Squonk
Carrying on from a post in which XRB mentioned that he most probably is into listening to music more than performing it.....
This year has I have dipped into some real low places with my guitar playing (and I dont mean down a mine shaft!) GFSA has been a good thing, in 5 years have added to my one guitar (there is 6 now), acquired amps, FX and knowledge and inspiration that not even 'Guitarist' magazine could give me.
this is the thing, I (as Bob mentioned) have realized that I am more of a music appreciator than a guitar player, so much of my energy is taken up trying to prove this wrong and it's causing huge frustration in my life.
I have not got anywhere with my guitar playing because of this,
I need to possibly step down a bit and do some self examination and see where to go from here. Wasted energy is hectically tiring.
I cant give up music, but maybe the whole guitar thing needs some different emphasis, back to the casual bedroom guitarist I was 5 years ago with no big struggle within myself.
thanks for all the great encouragement and friendship through the years, but I need to step back and do some introspection.
Norm can take up the Birthday Greetings mantel....
Will pop in every now again though
ta
Squonk
aja
Hey bud, I think we all need to climb a tree to get a better view and see where the hell we are in life every now and then.
I wish you the best of luck!
You will be missed! :goodtimes:
costafonix
Hey man,
good luck with your decision, I guess the natural thing for everyone would be to try talk you out of it.
I really hope that during your break you'll stumble across something that will re-ignite your passion for playing. :yup:
shaundtsl
Hey squonk, just dont go selling off your gear just yet, you might regret that!
I reckon you will come back stronger than ever!
Good luck :goodtimes:
vic
Well.... I think to be very honest with you.....you should stick at it....practising or whatever....not trying to talk you out of it....but "no pain no gain"...or something like that ?
When you get to a crossroad...follow your dream buddy !
Oh and BTW: this forum is home not only to "great" guitarists... ? many a member here can't play a damn riff (yet).....they are here for the goooood company. 8)
Ray
Ja I dont know about these sabbaticals preceded by announcements I see every now and again. What sparks it? Does someone make you the moerin? Is there an epiphany of sorts that you arent going to be a Chet Atkins or the like? Maybe you've been buying so much kit that you cant hide it from your chick anymore? Am I barking up the wrong tree here.
If you want to take a break from guitars then you can talk about your tattoos or the girls you'd love to love or something for a while. Maybe the bosses can think about a section here for the okes in remission or something. And if at the crossroad old Lucy might have a suggestion or two hey.
Norman86
Jeepers Squonk..
Thats a shame! Truly! But hey, maybe you realise you miss us and come back ?
I must admit, if i was wanting to get away from the forum, its only because im slightly more than addicted to the internet and i have to push myself to not be on it all the time :-[
AlanRatcliffe
It's fine to be involved with guitar or music generally to whatever degree makes you happy. If performing doesn't float your boat but you still enjoy playing for yourself, there's no harm or shame in doing just that.
We all have these crossroads moments - I've had my fair share too. Lawks, I was even a drummer for a few years... ? Just be true to yourself and don't overreact (I almost gave up completely when I first ran across Vai, Holdsworth and Malmsteen in the space of three months - thankfully sense prevailed).
I love seeing guys having fun playing, whether it be very technical or someone entertaining their friends by bashing out a couple of chords on a beater guitar at a braai for a singalong. Even if it's collecting, building or tweaking that lets you get your rocks off, so be it - as long as there is general rock getoffage, all is well.
Neon-Gecko
I wish you the best of luck Squonk, may you find boundless happiness in what ever you choose mate... See ya back here in a few weeks haha.
Bob-Dubery
Ray wrote:
Ja I dont know about these sabbaticals preceded by announcements I see every now and again. What sparks it? Does someone make you the moerin? Is there an epiphany of sorts that you arent going to be a Chet Atkins or the like? Maybe you've been buying so much kit that you cant hide it from your chick anymore? Am I barking up the wrong tree here.
The thing is, you participate in this forum you become part of a community. Now, for whatever reason, you decide that you don't want to participate in the activity that this community revolves around what do you do? There's no rules, of course, you could just devote your time to stamp collecting or tracing family trees or whatever and leave GFSA to get on with itself. Squonk wanted to leave an explanation.
I don't think we should read more into it than that in this case.
Chabenda
I can relate having had a similar experience. I had spent every weekend for years playing in bars and clubs and one day just had enough. I needed to do something else with my life. I sold off most of my gear and started spending my time off in the bush. The guitars that I kept spent over ten years under the bed. I'd pull them out once a year, maybe, dust them off and then put them back, wondering if I'd ever want to play them again. Well, I'm playing again and loving it.
Good on you Squonk and here's wishing all the very best to a very talented guy!
