Today, I wanted to ask a question and get some community interaction. When I woke up today, I was thinking about a guitar part that I’m working on for a new song. Not specific notes, but a vibe or an inspirational direction. I’m sure a few of you do this as well, but it led me to think about why certain people continue to play their instrument, while others quit.
When I was in my 20s, it seemed like all of my friends played guitar. Some just like to noodle around. Others were in bands. Others looking for creative outlets. As the years go by and life begins to take hold of people, I started noticing the slow death of musicians in my circle of friends. A few years ago, I would ask – “you still playing?” and would often get the “no man, who has time to play any more?”. I would agree politely, but internally, I was always confused. ‘Time’ to play guitar was lost?
For me, the casual physical act of playing guitar, never took up time. I mean I could ask the same person if they had time to watch TV. I always have a guitar or two in arms reach and when I was in between bands I would constantly work on riffs, songs, lessons, etc. I would agree that being in a band is time intensive and definitely involves sacrifice and commitment, but if I wasn’t in a band, I would still ‘have time’ to play guitar at some point of the day.
Can you relate with what I’m saying? What keeps you playing? What inspires you to not hang up the guitar.. permanently?
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7 years ago
I stopped for 10 years when I had my business in France. Two busy, really and no room in our little appartment to re-set up my keys…Yes, they take more space than Guitars…But for the past 7 years, after we were stettled a bit in Canada, I re-built my studio from scratch and played in a band all the time…I’m not even using my studio as i,m always learning new songs and practicing with the band….But music is my main passion and I won’t give up playing now that I’m back into the game…
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7 years ago
For me it’s hearing a riff or a song that is new to me and moved me. I’ll deliberately learn whatever it is in a half assed manner and start tweaking it here and twisting it there to the end that I have a new instrumental part for a song that is different enough from my initial inspiration that what I heard and what I’ve created are not recognizable as being related. I then shoot a simple arrangement off to my song writing collaborator and she’ll put words to it. She generally makes a few tweaks of her own to the melody line and that transforms it a little more. The end product is a new song that will end up being played in a coffee house or a wine tasting room or even a dive of a beer bar if it’s a roadhouse style number.
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7 years ago
The desire to worship the Lord with music keeps me inspired. I wanted to learn when I was 8 or 9; momma bought me an acoustic and an electric (package deal from Fingerhut) and payed a dude to give me lessons who ran off with the money after 2,3 lessons. I did learn a style of fingerpicking that came in handy 39 years later when I picked up a bass and started playing (in a band after 4 weeks learning). I’m playing both bass (fillin) and rhythm (working toward lead) full time. I’ve learned that you go as far with it as you are willing and determined to go.
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7 years ago
Hey – For me it’s the Love of music. It’s hard to define the human need, especially true for musician’s, for music & it’s effect on most people. As for guitar, it’s everywhere. I’ve lately seen postings that “guitar is dead” due to a decline in guitar sales. I don’t go more than a few minutes without hearing a guitar, TV ads, movie soundtracks,etc.. I started playing bass in 1965 & haven’t put it down since, although my focus is mainly guitar now. All my siblings play guitar. I think it’s the most expressive, and versatile, musical instrument. Now that I’m pretty much a medical shut-in guitars have become even more important. I couldn’t imagine life without one.Thanks — JB
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7 years ago
I stopped playing because I “never had time”. My daughter was born 2 years ago. Of all the hobbies I had, playing music was the only thing that I felt worthy of passing down (besides all of my endless wisdom). So, I picked up my guitars (steadily) for the first time in 10+ years in the hopes of being able to teach AND play with ALL of my kids (3 of them now…just welcomed the twins mid-June).
It’s great because my daughter really feels music…she’s been drawn to dancing and mouthing songs (with extreme emotion) without us pushing her toward it.
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