...this is peculiar. i never understood how things of this nature can be so difficult for some people and so easy for others. of course we've all had our "hitting the wall" moments and those moments where frustration rules over everything else, but if you've been playing this long and this hard and not getting the rhythm and feel or the technique down yet, maybe you're wasting your practice time. i'm curious as to know what you practice and whatnot.

i disagree with superhuman about "forgetting" theory or whatever; it's a blanket statement and we all utilize musical theory when we play, no matter how basic. i just can't imagine someone actually saying "nah, i'd rather NOT know what notes are in this chord so i can be limited to box shapes and stock licks". i know that's not what you meant, superhuman, because you're obviously a well-versed musician. but having a refined ear is the counterpart to KNOWING why you like what you hear. sure, if you break things down mathematically some people don't dig that train of thought. but you tell me how to play "giant steps" or coletrane changes without looking at music from a mathematical point of view-because our ears would have a hell of a hard time making that chordal connection without knowing what's going on. our ears can suppliment the theory most times, and often override it...but why abandon that entire aspect of musical understanding?