Giving Up After All These Years?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gitfiddler
  • Start date Start date
Leave it be for a while? Yes.

Giving up? Hell no.
 
There have been times when I stepped away from playing in some capacity or another for a while, but I've always gotten back into it.

I'll probably get to a point where I'm willing to let go of having a whole room dedicated to music & gear, and whittle my collection down to the essentials. I don't think I'll ever give up playing and making music entirely.
 
glpg80 said:
Many studies have shown how much of your brain you use playing a musical instrument and how it benefits memory and cognitive skills. It keeps you mentally sharp.
Click to expand...

I must not be playing enough then. I can't remember shit and can barely think my way out of a wet paper bag some days. LOL!
 
The guitar outlasted 2 wives, so there's something right there. I always considered playing a hobby. I had bands from about 15-16 years old.
I haven't considered a band for decades. Most older guys look like complete dicks/ fags pretending they're 18 when playing live.
Coolest thing I ever did was get invited to a Jimi Hendrix 50th B/Day Celebration in San Francisco back in Nov, 1992. Man, I'm from Long Island, first time flying, and going over the Golden Gate Bridge in a Limo. I had the time of my life and when I got back home, and jammed w/ friends, it was never going to reach those heights.
Still buy gear. It's a passion and I'll do it to the end.
 
@PDC. Interesting story. I went to GIT in 90-missed you by just that much-had a buddy in 89 who was probably with you.
I was studying in the back of the class for my medical entrance boards so I probably didn’t get the most out of the experience because I knew I was going elsewhere in life. Chances are I was quitting guitar possibly forever! I went to music school to get a last “hit” so to speak and to live in the epicenter of glam at the time, Hollywood (around the corner from “seventh veil”. Then life started. Really kept the hobby quite loose UNTIL Covid then I got much more serious. It’s more fun and interesting now since I’m paying closer attention, almost as if I started playing in 2020. I can afford good shit, make my own practice times and gig times (4-6) x per year. Just enough for it not to be a job. Best part is I am already well known in my relatively small town (because I take care of these folks medically). Having a cover band and “reminiscing 70’s- 80s tunes”, I’m viewed as a normal person, not just Doc; above no one.
It would be hard to quit again.
 
alund said:
@PDC. Interesting story. I went to GIT in 90-missed you by just that much-had a buddy in 89 who was probably with you.
I was studying in the back of the class for my medical entrance boards so I probably didn’t get the most out of the experience because I knew I was going elsewhere in life. Chances are I was quitting guitar possibly forever! I went to music school to get a last “hit” so to speak and to live in the epicenter of glam at the time, Hollywood (around the corner from “seventh veil”. Then life started. Really kept the hobby quite loose UNTIL Covid then I got much more serious. It’s more fun and interesting now since I’m paying closer attention, almost as if I started playing in 2020. I can afford good shit, make my own practice times and gig times (4-6) x per year. Just enough for it not to be a job. Best part is I am already well known in my relatively small town (because I take care of these folks medically). Having a cover band and “reminiscing 70’s- 80s tunes”, I’m viewed as a normal person, not just Doc; above no one.
It would be hard to quit again.
Click to expand...
I went to GIT in 95. Wanted to go in 85, but had to go to College first, then got in a pretty good band till that ran its course in late 94. Finally got the opportunity to go…certainly not in the heyday, but what a great experience…..no car, no tv just a couple guitars, a stereo and time to play gtr for a year. Learned alot that year.
 
Greazygeo said:
I went to GIT in 95. Wanted to go in 85, but had to go to College first, then got in a pretty good band till that ran its course in late 94. Finally got the opportunity to go…certainly not in the heyday, but what a great experience…..no car, no tv just a couple guitars, a stereo and time to play gtr for a year. Learned alot that year.
Click to expand...
Went to GIT in 94 - Had a blast !
 
Dude, i've been playing since about 1996, that's 27 years, and I'm at a low point with my playing. Probably due to my substance abuse issues?? but I still LOVE to play guitar. and I can't imagine not playing. So if you don't have that feeling when playing then maybe it is time to give up, IDK, but I never will... it's one of the reasons I wake up in the morning.

I really need to practice more new licks and riffs though, cause my playing is starting to stagnate. Also, i'm not as fast or as accurate as I was when I was a 20 - 25 year old shredder, but I try not to let that get to me. I'm almost 40 now, so I kinda expected to lose a bit of my speed with age, but I wonder if I can get it back??

