im kinda bummed

heltershelton said:
i havent played in awhile.
just havent felt like it.
this kinda thing has happened in the past but it never lasted this long.
im starting to wonder if i even want to ever play again. ive been sitting here considering selling all my stuff and saying to hell with it.
Click to expand...
Nah man dont go doing that mess. I think its natural to go into slumps in life, in anything you do, especially playing guitar. But, to call it quits entirely isn't the answer. You gotta remember what made you want to get a guitar and try to figure it out in the first place and go back to your roots there.

There's times i dont even wanna look at a guitar because i get bummed out, burned out and flushed out with other things in life. Life overwhelms us all sometimes. But on the same token: guitar has often been the last ounce of sanctuary and sanity i have left when all else goes to pure and utter poop. You can go play a sad song and channel out your misery or you can go play something defiant and raucous to boost your spirits. But theres always an escape there somewhere

If you need someone to talk to man, we're always here!
 
Brother, I have been there before.

It is ok to stop for a while and regroup.


But, the one thing in my life that has been constant and supportive has been my music. Playing is my safe space. It has kept me sane when everything else in my life has fallen apart.

I'm always here if you want to talk.
 
heltershelton said:
i havent played in awhile.
just havent felt like it.
this kinda thing has happened in the past but it never lasted this long.
im starting to wonder if i even want to ever play again. ive been sitting here considering selling all my stuff and saying to hell with it.
Click to expand...
Going through something similar here. Just no ambition to fire things up in what little free time I've had lately. I never consider scrapping it all though. I know that one day soon there will be a piece of music that I will have to get out of my head, and through some speakers. Be well sir!
:cheers:
 
For me, it seems a bit like work lately. Yesterday, I had THAT thought - "am I really getting any better, or just kidding myself" - and the follow up thought - "You should really be much better by now". I had to remind myself that I was not in a competition, it is supposed to be fun, and all the rest.

In the end, the only thing that has proven consistently correct, is that in the big picture, there is a benefit to perseverance through the rough patches - with guitar, in relationships, in business, with health, and the rest of life.

This too shall pass
 
heltershelton said:
i havent played in awhile.
just havent felt like it.
this kinda thing has happened in the past but it never lasted this long.
im starting to wonder if i even want to ever play again. ive been sitting here considering selling all my stuff and saying to hell with it.
Click to expand...
I can identify. At my church I was on worship team. About 10 years. All volunteer so I’d play about once every 4-6 weeks. I enjoyed it. Bunch of good people. Some real talent. But I got to the point it wasn’t fun anymore. Didn’t want to practice. Wasn’t picking up a guitar just for fun. Wasn’t fair to the other guys on the team, so I took a hiatus. Which seems to have become permanent. Which is ok. It took a few months but one day I was just sorta…. Gotta go play some. And the fun was back. Buying the Hagstom Viking and blue Strat didn’t hurt. ;)
 
Breaks are good, and somewhat natural. I haven't been inspired to write anything new in years. The entire time I was traveling for work, it was up to me to write songs, book shows, and schedule practice. Drummer could never make practice, bass player didn't really want to play shows, why bother with the effort? Now drummer is out with a knee replacement, and getting his hip done once healthy enough.

Lately, having a different drummer around once a month or so has been fun. We just basically woodshed some acid rock or stoner stuff. Not having any demands has been nice. Playing a nice acoustic has also been good for the head. I'm sure when our regular drummer gets his hip replaced and gets healthy again he'll be wanting me to work again, but I'll cross that bridge then. Having no commitments has been fun. Still have no time to do much on my own, but I do look forward to jamming. Maybe tomorrow night I'll get a few minutes to strum a guitar.
 
