Unexplained progress jump

[chomper76]

Work has been killing me trying to juggle multiple projects with tight deadlines. As such I have not had time to pick up my guitar in nearly a month. My callouses have definitely started to fade, however a piece I was working on that I was struggling with came together almost immediately.

I was afraid I would have to start from scratch with the layoff, but I can't explain it. My fingers started doing what they stubbornly refused to do.

I can't explain it, but I am happy to be back to guitar.

[Jupiter Tarts]

This happens to me all the time. This was especially true when I was a university student. I'd focus on something really hard and not get it. Then I'd take a walk, leave it alone, go about my day, come back to it and everything Would make sense.

To me, trying to cram information into your head and hands is like try to cram too many people through door at once. Eventually you can't cram anymore since too many people get stuck in the door so you have to step back and let people pass one by one. Once you've left something alone for a little, it's much easier to relax the next time you try something again for the most part. Not true for everyone though as some people have exceptionally wide doors for processing info.

[reholli]

I too have experienced unexplained progress jumps, and don't really have any idea why this occurs.

Sometimes taking a longer break than planned seems to trigger this. Mostly I play my parlor (more comfortable), but sometimes I'll pick up my dreadnought for a few days, and sometimes this also will trigger an unexplained progress jump.

All I can say is "Thank God for small (big?) favors!"

[Wasabi65]

Originally Posted by chomper76

Work has been killing me trying to juggle multiple projects with tight deadlines. As such I have not had time to pick up my guitar in nearly a month. My callouses have definitely started to fade, however a piece I was working on that I was struggling with came together almost immediately.

.

Perhaps your boss would let you do the same with your multiple projects?

I often tell my university students to take a break from writing their dissertations when it is clear that they are becoming overwhelmed by what they are doing and start getting in a rut. There is something about backing-off and allowing your brain some time to reorganise itself. Glad that you are enjoying it again!

[MexicoMike]

This is well documented in the classical music world and famous pedagogues regularly preach "time off." I had never heard of it/thought about it until I started taking violin lessons a few years back and my instructor - who was a student of Dorothy Delay (who taught Perlman and others) - made a big point of this. I discovered it worked just as well with the guitar as it did with the violin! In fact, I learned more about good/effective practicing habits in the first year of violin study than I had learned in decades of playing the guitar!

[jeepnstein]

I have made far more progress as a player since I've backed off a bit and started messing with an upright bass. It has forced me to look into theory harder and look at my guitar playing in a different light. Your time off has done the same thing for you.

Isn't it wonderful when that happens?

[djh1765]

Originally Posted by chomper76

Work has been killing me trying to juggle multiple projects with tight deadlines. As such I have not had time to pick up my guitar in nearly a month. My callouses have definitely started to fade, however a piece I was working on that I was struggling with came together almost immediately.

I was afraid I would have to start from scratch with the layoff, but I can't explain it. My fingers started doing what they stubbornly refused to do.

I can't explain it, but I am happy to be back to guitar.

Congratulations on your success.

Wish I could say the same. Seems I can't make it through a song without making some kind of mistake. It's frustrating.
djh

[clintj]

I hope this works for me. I just got the okay to play for short stints again from the doc; had to take off two weeks for a back injury at work.

[unimogbert]

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[HHP]

I think we remember the music but forget to make the mistakes during a break.

[Mr Fixit eh]

Originally Posted by chomper76

I was afraid I would have to start from scratch with the layoff, but I can't explain it. My fingers started doing what they stubbornly refused to do.

I can't explain it, but I am happy to be back to guitar.

Not all learning is linear, in other words progress is not just related to time invested in practicing. Muscle memory is a really curious thing. It is amazing how a bit of time off will result in unexpected improvement.

I use the phenomenon to my advantage by often setting aside a difficult tune for a while and move on to work on something else. Often, when I eventually come back to it, it's ALOT easier.

Steve

[roylor4]

There is a Japanese word - "Mushin" that has a little something to do with this too, imo. It means "no-mind". Initially it was used about a samurai that would go on "automatic pilot" during combat - perfectly executing cuts and strikes he had practiced over and over.

I think sometimes when you stick with something and focus on it for too long it can start to feel impossible. When you returned to it after time away you were less concerned with perfection, and were therefore able to come closer to achieving it.

T think this is part of the equation anyway.

[Azaro Ariño]

I think part of the explanation is a break.

When I powerlifted, I made my biggest gains when coach made us take a week off.

[Themusicmaam]

I wouldn't recommend not playing at all for a month, but moving on to a different piece if you can't get a song right is a great idea. I have lots of songs to get back to lol.