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Posted by: Bossie Oct 4 2011, 09:16 PM

Well here it is..

I'm actually considering giving it all up for a period....there's just no more time left for me to practice the instrument like i want it too...
Since i have the absolute need for perfection and completely mastering it, i feel the desire to put it aside for good if i can't put any decent practice in it...it's probably tough to understand....but for me it's all or nothing..


Hope i can get back to it some day...but then all the way...!!!

Rock on !!!

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Oct 4 2011, 10:25 PM

Sorry, but I can't understand that. I hope this is just the current crisis !

Posted by: Todd Simpson Oct 4 2011, 11:09 PM

I gotta say. DON"T DO IT. Even playing now and again will help you get toward your goal. If you only play during video chats you can make some progress. Reconsider!

Posted by: SirJamsalot Oct 4 2011, 11:23 PM

It's all about passion - it leads, and you follow. I can relate on the "if you can't put any decent practice in, then it's difficult to justify continuing in it. I had the same perspective when I played volleyball - If I can only practice on the court once a week, I'd rather follow a passion I can devote time into developing it.

Remember this gem from Paul Gilbert - guitar is something you can do til you're a zillion years old. So, it will be here for you should your passion for it rekindle!

Best of luck in your pursuits!

Posted by: Dinaga Oct 4 2011, 11:24 PM

Well... I don't think you really want to give it up so easily, you posted this thread because you want us to discourage you from your decision

But it's really up to you, and only you know if you are ready to keep on practicing, or stop and give up everything. Guitar playing pays off greatly and gives a lot satisfaction, but it isn't easy, and requires dedication and a lot of hard work. If you're really into guitar, you'll find the time to play it. So, as I said, it's really up to you

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Oct 4 2011, 11:36 PM

i wouldn't do it man, the guitar is going to be in your heart everyday for the rest of your live, even if you don't want to look at it, i know how is it, i think you are in a crisis, i know them a lot, but be strong, take a break, and don't take any rushed decisions !

Posted by: Azzaboi Oct 5 2011, 01:17 AM

Giving up your job! You work too hard at a boring as job just to be rich without the time in life to enjoy it as it slowly drains you with more expenses and tax. You completely forgotten live is here to enjoy, as you become just another slave of the system working to make your boss rich... In the end your left with nothing.

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Oct 5 2011, 01:28 AM

Take a break but come back to it in a few days. crank it! you'll feel it!

Posted by: Michael AC Oct 5 2011, 04:15 AM

I was of the same mindset for several years. I would practice what I thought was VERY hard and extensive and then put it away for six months or longer. Come back and do the cycle again.

I finally realized that music is in me. It is not a want of perfection in the guitar, it is perfection in yourself. Once you can let that go, the drive for perfection on the instrument can become enjoyable.

I have made so much progress being here, and I do not play as much everyday as I did a long time ago, yet I am a better player now.

Sit back and see if there is more to it than just the guitar. You may find that there is more in you than you think and you just need to open up and change your perspective.

BTW...that all started when I was 7 and got my first guitar. I am now 43. I wasted years and years in that cycle. Just an FYI, you do not want to do that, you will fight to many regrets when you are older...

Posted by: maharzan Oct 5 2011, 05:35 AM

well, play whenever you have time. Its natural to become frustrated time and again. I feel the same, but I really don't have anything to do when I am free.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Oct 5 2011, 10:14 AM

There's a great quote that goes 'You can't always be master of your situation but you can be master of yourself'.

Even though you can't get as much practice time as you like, you're still the captain of your ship and you can still be a guitarist if you want to.

Another quote, from Karate master Gichin Funakoshi 'Karate is like boiling water, if you don't keep it hot it becomes tepid'

To me, guitar playing is the same. We all have highs and lows of progress but ultimately it's down to you to keep your water boiling away, even during the difficult times

When you say 'I want to give this up' it really means 'I'm so p*ssed off with this that I feel like giving up because I feel like I can't do it'. You don't really want to give up, you just want to say it because venting the frustration feels better.

And Dinaga is right. You know you don't want to give up really.. how will you cope without us crazy people on GMC ?