Sorry your down HS .....
just peaking for me guitar (or bass) is a respite in itself -- a buble I can "pop up" around me anytime to HIDE from all the CRAP of life--
I really dont play all that well anymore -- and I very rarely play anything structured -- written-- or mimicked...I do not play with others ....in a band or a "situation" that requires any of the concept of the playing to seem like WORK

I just -- play -- I turn OFF all the poop of the day ......frankly my mind goes blank (flatlining) -- I relax -- and I just .....play (its damn addictive)

I dont STRESS about "notes" or forms -- scales modes or function -- Im not trying to "GET IT RIGHT" ... or SOUND LIKE (insert guitar god here______) or STRANGLE out a melody or note -- or pattern ----
its free form and organic and has nothing to do with all the B.S. that its SUPPOSED to be-- "structured" conformed ... documented controlled and written down on a page to FOLLOW some grand plan or time signature .........

"F" all that ........................... pick the damn thing up crank the amp and just wail -- or -- if your mood isnt that -- cut the distortion go clean and get your jazz on .... or some classical or country ish ---...or improvisational jazz with metal overtones (my personal favorite) -- I listen to the amp-- the strings-- the TONES -- not really the NOTES so much, but the tones and the tones are good......

dont make it a chore ......................... make it the reward !
 
Clockworkmike said:
Nah man dont go doing that mess. I think its natural to go into slumps in life, in anything you do, especially playing guitar. But, to call it quits entirely isn't the answer. You gotta remember what made you want to get a guitar and try to figure it out in the first place and go back to your roots there.

There's times i dont even wanna look at a guitar because i get bummed out, burned out and flushed out with other things in life. Life overwhelms us all sometimes. But on the same token: guitar has often been the last ounce of sanctuary and sanity i have left when all else goes to pure and utter :poo:. You can go play a sad song and channel out your misery or you can go play something defiant and raucous to boost your spirits. But theres always an escape there somewhere

If you need someone to talk to man, we're always here!
Click to expand...
the main reason i picked up a guitar was because playing the sax in the school marching and concert band wasnt getting me laid.
as soon as i picked up a guitar and started rockin....guess what!!!.....peeho out the ass.
now im all old and it pretty much doesnt matter any more.
 
heltershelton said:
the main reason i picked up a guitar was because playing the sax in the school marching and concert band wasnt getting me laid.
as soon as i picked up a guitar and started rockin....guess what!!!.....peeho out the ass.
now im all old and it pretty much doesnt matter any more.
Click to expand...
Lol did better than me, my friend: cant say i swung one single phone number, let alone batted a home run by playing guitar or being in a band in general. I'm the undisputed strike out champ in that league. MTV lied to me
 
heltershelton said:
thanks guys.....i imagine ill want to pick it up again...i hope.
right now im doing other stuff.
Click to expand...

Other stuff is fun too! I laid my guitars down about 6 months or so ago to pursue my knife making hobby.

I picked up the guitar the other day and it was a lot of fun again. I just had to deal with the fact I'll never be
anything more than a mediocre player and do it for the enjoyment...
 
heltershelton said:
the main reason i picked up a guitar was because playing the sax in the school marching and concert band wasnt getting me laid.
as soon as i picked up a guitar and started rockin....guess what!!!.....peeho out the ass.
now im all old and it pretty much doesnt matter any more.
Click to expand...

Dude,

You are on your own unique path. You gotta find what moves you....I started playing for a living at 14 and dropped outta high school to follow my dream. For me, it was being able to finally feel like - for once in my life - I really mattered. Over the years, I became enamored with the fact that people paid me a good living to play guitar when there are far better players out there playing for free. Music is still my only source of income and I absolutely love it. There are days when I am sitting in a room at my studio job (which is part time now) and I am the only one in the room without a Grammy award/nomination. I truly thank God for where i am because there is no other explanation.

From time to time I to have been frustrated and thought about quitting, but deep down, I knew that I could never go back to the old way of not fitting in...being invisible so, for me, the choice was easy. Music is a way of life for me. One of the greatest lesson I ever learned was to never make major changes in the eye of the storm.

Take some time to find your way.

I'm available in real time if you ever wanna chat about life and things on the down low.

Be blessed...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top