Maybe get a new amp or guitar. That might reignite the passion to play again??
 
glpg80 said:
If you only play guitar for recognition and not for the love of music then IMHO that’s a pretty shitty outlook.

Friendships are one thing, but to go for recognition and fame really means you have to network and treat it like a business. To literally be the best in playing and song writing.

One thing I’ve learned about music is that there is always going to be someone else that can play better than you do. It’s a fact of life - some people have devoted stupid time woodshedding and its a direct result of how bad someone wants to succeed. If fame is the reason you do that and not the love of music I really don’t see how anyone could get far and write killer riffs.
Click to expand...
It has always tripped me out when I see a newly successful singer or band interviewed and they are asked if they had always wanted to do this, and they respond with, “well, I always knew I wanted to be famous. I just didn’t know how I would get there.” The music is secondary in their pursuit of fame, they want special treatment, to be adored by many, worshipped as a higher form of life, etc. I am usually shocked that they say this out loud in an interview.

But, the kardashian culture has created a specific type of fame seeking human monster that are shameless self promotionists and will do or try just about anything to be famous. They will try acting, and that fails, then perhaps give music a shot. That didn’t work, oh well, why not try to become a YouTuber? Didn’t work, well, they can devolve no further and are left with the social influencer or reality show. These people don’t have fun doing any of this stuff, they simply want to be famous. They have zero talent like the kardashians so they may try out a sex tape. when and if they actually become famous, these are the worst people EVER.

What a strange concept. They want to be famous, no idea or talent to get them there, but fame is what they want.

This has nothing to do with the comment you responded to, I just thought about the new era of the shameless self promotionist and it’s so gross.
 
I took a break from '99 to '04. As of now I haven't played in over 2 years.
When the pandemic hit, I was working 6 nights a week so I never had time to spend driving to the room to jam.
Then I just got to the point where driving an hour and a half each way to my gear wasn't worth it.
And once I got there I just wanted to talk to my bro for a while and then get back to the truck.
Building a guitar for my truck now to see if I really wanna keep playing or not.
Even bought a little amp for the truck instead of a bean POD and headphones.
You will want to play again. It's part of you.
 
I play just because I enjoy it. I have no goals, no reason to push myself to learn this or that. I just play to have fun. I don't plan on playing out. I plan on playing for fun until I physically can't.
 
Maybe try playing acoustic for a while, it really makes you think more musically.
 
Greazygeo said:
Just take breaks from it now and then. I started playing in ‘80. Played in original, cover, tribute bands. They were all fun at times. Not playing in anything now and may not again. Hard to say.
The most fun I have is playing and recording at home. Pretty much always has been. Maybe someone will hear it someday, I just enjoy the whole process.

When I need a break I head to the garage and work on my race car or go to the track for a day here and there.

We have to do something with our time while we are here…
Click to expand...
Like you and Racer I also started playing in 1980. During bad times I have taken up to a year off from playing. Now days I play guitar during the winter months and focus on my cars and car shows in the summer.
 
mooncobra said:
But, the kardashian culture has created a specific type of fame seeking human monster that are shameless self promotionists and will do or try just about anything to be famous. They will try acting, and that fails, then perhaps give music a shot. That didn’t work, oh well, why not try to become a YouTuber? Didn’t work, well, they can devolve no further and are left with the social influencer or reality show. These people don’t have fun doing any of this stuff, they simply want to be famous. They have zero talent like the kardashians so they may try out a sex tape. when and if they actually become famous, these are the worst people EVER.
Click to expand...

I'm glad I'm not the only who thinks this way..
There is a new level of Narcissist that needs a new description..
 
I can go for a few months without touching it. I get inspired musically in the middle of the day all the time but by the time I get home from work I’m beat, gotta eat, want to hang with the Wife before she crashes and I can’t play with any enjoyment if I know I’m bugging her while she’s getting to sleep. Headphone, super low volume playing? Not interested. Weekends can easily go by where I think about it but just don’t. I dread the idea of trying to organize playing with others with everything that goes into that but I think I would be so much more rejuvenated, if even 1 day a week to get just a little magic going at volume with other human beings. I find solitary playing, inspirationally, I’m done in about 20-30 minutes. Probably only goes that long because I want to try at least 3 of the too many amps I have..lol
I don’t know if I could ever get rid of the need to hear a big ringing G chord or muscular fat A out of my soul, so I’m not quitting. Part of it for me is I just really dig amps and guitars. Just dig them as creations, so they always hold an interest for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
 
Back
Top