That feeling of playing when you haven't played for a while

[SpiderWars]

Sometimes when I play a lot I get stale and very uninspired playing ensues. But many times if I haven't played for a couple of days or so I seem to play much better and much more inspired (this often occurs Saturday morning). Part of it is my hands being completely rested and some of it is the same ole licks not sounding quite so stale. But I'm way more inspired so my same ole licks now have direction/melody/etc. Anybody else experience this? Any accounts of artists intentionally not playing for a while before recording or whatever?

 

[skullfxr]

One thing I always do is mix my playing up a bit. I play a lot of different guitars and when I get the stale feeling I will grab a different type or a different amp/rig.

Also I do drum and play bass a bit.

I do log 2 hours a day in playing music, six days a week. So rarely do I go long without playing. I am so OCD with my time, that I use a time clock app on my phone. I probably have more free time than most of you guys though.

 

[Markedman]

Too OCD to not play any chance I get. I always have a guitar with me in my van so I can play wherever I am. 45 years, same thing, I had a 1955 Strat that went everywhere with me, except the shower.

 

[Racerxrated]

Sometimes when I play a lot I get stale and very uninspired playing ensues. But many times if I haven't played for a couple of days or so I seem to play much better and much more inspired (this often occurs Saturday morning). Part of it is my hands being completely rested and some of it is the same ole licks not sounding quite so stale. But I'm way more inspired so my same ole licks now have direction/melody/etc. Anybody else experience this? Any accounts of artists intentionally not playing for a while before recording or whatever?

Definitely. When I gigged often (up till 2017) I would pick up and play on a Wed or Thurs just to go over parts of songs if we hadn't played them in a while, we had a pretty large song selection and sometimes the singer would email our set lists and he'd have songs we haven't played in 6 months lol. But apart from that I'd not even touch a guitar until Friday at soundcheck.
As I've retired from gigging I play much more often. I do notice if I take a day or two off, when I do play I fight with the instrument much less. No need for as much of a warm up. If I play every day I'm actually stiffer for some reason. Who knows why but I'm trying to play every other day now, to see if that is my new normal.

 

[skullfxr]

I personally think that playing multiple instruments sharpens your skills on both. I remember about two years ago when I got back into drumming, my guitar rhythm riffs were more creative. Every instrument applies.

 

[SpiderWars]

I travel for my work and have one of those mini-LP shaped Traveler guitars and a Katana mini in my car. But there are times where jobs go long and then I have a long drive and I'll just muscle thru that to avoid another hotel night. That sometimes leads to a couple days of no playing.

I also just remembered that when I'm fresh/inspired that I am way more likely to play old learned songs that I haven't played in forever and somehow I am remembering it. But that's not the case when stale...all old material seems boring and not even worth playing...and then I struggle to remember it anyway.