are my playing days over?

[human123]

First off, I'm not pro, or even particularly good. And my career has always come first (although I'm retired now), but I've always been able to get back involved in playing with others on and off. If not a band activity, at least jamming with folks.

But since Covid destroyed my network (not the people, just the links) I've been unable to connect with others. Answering and posting on Craigslist and Facebook (I will stoop to use Facebook for this), networking etc. has led to nothing meaningful. That's a long time. Could be my age, 64, but I have all the time I need and have more gear than I need.

I feel like selling it all except for the Strat and calling it a day. I'm hoping it's just a phase, but it feels pretty depressing. I don't pick it up that much and when I do it's rehashing the same old stuff. I really enjoy playing, but not as a solo artist. Maybe if I could sing or something. Anyone else feel this way?

 

[PLX]

Anyone else feel this way?

Pretty much 180° from this.

There's never been a better timeline to be a guitar player. I am so stoked to no longer have to deal with people in order to make music. Drum programming software, DAWs, free online guitar lessons & tablature.

I do not miss all the headaches/drama/limitations that goes along with dealing with drummers, bass players, singers.

 

[human123]

Pretty much 180° from this.

There's never been a better timeline to be a guitar player. I am so stoked to no longer have to deal with people in order to make music. Drum programming software, DAWs, free online guitar lessons & tablature.

I do not miss all the headaches/drama/limitations that goes along with dealing with drummers, bass players, singers.

So glad its working out for you!

 

[PLX]

So glad its working out for you!

"Working out" is an understatement.

I'm playing guitar at a level I only dreamt of just a couple years ago.

 

[C-Grin]

I have lost the desire to chase after band situations, and it does make me a bit sad. However I am still having a blast playing and will keep doing so. Maybe a situation will just organicly happen to come along and I will get to play with others again. I really can't take egotistical unreliable a holes anymore though so I'm not sure it will ever happen. Maybe I am one of those a holes .

 

[human123]

"Working out" is an understatement.

I'm playing guitar at a level I only dreamt of just a couple years ago.

Good for you!

 

[dmatthews]

I hear ya...
I've been lucky, but sometimes think of throwing in the towel. At 68 it can be frustrating, but still somehow satisfying.
Have you tried forming your own band instead of trying to fit into some other situation?

 

[human123]

I hear ya...
I've been lucky, but sometimes think of throwing in the towel. At 68 it can be frustrating, but still somehow satisfying.
Have you tried forming your own band instead of trying to fit into some other situation?

I tried to throw a pretty wide net, but no real results.

I'm contemplating, when my finances allow it, to rent studio time and musicans and track these tunes I've written that way. That would get something done, and possibly serve as bag of ready to go songs for a new band. Maybe. I do know a few folks I could pull in, but the lead vocals are going to make or break most of these compositions.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Perhaps you know a guy who knows a guy? Start with another guitarist or bass or drummer? Go from there. Lucky I have friends who play. Only once was in a band where I knew no one to begin with. It imploded in 3 years

 

[dmatthews]

I tried to throw a pretty wide net, but no real results.

I'm contemplating, when my finances allow it, to rent studio time and musicans and track these tunes I've written that way. That would get something done, and possibly serve as bag of ready to go songs for a new band. Maybe. I do know a few folks I could pull in, but the lead vocals are going to make or break most of these compositions.

Lots of people acquire talent online, by that I mean hired guns on the internet/remote.

 

[human123]

Lots of people acquire talent online, by that I mean hired guns on the internet/remote.

You know, that's a good idea!

 

[ibmorjamn]

I have lost the desire to chase after band situations, and it does make me a bit sad. However I am still having a blast playing and will keep doing so. Maybe a situation will just organicly happen to come along and I will get to play with others again. I really can't take egotistical unreliable a holes anymore though so I'm not sure it will ever happen. Maybe I am one of those a holes .

I understand how you feel C- Grin, I don’t think I lost the desire but I’m not actively searching. There is a drummer on bandmix that messaged me but I am hesitant.
When I moved in 2018 I left all the friends who played behind unfortunately.

 

[ibmorjamn]

So glad its working out for you!

I am 65 and my retirement is just ahead soon. I kind of do what PLX is doing, it evolved in to getting better at capturing and recording. Having your own mini studio is fun.
Not exactly the same as playing with other musicians but creating stuff is still fun.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I can no longer play guitars without a lot of pain. For the past 20 years I've played in bands and jams at least once a week. A couple of years ago the pain started and I was getting fatigued from practicing and gigging. It was just a local cover band but we took it seriously. I was gutted when I had to quit. Two months later I was diagnosed with stage iv prostate cancer. I was depressed and hardly ever picked up a guitar. I started selling them. One day my wife came to me and said she wanted to sing while I played. It woke me up. I started playing again but it was painful. She plays ukulele. I could play hers without pain. I bought a baritone uke. We sing and play every day. We do open mics. I go to jams. Last week at a jam I played for three hours through an old beat backline amp. The jam host plugged me in and said let's see how it sounds with some gain. It was awesome. Never give up. You can always find a way to enjoy playing music. Two years ago I thought I was done. Now I'm enjoying playing more than ever.

 

[human123]

I can no longer play guitars without a lot of pain. For the past 20 years I've played in bands and jams at least once a week. A couple of years ago the pain started and I was getting fatigued from practicing and gigging. It was just a local cover band but we took it seriously. I was gutted when I had to quit. Two months later I was diagnosed with stage iv prostate cancer. I was depressed and hardly ever picked up a guitar. I started selling them. One day my wife came to me and said she wanted to sing while I played. It woke me up. I started playing again but it was painful. She plays ukulele. I could play hers without pain. I bought a baritone uke. We sing and play every day. We do open mics. I go to jams. Last week at a jam I played for three hours through an old beat backline amp. The jam host plugged me in and said let's see how it sounds with some gain. It was awesome. Never give up. You can always find a way to enjoy playing music. Two years ago I thought I was done. Now I'm enjoying playing more than ever.

