Smart_Patrol
Joined: Feb 14, 2016
Posts: 103
Brighton
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Posted on Mar 05 2017 12:50 PM
crumble wrote:
Smart_Patrol wrote:
Sleep deprivation and me are rather well acquainted, heh.
Try some cocoa or chocolate drink before bedtime. Since trying this I can leap out of bed before the alarm and whistle the original Tomorrows World theme tune start to finish no problem at all. 
Good shout, I'll try that out tonight!
maximumsurfandroll wrote:
Make sure you are well hydrated. Any dehydration will cause your muscles to seize up and cramp. Especially relevant when you're playing live in a stuffy venue with hot stage lights blasting down at you. Always keep a drink nearby (and no, beer doesn't count!)
Also a good point, most of my practice time is after work, so I'm sure some water certainly wouldn't hurt!
Thanks for all the replies so far, I've shifted my strap about and tried a few different picks (found the rounded triangular Jake recommended especially good) and I am noticing a difference! Cheers guys
— Earth. Atomizer. Let's go.
The Atom Jacks
The Tridents
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Mar 09 2017 12:00 PM
maximumsurfandroll wrote:
Make sure you are well hydrated. Any dehydration will cause your muscles to seize up and cramp. Especially relevant when you're playing live in a stuffy venue with hot stage lights blasting down at you. Always keep a drink nearby (and no, beer doesn't count!)
Beer doesn't count?! But it's 96% water!
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Mar 09 2017 12:27 PM
da-ron wrote:
maximumsurfandroll wrote:
Make sure you are well hydrated. Any dehydration will cause your muscles to seize up and cramp. Especially relevant when you're playing live in a stuffy venue with hot stage lights blasting down at you. Always keep a drink nearby (and no, beer doesn't count!)
Beer doesn't count?! But it's 96% water!
For future thread searchers (you probably know this) but it will act as a diuretic. The headache part of a hangover is because you've dehydrated your brain.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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maximumsurfandroll
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 182
Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted on Mar 09 2017 12:44 PM
Beer doesn't count?! But it's 96% water!
I think you need to have strong words with your local watering hole...
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Mar 10 2017 06:08 AM
maximumsurfandroll wrote:
Beer doesn't count?! But it's 96% water!
I think you need to have strong words with your local watering hole...
It's mathematical. IT's 4% alcohol, therefore 96% water. 
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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Smart_Patrol
Joined: Feb 14, 2016
Posts: 103
Brighton
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 09:01 AM
Hey guys, sorry to drag this old thread up, but I'm kinda stumped at the moment.
Since this thread, everything has been fine, picking has been all good, having no trouble.
Then one day about four weeks ago, I wake up and it's just gone, any speed or accuracy I had just went overnight, and I don't know why. Strumming is still fine, even normal and hybrid picking, but tremolo stuff has just gone right out the window. I spent a few weeks trying to get it back, but it didn't feel like I was getting anywhere at all.
Cut to about a week ago, I wake up one day and can tremolo pick just fine, like nothing happened, all back to normal. I was more than pleased, and didn't really think much of it.
Only now it's just happened again, woke up a couple of days ago not able to tremolo pick again.
I'm really at a loss here. I've not changed anything this whole time. I'm still using the same picks, same strings, same guitar(s). I'm not under any extra stress, sleeping fine, etc. I'm hoping that someone here might have some insight into what's going on, because it's driving me up the wall!
Any clues?
— Earth. Atomizer. Let's go.
The Atom Jacks
The Tridents
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 09:43 AM
Smart_Patrol wrote:
Hey guys, sorry to drag this old thread up, but I'm kinda stumped at the moment.
Since this thread, everything has been fine, picking has been all good, having no trouble.
Then one day about four weeks ago, I wake up and it's just gone, any speed or accuracy I had just went overnight, and I don't know why. Strumming is still fine, even normal and hybrid picking, but tremolo stuff has just gone right out the window. I spent a few weeks trying to get it back, but it didn't feel like I was getting anywhere at all.
Cut to about a week ago, I wake up one day and can tremolo pick just fine, like nothing happened, all back to normal. I was more than pleased, and didn't really think much of it.
Only now it's just happened again, woke up a couple of days ago not able to tremolo pick again.
I'm really at a loss here. I've not changed anything this whole time. I'm still using the same picks, same strings, same guitar(s). I'm not under any extra stress, sleeping fine, etc. I'm hoping that someone here might have some insight into what's going on, because it's driving me up the wall!
Any clues?
Are sure it wasn't all a bad dream?
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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Smart_Patrol
Joined: Feb 14, 2016
Posts: 103
Brighton
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 11:00 AM
da-ron wrote:
Are sure it wasn't all a bad dream?
I can only hope so. Any second now I'll wake up again and it'll all be cool...
— Earth. Atomizer. Let's go.
