For example when improvising over chords or backing tracks, if I play too much, my licks start to sound boring and then I start playing sloppy.
Does anyone else feel that too much practice makes you lose creativity?
Also, has anyone found that when you take a break for a while and then pick up the guitar again you play ALOT better?

Thanks In Advance!

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No matter how much you pay for an instrument, in the wrong hands it will always sound "cheap."

Gear:
2007 MIM Stratocaster (Lace Sensor Golds)
Peavey Valveking 112
Behringer TU300, CS100, NR100
Dunlop Crybaby Classic
Marshall BB-2
Ibanez TS-9

I don't think too much practice is bad for creativity.. it is just that if you play a single solo for too long you may run out of melodies to play. When I practice, I usually alternate between Jazz Ensemble Music, Private Lesson Music, and Improvisation.

If I put my guitar down for a bit and come back though, my playing does feel better when I get back

I also think you may be practicing too much of one aspect which is leading to your intrest waning. I never spend more than 20 minutes on any one aspect of playing per day. With the exception of ear training by picking chords out of songs on the radio. Of which i spend roughly 45 mins - 1 hour.
Its quite important to divide practice sessions. I tell anyone that comes to me for lessons to start with 10 mins of finger excersizes a day. What they do after that is their choice. But with excersizes dont get bored and spend too long on em. I take the same attitude when they progress but up the times with chord excersizes and scales, as they are slightly more interesting.

Now you dont appear to be a beginner. So why not change your choice of backing tracks, or do as i do and tune the radio into a station that plays what you dont listen to. Turn your amp down and jam along to a load of songs you dont know.

After a few months of that the world will be your lobster.

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No no and no

That depends on how and what you practice.

The goal of practicing is to be able to play what's in your head without thinking too much about it (comes from knowledge of the fretboard and theory), and to have your hands coordinated and strong enough to play that.

You can't, or at least most people cannot, get to that point without a TON of good, quality practice.

Yeah that happens to me sometimes. When it does I take a five minute break and usually when I come back to it it sounds fine.

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'Good quality practice' being the important term. Dont spend hours playing stuff badly or wrong. That just teaches you to be bad or wrong.
Well structured practice can be a bit of a regime but it gets results.

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No no and no

When it comes to wrting solos beforehand I just figure out the notes that are playing in my head and that usually, if not always ends up being the best one. As for practicing scales and stuff try learning stuff from your favorite artists, basically copying, but a better word for that would be implementing. Imo the whole scales and practices are good if you want to learn improvisation. Writing music and solos before hand and playing them to me always sound the best, but if you want to do something spontaneous and different then learn improvisation. Again, just divide your practice sessions and play along with other music, like that one guy said.

Good advice here. I know I also get tired of the Major/minor scales when playing alot of rock music. To me it seems like my stuff starts to get lame. So then, again like other dude said, I try to play different genres like jazz or maybe some Nashville chickin' pickin' stuff. By the way, guitarplayertv.com has some great Nashville lessons (and loads of other styles) with videos and tabs, all free.

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

I think that every once in a while a person needs a little break. Maybe take one wekend off from playing. Smell the roses or whatever. Just don't stay on break too long.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

There's no such thing as too much practice. And practicing a lot won't hurt your creativity. What it may do, however is expose a lack of creativity already there.

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http://www.jascoguitar.com

I actually just took a couple day break after playing 1-2 hours a day for a couple months straight. I was getting to the point where I couldn't play a song or to a backing track without sounding boring (to myself).

I figure in another day or two I'll pick it up and jam again, and usually when I do this (cuz I've done this rotation before) I feel like I'm playing a lot better and can improvise better after this break.

Instead of a break, maybe next time try playing some music in a style that's completely new to you. You may find concepts that you can apply to your familiar styles in a unique way.

Try flamenco, classical, bluegrass, country or some-such.

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http://www.jascoguitar.com

Perhaps if you are practice the same stuff over, and over, and over, but if you regularly change up what you practice and how you practice I can't see it stifling your creativity.

If you normally play metal, try some country licks.
Into blues? Practice some jazz
Play alot of "chunka chunka"? First slam your head in the fridge :D, then try some standard tuning undistorted fingerstyle stuff.

Reggae is pretty neat too if you find yourself in a rut.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

suggest read "Zen Guitar"

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Guitar-Philip ... 068483877X

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Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

Great suggestion. One of my favorite books ever. They have a site too, but it seems a little disorganized at times.

http://users.maui.net/~zen_gtr/