bad practice .... Grrr

fmoore200 · #1 04-05-2011, 09:14 AM

Did anybody ever have a practice, by yourself, and really struggle? Last night I came home from work, ate a late dinner and sat down to practice. I wasn't really trying to learn much new stuff - just keep my fingers moving.

Once I started, everything went downhill. I was struggling to get through songs that I have played many times and my fingers just didn't want to work with me.

I am a fairly loathing person and get down on myself quite easily. I have been in a pretty good routine lately, as I prepare to play out after about a year long layoff, and this setback really has me shaken.

Anybody went through something like this? Any gems of wisdom from some older guys? Any younger guys recently go through this or something similar?

tdub0199 · #2 04-05-2011, 09:18 AM

Yes this happens to me sometimes and I have been playing for over 7 years.... I think it has alot to do with muscle memory....

erock0138 · #3 04-05-2011, 09:20 AM

I have those days too man, sometimes I can pick it up and nail what I'm wanting to practice, some days I just can't catch the groove for anything. My best advice is to try to relax, and if you aren't feeling it that day, try it again the next. But trust me, I know what you mean.

Gearhead17 · #4 04-05-2011, 09:55 AM

Yeah, it happens to me too. The best thing to do - something else! Go play some video games, go to sleep early for once, watch some TV and so on.... Some days are not meant for practicing. Rather than forcing a good practice daily, I find it best to practice when you feel "good". You will get more done with practicing if you feel great about doing it. Do not force it.

Russell L · #5 04-05-2011, 09:58 AM

Oh sure, it happens. Just be glad it wasn't gig night. I don't know how many times I've had to play when not in the mood...or when I was really out of sync. But don't worry about it. No big deal. When ya feel bad, you'll eventually feel good again.

MattyH · #6 04-05-2011, 10:04 AM

I've been playing for about 10 years. This will happen. Sometimes you think you want to practice, but just might not be into it. Maybe its late, maybe your mind is wandering. It's nothing to get down on yourself about. I play more than regularly, and every once in a blue moon, I'll perform terribly. My keyboard player will perform poorly, and he's got 2 masters in music theory and performing, and is a terrific player. My guitarist and drummer are phenomenal, and they have off nights too. It happens

MattyH · #7 04-05-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell L

When ya feel bad, you'll eventually feel good again.

Wow, I like that! Well said my friend

Pilgrim · #8 04-05-2011, 02:23 PM

Chill. That kin of screwing up is exactly what practice is for.

Screw up the music terminally when you're by yourself - do it 100 times - and over time you will get better.

It's called "Practice", not "Performance."

Sheesh.

jaywa · #9 04-05-2011, 02:49 PM

Don't beat yourself up. Some nights it just might not be happening for you... which usually is a good sign it's time to put down the bass for a night and spend the night doing something as far away from music as possible.

In fact, I have found that I play better shows when I don't practice at all the night before the show (or even the last two nights before), than when I'm cramming on stuff right up to show time. So now if I've got, say, Friday and Saturday night shows, I'll run stuff pretty hard early in the week, then just touch up the rough spots Wednesday night and on Thursday the bass won't even come out of its case.

spaz21387 · #10 04-05-2011, 02:52 PM

I have had shows that went like that. where my fingers just cramp up and its hard to play. i had to suck it up and make my way through the set though.

poorbassist15 · #11 04-05-2011, 05:43 PM

Happens to me a LOT

Sometimes I can play the greatest Rush bass ever, and I can't even play a simple groove

Sometimes it's just the opposite.It just happens I guess.

**nutdog** · #12 04-05-2011, 05:46 PM

Practice is like sex and pizza. Even when it's bad it's good.

Gearhead17 · #13 04-05-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

Don't beat yourself up. Some nights it just might not be happening for you... which usually is a good sign it's time to put down the bass for a night and spend the night doing something as far away from music as possible.

In fact, I have found that I play better shows when I don't practice at all the night before the show (or even the last two nights before), than when I'm cramming on stuff right up to show time. So now if I've got, say, Friday and Saturday night shows, I'll run stuff pretty hard early in the week, then just touch up the rough spots Wednesday night and on Thursday the bass won't even come out of its case.

Same experiences here too!

slipkorn917 · #14 04-06-2011, 07:12 PM

this just happened to me like 2 days ago, i didnt play for a few days and then when i finally did again i felt like i sucked. haha, i hate it but it all comes back to you after like a day or 2 of playing again. i usually play every day though.

anonymous122511 · #15 04-06-2011, 09:32 PM

Record ALL your practice. What you are actually playing will surprise you.

Coop Soup · #16 04-06-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

Yes this happens to me sometimes and I have been playing for over 7 years.... I think it has alot to do with muscle memory....

I've been playing for over 20 years and there are still bad days.

To the OP. It happens. When you're having a bad day stop playing and do something else. Don't dwell on it.

bob atherton · #17 04-07-2011, 03:22 AM

I've been playing bass for 43 years (!) and I still get days like this and reheasals and gigs when the planets just are not aligning. If it's a practice then I just put the bass away and do something else. If it's a rehearsal or gig then just dig deep and get through it.

Quite a bit OT, but I actually fell asleep, just for a moment, during a late gig a few years ago. When I came to I was still standing and still playing. No, I wasn't doing drugs or too much booze, just very tired...!

Plays_For_Dog · #18 04-07-2011, 04:07 AM

15 years on the bass. One thing everyone who plays no matter their experience, we all have down days. On these days I don't fight against it. I go with it. If I'm having trouble with complicated licks, then I go mellow and let me fingers play what they want. I have wrote some powerful lines that way. Somedays your mind isn't in the zone, thus niether will your hands. That's why it's important to go into a gig with your head in the game.

So if you have a down day, go with the down flow. Play something melodic and your head (and fingers) will come around. Of course, somedays you just have to set the bass back down and go to youtube for some inspiration. Then go back to it and try again.

T2k5 · #19 04-07-2011, 05:19 AM

I've been playing for around 14-15 years and yes, this has happened every now and then. Especially when I used to play 2-4 hours every day, sometimes my hands just couldn't get into it (for some reason, this sounds really perverted

). It actually happened for the whole band yesterday at band practice. For the emotional side, I play better when I'm angry. I can concentrate better, as awkward as it sounds.

The opposite also works; when I haven't touched my bass for a few weeks, the first time I play again I can nail stuff I had hard time with earlier.

Evil Undead · #20 04-07-2011, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Chill. That kin of screwing up is exactly what practice is for.

Screw up the music terminally when you're by yourself - do it 100 times - and over time you will get better.

It's called "Practice", not "Performance."

Sheesh.

You could have put it better!

But I agree, in a much less scary way.