Posted by: DenisN Oct 5 2011, 10:51 AM

Hej man,

I fully understand your intettion but it will in the end solve nothing for you. I think taht in this modern age people get tooo much into this 'I have to be the best, I have to give my maximum, I need this that..I should do this that'....and modern media are blowing this out of proportion. Just take a look 20- 30 years ago...and you'll see what life and expectances were then (expectations are 100 times higher now but we have not evolved to cope with them, we are the same as 200 years ago).

I feel very often the same way not only for the guitar but for working out (why do I work out and still don't lokk like the guys form 300...but pretty close ..kidding), my job and almost every aspect of life. But if you really take a look from the distance you realize that you are givning more than a maximum trying to cope with work, sports, girfriend / wife ,friends, band, getting your repertoir up, your technique etc.
And on top of that you hear 'Start slow and build up the speed each day, you have to have a plan, practice this that...'..don't get me wrong I love it and definetly would like to spent more time on it but the reayl question is will you be more satisfied with your overall life?...

I have so much frineds that are no virtuosos but they play great, out of their heart and love for the instrument and they are 200times more satisfied with their playing than the rest of the shredders I know.

What I basically what to say is , enjoy the instrument, play some stupid sonds and let yourself go...thats the thing you have been missing in your practice routine!!

I promisse you leaving it will not solve it, I did it and I came back regreting this. Now I wouldn't leave it for nothing even I don't have time to play as much as I want and be the new MURIS

DAMN IT!!! YOU ARE A GUITAR PLAYER!!..GET YOU ACT TOGETHER!!:D

BR,
Denis

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 5 2011, 04:51 PM

I think that you already have many different points of view regarding this but only with one message that I also agree: DON'T DO IT!

Posted by: Bossie Oct 5 2011, 07:04 PM

Well it's not really about venting frustrations or trying to find encouraging comments...very active playing will be put on hold for a period as i said.
As i have a guitar everywhere i'll noodle around sometimes....but perfection is a disease in my case!! i'm sure i''ll get back to it one day but
now there's other priority's...gonna focus more on theory and stuff like that...that i can do combine with the quiet hours at work. ...i do 12h shifts five days a week.

I'll never skip GMC for a day ..that's for sure!!!Now i'm gonna build my house and finish it the way i want it....and work like hell..but also promise to alternate pick for a couple a minutes a day

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 5 2011, 08:45 PM

It's impossible to master the guitar, but it's important to find something that you like to do with it. Well, you won't forget to play, you can come back anytime. Whatever you do, keep the guitar and your gear, that's the only advice I can give you for now.

Posted by: Blister Oct 6 2011, 03:15 AM

I'm no psychologist but if I am reading between the lines here correctly, you don't really want to give up the guitar. But your personality expects perfection...the classic "type A personality". It's ok (if not important) to strive for perfection but don't let it frustrate you while you are on that path. I can't explain it but there is something amazing & magical about music. And it is even more amazing and satisfying when it comes out of us. I think we all know that feeling.

And forgive me for this line because I only want to be encouraging, but if you really wanted to quit you would not have made this post & just walked away from GMC and the guitar. Like Ivan said, take a break if you need to but don't sell your gear. I haven't read it but you might want to check out "guru Ben's" Zen guitar. It sounds like it might help.

I'll say it too. DON'T DO IT!!!

Gary

Posted by: Nihilist1 Oct 6 2011, 03:38 AM

If you are giving it up for time constraints(for the moment), I can honestly understand. I read Zen Guitar when I was about 15 or 16( I am only 19), and I can say that is a good read for EVERY guitarist. I was so frustrated at that age due to hormones and other teenage bullshit that I really wanted to quit the guitar because I would get so angry at it, and myself.

Short story long,

If you aren't playing for time reasons, then it is just taking a backseat for now. However, quitting because of frustration is a horrible idea. I mean this for every guitarist out there!

