michaelg on 7/5/2009 at 17:12
I've been playing guitar since I was 16, and by 18 was playing professionally in various local bars doing mostly covers and occasional originals. I played until I was in my 40's, (yes I'm an old fuck), pretty much every weekend. Well, had a kid in 91 and the wife started bitching about me being out so late, blah blah, so I stopped playing for over 12 years. I'd play occasionally at home but only once a month or so.
Fast forward to about 4 months ago. Maybe with my daughter going off to college, or whatever, I started picking up my guitar and playing on a regular basis. Well, I can now say I'm obsessed. I was never that good, (and still not) and always considered myself an average guitarist with an average voice, and while I still have the average voice, my God, the guitar is a whole new instrument. I swear I've learned more in the last 4 months than I did in over 30 years playing professionally. I still suck, but a whole lot better than I ever was, simply by practicing 3 or 4 hrs a day. I have a totally different perspective on the instrument and in a good way.
So I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this sort of thing. And if you're like me, and haven't played for a while, give it a shot. You may be surprised. I just joined a band with an old friend, and even though the wife thinks I'm to old, I think she's wrong.
Sgt_BFG on 7/5/2009 at 18:41
Crush your wifes doubt with a sweet ass blues solo.
theBlackman on 7/5/2009 at 21:19
I know she's wrong. :ebil: I quit about 1981 and the started again in 1999 or 2000. I have a ball, 2 CDs that sell well, and paid gigs.
My wife (of 38 years) has no problem with my playing or being out. To be honest, I only go out about 3, sometimes 4 nights a week, but we don't have any problems with that, and when I'm "performing", she comes to the gigs.
So go for it and enjoy the music. :thumb::thumb:
PS, you are not an "Old" fuck. I'm 72, so that makes you a young pup. :)
michaelg on 7/5/2009 at 22:02
Quote Posted by theBlackman
I know she's wrong. :ebil: I quit about 1981 and the started again in 1999 or 2000. I have a ball, 2 CDs that sell well, and paid gigs.
My wife (of 38 years) has no problem with my playing or being out. To be honest, I only go out about 3, sometimes 4 nights a week, but we don't have any problems with that, and when I'm "performing", she comes to the gigs.
So go for it and enjoy the music. :thumb::thumb:
PS, you are not an "Old" fuck. I'm 72, so that makes you a young pup. :)
Wow! There's someone on these boards even older than me? :eek: Amazing. I figured I was the senior citizen around here.
Well, you have CD's that sell so you're doing a lot better than I ever did. I was in band for about 13 years and we were pretty popular locally, but I never made much money and was happy to get my 75 to 100 bucks a night. Apparently nowadays it's even tougher to make any money. But it's not really about the cash anymore thank God.
Anyway, good to see someone still plugging at it. As to my wife, I don't really blame her for getting a little fed up with my old lifestyle, as many a nights the band would stay after hours wherever we were playing and do things we most definitely shouldn't have. :eww:
Good thing is, so far anyway, she's been very understanding about me playing again.
Angel Dust on 7/5/2009 at 22:23
I guess I'm not 'old' by your standards, I'm 28, but I've been playing guitar for about 9 years and hope I can continue to do even when kids start coming along although I do realise I'm going to have to cut my practice time down. Some people do think that perhaps I shouldn't still be playing/gigging/recording and they can just fuck off. Luckily my wife isn't one of them!
PigLick on 8/5/2009 at 02:09
I used to gig extensively in various cover bands, made a living out of it for a while. I just got sick of playing the same old shit night in night out, and also dealing with retarded patrons, so I quit. Now I work and teach guitar at a musical instrument store, which is much better. I do miss the camaraderie of being in a band though.
fett on 8/5/2009 at 02:49
I hope this happens to me. I gigged about 4 days a week a few years back (bass/vocalist) and played drums like a motherfucker, but my wife started nursing school and it was better for the family for me to take a break and focus on that. I still don't really miss it, and when I pick up an instrument again, I want to do it because I enjoy it, not because it's a job. I want to come back to the guitar as well because I've always been a marginal player and I want to get good.
Nicker on 8/5/2009 at 03:10
Too old for music? :mad:
Them's divorcin' words!!
But really - if it still gives you joy, do it.
henke on 8/5/2009 at 05:50
Quote Posted by Sgt_BFG
Crush your wifes doubt with a sweet ass blues solo.
Best advice in this thread. :cool:
michaelg on 8/5/2009 at 16:49
Quote Posted by PigLick
I used to gig extensively in various cover bands, made a living out of it for a while. I just got sick of playing the same old shit night in night out, and also dealing with retarded patrons, so I quit. Now I work and teach guitar at a musical instrument store, which is much better. I do miss the camaraderie of being in a band though.
I know what you mean about dealing with retarded patrons and playing the same songs over and over. After over 30 years and one band (the last) over 13, we had gotten quite lazy and only learned new tunes once a month or so. I've played Born to be Wild so many times, I think I'll puke if I ever play it again. After my daughter was born it was almost a relief to get out of the business, even though it's the only thing I've ever
really enjoyed doing.
But right now, all new stuff. Err. old stuff I should say. Doing some Yardbirds, Costello, of course some Beatles and Stones stuff I've never played before. Doing a version of Play with Fire by the Stones totally revamped that I'm actually quite proud of. Got a couple of originals as well that we're going to throw in there. Why not?
BTW; I just played a sweet ass blues solo for my wife. It didn't seem to impress her. :p
