General Music Chat

^His fingertips are the proof!

Now that is what I call dedication! (Mine are bad as well...)

This is where it pays to be an Aries. We don't give up.

Aries the Ram. You're a butt head! (I'm just kidding, Irmy!) Well, I'm a scorpion, and we're notoriously moody.

OurSins, don't give up!
When my wife left me, I thought about quitting, and I did for awhile. I sold all my gear, but I couldn't stay away, and from what I've read here, I think being away from creating would torture you as well. Question: Do you only play or concentrate on the guitar? If so, exploring other instruments is highly rewarding and helpful in learning. I know $$ is low for you, but if you could get your hands on some other instruments along the way, I recommend it. (Not at the expense of you family, of course) Dabbling in ALL types of music is beneficial as well. Music and the process of learning it is a lifetime experience. If fame is what you're after, chase it. If music is what you need to satisfy your soul, stay with it, be patient, play everyday, and stay positive.

I got so frustrated in my 20s with the whole music business that I totally quit for 5 years. Got back in played in a fairly successful club band for 8 years. Quit for 5 more years and a couple of years ago got back in. I never got rid of my equipment, just kind of put it in storage. If you really love music I dont know how you can quit, if you can quit, then maybe you never were really committed to it to start with. In my case when I come back to playing after a long layoff I feel refreshed. I guess I gave up on this being my profession a long time ago, but it is something that I still do. There are a lot cheaper ways to make an album than going into a studio. If you are going to go to a studio, make sure you have everything mapped out before you go in and turn the clock on. I have a couple of friends that have home studios, I also have my own little recorder that I can record on. My suggestion would be to get an acoustic guitar and play all your stuff on it and make sure it is worthy of the expense and effort to record it in the first place. If a song works acoustically it can be played in any format, otherwise you might just be making noise. This is from someone who knows, I recorded an album years ago that just totally sucked and embarasses me to this day. I spent around 12,000 dollars to do it.

Good Luck, dont quit just take a little break and get your musical prioritys in order.

Quoteing Howling J here
What most of us have in common, to some degree, is an interest in music. Supposedly, were all looking to hook up with other players, for professional, (seemingly mostly "part time"), or "just for fun" at this time.

Most of the people I know all seem to want to do there own thing. I guess my problem is that I'm dealing with song writers that for the most part just want to play and do their own stuff.

I'd rather find someone to collaberate with or have do my stuff.
I think Bob Dylan said that he wrote so he'd have something to sing.
I play and sing so that what I write gets played.

Whaaaaaaaaaa, I guess I'm sounding like a baby here. Whaaaaaa
baby needs a bottle

Blair, I know what you mean. It's insulting to have others ask you to play some sub rate junk when you believe you have more and better to offer.

It's only natural.

A lot of artists get the ole "doesn't play well with other children" on their report cards.

You aren't being a baby, you are making an observation and letting the big head descriminate trash from treasure.

I don't say no to people, I make it uncomfortable for them to want to utilize my services. I.e. I'll play with the woman I think was bunk-o-la, but I'll charge her TOP DOLLAR and slowly she will want to go away! lol

At this point, almost 50 years old I play because I still have the passion and love of playing guitar. Every day I play, I never stop learning something about it. I'm doing a cover band that plays out every week and I will still do it as long as there is some buzzard bar that I can set up my crap in and play - until I drop. You have remember what excited you about the instrument, not the fact that it might not have taken you to where you wanted. It's the industry that sucks not music.

The solution is to find venues where you CAN play your own, or at least your favorite, material. They are out there. We have discussed this several times. They take investigation, creativity and balls; but they are out there.

The solution is to find venues where you CAN play your own, or at least your favorite, material. They are out there. We have discussed this several times. They take investigation, creativity and balls; but they are out there.

Irminsul started a great thread (or two) on this subject, and he is exactly right, in thinking outside the box and being creative, and making your own opportunities happen.

I think his career is a case study in the possibilities that are available, and kudos to him for sharing them with bandmixers!

I was stuck inna rut one might say I got a new warlock and practicen
arpeggio scales and demenished 5ths and 10ths.But boxed notes are my fav.

Haven't been practicin as much ie helpin my mum with my dyin stepdad whose got 3 types o cancer plus a aunt just died from complications from influenza.

Ain t lack o sleep and stress fun!?! LMFAO

Cheers yall

OurSins,

Sorry about the problems in your family. Just keep rockin and use some of the emotions you are feeling to create music.

JW

Don't give up. It can be frustrating trying to find the right band or putting a band together and even more frustrating trying to keep one together. When I'm not in a gigging band I'm playing solo shows at the local joints but I'm always playing. I play for the love of music and I love to play it all from Death Metal to Country and everything in between. I don't don't strap myself to one style or genre and never rebuke or look down on any one's tastes or choice in the music they play. My father was a musician and toured for many years with different bands but finally gave it up because of family. My older brother who was one of the best guitarists I've ever heard and was in some great bands in the late 80's early 90's but alcohol and drugs forced him to give it up and eventually killed him.

I quit for 8 yrs when I married for the 2nd time...HUGE mistake!!!!

Kinda fell back into it by accident by helping a band who lost thier singer, then started writing & decided to start back up again, back in '90.

Since then, I've had all sortsa probs in my life, but the music kept me together somehow. I've done some tv stuff. I opened as a solo for the Marshall Tucker Band. I did a couple radio & tv commercials, locally. I recorded a demo with a band that later ripped me off & sold my songs on an album I refused to be on. Since I "quit" music, I've been in 8 bands or so, too, playing stuff from bluegrass to blues to jam band stuff to jazz to reggae & classic rock, in addition to playing my original material both on my own & in a couple bands.

Last yr I had to get that ulna nerve surgery thing...big bad horrid prob w/numb little & ring fingers on - you guessed it - my left hand! (I'm a right-handed player). Yet I'm still trying to get my hand back in shape. I still play acoustic solo gigs occasionally. I play bass in a couple bands, too.

I'm 52, and I will stop when they pry my axe from my cold dead hands...LOL!!

If you're looking for someone to say it's okay to quit, well, I'll say it; it's okay to quit. But it'll definitely be better for you if you keep with it. I've had a hell of a time keeping my chops up, but I know what happens when you quit - you lose an undefinable something that is such a big part of you that it may as well define who & what you are, no matter what you do for a regular day job, or how many kids or ex-wives you have, or how many friends you have, or whether or not you are even a "good" person. The hole is that big, man.

Either way, I wish you all the best.

Plilbymon,
Nice job on "Justin Alien".
Howlin'

30 - 35 years ago, any time I ever considered quiting, it was because I was bored.
In the last 5-6 years anytime I ever considered quiting was because of undependable people.