Why Aren't You Playing Guitar... Options

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Why aren't you playing guitar as much as you would like to?

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[Phil66]

You know my story Gab. Not getting any better mate.

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[Gabriel Leopardi]

You know my story Gab. Not getting any better mate.

I'm sorry mate.

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[Mertay]

I think its been 2-3 weeks since I haven't played guitar.

Lifting, carrying stuff or even gardening is terrible for the hands and wrists and thats what I've been doing for a while before winter starts to show itself. Using work gloves does help to lessen the stress on hands but if the job is tiring not enough to play guitar at night.

But I'm almost done and will be going out tomorrow to get some fresh strings. I'll still give it a day or 2 for my wrists to rest, I gently control and if notice even a slight pain wait for it to pass.

The boring part will be after the rest, I'll have to do stretch and finger exercises very slow and patient (probably 3-4 days). The right muscles to strengthen and the wrong ones to relax takes time. It wasn't like this when I was in my 20's, I think after 30-35 one starts to notice the bodies repair process starts to slow down. This is the age area where musicians usually get self injuries so we must be careful.

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[Storm Linnebjerg]

I think there are several reasons for me. I'll try and put some words here about it. It's a bit of a mess though. No specific order to this:

- About 10 years ago I felt I had reached a level where I was satisfied with my playing - at least happy enough that I could write songs to an extent that I was fairly happy with.

- About 10 years ago or so I discovered Rick Graham. He was amazing even back then and has only gotten better. 5 years went by and I said to myself: "If I at least can practice for real and put the time and effort in for the next 5 years till I'm 30, then I can get closer to his level!". I never put the practice in, not in the first 5 years of knowing about him, not in the following 5 years, and now I spent more time regretting than playing.

- I have always felt I have an easy time learning licks, riffs and such to some extent. This means I actually often put less time in than I ought to. Learning a Todd quick without having seen it before AND recording it takes about 1-2 minutes. I know it would benefit me more if I then spent 15 minutes really getting it even better down, but I don't. I don't spend much time practicing anything and I haven't for 10 years. I pick up the guitar and jam a bit here and there (about 2 times in 1½ month now) and that's it. Then it comes down to regret again: "What if I had put in the time and effort? Where could I have been?". Even if I have been told by many that they would like to have my skills, even if I'm not satisfied myself now a days.

- I lack the motivation, initiative. I don't want this to be an excuse, but I do have a mental health related illness, which causes some problems. Even getting basic things done can be a fight; dishes, laundry, food, getting out the door and shopping, you name it. I often only have the energy to get one thing done in a day. I have the time, often not the energy though.

- I lack balance in my activities. Planning, maybe. I have the time, as I said. I struggle to concentrate on ACTUAL, focused practice. 1 minute then I lose concentration and focus. However playing Minecraft and streaming it on Twitch is an activity that I actually CAN focus on for long. Some days 1½ hour, some days a lot long; one day I was streaming live on Twitch for 12½ hours. I would like to carry that concentration into guitar playing, learn from that Twitch-experience, but not give up on it. Twitch is a new thing for me, for about the last 2 months it has really taken off and I have about 400 followers now.

- Even before I did Twitch streaming I was struggling with these things I mentioned about guitar playing. So I'm hoping I can take something from the concentration I find in playing Minecraft and put it into guitar playing.

- I am very scatter brained, even in music. I have done a bit of rap, I have done acoustic songs now, I have done guitar related stuff, djent, prog, pop. I don't know where I really belong, but that's maybe because I don't stick by one of them long enough.

- I like positive feedback and appreciation of what I do. I like contests. Those make me put effort in. But I don't see enough contests at my level, which is still not up to par with some of the guys that actually win. So I feed on the appreciation of my music, but prog is a bit of niche genre, so I don't get that many listens, views or likes, however the few I get sends me over the moon (I think I have 5 likes at most on any of my songs).

I may add more later, but that's what came to mind now.

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[Adam]

In the past, I didn't play for a few years because of depression. I hope nobody will have to experience what I have.

