Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
yup, you need to buy more effects pedals.
I suck at playing the guitar
- Thread starter Seamus OReally
- Start date
Fiesta Red
Well-Known Member
When my skills become stale, degrade or limitations occur due to health, I just figure out a different way to do what I want to do.
As a vocalist, I can’t do what I used to do. Surgeries on my neck and just age in general have destroyed my falsetto and upper registers of my natural voice.
As a harp/harmonica player, several bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis as well as gaining ten pounds in all the wrong places (right under my diaphragm) have made sure I don’t have the lung power I had twenty years ago.
Finally: eczema, arthritis and age have made the speed and flexibility of my hands (which was never great to begin with) go straight to Hades.
So what do I do?
Re-key the songs so they fit my new vocal range.
Play harp songs in a different fashion, which means I can’t do some of the “hold the note for a solid eight bars” thing anymore, but play more and/or better licks.
On guitar, I have to play more slide, use alternate tunings, use a capo, adjust my technique so my hands can keep up with the songs.
BUT DON’T GIVE UP!
By the way: I suck at playing guitar, too…but I ain’t gonna stop.
As a vocalist, I can’t do what I used to do. Surgeries on my neck and just age in general have destroyed my falsetto and upper registers of my natural voice.
As a harp/harmonica player, several bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis as well as gaining ten pounds in all the wrong places (right under my diaphragm) have made sure I don’t have the lung power I had twenty years ago.
Finally: eczema, arthritis and age have made the speed and flexibility of my hands (which was never great to begin with) go straight to Hades.
So what do I do?
Re-key the songs so they fit my new vocal range.
Play harp songs in a different fashion, which means I can’t do some of the “hold the note for a solid eight bars” thing anymore, but play more and/or better licks.
On guitar, I have to play more slide, use alternate tunings, use a capo, adjust my technique so my hands can keep up with the songs.
BUT DON’T GIVE UP!
By the way: I suck at playing guitar, too…but I ain’t gonna stop.
+2
@Seamus OReally , please don't leave. Even if you are dissatisfied with your playing, that does not mean your input is not relevant.
Although this may seem like a guitar forum due to the vast preponderance of posts, the truth is that The Tone Rooms is not a guitar forum! That's right, this is not a guitar forum; it is a music forum. Even if you don't make a single additional post about guitar or playing guitar, your experience still contributes to the overall musical focus of this forum.
As an example, a person who has never played any instrument but can talk about music recording has a lot to contribute. That's just one scenario.
The point is, your contribution is still relevant and meaningful. One day, you may revisit guitar. Whether you do or not has no bearing on the value you can bring to the forum.
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland
Ive been chasing the skills of the 16 year old kid that inspired me to play in the first place. It appears I will never catch that smart ass kid, much less what he developed into. That being said I play because I love to, not for any other reason. I can’t even get those that care about me to listen to my playing. But I still love it, I still suck. Oh well, I hope you’re having a better day today. The sun will come out………
Tomorrow
Tomorrow
C-Grin
Ambassador of Wonderland
BTW Seamus we all get a kick to the chops every once in a while. I worked pretty hard a while back and posted a jazz chord melody over at the other place and I was pretty happy to at least have it under the fingers so to speak. Well the response I got was, "next time try to play with some feeling" 
. I guess i'll just suck all by myself in the corner, okay then.
. I guess i'll just suck all by myself in the corner, okay then.
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
I just play for fun, always have.I suck too, but I don't care!
That's how I deal with it. I'm a rhythm player, and I know it.
Now I play to test the sound of amplifiers.
I play what I like to play and that's all that counts.
I don't need to be the greatest player to have fun with it.
PLX
Well-Known Member
People who don't and/or can't play on these goofy discussion forums can always be counted on to critique and attempt to troll the playing of the select few who bother to post clips.Well the response I got was, "next time try to play with some feeling"
It speaks to their own insecurities and jealousy.. nothing more.
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
I've been struggling with the same frustration.
I'm somewhere in the Intermediate Player category I suppose, and never thought I would be a pro level player, which is fine.
Since getting past the hand surgeries that sidelined me for most of 2024, I'm still a bit rusty and cant do what I could do reasonably smooth or with out flubs before.
The continued fatigue / tiredness I often have really hurts my playing. I'm just not sharp and focused most evenings.
Late day coffee or tea can help but also interferes with sleep and compounds the fatigue problem.
Sometimes I can sort of grind through it or it takes longer to loosen up / warm up / gain that fluidity.
Sometimes not and everything is a struggle, and I call it a night.
Not giving up though, I still have the desire.
I'm somewhere in the Intermediate Player category I suppose, and never thought I would be a pro level player, which is fine.
Since getting past the hand surgeries that sidelined me for most of 2024, I'm still a bit rusty and cant do what I could do reasonably smooth or with out flubs before.
The continued fatigue / tiredness I often have really hurts my playing. I'm just not sharp and focused most evenings.
Late day coffee or tea can help but also interferes with sleep and compounds the fatigue problem.
Sometimes I can sort of grind through it or it takes longer to loosen up / warm up / gain that fluidity.
Sometimes not and everything is a struggle, and I call it a night.
Not giving up though, I still have the desire.
OP
Seamus OReally
Well-Known Member
I’m sorry you have to deal with that.
JJ119
Well-Known Member
Apparently you haven't heard me " play " guitar!!
All those discussions about
Noiseless Pickups ---
I'm pretty positive my neighbor wishes I had a " Soundless Amp "!!!
I had to install one of these on my board just so I could listen to myself. Didn’t help.
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ibmorjamn
Ambassador of Moar Jammin
I’m r
I have had a few crazy fans over the years.
I think it bores my wife to tears. lol
I am so much more in to the recording aspect, I play to record.
I am right there there with you C-Grin.Ive been chasing the skills of the 16 year old kid that inspired me to play in the first place. It appears I will never catch that smart ass kid, much less what he developed into. That being said I play because I love to, not for any other reason. I can’t even get those that care about me to listen to my playing. But I still love it, I still suck. Oh well, I hope you’re having a better day today. The sun will come out………
Tomorrow
I have had a few crazy fans over the years.
I think it bores my wife to tears. lol
I am so much more in to the recording aspect, I play to record.
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