[Stitch]

Originally Posted by Scott

I don't have time to read all of your post, because im really fat and can't work this damn right-handed keyboard, but i'll rewire my cerebellum and readi it all later.

That being said, you're a mod, and have your own smiley. Nothing else matters in the world of music..

Fixed.

You should feel privelaged too dude! A smiley for a disabled foreigner! Good work!



Nope...still doesn't work.

[distressed_romeo]

These sorts of moods really do suck, and unfortunately it's hard to offer advice about lifting yourself out of them.
First thing that springs to mind is something Nuno Bettencourt said in a recent Guitar World interview; 'When you just play music for the love of it, the skills tend to creep up on you'. It's something I've kinda taken to heart recently, as I've got a real tendency to be insanely hard on myself over the standard of my playing.
If your chops aren't at their highest level, then just concentrate on making some nice noises with the technique you do have, and enjoy it for its own sake. There's awesome music being made at absolutely every technical level.

Here's a nice essay Terry Syrek wrote on this subject...

Terry Syrek.Com

[Leon]

Originally Posted by BCrowell

Well man, I can honestly say I can 100% relate. As can be evident from my disappearance from ss.org for a while, I too was going through the same thing. At it WASN’T the first time…it seems to come in waves/cycles. Your in a trough no doubt, but I’m POSITIVE you will and can get out.

Having a family, working, and trying to find time to become the guitarist you desire = nothing short of easy!

I was at the point, where I’d finally have time to myself around 10PM. I’d spend 30 minutes checking my e-mail, boards, myspace, etc.. and then the next two hours to play and practice. Like many of us, sitting there going through some practice routine, spawned from culmination of lessons from some heroic guitar figure(s). (Satch, Petrucci, Timmons, etc) I’d work for WEEKS/MONTHS/god knows how long, on different techniques, and making SLOW progress. This, along with trying to play music from the masters, can EASILY keep you frustrated and a sense of hopelessness. Even now, I love Andy Timmons, but G*&D D*&Mit, trying to be true to his ability and STILL convey the emotion he does….well it’s kicking my arse!.

In the end I realized I wasn’t having FUN anymore….continuously aiming for a seemingly high pedestal, was getting me down. When I realized this, I KNEW what I had to do. I had to A)Stop being so hard on myself, and realize “hey, I can still play OK and write some cool tunes! B) Stop giving a crap about what someone else might think! C)FIND time to get out there and play with anyone, everyone I could, and HAVE FUN. That last part for me, is KEY…HAVE FUN.

Find the fun and joy in your music…make it spawn from your inner voice, to please yourself…not others. Enjoy the ride, instead of looking toward the elite guitardom mountains ahead.

for me, sometimes i just don't feel like playing guitar. sometimes i force myself to pick it up, but then i just feel weird because i tend to sound like shit when i'm not "in the mood." i've found the best thing to do when you're sorta artisticly drained, is to read a book instead. spend some time doing other things that interest you. it won't take long (usually doesn't take me more than a few weeks) before you'll wake up, and will want NOTHING more than to slay small animals with the stroke of a pick

[amonb]

There's nothing wrong with just putting the tool down for a while, skills be damned. Sometimes the first step in inspiration is to give everything up and start again. Take a few months off, put everything out of your mind, focus on what is important to you other than guitar, and i bet you will then be able to pick up the instrument and be an even BETTER player.

This doesn't work for everyone, but until i found this site i hadn't picked up my guitar for about 6 months. Then I decided to buy a seven and for the past three days haven't stopped playing (and playing better).

Perspective can be a powerful thing!

[Splinterhead]

I've been playing for so long its ridiculous. The first 10 years of my playing it was all about lessons and learning and practicing. The next 5 years I basically stopped. I'd pick it up once in a while but would make no progress. I was into other shit and the guitar wasn't a priority for me. For the past 10 years its been all about lessons, practice, and teaching. That said I kinda feel that playing music in itself is a journey. It comes with ups, downs and plenty of curves in the road. Screw all the guitar heroes it ain't about them, its about you. Who cares who can pick the fastest or sweep the best. Its all about what you want out of the instrument. Its about how much you want to put in, or not to put into it right now. Its totally ok to chill out and not panic if you're not putting your time in. It sounds like you have a couple of priorities that may have bumped guitar down a couple of notches, it happens to everybody. When you feel the urge you'll pick it up again and play for the right reasons.

[Universalis]

IMO things come and go. It's all about the new equilibrium you're looking for - because yes, I think you're searching something right now. Once you'll be with things under control again, then I'm sure you're gonna find a new satisfying approach to your music. But please, don't throw everything away. Those are the kind of things people regret then. Just take it as a little challenge, like everything else in life already is, after all. Hope you're gonna understand my english. Cheers!

[gurugow]

If I needed money to move into a new place with my family, I'd definitly sell my gear...Well not all of it anyway.

[Shawn]

I always found listening to all types of music help me write better. Not just staying with one type of music and just incorporating what I like to listen to. I listen to mostly metal so I want to play mostly metal however, I hate writing stuff that has been done with metal so I try to be different and incorporate more styles into it.

In a band, being the only guitarist, I write alot of stuff myself but I always allow alot of space for Jon and Ron to add their stuff too. When i'm writing stuff for myself, I just write everything myself. Some of it could be used for the band but I think the stuff we have going is good.

There are days where I will go without playing guitar but rarely do I ever go more than 1 day. We've had time where we'd go a couple weeks without practicing but now it's been at least once a week. I guess I have alot of time to play guitar and I try to make an appoint to play something at least once a day. Everytime I hear something on the way home or away from home, it inspires me to play more so I when I do, I practice other things while inspired, I end up writing some new stuff right then and there (i'm currently recording another cd and I have 2 songs). All I can say is try to make some time to play more, keep playing and listen to music that inspires you. I guess I don't know what it's like to be in this situation but if I loved music and guitar, i'd be doing it.

[Jeff]

Trust me bro, life's going to change when that baby comes. But you have to also carve out little niches for yourself to play, because it'll definitely help you keep your sanity.

And you've got to remember why you play in the first place.....because it's fun!! When you've got a little one there, it'll be motivation enough to get some time to yourself and play, no matter what it is.

i hope some of this makes a shred of sense.

[Faine]

Youre In a Funk man...Youll get out of it. I get in those all the time.