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[AK Rich]

Battling Stage 3B Lung Cancer (Adenocarcinoma). It's been a over a year since I started feeling sick and I was finally diagnosed in late July. I haven't played much at all in the last 9 months but have started to pick it back up a bit lately after having completed Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy and have started to recover from those treatments.
I am now a month and a half into a years worth of Immunotherapy treatment which is fairly new and promising. The plan is to woodshed and rehearse this winter to come back strong next summer so that I can return to my old blues band and also a rock band with a singer and old friend that I used to be bandmates with years ago.
Really looking forward to playing as much as I can next summer and will fight hard to make sure that it happens.

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This post has been edited by AK Rich: Nov 7 2018, 07:17 PM

[Phil66]

Battling Stage 3B Lung Cancer (Adenocarcinoma). It's been a over a year since I started feeling sick and I was finally diagnosed in late July. I haven't played much at all in the last 9 months but have started to pick it back up a bit lately after having completed Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy and have started to recover from those treatments.
I am now a month and a half into a years worth of Immunotherapy treatment which is fairly new and promising. The plan is to woodshed and rehearse this winter to come back strong next summer so that I can return to my old blues band and also a rock band with a singer and old friend that I used to be bandmates with years ago.
Really looking forward to playing as much as I can next summer and will fight hard to make sure that it happens.

All the best with this Rich, I hope all goes well buddy. I've read a lot of good things about immunotherapy treatment.

Stay strong.

Peace.

Phil

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[Adam]

Battling Stage 3B Lung Cancer (Adenocarcinoma). It's been a over a year since I started feeling sick and I was finally diagnosed in late July. I haven't played much at all in the last 9 months but have started to pick it back up a bit lately after having completed Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy and have started to recover from those treatments.
I am now a month and a half into a years worth of Immunotherapy treatment which is fairly new and promising. The plan is to woodshed and rehearse this winter to come back strong next summer so that I can return to my old blues band and also a rock band with a singer and old friend that I used to be bandmates with years ago.
Really looking forward to playing as much as I can next summer and will fight hard to make sure that it happens.

I hope you get well!

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[klasaine]

Get well Rich.

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[Todd Simpson]

As for me, my own health issues are probably the only thing keeping me from playing as much as I'd like to, but nothing I've got is even worth mentioning compared to what others here are dealing with. I'm very grateful to be able to play as much as I'm able and stoked that I'm currently collaborating with people from all over the globe making cool music To wit!!! I FINALLY got BEN HIGGINS to join me on revisiting the HIGH RISK collab that I LOVED soooo much back in the day. We turned it in to an instrumental tune with harmony leads for a chorus section and dualing solos. The full vid coming out Friday. Here is a Teaser!!!! Many thanks to BEN!!!

--
CAEL You have overcome quite a bit my friend. You are a very fine player IMHO. I've really enjoyed the collaboration vids we have done They seem to get a good response as well!! You are doing what you can with what you've got and I must say your doing quite well with it. we all reach a point where we sorta plateu.
It's about finding ways to keep it interesting for one self after that point. That is the struggle that seems to be at the forefront for you right now. If you can find something, some way, project, etc. to make it interesting, you'lll find you just play as part your life that you don't want to be without.

For me personally, it's been doing collaboration projects with people from all over the world. I've collabed with folks from the UK to Germany to to Denmark It always keeps things fresh for me. It's different for everyone so you just gotta find your "thing"!
Todd

I think there are several reasons for me. I'll try and put some words here about it. It's a bit of a

I may add more later, but that's what came to mind now.

Very sorry to hear about this As you know my Mom passed from Cancer and it is still so painful to think of that I can barely talk about it. I will pray for you and all of those around you as I know how hard it is for everyone involved. Take care of yourself. I'm sure I speak for the entire GMC community when I say we look forward to seeing you healthy and playing with your band!!

