Help, I have the yips...

[Antag]

...or whatever the guitar-playing version of the yips is called.

I'm working on something with another board member for the Players forum (more of that later ;)) & I just can't play the damn thing I want in time!  :(

It's a short lead passage, not particularly demanding technically, but as soon as I hit the record button, the click track kicks in & I just sieze up.  Not only is what I play not in time - it's nowhere near  :oops:

The silly thing is that I can play the thing at nearly double the speed that I'm trying to play it without issue.  But getting it into 110bpm is suddenly beyond me  :censored:  I've even tried recording it bar-by-bar (using punch in/out) with no other tracks except the click track coming through the headphones  :roll:

If I can't get it right in the next week I'm just going to accept defeat & play something else.

Sorry for the rambling, needed to vent - any hints greatly appreciated before I go INSANE...  :gib:

[indysmith]

Try playing it at a speed that's comfortable, and then adjusting it to the correct speed for the song.

The bad thing about this method though is it can sometimes sound like you've played it at a speed that's comfortable and then you've adjusted it to the correct speed for the song :lol:

[FernandoDuarte]

relax... take a beer, if doesn't solve, take a girl... :D
Perhaps better take both at once WHILE playing the track :lol: (my teenagers dream)

[maverickf1jockey]

Have you got anyone around to push the record button for you?

It can be nerve racking trying to record anything on your own and having someone else to talk to will really help and inspire you to get over these difficulties.

It also gets rid of the trouble of pushing the button and then jumping over to the guitar, which would likely do your playing some damage as your coordination is being used away from your hands (which to an extent is why people pull faces or dance badly/jerkily while playing, I think...).

It can take some time to get into the zone and sometimes you just need to go off and get rid of the nervous energy by doing something active that requires concentration. Recording studios don't just have things like ping-pong tables for the sake of procrastination.

[Crazy_Joe]

Take a break, you never get it by just trying over and over again (well i don't) it just stresses you out. Relax and go back to it later and you should be able to shred it up the next time.

[gwEm]

ah - the old 'red light fever' ;)

strange, i have that problem too, when recording a live instrument part i usually $%&# up when that red record light is on.

[TwilightOdyssey]

I would advise you to stop bitching and making excuses and just do the thing!

j/k

Seriously, when I have an issue with a part, breaking it down usually makes it sound artificial. Loop the section and set it to auto-punch at the beginning of the solo. Play the bit leading into it and just keep looping it until you have a good take. Don't forget to press STOP when you have a take that you like. PDT_008

[Antag]

Thanks for the advice & kind words :)

Last night I decided that it just wasn't worth losing sleep over, so I practiced something different.  Went back this morning with a clear head, feeling relaxed & pretty much nailed it on the 2nd take :)

On the subject of pressing the button, I record my solos using auto punch, wind the recorder back 3 bars before & hit record, that way I've got time to step back, get a proper grip on the pick & count myself in for 4 or 8 beats, so I don't feel rushed.