The Atom Jacks
The Tridents
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Squid
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1018
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 12:24 PM
This sounds like performance anxiety. It can interfere without your being aware of it. Even professionally trained classical musicians (pianists, violinists) have effects from it, and some develop impairing tremors. I have even seen performance anxiety tremors in surgeons.
One OTC med that tends to cut body tension anxiety without causing impairment is acetaminophen (Tylenol). This is why it works on tension headaches. For some people ibuprofen works as well or better (or not as well). Recently acetaminophen was found to decrease anxiety by acting through the endocannabinoid system. Drinking alcohol on top of acetaminophen may hurt the liver, so that is a caution.
A variety of prescription meds can decrease performance anxiety without impairing coordination. Beta-blockers such as metoprolol are usually a good choice, and musicians take these drugs for performance anxiety. However, they can cause orthostasis in young adults unless they are heavy set or hypertensive.
Alcohol and benzodiazepines (such as xanax) impair coordination and memory. There may be benefits from "a little alcohol" but not from habitual drinking of course. If you were drinking on the night before your picking difficulties, that may have contributed.
— Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com
Last edited: Jul 29, 2018 12:27:13
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Rob_J
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 500
Sacto, CA
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 01:07 PM
Wish I had some useful advice but I have never been good at tremolo picking. I've been following this thread hoping it would help me also. My tremolo picking is generally pretty bad. I especially struggle when trying to play a smooth glissando. Mine are most accurately described as "sloppy". One thing that I've noticed is that thinner picks work better for me for in this regard but thin picks don't work well for regular picking. I use Fender mediums. For me, I suspect it's just a matter of continuing to work at it and hopefully stumbling across the right technique. Guys who are good at this make it look effortless - I'm not one of them.
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Smart_Patrol
Joined: Feb 14, 2016
Posts: 103
Brighton
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 02:28 PM
Thanks for the input guys.
I think I might have figured it out, at least to some extent. We've been having a heatwave here, nothing crazy but a fair bit warmer than we're used to over here. I'd started having difficulties a couple of days after coming back from holiday, when the heatwave started.
It died down a bit a couple of weeks ago, and I managed to get back in to playing. Then it came back, I lost it again.
It's been much cooler today, and I've been able to get back into the groove a bit.
Guess I just can't handle the heat!
— Earth. Atomizer. Let's go.
The Atom Jacks
The Tridents
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MichaelK7
Joined: Jul 01, 2018
Posts: 106
NYC
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Posted on Jul 29 2018 08:05 PM
Rob_J wrote:
Wish I had some useful advice but I have never been good at tremolo picking. I've been following this thread hoping it would help me also. My tremolo picking is generally pretty bad. I especially struggle when trying to play a smooth glissando. Mine are most accurately described as "sloppy". One thing that I've noticed is that thinner picks work better for me for in this regard but thin picks don't work well for regular picking. I use Fender mediums. For me, I suspect it's just a matter of continuing to work at it and hopefully stumbling across the right technique. Guys who are good at this make it look effortless - I'm not one of them.
This sounds exactly like the situation I'm in. If I ever join a surf band, I'll just play rhythm, with the occasional lead on a slower track.
— Deal with reality, or reality will deal with you.
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1378
New Orleans
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Posted on Jul 30 2018 08:48 AM
This sounds like a nightmare! I hope it comes back, but also that it gets figured out. I almost always play with a certain herbal enhancement and my tremelo picking has actually gotten really fast. I use the 1mm Cool Pick triangles with the blue sandpaper.
Dan Izen
— Daniel Deathtide
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djangodeadman
Joined: Jan 25, 2007
Posts: 1568
Brighton UK
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Posted on Jul 30 2018 10:38 AM
It's old age catching up with you , Jamie. trust me, I know 
More seriously, I'm sure you'll recapture the magic. You certainly have a good few years on me.
— Los Fantasticos
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Smart_Patrol
Joined: Feb 14, 2016
Posts: 103
Brighton
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Posted on Jul 30 2018 12:18 PM
DeathTide wrote:
This sounds like a nightmare! I hope it comes back, but also that it gets figured out. I almost always play with a certain herbal enhancement and my tremelo picking has actually gotten really fast. I use the 1mm Cool Pick triangles with the blue sandpaper.
Dan Izen
It's not been fun, but I'm hoping just powering though as best as I can will work. I did try playing with some 1mms (I usually use .88) and found it a little easier at the moment, might be worth trying some new stuff again.
djangodeadman wrote:
It's old age catching up with you , Jamie. trust me, I know
More seriously, I'm sure you'll recapture the magic. You certainly have a good few years on me.
Next thing I know I'll be complaining about my knees every time I sit down!
I hope so, it seems to come and go which is odd, but so far the times I've been able to pick are much longer than the times I can't, so I've got that going for me at least hahaha!
— Earth. Atomizer. Let's go.
The Atom Jacks
The Tridents
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