GC made me want to quit guitar

RVA said:
Sadly, i took 2 years of theory, much of which I now recall. My fingers often will not comply with my brain. Also, I have n inability to "think in music".
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I've played with some guys, who make a living playing guitar, and they are good too, but if the sheet music fell off the stand in the middle of a song, they were totally lost...

I can't figure out theory. I'm not smart enough or something, because it just never made any sense to me...
 
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What I have realized is that joining ESG last year was the beginning of a 12 month musical detour. I bought my 2016 Gibson SG on September 15th and I've been chasing tone ever since.

What this has done was completely circumvent all my writing, delayed my album and taken a lot of enjoyment away from music too.

The SG is what it is. So is the Squirecaster. So is the Hellraiser. From this point forward, I'm concentrating on playing for enjoyment and writing.

Almost every famous song out there was played on worse poop than I own.

Took me a year to figure this out...
 
Robert Herndon said:
What I have realized is that joining ESG last year was the beginning of a 12 month musical detour. I bought my 2016 Gibson SG on September 15th and I've been chasing tone ever since.

What this has done was completely circumvent all my writing, delayed my album and taken a lot of enjoyment away from music too.

The SG is what it is. So is the Squirecaster. So is the Hellraiser. From this point forward, I'm concentrating on playing for enjoyment and writing.

Almost every famous song out there was played on worse poop than I own.

Took me a year to figure this out...
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Glad to see you figured that out Robert, but sorry you lost a year...chalk it up to hands on experience.
 
Tony, I loved Trumpet in Middle School till I got braces. After that I only liked it during class when we would practice. I had to get a wax to put in my braces to play and to practice at home in our apartment I had to use a mute. That was like blowing into a milk jug just because the neighbors were old and complained the first time I tried my trumpet without a mute.
 
I started playing guitar in 1978, played bass in several bands in the early 80s and played acoustic sets in coffeehouses until I quit playing in 1986. Basically quit guitar for 30 years. I never sold my Sigma acoustic though. Started playing serious again at 50. I don't play as well as I should... according to my standards. I do though practice everyday and have fun. I enjoy the hobby of being a guitar enthusiast. I am an amateur hobbyist player, collector and modder. Its all done for my enjoyment.
 
RVA said:
So anyway, I just got scared at GC, the kind of scared that makes me want to quit guitar
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A bit late to the party, but ...i think you would regret it. I stopped for two decades and I seriously regret it. You seem to get a ton of enjoyment from many aspects of guitar and music...playing is just one aspect.

But, i know what you mean, as I come from a family of professional musicians. I've fought a mind battle about not playing as well as them for a long time. And now, my little nephew is a third year music teacher, and my niece is a piano phenom.

Life's way too short, and guitar is just to enjoyable to me. If someone plays better or worse, oh well. I'm playing till I'm dead or unable. My way, on my time. Rock n Roll fella!!
 
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RVA,

All kidding aside, you may be suffering from the dark side of Gear Acquisition Syndrome. That is, the accumulation of gear has a way of tricking you into thinking that you are becoming a better guitar player. Then, when confronted with the possibility/realization that maybe your current abilities aren't what you want, or you have doubts about your future development (which can be triggered by your GC experience), it's easy to get a sense of discouragement at the whole thing. You look at the thousands of dollars worth of equipment and wonder what it has really done for your guitar playing. You feel you should be further along than you are, given what you own. It can almost seem like a waste.

I do get it. For me, sometimes it means placing a moratorium on myself against purchasing anything until I feel I have practiced to a certain level or something. The one thing you can't do is compare yourself, negatively or positively, to someone else. Of course, if you see something someone else does that you think is a learning opportunity, then that's one thing. But, don't defeat yourself because of how someone else plays.

Don't throw your own shoes away because someone else stepped in a puddle.
 
syscokid said:
That's so F'n funny... P:lol:

What's not so F'n funny, is that still sounds much better than me... :facepalm:

Are you over your funk yet, RVA?
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smitty_p said:
RVA,

All kidding aside, you may be suffering from the dark side of Gear Acquisition Syndrome. That is, the accumulation of gear has a way of tricking you into thinking that you are becoming a better guitar player. Then, when confronted with the possibility/realization that maybe your current abilities aren't what you want, or you have doubts about your future development (which can be triggered by your GC experience), it's easy to get a sense of discouragement at the whole thing. You look at the thousands of dollars worth of equipment and wonder what it has really done for your guitar playing. You feel you should be further along than you are, given what you own. It can almost seem like a waste.

I do get it. For me, sometimes it means placing a moratorium on myself against purchasing anything until I feel I have practiced to a certain level or something. The one thing you can't do is compare yourself, negatively or positively, to someone else. Of course, if you see something someone else does that you think is a learning opportunity, then that's one thing. But, don't defeat yourself because of how someone else plays.

Don't throw your own shoes away because someone else stepped in a puddle.
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Thanks fellas. My funk is indeed dissipating. I love playing too much. I decided to look at the full part of the glass and realize that I have indeed improved over the past few years and I ain't dead yet, so there is hope.

Smitty, as for the gear, it does have an impact, but my funk would have occurred anyway. The costly gear that I got did not hurt my more important finances and the rest of the gear was acquired as a result of my other passion, modding and fixing guitars.

Part of me feels silly for my public display of doubt, but in the end I am happy about it. I imagine that I am not the only one who has ever felt this way, and I am happy to work it through in public..better for me and better for everyone else who may have or will felel this way and happens to read this.

I would like to take this opportunity for thanking everyone to take time out to be so supportive. That is far more valuable to me than being praised for my latest burning lick, and it made a big difference.
 
10,000,000 likes for the above statement. I for one think your playing is very commendable and the fact your funk dissipated and your sentiments were well said in post 98 means a clear head and healing of those negative thoughts that attempted to rob you of the joy you can enjoy and will enjoy. Also, feel free to post any and all of your performances. Nothing to feel ashamed of and or reason to feel less than proud of your efforts. Many a man has failed to accomplish 1/100th of their dreams for lack of getting off their butts and trying, or for fear of failing or embarrassment. You can take pride in knowing you are not one of them. Rock on Good Buddy.
 
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