Anyone else ever have "just one of those days"??

bmsrv311 · #1 06-12-2007, 01:20 AM

Hey all,
I notice this happens every once in a while.... Today i just couldn't play. My fingers didnt want to move, I just wasn't feeling it. I felt very un-creative. It was frustrating to me considering i wanted to get some good practice in. But it was not working. Anyone else ever have one of these days, or is it just me?

DocBop · #2 06-12-2007, 01:56 AM

Happens to everyone and sometime everyday. If once in awhile cut back a little that day, do some slow technique work to keep your fingers moving. Do a little sightreading or some prepared lesson. Cut practice short and do some listening, studying some theory, call a music buddy and talk shop. If it last more than a day then you have to force yourself to work. A lot of times I get up to practice and just don't feel like it, but make a cup of coffee and make myself get started. Ususlly once I get started then I get into it.

Also not all music practice needs to be done with the instrument in your hand. Studies with atheles and others have shown that mental practice can achieve as much as physical. For example sightreading is great to work on without your bass. Take a piece of music you haven't played yet. Sit and look at it and name the rhythms. quarter, quarter, dotted-eighth, sixteenth, etc. Now name to pitches. B, C, D, Eb, E etc. Next go through and name where ever note is on the fretboard. E string 7th fret, E string 8th fret. Now use the bass in your head and figure out which finger to use for each note. Ring finger, little finger, index finger, etc. Now using the bass in your head and/or your air bass go through and play the piece of music. You do that and I gaurnantee you will nail the piece the first or second time your try and play it with your bass. There is a lot to be done without the bass.

You have to learn to listen to your body and mind. Sometimes they want a light day or even a day off. May need a little rest, or the mind is still trying to digest some info and wants some time. When it happens you have to adjust your routine and move on.

middy · #3 06-12-2007, 09:32 AM

bmsrv311 · #4 06-12-2007, 05:27 PM

DocBop, Thanks alot for your tips! Much appreciated. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has an "Off" day every once in a while. Good tips on the mental practice. When it comes down to it, i know very little about theory. Its something ive been trying to dive into recently. I started on guitar about 6 years ago, and switched over to bass less than a year ago. So i have the ability to play, but, like most guitarists, have minimal knowledge of theory. I've only recently learned the major scales, and im trying to learn chord structure and the circle of fifths. It's going to take a long time and a lot of work, but I am very interested in learning theory. Anyways, just glad to know that other people have off days too!

Zebra · #5 06-12-2007, 05:42 PM

Happens to me all the time. But there are also those times when you're just in the zone.

bmsrv311 · #6 06-12-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebra

Happens to me all the time. But there are also those times when you're just in the zone.

TOTALLY! I was originally going to put that in the post. Some days, I feel like i just plain ol suck, other days though, I feel like im the man. Just like you said: IN THE ZONE. I feel like my playing is pretty consistant, but I guess we all have those days. Glad to know others go thru the same thing.

Orco87 · #7 06-18-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebra

Happens to me all the time. But there are also those times when you're just in the zone.

I had a "zone" night one night when I couldn't sleep.... I refused to go to bed for some reason or another and I picked up the bass and started rockin' out somethin' fierce... Only time I've gotten close to that zone was when I had a zone on a pretty sweet Fender P at a music store.

I'm wondering when another zone is gonna come around....

Throckmorten · #8 06-18-2007, 01:58 PM

I sure does. And I hate it. I get practice time, usually an hour or so, almost every day. Some days nothing remotely like music comes out. Some days I just hate all the music I hear (did you ever think maybe there's just too much of it around?)

DocBop summed it up nicely.

For every down day I have there are always a couple more uppers and usually, after a variation in the routine, I sit down with the guitar and when I look up again an hour or more has passed and I'm back in the practice groove.