Thank you. Good story (musically, sorry about the illness)! Glad you could re-ignite the flame.

 

[smitty_p]

First off, I'm not pro, or even particularly good. And my career has always come first (although I'm retired now), but I've always been able to get back involved in playing with others on and off. If not a band activity, at least jamming with folks.

But since Covid destroyed my network (not the people, just the links) I've been unable to connect with others. Answering and posting on Craigslist and Facebook (I will stoop to use Facebook for this), networking etc. has led to nothing meaningful. That's a long time. Could be my age, 64, but I have all the time I need and have more gear than I need.

I feel like selling it all except for the Strat and calling it a day. I'm hoping it's just a phase, but it feels pretty depressing. I don't pick it up that much and when I do it's rehashing the same old stuff. I really enjoy playing, but not as a solo artist. Maybe if I could sing or something. Anyone else feel this way?

Though I am not in your situation, I do understand it. I'm currently in a new band and we're starting to get gigs, which is really nice. I was in another band before this one which I also enjoyed and we were gigging a few times a month. The gigging germ has gotten in my blood, so I understand that compulsion and need to be in a band and play out.

One idea may be to see if your local music stores have bulletin boards where you can post your desire to join a band. The open mic thing which @Kerry Brown mentioned is also a great idea. Even if you don't initially play or do anything at an open mic night, you will be able to see others and maybe make connections with them. We did one open mic in my old band and it was a great experience. We're planning on doing something similar with the new band I'm in.

I wouldn't be despondent because of your age. The main issue with age is the vocalist. We've all seen vocalists struggle as they get older. But, even then there are things that can be done. There are bands in my area with retirement age folks and they are quite good and they get regular gigs. Some of those guys actually get more gigs. Since they're retired, they can be more available to play non-weekend dates or even mid-day dates.

Good luck to you man. Keep pushing forward!

 

[ibmorjamn]

I can no longer play guitars without a lot of pain. For the past 20 years I've played in bands and jams at least once a week. A couple of years ago the pain started and I was getting fatigued from practicing and gigging. It was just a local cover band but we took it seriously. I was gutted when I had to quit. Two months later I was diagnosed with stage iv prostate cancer. I was depressed and hardly ever picked up a guitar. I started selling them. One day my wife came to me and said she wanted to sing while I played. It woke me up. I started playing again but it was painful. She plays ukulele. I could play hers without pain. I bought a baritone uke. We sing and play every day. We do open mics. I go to jams. Last week at a jam I played for three hours through an old beat backline amp. The jam host plugged me in and said let's see how it sounds with some gain. It was awesome. Never give up. You can always find a way to enjoy playing music. Two years ago I thought I was done. Now I'm enjoying playing more than ever.

Kerry, I’m glad to hear you are enjoying music again.

 

[iblive]

Only "gigging" I've done was about 10 years on worship team at my church. Played pretty much acoustic only. At this point most likely I'll never play outside the bedroom again. My issue is motivation. I think, "I'm going upstairs and play me some guitar tonight/today." Then sit down to eat supper or watch the Cubs game or mow the yard. Next thing I know, it's three days later and I still haven't sat down to play. Fortunately, even at my advanced age, I can still play. Fingers and hands are a bit stiffer.... a little sore.... and don't bend as easy as they used to..... but so far it hasn't seemed to affect my playing.

So don't give up. Playing music is therapy. Physical, mental and emotional. It's been shown that playing an instrument is good for the brain.

 

[67plexi]

I'm not in a band now but writing songs with my former band mates I just don't mesh with the new drummer
music is like fashion it changes you need to be proficient in most styles of music it's your job to entertain the audience
go to jam night meet others face to face.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Pretty much 180° from this.

There's never been a better timeline to be a guitar player. I am so stoked to no longer have to deal with people in order to make music. Drum programming software, DAWs, free online guitar lessons & tablature.

I do not miss all the headaches/drama/limitations that goes along with dealing with drummers, bass players, singers.

And I'm pretty much 180° from you!

To me, all those things you list pale (to the point of invisibility) compared to playing in a band. I suppose at some point, if I am no longer mobile or develop more serious health issues (as it is, I've had cancer twice, and have lifelong health issues as a result of the various chemo, radiation, and surgeries undergone) that impede playing, or interfere more generally with getting around, then I will of course look into other options.

But meanwhile, no.

I do agree with your opinion that there's never been a better timeline to be a guitar player. The playability level of affordable gear is incredible these days, and modes for learning, recording, and networking with others and discovering new music is beyond what was imaginable a few decades ago.

I'm super fortunate (or blessed, if you do the whole Divine Providence/Greater Power thing) to live in a college town with a local music scene that's basically off the charts, with an extremely high muso-to-normies ratio. To the point that it's actually had not one, but two books chronicling its band/music history (I know that two books ain't so much for some big music mecca like LA, NYC, Chi, or Nashville, but it is for a small Southern town).

I (and my bands) even got a couple passing mentions in the second one above.

NGL, I've always been a band guy. The total (excluding guesting live or on record), over the years, is 19 bands; I'm currently in my main band (since 1996) and two side bands (one new, one since 2015 that had been on a 3-year hiatus until a few weeks back). Not including a couple long-term volunteer church gigs, the last of which ended about 7 years back.

I turned 67 a couple weeks back. Still working (self-employed) as close to full-time as possible.



Good luck Human123! I'll stop rockin' when they throw dirt in my face.