Some days I play great, Some days I suck

[Mkf411]

It's weird but some days I feel like I can play no wrong and other days I feel like I suck. Same guitar, same amp, same room (mostly my living room). I think you just have to appreciate the great days and push through the bad days. I've also had experiences where it feels great and I'm recording my playing and thinking this is going to be great and then the playback sucks. Or I'll make a recording I'm sure it's going to suck, and I enjoy the playback.

I watched the Aerosmith DVD recently and they said they have good days and bad days. I think it's more in my head, although I look to blame equipment. Like I'll say, oh, my strings must need changing, blah, blah, blah. I'd love to get to a more consistent style. Recording my practice has helped alot, but I still tend to choke when the recorder goes on. But it's still a great hobby. Guitar playing is never a chore, I always want to do it.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

Right on.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I was just about to post a rant about a crap spell im currently going through, its usually related to how tired i am or if i havent played heaps for a few days because of work or something. But what ive done before and this time is just practice lots of excercises and stuff and it starts feeling better pretty quickly.

I play the best when im psyked up though and the energy levels are pumping, they're those times when you cant do wrong :cool2:

 

[Fresno Bob]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I find myself refreshed and ready to go if I skip a couple days before playing again. I mean, I still play every day, but when I start to notice the lack of creativity coming from me, I put it down and give it a rest for a couple days or so.

When I pick it back up, I always find myself hitting 'spot-on', the way I want it.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I know exactly what you mean.... Somedays your just on and others no matter what you do it just doesnt flow... It can be hard to judge too... One gig we played the whole night I was fighting it thinking in my head that we were crashing and burning... after the show the soundman said it was one of our best shows...

 

[mindbender]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

yep, it's all psychological. we all have it, even the greats. And it's not just your playing, either. Some days your tone will be to die for, other days with the same axe, same amp, same room, etc. it will sound like nails on a chalk board. Just one of those things....

 

[Leveller]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

The worst part is when you listed to yourself recorded a few days later... Always sounds crappy imho :smack:

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

Yeah, but sometimes you go back to a recording that you thought was crap right after you made, after a few weeks and say that was pretty good (man I wish I could remember how I played that :smack:

I guess alot of it is psychological.

 

[Marinblues]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I know exactly how you feel....

 

[Armotron]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

"You have to stick with it. Sometimes you are going to be so frustrated you want to give up the guitar. You'll hate the guitar. But all of this is just a part of learning, because if you stick with it, you're going to be rewarded."
-Jimi Hendrix

 

[59paul]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I know exaclty how you feel....

Me too....LOL.......... :smack:

 

[Jeff Seal]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

....I really hear you there, bro.....It really seems like I really only play for the one out of five gigs that really kick tail, it doesn't help when you play for a thousand or so one night and then the next, only three!...
I've really gotten to the point where the "bigger" the gig...the less I care about it and try to "prepare" for it by just "relaxing" as much as possible...whether it be a few beers..(no drugs...just doesn't work for me) or sex or even something as simple as just reading a book...I play best when I'm truly "at peace"......

Most of the players I've met and gigged with have some kind of "ritual" they go through before the gig.... and even then some gig's are better than other's....it never fails, the best one's are alway's where nobody's there to hear it anyway!.... but every once in awhile, nights come along where all is right and there are 38,000 people who are connecting........these are the ultimate!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff Seal

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I definitely hear you guys. Some days I'll fly on the guitar, other days my fingers are tripping over each other and getting caught up. Relaxation is a big tip as Jeff Seal mentioned. I remember auditioning for this Battle of the Bands and I was a trembling, nervous wreck, just couldn't get into it.

The best times I can recall playing are when I have a few glasses of wine, a nice semi dark environment and learn to take in every note. I've figured out that's why I jam so well with my gf's uncle (who plays a completely different genre than me... fusion).

 

[Marty Horne]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

Everyone has good and not so good nights. As a full-time gigging musician, I make sure my lows are at a passable level. I make sure my parts are played correctly and rhythmically in the pocket so the band and the gig is not compromised. The only difference is my soloing will be more fluent and melodic on those nights when my chops are on and my brain is in gear.

 

[callous_frigid_chill]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

it sucks.

 

[Cazmarzak]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

Same here guys! except I go through weeks at a time when I get sick of it and start to not sound so good. I am disabled so all I do is sit aroud and play guitar, and now that I'm not in a band anymore, I just get in these moods where I think , I just don't want to play anymore at all.

The n someting will happen , could be nothing more than hearing aong I want ot learn, or gettig a new piece of gear, and all the sudden I star t playing again.

Has this happend to any of you cause it soes me all the time and it makes not sense, whe I get in one of these moods and once in while it will last a couple of weeks, I still think about buying new gear, even though at the same time I'm thinking , I dont need what I have already.

 

[Youngpup]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

[/QUOTE]Has this happend to any of you cause it soes me all the time and it makes not sense, whe I get in one of these moods and once in while it will last a couple of weeks, I still think about buying new gear, even though at the same time I'm thinking , I dont need what I have already.

This happens to me too. I will play for a while and then I dry up and get anoyed so i put it down and dont play for a while. I just go back to my acoustic for a while and jam till I get a new rythem then I get all excited and pick up an electic and try adapting it.

Younpup

 

[strat_master]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

9/10 times i suck LOL

 

[Marinblues]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

Yes. Being relaxed helps, which isn't always the case. After all, I do use the guitar to relax....Sunday mornings I usually play best since it's the most distant time from work.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Some days I play great, Some days I suck

I'm with ya. I think its a pretty common thing. We're our hardest critics too which doesn't help hehe. Some days I feel like I nail everything, solo, rythyms etc., then some days I just want to throw my guitar against the wall I feel I suck so bad.