Battling Stage 3B Lung Cancer (Adenocarcinoma). It's been a over a year since I started feeling sick and I was finally diagnosed in late July. I haven't played much at all in the last 9 months but have started to pick it back up a bit lately after having completed Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 8 2018, 03:50 AM

[Storm Linnebjerg]

CAEL You have overcome quite a bit my friend. You are a very fine player IMHO. I've really enjoyed the collaboration vids we have done They seem to get a good response as well!! You are doing what you can with what you've got and I must say your doing quite well with it. we all reach a point where we sorta plateu.
It's about finding ways to keep it interesting for one self after that point. That is the struggle that seems to be at the forefront for you right now. If you can find something, some way, project, etc. to make it interesting, you'lll find you just play as part your life that you don't want to be without.

Well, I felt plateaued 10 years ago, but it was more of a decision to be plateaued than feeling that playing wise. I was happy to be where I was, able to write the songs I could write. I stopped pushing further myself. And then 10 years went by! I mean I have still played, jammed to backing tracks and such, but not really sat down and practiced scales, chords and what have we in the classical meaning of practicing something. Of course I have done a bit of work on your Bootcamp, the webcam chats and the quick licks, but for the most part, as I wrote, it has been putting in 1 minute to learn the lick and a couple of minutes to get it up to speed. Why haven't I pushed for 2 hours of focused, concentrated practice in 10 years instead of 5 minutes here and there.

I know I have improved and gotten better anyway, but... still, it's a regret to not have pushed for it further starting 10 years ago, and I'm hoping in some ways I can change the next 10 years to make them what I want, but it's not as easy as just flicking a switch it seems.

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This post has been edited by Caelumamittendum: Nov 8 2018, 08:24 AM

[Kristofer Dahl]

Great thread - hearing what problems others are struggling with gives you perspective on your own life.

I am lucky to be in a position where I have some time for playing and quite often feel inspired as well.

However since more than 1 week I am feeling pain in my left hand ring finger - so I try to exclude it from whatever I am doing. Today the plan is to try to play slide guitar.

Well, I felt plateaued 10 years ago, but it was more of a decision to be plateaued than feeling that playing wise. I was happy to be where I was, able to write the songs I could write. I stopped pushing further myself.

Good analysis, I think this is how it goes for many advanced players. It's very dangerous to get too comfortable! Especially when you start getting positive feedback on your paying - then you have to retain focus in order not to fall into this.

Very nice, probably one of the best I have seen from you. You and Ben complement each other in a really cool way!

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[Storm Linnebjerg]

Good analysis, I think this is how it goes for many advanced players. It's very dangerous to get too comfortable! Especially when you start getting positive feedback on your paying - then you have to retain focus in order not to fall into this.

Of course most things improve over time if you maintain and stay in touch with it - I feel my songwriting has matured, my playing too and things have become better of course, but I did get too comfortable and let 10 years slide too much for my liking.

I hope your finger gets better, Kris. I'll throw this at you: I don't play as much as you do, at least from what I can tell through your videos on Facebook. But I have at least reached a level where it's a bit like bicycling, you don't really forget or lose your skills, even if you take a break for a month. I'm 100% sure you are at that level where you could easily (physically at least) leave the guitar for some time. The benefit is very often that you get back refreshed, often with new ideas that you want to try, I even find my phrasing improves through longer breaks (i.e. 3-4 weeks to a month) and my technique hasn't really suffered. Of course it's not the same for everyone, but if your finger needs a break, I don't think it would hurt to take the required break, both for the physical aspect and for the mental aspect of playing.

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This post has been edited by Caelumamittendum: Nov 8 2018, 09:39 AM

[Todd Simpson]

Egad!! PAIN in your hands is always concerning. Are you doing your hand stretches before/after you practice? I even use an ice cube on my forearms after an intense session to reduce swelling and the finger yoga always helps had to go through physical therapy after giving myself carpal tunnel syndrome in my youth from too much practice and too little stretching.
Thanks for Checking out HIGH RISK WITH A VENGEANCE!!! The first solo is the same one from 8 years ago on the original GMC Collab from Ben!! This is the Collab Video from 2011!

