Ever been in "the zone"

[Jondog]

Interesting, think I know what they talking about. Playing and when it's over you don't know where you just were.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/88357 ... body-elses

[Invin]

The writer was a bit sensationalist with some claims, but I do get the basic premise that when we're playing by feel instead of thinking about what note comes next we're entering the zone. Of course I also believe that a lot of practice and skill building is what allows you to do all the things you want to do in the zone, and get there more consistently.

[Ronnie Robinson]

I think occasionally .....but probably a watered down version of what Pro's may experience .......I've certainly played gigs where hitting the notes right has just felt so effortless and a feel that I'm almost one with the guitar and I don't have to concentrate ...I know that sounds really cheesy ...

Of course I've also had many gigs where I just cant find that 'sweet spot' maybe my pickings not quite right or making bum notes

[steverockerjones]

Ah yes the zone is a strange one. I was a vocalist for many years in a rock covers band and have had the experience several times. Although most gigs go well there are those that every aspect comes together ie the sound, confident musicianship and crowd atmosphere that appears to make the gig over in a blink of an eye !
When all is done and your packing up the gear you then realise what just happened it's weird. Like being on auto pilot.

[msmith4432]

Yes I have, and I agree with the above post that lots of practice goes a long way to reaching this place of being in the zone. When you get there your fingers fly from note to note never hitting a bad one and it's effortless. Then when you are finished you feel as if you have truly arrived as a guitar player... Or at least I do ... Only to come back to reality sometime in the near future when I struggle to gets anything feeling smooth

[misterfolkertsma]

Sure....

[snickerpuss]

I getcha. The pros like Hendrix and Page seemed to have private residences in the zone. I just gots a time share.

I think a pretty good example of the zone is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh5gCb1th90

Skip ahead to the 3 minute mark, but the whole feature is pretty interesting.

[Sergeantsnowball]

Certainly. It happens to me not only when I'm playing, but whenever I'm reading, or deep in thought, contemplating. A lot of times I'll sit in the shop alone at night just to appreciate the silence and by the time I'm done meditating, it's almost as though I've had to forcibly snap back into reality. If approached, I wouldn't be able to tell you what I was just looking at, or how long I've been sitting there doing, outwardly, nothing.

It's very calming.

[bclaire]

I definitely get it from time to time but really only when I'm doing an extended solo in a song and go places I don't usually go. I mean, we're the furthest thing from a jam band, but there are songs with sections that allow me to stretch and then that can happen...

As an art teacher and artist, I see it all the time. I'll have my kids working on an art project and at the end of two periods I'll say "Time to clean up" and they'll be shocked that two periods have gone by!

As an educator, multiple intelligence theory helps to explain it - most of our everyday experiences and things like math and history are kind of linear thinking - "this leads to that" in a linear way much like a timeline or math problem. Art is not that way - when you're being creative, the clock in your brain shuts off as you're no longer thinking linearly - you're drawing from all areas of your memory and experiences and that is a free-form, non-linear way of thinking. Then you look up and say "Where did the last three hours go?"

[Spaceboy1]

that article is such a crock of sh*t haha

[DiabloS]

I can't remember which rock doc it was in but Santana called this going supersonic haha. Happens a lot when we jam as a band, but not every single time either.

The article might be a little over the top, but there's some truth to it.

[Randy Bass]

Sometimes when I get done porn surfing, I'll look at the clock and think "where did the last 16 hours go"?

Does that count?

[Tizzer]

Of course I've been in the zone! I think that's what we strive for as players, to keep improving so that we get in the zone more often. I also think there's a different kind of "zone" mentioned in that article, specific to playing with other musicians. You can get into the zone on your own pretty easy I find, but it's extra-special when you and your buddy meet each other in the same zone at the same time. Now I've read the word zone too many times and it doesn't look like a real word anymore.

[Ddjembe Mutombo]

I only get in the zone when I'm playing hoops and my jumper gets wet. BUCKETS!

[Bensnake]

Sometimes when I get done porn surfing...

... my jumper gets wet. BUCKETS!

In the zone!