Checking in and playing less these days

[5120mantis]

Hope all the Gretsch Talk crew has been doing well, checking in.
Been playing a lot less these days.
I LOVE music and still enjoy playing.
But not playing as much these days.

Has anyone else experienced this, i don't think it's loss of desire just not feeling like picking up guitar constantly.

 

[Duo Slinger]

Haha yeah, the guitar just fades into the background a little, or you just forget about it, or it itches at the back of your head but you never seem to be able to find the time.

 

[Craig Encinitas]

I can relate this to hobbies or activities that I’ve plateaued. There’s always room for improvement, but I don’t surf everyday like I used to. And I haven’t picked up my fancy DSLR cameras in a long time.

Since guitar is new for me, I obsess about getting better, so I play everyday. Perhaps one day I won’t, as with my other passions.

Such is life…

 

[guitarfarm]

I, too, go through phases with my hobbies. I think it is perfectly natural and try to not dwell on it. Think of it as food cravings - they come and they go. Let your body and mind decide what you need and when you need it. That's a good looking guitar you're holding there.

 

[thunder58]

Sometimes we all go in stages .... it'll come back

 

[toddfan]

I played in a band for about 15 years that gigged regularly in my area and even opened a few rock shows...then, when my wife and I had my son some life decisions needed to be made and my life changed. I got a "real" job and the equipment got sold except for one guitar that pretty much sat in the case under the bed for the next 15 years. Music didn't stop being the most important recreational activity for me, but actually playing a guitar was definitely on the back burner.

When my son got older I started to have more "me" time again and the guitar started coming back out from under the bed...now, I play everyday...and, I think I am a far better guitarist than I ever was when I actively played in a band.

I wouldn't stress about it...things come and go...and sometimes other things in life will take priority....you can ALWAYS come back to it!

 

[GlenP]

“You can come back, baby, rock and roll never forgets” -Bob Seger.

 

[19MGB76]

Our new guitarist is the head of the infectious control team at the local "big" hospital. With the rise in local cases our gig this week was canceled. At least we have the guy who knows about this on our team/band now.

 

[AZBrahma]

Yep, my playing is ebbing right now too. It's winter in the desert, so that means lots of cycling for me. I try to get out to the local mountain park or go for a long gravel ride. When the high heat comes back, I'll ride in the early morning and probably start playing more again. Such is the balancing of interests.

 

[audept]

I have gone back to work full-time after 6 months at home during the pandemic. When I get home from work I'm just too tired to get a guitar out lately.

 

[mbkri]

You need to buy another one. That’ll kick start you up again.

 

[Teledriver]

I am experiencing this a little right now. It got into the single digits temperature-wise about two-three weeks ago, and I've been entering into a bit of sunlight deprivation as well (aka The Winter Blaws). Before that I was entering into a cool phase of re-learning (correctly playing) songs from my past and excited to learn new songs too. Then blam. My guitar hangs within a few feet from me on the wall (the rest are in cases for the winter), and I have no real desire to pick it up and play. I'm just 'meh' when I think about it. This will change, it always has before.
Hang in there -mantis.

 

[JC higgy]

I'm the same,still browsing everyday though,I've become a collector it seems.

 

[Stefan87]

Totally normal, passion for a hobby never goes away just doing said hobby sometimes takes a back seat to other things in life, you can always pick things back up later on.
My 2 year old daughter plays my guitars more then I do, I will be lucky if I can pick them up for more then 5-10mins in a week at the moment.

 

[SLICKFASTER]

Hope all the Gretsch Talk crew has been doing well, checking in.
Been playing a lot less these days.
I LOVE music and still enjoy playing.
But not playing as much these days.
View attachment 173959
Has anyone else experienced this, i don't think it's loss of desire just not feeling like picking up guitar constantly.

Friend of mine is a Jazz Sax player.. played with many greats even Buddy Rich.. he says “sometimes you gotta leave it alone”
Keep er in sight! She sure is pretty!!

 

[drmilktruck]

I've become more interested in the creative side, putting together, modding or designing guitars.

 

[audept]

I've become more interested in the creative side, putting together, modding or designing guitars.

That could be an expensive hobby if it gets out of hand!

 

[jvin248]

You need to buy another one. That’ll kick start you up again.

That will do it ... or just rummage around in the back of your gear closet and bring out one you haven't played in years. Tune it up and play on your current rig.

You'll find new tones and new songs pour out of that old 'forgotten' guitar.
It will tell you that it feels 'happy' now.



.

 

[wabash slim]

I'm playing guitar less these days. I have to blame the arthritis.
Still banging out tunes on the piano.
I can't NOT play.

 

[radd]

I played in a band for about 15 years that gigged regularly in my area and even opened a few rock shows...then, when my wife and I had my son some life decisions needed to be made and my life changed. I got a "real" job and the equipment got sold except for one guitar that pretty much sat in the case under the bed for the next 15 years. Music didn't stop being the most important recreational activity for me, but actually playing a guitar was definitely on the back burner.

When my son got older I started to have more "me" time again and the guitar started coming back out from under the bed...now, I play everyday...and, I think I am a far better guitarist than I ever was when I actively played in a band.

I wouldn't stress about it...things come and go...and sometimes other things in life will take priority....you can ALWAYS come back to it!

Similar here. I did not have your success with my band but that band ended when I was working, married, going to college, had a mortgage and a daughter….Yikes, I can’t even believe I balanced all those things back then.

I also sold all my guitars and amps at that point except for my Ovation guitar that I dug out on rare occasions. Years later, kids older, guitars arrived back in my house…