Don't forget to just play

Ebidis

Ebidis

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Sometimes it seems like we get too wrapped up in the little details. What gear is the best, how should we practice, how can I get this or that tone? I think sometimes we lose perspective, and get distracted by these things and forget why we started playing the guitar in the first place: because it's fun.

Weather you are a hobbyist, a bar band player, or a pro making your living playing the guitar, we all have one thing in common: We started playing the guitar because it was fun, and even cathartic. I'm as guilty as anyone for letting the details distract me, and I guess it's all part of the journey.

But...

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Practice is great, and necessary, but we all need to take a break and just play for fun, or we will burn out.

Try and take some time now and then to just play. That's it. Just play, and don't worry if your doing it right, don't worry about what anyone else might think of your playing. Just play for the sheer joy of playing.

Play fast, play slow, play clean, play sloppy, play one chord or a million notes. It doesn't matter JUST PLAY. Let your freak flag fly, and play. For no other reason than it is FUN!

Just some observations from my own experience. Sorry for the interruption, Carry on.
 
Thank you. I quit playing for thirty years because it wasn’t fun. It had become competitive, always trying to be better. When I finally started playing again I did it for fun. I love jamming. For ten years I lived for jamming. Then COVID hit and no more jamming. I have to remind myself that I will be able to jam again and not to lose sight that playing should be fun.
 
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I started guitar like everybody , I wanted to play those songs that i loved to hear as a kid growing up, and now i play many of them, my intention of playing and learning was to be fun, and that's what keeps me learning and playing because i make it that way, if it's not fun, you will have a harder time learning, in turn will become frustrating then you give it up. Its like anything though if you want to get to a certain point in your playing you will have to work at it, it will take discipline, practice and desire, if you lack in any of these areas, then i believe you will struggle. Sure anyone can have a bit of a lull, but don't stay in that lull for very long, or you will lose out. When you work at something every day you become better and better at it whatever you do. But take a bit of time off and see how hard it can be to come back, all that you have learned has slipped, things like timing, smoothness of playing etc etc. I am not trying to be a downer here, but learning a skill of any kind is worth keeping up on. Not everyone can play guitar, and anything worth doing is worth keeping, if it was easy everyone would be doing it. The thing is don't give up on a skill many wish they had. Pick yourself up, get playing that axe, have fun like Ebidis said. FUN that's what its all about!
 
In my case its not fun most of times, because I want to sound like players I listen to and I dont .Me trying to get close, trying over and over gets frustrating. Good example is the song im working on now, many month of practice I still cant do it.I get tennis elbow and my hands aches from trying...


If i play my own songs when i make mistake i start over and keep making mistakes over and over even with my own song.

If im recording its even more frustrating as i want to make it as “perfect” as i can.

at one point I gave guitar playing,as i thought i sucked and never be good enough...


Bottom line is I am not musician or guitar player Im just trying to be one...
 
Today posted a new song...1 track R & 1 Left.. no pre conceived idea. then bass line..made up words on the spot... maybe 1 hour into it..had the drum beat worked out tho...and just reacted to it .. it was a blast..didnt even go back and worry about it all.. so tired of 0101010 BS... music is organic & if its not fun & moving ..why bother i guess

decided lately..lets just rip..when you go live all the studio BS is out the window anyway..I just need a clean-crunch & lead the cuts..

Most important to me..want play in a band... live... soon.. dont even care what instrument anymore
 
Ramo said:
In my case its not fun most of times, because I want to sound like players I listen to and I dont .Me trying to get close, trying over and over gets frustrating. Good example is the song im working on now, many month of practice I still cant do it.I get tennis elbow and my hands aches from trying...
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I get it. I used to be the same way. Get frustrated and rather than work at it, I’d just walk away from the guitar..... for weeks, sometimes months. Had one particular song I’d been trying to learn for a long time. One day I either saw something on a YouTube tutorial or read something..... but in essence the guy basically said..... “stop trying to sound like [insert famous guitar player here]. You won’t. Sound like you.” That is a very bad paraphrase, but hopefully you get the idea. I picked up my guitar and played that song front to rear. Did not stop for mistakes. Sucked big time..... but I got done. It was actually somewhat of an emotional experience. Good news is. I’ve kept at that song. Still suck at it, but can play it good enough y’all would know what song I was butchering.
 
iblive said:
I get it. I used to be the same way. Get frustrated and rather than work at it, I’d just walk away from the guitar..... for weeks, sometimes months. Had one particular song I’d been trying to learn for a long time. One day I either saw something on a YouTube tutorial or read something..... but in essence the guy basically said..... “stop trying to sound like [insert famous guitar player here]. You won’t. Sound like you.” That is a very bad paraphrase, but hopefully you get the idea. I picked up my guitar and played that song front to rear. Did not stop for mistakes. Sucked big time..... but I got done. It was actually somewhat of an emotional experience. Good news is. I’ve kept at that song. Still suck at it, but can play it good enough y’all would know what song I was butchering.
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The song in question i can play it whole song along with recording but i lose timing or i hit wrong note during a song.... been at it for one 7 month now... this song was my dream to play when i started out watched others play and i was drooling..... wishing i could do the same....

i guess i set bar for myself really high , wanting to sound good and like pro....
 
Ramo said:
In my case its not fun most of times, because I want to sound like players I listen to and I dont .Me trying to get close, trying over and over gets frustrating. Good example is the song im working on now, many month of practice I still cant do it.I get tennis elbow and my hands aches from trying...


If i play my own songs when i make mistake i start over and keep making mistakes over and over even with my own song.

If im recording its even more frustrating as i want to make it as “perfect” as i can.

at one point I gave guitar playing,as i thought i sucked and never be good enough...


Bottom line is I am not musician or guitar player Im just trying to be one...
Click to expand...
Everybody is their own worst critic. Been there, done that. I found a place to live in a band and that's all I need. Carry on mate!
 
Ramo said:
In my case its not fun most of times, because I want to sound like players I listen to and I dont .Me trying to get close, trying over and over gets frustrating. Good example is the song im working on now, many month of practice I still cant do it.I get tennis elbow and my hands aches from trying...


If i play my own songs when i make mistake i start over and keep making mistakes over and over even with my own song.

If im recording its even more frustrating as i want to make it as “perfect” as i can.

at one point I gave guitar playing,as i thought i sucked and never be good enough...


Bottom line is I am not musician or guitar player Im just trying to be one...
Click to expand...
Yes! I have been working on a song since May, and I don't like how I play it. I don't even like the song anymore since it sounds like WORK!
 
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Ramo said:
The song in question i can play it whole song along with recording but i lose timing or i hit wrong note during a song.... been at it for one 7 month now... this song was my dream to play when i started out watched others play and i was drooling..... wishing i could do the same....

i guess i set bar for myself really high , wanting to sound good and like pro....
Click to expand...
Pick a different song and go back to it. Don't set the bar too high right off. Enjoy playing. Once you can totally nail yoir dream song, where do you go from there? Just keep playin stuff man.
 
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