GC made me want to quit guitar

RVA

RVA

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So anyway, I just got scared at GC, the kind of scared that makes me want to quit guitar. There were a few exceptional players there, some who worked there, and an acoustic duo playing very well but respectfully toward others. There was also your typical a$$ face with a catalog of 5 songs, none of which he could play very well, who insisted on LOUDLY playing all 5 songs over and over again with every guitar in the store. Mind you, the a$$ face was not devoid of skill, he just did not do anything particularly well and seem to be unfazed by it, or maybe even unaware of it.

Now, I know where I stand in the world of players. When judged on a scale of casual players, I am an intermediate. When judged on a scale of true pro's, I barely make the left edge of scale. And all this was OK...until today.

The a$$ face turned me off so much, I wanted to quit so as to distance myself from this pathetic display of mediocrity. Now that I have had a chance to step away from that six string circus, I truly feel that if I cannot convince myself that I will one day be a worthy player, I should just stop and do something I have a shot at being good at rather than just disturbing the peaceful air with my playing just because it "relaxes me."

Anybody want to buy guitars - in bulk?!
 
I only know 5 songs and play none of them very well. Would by why all I do in a guitar store is jump from guitar to guitar tuning them for the store.

But seriously. My favorite store actually has semi noise blocking rooms the electric players can step into and play loud and proud without totally annoyed the guitar challenged public like me.
 
Well if your guitars can only go to people with talented fingers I'm out...

...and I don't care how craptastic I play I enjoy it. I don't go out in public
and force people to listen to the nails on a chalkboard sound I've mastered
so I don't feel bad nor do I feel I'm wasting my time.

What else can I do with my time? I am truly good at restoring old radios, record players
and amplifiers...but guess what...I don't enjoy it. It stresses me out because my hands
fumble poop now and my eyes refuse to focus on the small stuff...

So I'll just suck at something that brings me joy...
 
Please stop it Ray. Did the Ramones need fancy guitar skillz? Nirvana? Neil Young? Jimmy Paige? Nope. They had creative energy. Did the Americans give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!
Some of us go in to stores with a specific routine that lets us know that a guitar will be comfortable for long term play. We're not there to impress anyone. We just want to check the feel of the neck for certain tasks, kick the tires, and see how she goes.
I don't even plug in until I've noodled around enough to decide that I like the way it plays.
But when I do....watch out...I usually unleash a barrage of garbage play that no one needs to hear. Bits and pieces of random covers, and originals that let me know what to expect from a new instrument.
I'm there to audition guitars for me, not to audition my talent (or lack there of) for anyone else.
 
For sure, you've gotta do what makes you happy with music. If dressing up like SRV and strangling cats is your thing, you've gotta do it. If playing Yngwie badly and not understanding why no one understands your genius is your thing, you've gotta do it.

One thing for sure, as terrible as I am, I never get any better without working at it. Break out the Paul Gilbert instruction, break out the papastache videos, break out the Marty Schwartz, break out the JustinGuitar videos, search "how to play" the song you've been meaning to learn. Anything is better than nothing. :yesway:
 
mdubya said:
For sure, you've gotta do what makes you happy with music. If dressing up like SRV and strangling cats is your thing, you've gotta do it. If playing Yngwie badly and not understanding why no one understands your genius is your thing, you've gotta do it.

One thing for sure, as terrible as I am, I never get any better without working at it. Break out the Paul Gilbert instruction, break out the papastache videos, break out the Marty Schwartz, break out the JustinGuitar videos, search "how to play" the song you've been meaning to learn. Anything is better than nothing. :yesway:
Click to expand...
Practice?
amadeussalieri.jpg
Not working.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Please stop it Ray. Did the Ramones need fancy guitar skillz? Nirvana? Neil Young? Jimmy Paige? Nope. They had creative energy. Did the Americans give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!
Some of us go in to stores with a specific routine that lets us know that a guitar will be comfortable for long term play. We're not there to impress anyone. We just want to check the feel of the neck for certain tasks, kick the tires, and see how she goes.
I don't even plug in until I've noodled around enough to decide that I like the way it plays.
But when I do....watch out...I usually unleash a barrage of garbage play that no one needs to hear. Bits and pieces of random covers, and originals that let me know what to expect from a new instrument.
I'm there to audition guitars for me, not to audition my talent (or lack there of) for anyone else.
Click to expand...
GC sucks. I mean, it really sucks. RVA, Don the Bastard is right! Don't give up.
 
Listen Ray...

...just go out and invest in one of these.

Impress the wife and become a star...

...find a place in GC and park there until you run all the losers out.

e460006066272837cf7fdfa206921d89--shark-tank-products-musical-instruments.jpg
 
To all my guitar buddies. If we ever get to feeling like Ray did, remember we only have to take a deep breath, get some perspective, and even look through different point of view other than a down one, and then laugh our ass off and Cowboy up if the world knocks us down.

I posted this elsewhere, but I am sure we all can laugh at this. Despite hitting playing walls or other hinderances keep pursuing guitar, bass, drums, motorcycles, cars, etc and above all else, love for our families and people who's lives we can enrich.

True satisfaction and joy will be found in the little things when we lose our hangups and just go for it.

 
Have you considered buying a really gold guitar? Or, starting a repair shop - you are good at that.

Playing well is an impossible dream, I don't recall ever playing one Song well, or even one controlled and beautiful chord change... Turn up the distortion and play some Ramones!
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Have you considered buying a really gold guitar? Or, starting a repair shop - you are good at that.

Playing well is an impossible dream, I don't recall ever playing one Song well, or even one controlled and beautiful chord change... Turn up the distortion and play some Ramones!
Click to expand...

I have yet to play an entire song from begining to end...seriously...never!
 
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