In addition to being a beginner guitarist I also ride a motorcycle. Although they are inherently very different activitires, there are many similarities between them. Below is a list of mostly 'tongue-in-cheek' similarities/difference btw riding a motorcycle and playing a guitar. Feel free to add your own musings.
Cheers.
oktay
Motorcycle: It's advised to get a cheap and used first bike.
Guitar: First guitar playable and good action.. Used or new
Motorcycle: you may never grow out of your first bike
Guitar: you may never sell your first guitar
Motorcycle: not much of a loss when selling first bike
Guitar: first guitar may even bring more money a few years later
Motorcycle: Singing while riding comes naturally. You almost have to fight the urge to sing :)
Guitar: Singing while playing seems impossible to many.
Motorcycle: You can learn to ride in a day but it is a never ending process to master riding.
Guitar: Ditto (You can learn a few chords and play a thousand songs in a short time)
Motorcycle: One motorcycle is never enough. GAS is prevelant.
Guitar: One guitar is never enough. GAS is prevelant.
Motorcycle: It's more fun to ride with others.
Guitar: It's more fun to jam with others.
Motorcycle: Those who don't ride will envy you.
Guitar: Those who can't play will envy you.
Motorcycle: Anyone who rides is hot. (and cool)
Guitar: Anyone who plays is hot. (and cool)
Motorcycle: These days most are made in the far east.
Guitar: Ditto.
Motorcycle: You need a license to ride.
Guitar: You are born with a license to play.
Motorcycle: That some people aren't build to ride is a myth.
Guitar: That some people aren't build to play is a myth.
Motorycle: There's a fellowship among riders.
Guitar: There's a fellowship among players.
Motorcycle: Riders are among the nicest group of people.
Guitar: Players are among the nicest group of people.
Motorcycle: You get better by riding more.
Guitar: You get better by playing more.
Motorcycle: Requires a high degree of coordination to use the controls.
Guitar: Requires a high degree of coordination to play.
Motorcycle: You need to be relaxed mentally and physically to ride better.
Guitar: You need to be relaxed mentally and physically to play better.
Motorcycle: Most people think riding is a very high risk activity.
Guitar: Not as much.
Motorcycle: You need to wear protective clothing while riding.
Guitar: No such requirement.
Motorcycle: Don't drink and ride.
Guitar: Do drink and play.
Follow the link: The Motorcycle Song
Note the part about playing guitar while riding motorcycle.
-=tension & release=-
Been doing both since I was old enough to ride. Have taken a break (regrettably) from playing but never from riding.
Have had 3 motorcycles accidents and only one guitar accident (edge of stage and me didn't get along. Luckily only a couple of feet high).
I had a dirt bike when I was a teen and even used to race a little competitively. And I have the scars to prove it. But I sold my bike and haven't owned one for many years now.
I wouldn't mind having a nice street bike though. It would be fun to cruise around in the summer.
But I have played guitar almost every single day since I started. I hope to never give guitar up.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Re: singing while riding... I find riding really does have a way of bringing out the lead singer in you.
Two short stories. Recently my shift lever broke while riding to an office in NJ for a consulting gig. Pretty much got stuck at whatever gear I was at at the time. I could downshift (tapping on the remaining metal) but not up. I spent the day dreading the right back home after the gig. When the time came it was dark and there was mad rush hour traffic. No gear shifting, lane-splitting traffic and dark. I thought I was not going to make the 20+ mile trip. However a few minutes later I was singing inside helmet like it was a leasurely spring ride on the sea side.
More recently. I was riding from NJ to DC. Temperature about 35 degrees standing. A lot less at 70+ mph. At the second half of the trip I was singing again :)
Don't get me wrong. Playing guitar makes me want to sing too. It's just so damn hard. :)
oktay
PS: When I say 'singing' I use that term very loosely. :P
Edit: gnease. Those lyrics are a hilarious. Thanks for the link.
I can only say both because....
I'll add another comparison. You can put them both on stands. (didn't see that one if it was listed.)
Oh, and in the lower left hand corner is a hint of the blue drums that are staged for loading in the truck for this weekends gig. Can you add drums to the poll? :) (J/K)
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
I should have mentioned that a couple of my guitars and my current bike are on the home page of my web site.
Hey Bish you can't be all bad. I have a green and black road king, Bought new in 97. Also have an epiphone LP standard Plus. Cool choices!
Robbie
These might appeal to you bikers:
-=tension & release=-
I like the bottom one just for pure exotic but I really
like the Gibson LP Indian. Without the Indian logo that
would be a fine looking guitar. But you all know I am partial to LP's
