Advice on getting back into it?

[Anna Taylor]

Hello everyone!

I have been absent for a long time, due to my life throwing me some nice curveballs. Now that things have calmed down again though, I found myself wanting to get back into playing and making more progress, however, I'm finding myself... stuck.

I was wondering how all of you do it? I feel like due to not being able to practice much lately, I have taken three steps back, and it's frustrating. Do you guys usually just work through episodes where you feel like you can't get better? And what are some good tips to get back on track with my practice properly?

 

[idssdi]

First question I want to ask is: what were you able to play before?

In 2017 I was in the hospital for 2 months so I could barely play electric guitar(played some acoustic but not much) and basically when I got out the first thing I did was relearn songs I knew before just to get back into the groove. For most of them I still had some recollection of them but I had to relearn Sunny disposition from scratch.

And yes I do feel stuck sometimes but what helps me get through that is learning something different than before, for example right now I'm working on playing with a floating wrist and I think that's pretty exciting because it's something new.

 

[Anna Taylor]

@Ids Schiere Well, it would be a lie to say I was excellent, but I was able to pull off some less advanced solos and was quite happy about where I was heading playing wise.

But now, I feel like I forgot everything. I guess I have to warm up, and you mentioning that you learn something different when you feel stuck actually inspired me. Thank you!

 

[carlosmqr]

I would go back to some songs/solos/riffs that you already know just to get a bit of the muscle memory and start to feel more confortable playing again... and at least to me is a lot of fun playing along with songs so thats what I would do first.
And I think with any thing you do it doesnt matter if its sports, play an instrument or whatever sometimes you feel stuck like theres no progress, It happens sometimes being one or two weeks where I feel I cant even learn basic stuff but then it goes away if you keep practicing.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

If you feel you've taken steps back.. just go back a few steps of your own.. like if you cant play you're caged chords.. go back to the open chords for a week. I promise you havent forgotten you're muscles just need to get back into the flow again.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

I think you should not force it. There are periods where you just don't feel like progressing or even wanting to play much. But in the end you will find new passion. Learning new theory bits and discovering new (guitar related) music also helps. For me, as a metalhead, it is the blues that really inspires me to learn right now.

 

[Edward John]

If you don't want to play then don't, that might sound like a weird thing to say on a guitar forum, but it's true. Guitar shouldn't be forced, it should be electoral, you choose. Music should be something you want to do, find something new or maybe try a different style of guitar?

 

[Ezequiel Romanko]

Hi, i will recommend you don't feel bad its something that happens always when you're away from anything for too long, go back and slowly re-learn the songs or the excercises, just take sometime to feel comfortable again with your playing, and there's a good thing on it too, if had any bad habits on the past, you can re-learn the technique easier and perfect this time to avoid the bad habits way more faster than if you didn't stopped playing ! cheers and work hard and all your efforts will be rewarded

 

[Adin Shepherd]

It happens to everybody who takes an extended break, I have been there myself. The muscle memory will still be there, just pushed to the back because you haven't used it in a while. Go back over the things you could do, and you will be back to where you left off in no time at all.

 

[David Deatherage]

I played from 2004 to 2009 just learning from tabs of my favorite songs and making noise with my buddies. After that I quit playing regularly and just been on and off throughout the years. About a few months ago I dedicated myself to routinely practice after signing up on here (thanks again Papa and Syn) since everything is totally free and whatever Papa Gates shows is golden so no more stabbing in the dark. I'm just recently getting into guitar music theory which I'm having a blast learning! Honestly really put effort into the lessons on here and there should be no reason to not fall back in love with guitar!! Best wishes!

 

[Nocturne]

It happens to everyone to feel stuck and like you won't progress anymore at some point. Fortunately, it's wrong, and in my experience it happens when you're either not challenging yourself hard enough and you do things you are already comfortable with, or like Ids said when you start practicing something new. I would say that if you want get back into guitar, do what makes you want to play it. Learn a song that you would like to play or practice a technique that inspires you, and do it every day. You will feel that you're progressing in no time.

 

[Anna Taylor]

Thank you all so much for replying and giving me advice! I hope I can overcome this slump soon, and once I get back into it properly I'll be sure to finally fill up my riff page!