[Squildjian]

For the past couple of days, I've felt weirdly dissatisfied with my performance of songs and solos. Has this happened to others? Do you ever get out of it?

[Tainojim]

Is this what it feels like?

YouTube - Twilight Zone Season 3 intro

[Squildjian]

That seems mildly metaphorical to my situation, but I'm not sure why. I just feel like I'm less in the pocket, my hi hat subaccents aren't as coordinated, my solos aren't as formatted or interesting, and my playing as a whole has taken a step down for some reason.

[Tainojim]

We all go through this rut every so often. What does help allot is to work on what I call the ambidextrous workout. Instead of starting with the left, you start with your right. It also happens with what some drummers call habits. When every beat in all the songs sound exactly the same. So as to play the same riffs over and over and you really can't help it. Snap out of it by taking a break once in a while instead of pushing yourself. Take a walk in the woods sort speaking and blank out your mind for a little while.

Then listen to some music that you haven't listened to in a long time. That should reset your mind and you'll start off fresh with some new creative beats.

Does that make any sense to you?

[Squildjian]

I found that simply getting my mind off of drumming, something that I'd actually feared in the past would hinder my performance, and going for a long walk at the beach brought me out of my rut and back to the place of contentment that I was in before, but I tried your workout anyway just because it seemed interested, and I think that it is helpful whether or not to bring new life to drumming. I found that it could improve, in my case, left hand speed as well as refreshing performance. Thanks.

[Harry]

Hi Squildjian,

I think it would be fair to say, that we all have hit "the snag" that way.
For me, it helped tremendously to just leave the drumming alone for a couple of days, do not even listen to music.

Instead do some good physical workouts, in my case put 80 laps in the pool, bike myself silly for 45 minutes in a RPM class, and puch the living daylight out of a punch bag.

Drumming is quite demanding on body and mind!
Because timing, suppleness, ambidexterity, feel and groove all have to happen in the same spot of time, the body and mind are sometimes spitting the dummy.

Anyhow it worked for me, maybe tending to a stamp collection may work for others.

Cheers and Happy Drumming,

Harry

[The Rev]

It could always be your position or the position of your drums, if not, try practicing your fundamentals, always helps

[Der Trommler]

A bad day or two of sleep and/or stress can have this effect also. So going on what Harry and Jim said, just find something that will refresh and relax you (walk on the beach, hot tub, all nighter, nooner and so on) and it will all fall back into place again.

[daveontrak]

Originally Posted by Squildjian

For the past couple of days, I've felt weirdly dissatisfied with my performance of songs and solos. Has this happened to others? Do you ever get out of it?

It happens to every musician. I've been stuck in several ruts during my playing career, but there's always a way out. Try practicing styles of songs you don't normally play that you're uncomfortable with. I also strongly suggest taking some lessons from someone that's considerably better than you. Or at the very least, get a couple of really good instructional DVDs. Dave Weckl has two out that are brilliant. "Back to the basics" and The next step." In my opinion, they're "must own" vids for any serious drummer. Here's a link to most of his stuff.
Dave Weckl - DVD/VHS Instructional Products
No matter what style of music you play, these vids will pull you out of your rut. Good luck!

[chezm]

this happened to me for 5 years straight.