:( ah well. I think I've let it go too far. Recently got the Gordon Smith out of its case for the first time in nearly 4 months of no guitar at all, the previous 6 were hit and miss. Too much going on personally and professionally, not all good. I picked it up and it felt wrong - I couldnt do anything with it save a few random basic chords, even they werent very slick. Very confusing and disappointing. Makes me think if I should throw in the towel and stick to listening. It will take a lot to get me somewhere like again.
Had to sell some gear too - now have the GS, the Ovation Electro and a generic cheapo J bass copy, using a toneport/laptop and only have 2 danelectro 'paisley' pedals as I cannot bear to sell them, they took me ages to find at a good price (rare things and sound great).
Inspire me
Gordon Smith GS1.5-40 Marshall VS65R
Music isn't necessarily about skill or gear, it's about expressing yourself and enjoying it. Your few basic chords can be enough to do something with, if you really want to. Build it all up again, because you'll be learning a lot faster than the first time you did it. Maybe learn another style of guitar.
Buying a new guitar, if it's an option, can also inspire you again. With motivation you can get anywhere, it's just finding your buttons to push which should inspire you. For me, watching some movies on youtube with Slash + Myles Kennedy gives me the sudden urge to pick up my guitar and start playing. Listening to music does the same, and well, I listen to music practically 24/7.
Enjoy what you're doing, that's all there is to it. I play outside on a bench in the sun when possible, with my electric unplugged. Sure, it might not sound ideal (and that's due to a mix of using gear in a way it's not made for, and lack of guitar skill), but it's what makes me enjoy it all and other people take notice. I have lots of people who started talking to me and made lots of contacts this way in an incredibly short time. Knowing other musicians in real life can often get you to put in some more effort and give you a goal to play together.
Music is passion, goals, enjoyment and creativity. It comes at a high price, but you should ask yourself the question: are you someone watching TV or someone who tries to do something different? They're both perfectly good ways to spend your time, depending of what you want. And this is the time to know what you want, as long as you know there's nothing that will really stop you besides your own mind.
I let it slip for 35 years.
Doesn't mean a thing.
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
Greybeard's Pages
My Articles & Reviews on GN
Makes me think if I should throw in the towel and stick to listening.
No, you shouldn't quit playing, because if you do, then you'll never be able to come to one of my now legendary jam sessions.
I've let it slip for months/years at a time REPEATEDLY in the past four decades. I keep coming back to it, and I always will.
Get your fingers moving, even if they move wrong at first. Turn those pedals to the most extreme settings they can muster and see what they can do. Pick a song you love and learn it -- learn it properly, slowly, carefully, and make the final perfected performance your end reward. Take a song you know and transpose it, then transpose it again. Play along with the radio, whatever they program. Improvise some emotive "musical commentary" under the evening news. Google up some music in a style you don't know much about....
"Inspire me"? I've just inspired myself. Hope it was good for you, too. :)
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream." - Frank Zappa
Makes me think if I should throw in the towel and stick to listening.
No, you shouldn't quit playing, because if you do, then you'll never be able to come to one of my now legendary jam sessions.
That's the kind of motivation that works best. Get back to work - you've got a gig! Don't make me come over there...
</teasing>
to use a rude word, BOLLOCKS! Give me a call - I'll PM you my number - and you can bring the bass, and a guitar if you like round to Stu's - we've started jamming again, and you know you're welcome anytime mate! Fancy a jam Sunday night? Get your backside in gear, and get down here mate! You know we love playing with you!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
PM sent - you've got my phone number - get down here Sunday, OK? No excuse accepted - 7:30 at Stu's house. 7;25 at mi casa, actually, so's you can ferry me and the Cube round there. Else I WILL come looking for you !
Come on mate, you can do it!!!!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Makes me think if I should throw in the towel and stick to listening.
No, you shouldn't quit playing, because if you do, then you'll never be able to come to one of my now legendary jam sessions.
Oh, YEAH! When's the next one, then? Please? Pretty please? With sugar sprinkles?
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Makes me think if I should throw in the towel and stick to listening.
No, you shouldn't quit playing, because if you do, then you'll never be able to come to one of my now legendary jam sessions.
That's the kind of motivation that works best. Get back to work - you've got a gig! Don't make me come over there...
</teasing>
teasing? teasing? whatever happened to 2012ish.. :shock: don't make me spam you inbox with audio of me singing, we both know you wont like it, so hurry up and book them plane tickets, aight? :wink:
Vic - next jam? well, now that depends. See, if Darth quits playing, I might just have to call a halt to all future jams at mine. For, um, lack of interest i them. Yup, that. It would all be his fault, too. One jammer away from reaching critical popularity, we were. We'll have to see whether Darth feels like playing... :wink: :lol:
teasing? teasing? whatever happened to 2012ish.. :shock: don't make me spam you inbox with audio of me singing, we both know you wont like it, so hurry up and book them plane tickets, aight? :wink:
Teasing D/O, not you. I know better.
I let it slip for 25.......Once you get going again & get over the frustration....it gets better.
"Vic - next jam? well, now that depends. See, if Darth quits playing, I might just have to call a halt to all future jams at mine. For, um, lack of interest i them. Yup, that. It would all be his fault, too. One jammer away from reaching critical popularity, we were. We'll have to see whether Darth feels like playing... :wink: :lol:"
No pressure then :) :roll: . Mea culpa
Vic-I'll be in touch.
Gordon Smith GS1.5-40 Marshall VS65R
Look, if I'm gonna make a total prat of myself by singing in public (which, you can have it on good authority, I never ever do, but will be doing soonish), the least you can do is keep playing and come to some jams at mine and at Vic's. Trust, you'll enjoy it once you're playing again regularly. And when you want to thank me for it, a vintage Gibson L5 will do nicely, thanks. :wink: :lol:
Besides, I'm gonna sing at the next jam. So at the very least, you'll have something to laugh at. :mrgreen:
Right I'll have to get to Liverpool whenever then, if only to let a decent player put the Gordon Smith through its paces
Gordon Smith GS1.5-40 Marshall VS65R