Mindblocks

[Findarian]

I'm trying to collect some information on mindblocks. If anyone can answer either or both of these questions that would be awesome. The more the better.

How do you get mindblocks?

How do you get rid of mindblocks?


If you just agree with another person, please post it, knowing which is the most prevalent way of getting or getting rid of mindblocks is a great thing to know.
The information is being put to use on another thread.. I'll link it up when I finally have it done.

[Zyphoror]

For me, I think I get mindblocks when I repeatedly do a part over and over again, mash or not.
Not playing the file for a while or just simply putting mirror on helps me with my mindblocks imo, dunno how it is for other people.

[EzExZeRo7497]

You tend to get mindblocks on files that you can memorise with ease, and then you memorise it wrongly and then well, you do the part wrong. Which is also why I don't get mindblocks with bursts, it's a little too fast to be memorised for me.

How do you get rid of mindblocks is pretty difficult though. You can either don't play the file for a long time and you might forget about the file (Doesn't work all the time though, some people still have mindblocks for years), Mirror or just paying extra attention to the part that you're blocked on.

[Winrar]

The way I look at it is a mindblock is when you overthink a pattern and/or say to yourself that it's really difficult. It's hard to conquer them, so mirror or try different songs then come back to it.

[nois-or-e]

Originally Posted by nois-or-e

whenever I get a mindblock, I change my settings from stepmania/1.95x to letters/2.15x mirror

Sounds retarded but my best attempt at a file is normally my sightread. So this is almost like a 'reset' button for me. Makes it look so borked that when I replay it normally it appears to be a brand new chart ;D

doot~

[Poison-]

Originally Posted by Zyphoror

For me, I think I get mindblocks when I repeatedly do a part over and over again

This. Mine are all on the beginning of files, since I can replay them so many times so quickly, I tend to develop bad habits on them.

[qqwref]

Originally Posted by EzExZeRo7497

You tend to get mindblocks on files that you can memorise with ease, and then you memorise it wrongly and then well, you do the part wrong.

This, basically. It's all about getting used to making a mistake. My personal way around it is to force myself to read the notes - mirror helps, as does playing the song on mute or using a different noteskin/speedmod.

[iironiic]

Originally Posted by qqwref

This, basically. It's all about getting used to making a mistake. My personal way around it is to force myself to read the notes - mirror helps, as does playing the song on mute or using a different noteskin/speedmod.

It might simply be a preference, but I find doing the opposite easier to rid mindblocks. Instead of forcing myself to read the notes, I would either a) focus on a specific colored note(s), b) just play the part without putting too much thought. For example, I use a) to help me get rid of mindblocks in the beginning of Rottel where I put more attention on the red and blue notes. I let muscle memory tackle the rest. However, I use b) in one awkward jumpstream part in Canary Part V, and it helps ease the mindblock haha.

Basically, to sum this post up, I rely on muscle memory to help me get past my mindblocks.

[Izzy]

I believe you get mindblocks when you are anticipating a particular part of a song. You will become anxious and that causes you to mess up. I don't feel like there is any easy way to get rid of it quickly other than trying to play it on mirror.

To avoid mindblocks in the first place I'd recommend not playing files more than twice in a row.

[samurai7694]

sometimes when I play new files, I can tell that I'm going to get mental blocks on a certain pattern if it already feels uncomfortable to hit. (in my case, I despise 121 mini trill patterns or just any one handed patterns/anchors in particular. running men patterns at very fast BPMs are troublesome too like in #est heavy).



here's what I do:

1st option: Have focus points. In my case, I usually focus on 8th notes (blue arrows) and it sort of guides me to the type of pattern it is, how many frames apart it is from the next or previous note, and how to time it perfectly or at least near the early-perfect window. If the pattern has no 8th notes, then I focus on 4th notes, or 16th notes, etc.

2nd option: Mirror. This option is usually used when I feel curious enough to play the file reversed and see if it feels more comfortable on the opposite hand, which in most cases it does and almost feels like a different file. Perhaps you feel better with rolls that start on the right arrow than on the left, or vice versa.

3rd option: Take away arrows. In other words, it's just like the 1st option, except you're not focusing on just an arrow color, but all the notes to that arrow. If you feel dominant on the up and right arrows, or just one of those two, focus on that/those arrow(s) and hopefully it should help you keep in rhythm. This may not work for everyone but it sometimes helps me and is a personal tip that I follow.

4th option: Screenshot the pattern. Pinpoint framers, different ways to hit the pattern with precision. For example, one could have issues with trills and hit them as jumps/flams/quick gallops and get away with it (I would rather you actually hit the trill accurately but in some cases it's excusable for high BPM charts). Also with fast rolls, you can jump trill them and there won't be much of a problem. If I notice a pattern has spin or roll patterns and then an awkward transition (assuming it's a burst which means it's at a very fast NPS), I lose focus on the first notes since I know those are easy patterns and hit them as jump trills (so if it's like 1243 1234 then a random 1423, the first 8 notes can be hit as [12][34] jumps or flams, so hit it like that twice, then focus on that next 1423 pattern with precision). In other words, take the easy patterns away, and focus on that awkward pattern. Take baby steps to tackle that awkward section by focusing on what's hard.

5th option: Replay spam. If the awkward pattern is only in the beginning, try this method. Play up until that part, and hit only the first 2-3 notes of the pattern, then just don't press anything and let the game quit on itself. Repeat this for 3-4 tries. Then add another note and hit the first 4 notes of the pattern (making sure you get perfects or at least as many perfects as you can). Repeat this for a few more tries, and keep doing this until you hit the whole pattern perfectly).

6th option: Isolation files. If you can make them, go for it. Since the FFR online converter is down, try it on Stepmania. The music doesn't really matter, but duplicate the pattern and play it over and over again until you get the hang of it.

[Mau5]

I fix them by either A) Not playing them for an extended period of time
Or B) Sometimes i recreate the pattern giving me trouble in SM5 and whore it at a higher bpm than the actual sound, about a million times.

SM makes you BETTER <3

[TC_mistrisofevl]

Originally Posted by Izzy

To avoid mindblocks in the first place I'd recommend not playing files more than twice in a row.

That would of been wonderful advice before I whored Rottel ~650 times in a row creating the worst mindblock ever.

[DossarLX ODI]

I'm considering asking Hakulyte if I can add some "pattern practice" files to help break down patterns more, because isolation files themselves don't necessarily *show* you how to approach a certain pattern (and by breaking it down, I mean removing the crap in between the hardest parts, lol)