My playing is going to the dogs

[Jones_Stuff]

You're probably just exhausting your mind with your practice schedule, thus leading to frustration.

It pays to take a day off or two once in a while, like Toni Iommi always said, just to relax yourself physically and mentally; although you may think you're slacking, what's a few days in a year? Then you think "Hey, I haven't played in a short while, what was I playing last weekend?" Well, then you go from there with a fresher point of view and everythings A OK.

 

[sammyp]

Ok, so I've mentioned this once or twice before in another thread somewhere, and I guess everyone's pretty sick of me starting threads all the time, but! I am really concerned about my playing.

I've been trying to practice more than I usually do during the summer, but my playing just seems to be getting worse somehow/for some reason. I'm missing notes all over the place, plucking the wrongs strings, my hands and wrists are cramping and tensing up after a few seconds of playing, and my timing is all screwed up. I keep messing up simple straight 8s fingerstyle lines. I used to have really solid timing with those but now, I don't know what's happened.

My mind goes completely blank when it comes to improvising or playing fills beyond standard pentatonic funk/rock (Flea) style stuff.

It's frustrating the hell out of me. I don't know why it's happening but I thought practicing more made you a better player?

man, all i can say is i have totally been there ...on guitar ...i noticed this as well this summer on guitar ...my main instrument i've been playing for 25 yeas! i thrive on inspiration and the past few months i've been hardcore on bass....so i guess i would say, try to get into a style or find a new player that drives you like when you first started playing .....that'ss how i improve ,,,,when i'm just compelled by that child like obscession!

 

[billiam5billion]

Rub your earlobes and say "Woosaaah..."

 

[Distant Cousin]

Guys! Thanks for your input. Too many posts to quote really but I think I am just burned out from worrying about what and when to practice.

Coincidentally, I just bought a load of books off of my reading lists at uni and "Effortless Mastery" was one of them! They arrived a few minutes a go Nice coincidence huh?