The back and forth solo is new and Ben Added his own solo. I've been wanting to do this forever and i"m very glad it finally happened

It's going to be on Spotify as well and I've created a bit of cover art!

Great thread - hearing what problems others are struggling with gives you perspective on your own life.

I am lucky to be in a position where I have some time for playing and quite often feel inspired as well.

However since more than 1 week I am feeling pain in my left hand ring finger - so I try to exclude it from whatever I am doing. Today the plan is to try to play slide guitar.



Good analysis, I think this is how it goes for many advanced players. It's very dangerous to get too comfortable! Especially when you start getting positive feedback on your paying - then you have to retain focus in order not to fall into this.



Very nice, probably one of the best I have seen from you. You and Ben complement each other in a really cool way!

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 8 2018, 11:03 AM

[Kristofer Dahl]

The pain in my finger is not that bad, but enough to have me concerned. I am not even 100% sure it is playing related (high likelihood though). I feel it more when grip heavy stuff than when I play.. so maybe it related to weight lifting.

I do stretch yes. But maybe I have been in a rush and not warmed up properly when trying to do stretchy legato. That stuff has hurt me before.

And that old collab is a classic for sure - so many veteran GMCers in there!

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[Storm Linnebjerg]

The pain in my finger is not that bad, but enough to have me concerned. I am not even 100% sure it is playing related (high likelihood though). I feel it more when grip heavy stuff than when I play.. so maybe it related to weight lifting.

I do stretch yes. But maybe I have been in a rush and not warmed up properly when trying to do stretchy legato. That stuff has hurt me before.

And that old collab is a classic for sure - so many veteran GMCers in there!

I hope you spotted my advice above Todd's post too

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[Kristofer Dahl]

Of course most things improve over time if you maintain and stay in touch with it - I feel my songwriting has matured, my playing too and things have become better of course, but I did get too comfortable and let 10 years slide too much for my liking.

I hope your finger gets better, Kris. I'll throw this at you: I don't play as much as you do, at least from what I can tell through your videos on Facebook. But I have at least reached a level where it's a bit like bicycling, you don't really forget or lose your skills, even if you take a break for a month. I'm 100% sure you are at that level where you could easily (physically at least) leave the guitar for some time. The benefit is very often that you get back refreshed, often with new ideas that you want to try, I even find my phrasing improves through longer breaks (i.e. 3-4 weeks to a month) and my technique hasn't really suffered. Of course it's not the same for everyone, but if your finger needs a break, I don't think it would hurt to take the required break, both for the physical aspect and for the mental aspect of playing.

Yes I might (and should!) refrain from playing for a few days...! You know how hard it can be though!!!

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[Storm Linnebjerg]

Yes I might (and should!) refrain from playing for a few days...! You know how hard it can be though!!!

I say absolutely do it. Take a week even! I know you love playing, I know how inspiring and how good your playing is, but that also means you're not gonna lose it by taking a break.

I've taken long breaks lately, hardly played to be honest. I miss it, but it left me with a lot of frustration due to the fact that I couldn't concentrate fully and long enough. Playing Minecraft and streaming keeps my attention and focus as one of the only things these days, so I've been spending quite some time on that, hoping at some point I can convert that energy and focus back to guitar playing

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[Mertay]

Battling Stage 3B Lung Cancer (Adenocarcinoma). It's been a over a year since I started feeling sick and I was finally diagnosed in late July. I haven't played much at all in the last 9 months but have started to pick it back up a bit lately after having completed Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy and have started to recover from those treatments.
I am now a month and a half into a years worth of Immunotherapy treatment which is fairly new and promising. The plan is to woodshed and rehearse this winter to come back strong next summer so that I can return to my old blues band and also a rock band with a singer and old friend that I used to be bandmates with years ago.
Really looking forward to playing as much as I can next summer and will fight hard to make sure that it happens.

My uncle recently had his final medication even though I just observed his experience from a distance, its not easy. Just wanted to say I wish the best for you.

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