808-ologist
Pupil
My guitar teacher told me this story that was very inspirational when I went to LA to see Opeth recently (without my guitar for 6-7days)
I dont know the names and its accuracy will be off par, but the message is still there
An great Chinese pianist was arrested for 20 years (I dont recall the reason), and after getting out of jail, was still able to make masterpieces and play like he didnt skiip a beat. A king or some higher authority who put him into jail found out about this and asked him how he could play so well without touching his instrument for so long. His response? "I practiced every day, in my head"
I spent time on my trip, even without a guitar, just listening to some things i wrote and put on my ipod and mentally playing for at least an hour, and reading those Steve Vai Little Black Dots articles, to prepare myself mentally. And when i came back, i definitely noticed i didnt feel so weird like other times i dont play for a few days. Mental preparation is just as important, it seems, as the physical practice
totally agree with you on this one! i'll be sitting at work just humming riffs through my head all day. on the way home i may jam to some music, or whatever, and by the time i pick up my guitar, riffs will literally just pour out of my fingers! i think it's just at mental as it is physical!