ohmigod! my playing has gone to shite

[indysmith]

I've become rubbish. Like really bad! i don't kn ow why or when this happenned. i used to be sort of okay, but nowadays when i pick up a guitar i don't have anything to play. i don't remember any songs, it's like when you can't remember a words (and it turns out to be something really obvious like 'oxymoron' and you feel like a moron).
Whenever i play weird sounds and disjointed phrases come out. help!
I'm thinking of getting some of those tutorial DVDs that teach you to play in a particular style. e.g. blue, or SRV
anything you guys can reccommend?
Have yu dudes experienced anything similar or should i really start to worry?

[Ratrod]

I get that sometimes. It's probably that your head is full of new songs and styles and your brain has lost focus a little.

What I usually do is go back to the stuff I played when I was a beginner. I'll play along to AC/DC and Metallica CD's. It gets my focus and tight rhythm back.

[indysmith]

^ yeah i've pretty much just been doing that. i feel a little better at guitar this evening, which is good because i've had the worst day, no jokes.

[Ted]

I'd get a looper or a phrase trainer so you can play over other stuff your riffs etc. Thats quite fun.

Maybe you're just having an off day/week.

I know my guitar playing can be a love/hate thing...

[wintersun]

If the tchnique is what bothers you: work on your right hand! Trust me, whenever I left my guitar for a few weeks, I had the same problems. I just had to do some right hand riffage workout, and then it was all right.

Do some galops, aplm mutes and stuff for about 30 minutes, and your technique should be fine :)

If you have a "creativity problem": Do some improvisations on the songs you like... just relax and let it flow, whatever comes out. Don't force it! It will come.

[Henk]

+1 on what wintersun said, step back and relax.

I still can get braincramps from listening to 15 year old recordings on which i make a timing mistake or whatever.

Oh yes i call this braincramp, my brain doesnt talk to my hands well enough, pretty much a stress/emotional issue of some sort IMO.

I actually am reponding to this because i had to stop playing(well only could play very little, like once a month for 1-2 hours) for about 5 years. I worked like 100+hours and the little time i had i spend with my kids. Now im playing again for a few months and im amazed how things come back to me again.

Something that also helps is to start playing when you wake up (acoustically is fine) just to get things started up.

[Transcend]

I get that sometimes. It's probably that your head is full of new songs and styles and your brain has lost focus a little.

What I usually do is go back to the stuff I played when I was a beginner. I'll play along to AC/DC and Metallica CD's. It gets my focus and tight rhythm back.

this is what i have been dpoing lately as my playing has gone to shitee because i didnt play for a few weeks because i was working late

[indysmith]

it's not really a technique problem or a inspirational problem. i've got both just as much as i ever did. i just don't know what to do with it if that makes sense?

I've decided to stay off tha reefer for a while. i think this might be something to do with my problem...

[Transcend]

I've decided to stay off tha reefer for a while. i think this might be something to do with my problem...

yeah that messes my playing up for a few hours

[Henk]

Strange..... i always play way better stoned :band4:

[Will]

You think you play better stoned eh  

[Henk]

Shhhh... dont spoil the vibe.....

HAHAHAHAA :crazy2:

[Catalyst77]

Have you  tried not picking your guitar up!

I have this problem sometimes, everything sounds the same, you write the same song over and over and all your solos seem to lack that killer touch.

Sometimes just putting the guitar down for a while and emptying your head works better than pounding the pentatonics.  I find that I come back re-freshed and keen to play - then all is well.

If every time you pick the guitar up your stressing cause you think its gonna suck - it will.