air, it works wonders for your guitar playing & your well being-
(trust me on this & you will see the results in no time!)
Cheers bro- (Doctor- Jake.)

Lol....I LIVE IN a forest remember?? I'm ALWAYS outside. I've actually been working on a new stone path and it's pretty cool. You'll see it in the next "Jems In Paradise"

But your right about the stress thing. Thanks Doc : )

Originally Posted by Gex

Play nothing but acoustic for a couple of days.

Not only will it seperate you from the distorted world of lead guitar, but it will blast you into some rhythm practice, work your fingers, and hone your overall control skills.

Strange that you say that Gex. I actually have this old beater acoustic that I NEVER play because it's like, well shot basically. I eyed it this morning sitting all dusty over in the corner. So I picked it up. Took me a while to tune it due to frayed nylon strings I actually felt pretty good playing it. Just some good old fashioned strummin and pickin.


I've decided NOT to play at all until the next practice. To not even THINK about playing . Not even the beater. That will give me 5 days off. We'll see. Thanks so much again everyone

Jemsiters RULE!!!!!

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by jaken777

Get Started ASAP you will be on top of your life's downers & then you can do much more to enjoy life, Free yourself of all those hassles you must do!
it all starts with you.
Cheers.. Jake.

When did you become so wise doc

thanks mate

[jaken777]

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

When did you become so wise doc

thanks mate

i stopped smoking drinking & doing drugs!-lol!

Cheers bro..Jake.

[Ant1981]

You'll be fine, take it easy, have a few beers and relax for now.

[MilkshakeFiend]

I think the few days off idea is a good idea! Sometimes I get in a slump, and I don't notice it until I'm so **** that I can REMEMBER playing whatever I'm currently trying, but can't do it now. I've picked up learning to sing and play the piano, that seems to help. Too much of one thing destroys braincells and muscle memory.

Like Ant said, relax, have a beer or 7 and just... concentrate on something other than guitar for a few days.

~M

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

And NO Andy, you can't have my Florals : )

Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Always worth a try
Good luck with everything though mate.

[Al's garden]

Originally Posted by Angelo Guitars

I think you can "practice too much of the same thing". Sometimes we get stuck in the same old, same old routine.

Instead of "taking a break" from practicing, maybe just change the things that you're working on. Try something more challenging.

this is spot on, ive been there a few times. i think its a common thing for guitarists especially. when i get like that i go through the libray of guitar magazines and books i have collected and only half read and find something new. lol

[screamndemon69]

it just happens. you need something to excite you about playing again - you are getting bored of your material and not putting your heart in it.
you are probably like me - when my heart isn't in it and i'm not as excited to play it shows. i have to feel it to really climb inside the music otherwise it's usually crap. i want to learn meditation techniques to help put my mind in that playing zone rather than a few smokes, beers and jager bombs (wheeew! hehe) every show. i seem to loosen up and really listen and feel the music more. but that is baaaaad. look at EVH.
maybe a new JEM will get you excited again!

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by andy7jem

It may not be a musical thing,more a mental thing.You are still out of work i guess from your comments.How is this affecting your mind.I find when i have other problems on my mind my playing gets crap (well,its not great to start with!!! I'll say gets crappier ).
Is it something thats really bothering you,coz even if you're not in a desperate situation yet,having money coming in is number one priority! It may be that outside worries are subconsciously affecting your concentration on the guitar.Just a thought bro.

back to the meditation idea to clear your head from the stresses of the world.

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

VERY good point Andy. After all, I can't pay the bill with my looks It; kinda surprises me cuz I'm one of those Zen "find your center" kinda freaks, lol. I just don't want to lose me forest : (


Jemsiters RULE!!!!!

HAHAHA!!
and back to the meditation again..... seems to be a theme here

[JJEMMER777]

Heya Demon

Yep - meditation is wonderful thing. I've found that If you can't find your center, you can't really find anything. We practiced on Friday night. (you know your getting old when you have practice on Friday night instread of going out)

It went really well I didn't touch a guitar for nearly a week before. We had this guy over to check us out who regularly plays accoustic up at red rocks. He's asked me to put down some lead work to his songs. Renewed enthusiasm. You were right about that too

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

Heya Demon

Yep - meditation is wonderful thing. I've found that If you can't find your center, you can't really find anything. We practiced on Friday night. (you know your getting old when you have practice on Friday night instread of going out)

It went really well I didn't touch a guitar for nearly a week before. We had this guy over to check us out who regularly plays accoustic up at red rocks. He's asked me to put down some lead work to his songs. Renewed enthusiasm. You were right about that too

very good to hear! i feel old as well because the only time i go out is to play shows (almost every weekend)! in fact, i rarely even drink a beer unless i'm out playing or at a band function! lol!
we have only had maybe 5 or six rehearsals since i joined the band over 2 1/2yrs ago but we are planning on clearing our books (booked fairly solid weekends and some thursdays for the next 3 months) to give us a chance to reahearse some new material and plan our attack of bigger venues.
we played at a show with Molly Hatchet over the weekend for a Bike Fest and there's nothing like the taste of playing a big show in front of 1000's of people to renew enthusiasm! it was all great fun! i can't wait to do it again!

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

Heya Demon

Yep - meditation is wonderful thing. I've found that If you can't find your center, you can't really find anything. We practiced on Friday night. (you know your getting old when you have practice on Friday night instread of going out)

It went really well I didn't touch a guitar for nearly a week before. We had this guy over to check us out who regularly plays accoustic up at red rocks. He's asked me to put down some lead work to his songs. Renewed enthusiasm. You were right about that too

Welcome back!!

[spencer096]

joined thread late...just figured id offer my view.

i go to music school (north texas...really hard, competetive school www.jazz.unt.edu) and usually practice between 4-6 hours a day spread out. is there peaks and valleys? absolutely. usually after a semester (about 3 mos.) constant of a schedule like that coinciding with the stress and demand of the educational environment, im completely burned out and usually dont even touch my guitar unless im playing a gig. theres only so much time your brain can work going like that before it needs a little rest (unless your a freak like vai, coltrane, keith jarrett, etc.).

but usually after a few weeks off, my passion is reignited to a higher degree and practice usually comes in 3 hour bursts of inspiration due to a clear head and renewed focus.

[rgr]

*EDIT*

Wow, I'm a dork, I posted on this without even noticing there were pages 2 and 3, or the date on the original post. Every thing I said was mentioned, meditation, stress, etc...

So, howya doin' Jim?

I'm going back to work now, got some new proposals to write...