WHY guitar?

I would concur. Nothing quite like making the walls vibrate to let go the stress of a bad day.... and I can honestly say playing guitar is a big help with some arthritis I have in my left hand. As for brain power. Juries out on that one. I'm sure it helps, but some days I forget what I had for breakfast.

For me it makes everything go away----including time!!! I can sit down to "noodle" for 15 min. and before I know it 2 hours is just GONE!

but it is certainly a stress reliever.

Working on guitars is relaxing to me to as well as playing them.

ten more: (sorry about that last one, sometimes if you google "groupies"
you can hook into some groupers... getcher line stretched, eh?)

As to getting the girl. I won't suggest playing guitar got me the girl, but it certainly helped with striking up the conversation. Last Friday we celebrated 39 years...... and I still have the guitar too.

JohnnyGoo said:

Working on guitars is relaxing to me to as well as playing them.

Click to expand...

Oddly enough, me too. Over a period of a couple years I pretty much swapped out everything except the wood on my G400. Had a blast. Then I picked up a used Tele clone than had been painted with a brush. Completely stripped the finish and started over with some wood stain and Tung Oil. Not a perfect job, but I liked it. Again... had a blast.

Once again:

"It costs less than a psychiatrist."
- Mrs. M. -

I thought it was because of Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck.

Because it makes me feel good. Plain and simple.

JohnnyGoo said:

Working on guitars is relaxing to me to as well as playing them.

Click to expand...

Even more if basses are involved.

Just pure enjoyment. I look forward to late evening and early mornings, which is when I find/make time to play. That clock ticks faster when I'm playing for some reason....Morning, "wow, time to get to work". Evening, "Son of a....I need to get to bed"

It surely helps with stress, work stress anyway. If my emotions are negative, I have a difficult time of getting into a groove sometimes. But, really, it's just pure enjoyment, and something I think of 24/7.

One of the things I enjoy --- and its addictive--- is the fact it tunes the world out---
When your "in the zone" and noodling on some groove you just cooked up---- the bills, and boss, and taxes and stress an CRAP of daily life disappear ---if only for 30 minutes---or an hour---
That is the reason I enjoy motorcycling (same thing you have to be focused and in the zone--or you can get dead) and Scuba diving (same deal focus or die) but the plus side of guitars--- i get the same mind clearing FOCUS----without the potential for fatality ---- and unlike the other two--- I am here at home--- and can "noodle" for 15 min,. between conference calls--- or when I am waiting on dinner to finish up--- or whatever.....

Now the downside is the guitars are RIGHT HERE.....they call and beckon to me.......stop working play us....relax....that client pissed you off ---noodle for a minute you'll feel better---- they are cruel but lovely sirens.....

eSGEe said:

One of the things I enjoy --- and its addictive--- is the fact it tunes the world out---
When your "in the zone" and noodling on some groove you just cooked up---- the bills, and boss, and taxes and stress an CRAP of daily life disappear ---if only for 30 minutes---or an hour---
That is the reason I enjoy motorcycling (same thing you have to be focused and in the zone--or you can get dead) and Scuba diving (same deal focus or die) but the plus side of guitars--- i get the same mind clearing FOCUS----without the potential for fatality ---- and unlike the other two--- I am here at home--- and can "noodle" for 15 min,. between conference calls--- or when I am waiting on dinner to finish up--- or whatever.....

Now the downside is the guitars are RIGHT HERE.....they call and beckon to me.......stop working play us....relax....that client pissed you off ---noodle for a minute you'll feel better---- they are cruel but lovely sirens.....

Click to expand...

Good point, Adrian. The guitar shuts out the rest of the world and gets you in the "zone".

I also feel it enables me to express things I'm no good at putting into words. This might sound silly, being a bit "feely", but it's still true. Expressing how I feel is (to me at least) sometimes easier on the guitar than with actual words. People might not understand what I'm trying to convey with the guitar, but at least I feel like I'm saying something myself.

When I'm able to combine these two factors. i.e. shutting the world out and at the same time expressing myself, is when I think I play my best. I tend to get the jitters when I play for people, but it normally only lasts for about a song and a half. After that I'm usually able to play as if I were only playing for my own ears. I do not claim to be a particularly accomplished guitarist, but when I'm in the zone I think my playing is "valid", if you know what I mean. Then I think it sort of matters, like I have something decent or halfway important to say to people. It is a feeling I really can't explain, but it is damn good. It is like relief, freedom, pure pleasure, intoxication, the joy of entertaining others, emptying your head of any negative thoughts, interacting with other people, learning to fly, all rolled into one. It is important to me.

And in the case of certain bass guitar models....(like the Peavey T-40) ....if playing doesnt make the problem go away mentally --- you cant beat to DEATH the person pissing you off.......and not even go out of TUNE! lol