Posted by: Bossie Oct 6 2011, 07:38 AM

Don't worry ..i never sell my guitars and gear!!!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 6 2011, 07:55 AM

+1



++1

Danny don't do it, otherwise your soul will starve and I'm sure you don't want that. Perfectionism is a good thing but feeding our inner selves is a healthy thing jangling a tune in the evening will take the day's worries away like a big hand swiping down from above.

I only need 2 minutes with the guitar and I lose myself does that happen to you as well?

Posted by: Todd Simpson Oct 8 2011, 12:14 AM

You'd be suprised how much even a little PRACTICE can do! The secret is consistency so a couple minutes a day beats nothing by miles. Keep at it!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Oct 8 2011, 12:19 AM

This is so true!
I have periods where I wouldn't touch guitar for whole week and then would still be playing good or even better then last time Its such a pleasant surprise too!
It's just that good focused exercise is very efficient. Also, having more "rest days" may be beneficial for new stuff to "sink in".
I do believe in drills and discipline - but I think that it is also imporant to include rest in order to have most focused sessions you can when you do practice.

You should stick to it - play as much as you can find time and I can assure you that will be enough to make steady progress.
No one can master guitar over night - no matter how much hours one puts into it.

Posted by: JPBluestring Oct 8 2011, 01:50 AM

Come on check the @GUITAR PICS@ page. I dare you . Find the best pick of the day and see how inspiring these pics are... they inspire you to take it, to play it, to reconsider...

JPBluestring!

Posted by: JaxN4 Oct 8 2011, 03:02 AM

That's awesome advice....and I am proof of selling gear, then buying it again 8 years later.

Posted by: Mike RR24 Oct 8 2011, 07:14 AM

I understand how you feel as I have felt that way before. Sometimes my brain gets so overloaded that I have to take a few days break and then come back to it and the love starts all over again. I also work a lot and it's a very technical job and mind tiring. I wish you the best of luck no matter what you decide. Put it away for a week and then come back and pick it up and jam out on it. Then reevaluate your feelings you are having now. If you still feel the same just take a break. Never say never.

Posted by: Bossie Oct 8 2011, 08:18 AM

Thx

The gear will always be around...no frustrations what so ever(besides the weather here)
Time isn't on my side...i'm sure it' ll all calm down some day.It's like some guys said here...work work work
and you see your life flying buy before you know it...but it ain't easy to put it all aside on a day and life of love
So i'm not jumping of a bridge ..just getting priority's straightend out and the lil free time i have now i'd like to spend
with my wife
It would be a lot easier if my boss would let me aloud some gear at work

keep riffin and rockin!!!

Posted by: JaxN4 Oct 8 2011, 08:25 AM

Nothing wrong with that at all mate...Enjoy

Posted by: thefireball Oct 8 2011, 11:42 AM

Well, I've read every post. I will say this. First, the topic title is "Giving up the guitar." Be sure that you don't use this phrase if you are not going to really give up the guitar. (Actually, don't use it all. ) This could lead to you actually doing it later down the road. It's a mind thing. Power of suggestion. Plus, you freak all of us out as we all madly type out comments of discouraging you of quitting.

Second, I "gave up the piano" I few years ago. Mistake. Now I miss it. I thought, I just wanna work on the guitar for a while. So I didn't play the piano much...then not at all. I'm so out of practice it's not even funny. Now I will have to work harder to get back to it. I still haven't got back to it.

Third, of course, if time is not on your side, yes, obviously you will not be able to practice as you would like to. So just practice when you have time for it. Don't say "I'm giving up guitar."

And fourth, most importantly, don't ever expect yourself to play perfect right now - or really ever. Sure, you can try to work up to it. But nobody is ever perfect anyway. Just look up some pros on YouTube. I've heard some little mistakes here and there even from them playing live. It's a fact of life. Nobody's perfect. That's what makes a person. So don't punish yourself like this - to me this would be punishment. But I'm sure it's probably a personality thing as Gary said.

I just don't know why you made this topic the way you did. It looked like to us that you were quitting for good. Be careful, no matter your intentions. Your mind can play tricks on you, and before you know it, this may become a reality. That's all I have to say, except that I'm glad you really aren't quitting.

-Brandon