Anyone ever have "one of THOSE" days?

[Todd Weger]

I've been practicing regularly for several hours a day. I really played a LOT this weekend, and really felt like I was making some real progress. I mean, ALL pistons firing!

Today, it's like I can't even say the word 'steel,' let alone play one. Just useless HAMS for hands, no bar control, crappy intonation, forgot how to play licks I play all the time. What the...???

I felt like throwing all my steels in the garbage. Finally just put it down and decided to try again tomorrow.

Anyone ever get days like this? I'm not tired or injured... Sorry for the rant. I don't get it. Just wondered if anyone else ever had this kind of thing happen.

T

[Rick Alexander]

Hey Todd, everyone has daze like that.
You're a fine steel player -tomorrow will be better!

[Steinar Gregertsen]

Happens all the time. Don't worry about it, do something else and pick up the instrument later, when you feel for it - it will get better..

[Bryan Daste]

Definitely...try changing strings on those days. That way you at least get to spend a little quality time with your steel, and then when you try the strings out they always sound a little better

[Andy Volk]

Ever have one of those days?

Only every other day!

[Stephan Miller]

Oh yeah, absolutely. Especially when I've been racking up a lot of practice hours, there comes a day when it seems like I'm not meant to pick up the guitar. I don't fully understand the whole "2 steps forward, 1 step back" deal, but I don't even fight it any more-- just come back later refreshed and ready to start on another roll.

Congrats on the hard work and improvement! Am betting your appetite for both will be back shortly ...

[AJ Azure]

on days where your body isn't cooperating or you don't have time to practice use your mind. visualize the practice routine as if you were doing it physically. Bet you anything if you adopt this as part of your regular routine not only will you get better faster but, will have less of 'those' days as well.

[Randy Reeves]

very common experience. fortunately, things do change. on the other hand, don't lose your tone.
it seems when I have my tone dialed in I can play better. I feel more confident maybe. when a battery dies or my amp is running on different current or something and my tone is altered or gone, I feel like my fingers left too.

[Rich Hlaves]

Todd, I understand completely. It happens to everyone. I'm sure you've had a day or a gig where everything just works, licks just fall into place, your tone is absolutely dialed, the crowd applaused at every move you make, the blonde in the front row with the big.... ah scratch that, you're playing above your head and everything still works??? Those are the days I try to think about when I'm having a day like yours. I had one Friday trying to learn a new song on steel, I couldn't find my butt with both hands.

[Tom Pettingill]

The cool thing about having "one of those days" is knowing that it is one less of those days you have to go through, its all up from there

[Craig Prior]

I play a lot of tunes and I notice that on bad days I tend to lapse into "playing the notes" rather than "playing against the chords." That is, my mind drifts away from the chord progression and focuses instead on whatever note is supposed to be next.

I try not to slide into that habit because when I goof... I really goof! At least if you know what chord you're playing against you can make an educated guess. When you lose sight of the chords you wind up flailing around piteously.

Concentration is a strange thing. Have you ever been in the middle of a complicated passage and found yourself thinking of something completely different?

[Ron Whitfield]

It's over. It'll never be the same.

So, just throw them steel's all awayyyyy over here!

[Bill Creller]

It usually doesn't happen with any regularity. It just happens often enough to rile you up

[Todd Weger]

Words of Wisdom, that is...

As it turns out, taking a day off and just reading my Stacy Phillips book (without playing, as per AJ's advice) was just what I needed. As I read the TAB charts, I just visualized playing the parts. When I went back to the steel today, things were clickin' again.



I've been practicing a lot lately, so maybe I just needed that day off.

Thanks!
TJW

[Don Kona Woods]

Scientifically speaking, no brain functions at the same level each and every day. In other words the brain varies in it's ability to function. Why? There are chemical changes going on in the brain which are caused by emotional and physical factors, i.e., stress, sleep patterns, nutrition, unresolved anger, exercise, etc.

The brain is an bodily organ just as the stomach, liver, kidneys, are bodily organs. All bodily organs are subject to change. Ever notice the changes going on in your tummy? Of course the brain is a more complex bodily organ, therefore is subject to a greater variety of change, sometimes subtle change.

I am sure that everyone was just waiting to hear this scientific explanation.

Aloha,
Dr. Don

[Bill Creller]

Hey Don, you forgot to mention the economy, and the fact that we are in the next third world country.