Did you ever take an unplanned break from music?

[5E3]

I've been buying, selling and trading gear for years. I've rarely had a day where I didn't practice and/or play guitar unless I was out of town on vacation.

Suddenly last week I just stopped playing and lusting for gear. It was right after I sold a bunch of gear and recorded a song I have been working on for over a month.

I don't know if it is temporary or how long it will last. It's like I hit a wall or fell off a cliff musically. The fire has suddenly gone out.

This ever happen to you?

[Analog Delay]

Originally Posted by 5E3

I've been buying, selling and trading gear for years. I've rarely had a day where I didn't practice and/or play guitar unless I was out of town on vacation.

Suddenly last week I just stopped playing and lusting for gear. It was right after I sold a bunch of gear and recorded a song I have been working on for over a month.

I don't know if it is temporary or how long it will last. It's like I hit a wall or fell off a cliff musically. The fire has suddenly gone out.

This ever happen to you?

That never happened to me, but I did have to take a break from playing for about a year due to a very serious back surgery in 1996.

Hopefully, you're just going through a temporary phase. My advice to you, would be to start drinking heavily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYqnoULgD30

[scottlr]

I quit gigging in 1986. After that, I played a few jams, and did some recording for a couple of years. Then I put my guitar in the closet and pulled it out maybe 1-2 times a year for the next 12 or so years. In 2000, I came to realize I had wasted MANY years not playing at all! I still haven't resumed gigging, but I have certainly rectified the no playing part. I won't be doing that again!

[Jon Silberman]

Eat when hungry, sleep when sleepy.

Your Zen approach to your playing is normal and there's nothing wrong with it. Basically, you've done something for a very, very long and sustained time period and now your mind is telling you a break would be beneficial. Go with the flow and not to worry, you'll be back when it's right to be back.

[Hultas]

^Man. That was pretty smart said, man.

[Jazzydave]

When I joined the Air Force...it didn't last long though. After basic training, I had 10 months of technical training where I borrowed other guys guitars who were on opposite shifts...then I took my bonus and bought a new electric and amp!

I think that sometimes we just have to get back to the basics after gear splurging for awhile. I've gone through a little over 20 electric guitars over the last 6 months buying, trading, and selling here on TGP. My favorite was the Vinetto Legato TC but now I've sold nearly all of my electric gear and am refueling my love of music with a Martin HD28V I stumbled across...

Remember, we don't choose the music...the music chooses us...

[sweetpeeeeeee]

When I went to college, I put it down for about 4 years. Now I practice more than I did before school.
J.P.

[Noah]

Taking one now.

[doctorx]

A tree fell on my house three weeks ago.

I had to move out of my kitchen and living room, shoehorn all my gear into a locked storeroom downstairs, and stored my guitars at a friends house while repairs are made.

[airwarrior]

I've only picked my guitars up after the last couple weeks of just not wanting to play. I still don't play very long, but it's a start.

[twang]

In 1969 I severely cut my left (fretting) hand...cut through tendons and nerves in my thumb, index, and middle finger. Went through five years of multiple surgeries, grafts, nerves moved around. Up to that time, I played rhythm and bass guitar. After about ten years I started noodleing around using my middle finger, ring finger and pinky, but was an uphill battle that always left me frustrated and had no joy in it at all. Then, a friend and I (TGP'er Macmeda), shared an office in 2005 and he got me stoked on all things guitar, and I gave it another shot. Gradually I have improved, and now only have only one legitimate excuse, and that is the index finger will not fully extend (or flatten out) because they removed one of the tendons, and shortened the other one, so certain barring and chording is difficult and often notes that this finger covers mute out. But I'm at a point that I look forward to every minute I can spend 'twangin' and a bendin'. I do wish I would have started playing again a few years earlier, but I guess it wasn't my time.
Twang

[Pietro]

I'd get a real nice camera, go to a really special place that has lots of beauty, and take tones of photos, or maybe write poetry, or maybe paint.

SOMETHING artistic... Then... when the time is right, you'll want to pick it up.

What I do when I'm feeling burned out is write and record some new music, usually a time when I'm in some kind of at least minor turmoil, too. Great therapy, and after a bit I "get it back" again...

[Madison]

I think it happens to us all at some point and time. A small percentage never return, the rest of us eventually jump back into the saddle. I know a few who quit, sold every piece of gear, and NEVER went back...totally lost the desire.

[dantedayjob]

had a few extended breaks... I chipped the tips of my left index and middle fingers off.... not at the same time, happened a few months apart. Those had me off playing for a while. Also had a bo staff come crashing down on the index finger of my left hand when I was sparring with a buddy, probably fractured it, swelled up huge and I couldn't play for a couple weeks.

[Mattbedrock]

Broken right wrist for me. After several weeks when the pain and swelling had subsided, I cut off part of the cast so I could hold a pick and play again. Man, was my doctor pissed.