Keira-WitherKay
@ squonk ........
firstly let me start this by saying .... if you wanna leave the forum ... thats fine.... thats personal ......
now my main point ...........as for your so called struggle and lows with guitar playing ...........dude do you really want me to get in my car in pretoria right now and drive all the way to you and kick your butt ?
you forget i knew you from 5 yrs ago .. and then i had the pleasure of hosting that open mic in pretoria at the end of last year that you drove thru for and performed at .......... and say what you will the development in 5 yrs is chalk and cheese... when you performed... you had a unique story telling style , with nice fingerpicking technique .... and above all it was all original ..... and you entertained us all that evening........
squonk , you have a product there that is marketable........ if you do what i heard that night and btw i still have the video i shot that night .... maybe you should watch it before you think you at a musical low............ i think in 5 yrs you have developed a unique style .... and a pleasant and captivating stage presence ....
you should be performing your set at all acoustic festivals ....... you definitely have something that is in your own style
and remember very few ever become the Joe Pass's or tommy emmanuels, or martin taylors ...... so learn from them...... but few ever reach their level of skill.........
so what i'm saying is sure leave the forum , in fact the forum is not quite aimed at fingerstyle acoustic players... so that i understand ......
but SQUONK you have done all the hard work to develop your style and you are NOT a clone or doing covers ......... and remember it's NOT just the guitar skills that define you as a musician ... it's the entire package of songwriter , singer , performer and player ... and many great names in our biz are not the best players but they have the unique original package
personally i won't pay money to see a tommy emmanuel clone.....or someone immitate another artist but i will pay to see someone like you doing an "original" concept in your own style
also i know a few phenomenaly technically brilliant guitarists who sit at home never gigging cos they don't have the rest of the package or lack the ability to 'find their own voice" ......
and you squonk have in the last 5 yrs "found your own voice"
so quit the forum but DON'T quit performing live
ps. if you need to chat or just need your butt kicked till you see what you actually accomplished in last years or just help getting your show out there just email me and i can help where i can.....
ps 2. you need to see that video ...
vic
Keira WitherKay wrote:
@ squonk ........
firstly let me start this by saying .... if you wanna leave the forum ... thats fine.... thats personal ......
now my main point ...........as for your so called struggle and lows with guitar playing ...........dude do you really want me to get in my car in pretoria right now and drive all the way to you and kick your butt ?
you forget i knew you from 5 yrs ago .. and then i had the pleasure of hosting that open mic in pretoria at the end of last year that you drove thru for and performed at .......... and say what you will the development in 5 yrs is chalk and cheese... when you performed... you had a unique story telling style , with nice fingerpicking technique .... and above all it was all original ..... and you entertained us all that evening........
squonk , you have a product there that is marketable........ if you do what i heard that night and btw i still have the video i shot that night .... maybe you should watch it before you think you at a musical low............ i think in 5 yrs you have developed a unique style .... and a pleasant and captivating stage presence ....
you should be performing your set at all acoustic festivals ....... you definitely have something that is in your own style
and remember very few ever become the Joe Pass's or tommy emmanuels, or martin taylors ...... so learn from them...... but few ever reach their level of skill.........
so what i'm saying is sure leave the forum , in fact the forum is not quite aimed at fingerstyle acoustic players... so that i understand ......
but SQUONK you have done all the hard work to develop your style and you are NOT a clone or doing covers ......... and remember it's NOT just the guitar skills that define you as a musician ... it's the entire package of songwriter , singer , performer and player ... and many great names in our biz are not the best players but they have the unique original package
personally i won't pay money to see a tommy emmanuel clone.....or someone immitate another artist but i will pay to see someone like you doing an "original" concept in your own style
also i know a few phenomenaly technically brilliant guitarists who sit at home never gigging cos they don't have the rest of the package or lack the ability to 'find their own voice" ......
and you squonk have in the last 5 yrs "found your own voice"
so quit the forum but DON'T quit performing live
ps. if you need to chat or just need your butt kicked till you see what you actually accomplished in last years or just help getting your show out there just email me and i can help where i can.....
ps 2. you need to see that video ...
+1
Well said Keira.
I've never heard Squonk, but that's not important in this context...I don't think one should leave a Forum just 'cause one is going through a low....the highs normally follow the lows aint it ?
As for the
focus of this Forum, I really think there's something for everyone....granted there's a lot on electric guitars and amps, metal and blues, and very little on jazz (which I like) and acoustic guitars and techniques...but once more members start posting these topics, soon there'll be a lot more interest cultivated...maybe even a sticky or two... ? on these topics or genre....
Sure...this Forum takes a lotta time from some of us...I'm visiting almost everyday...and yes, sometimes I get a bit bored with some content...but hey, that's no reason to quit imho.
Wizard
Vic wrote:
Oh and BTW: this forum is home not only to "great" guitarists... ? many a member here can't play a damn riff (yet).....they are here for the goooood company. 8)
+1
studmissile
Keira WitherKay wrote:
@ squonk ........
firstly let me start this by saying .... if you wanna leave the forum ... thats fine.... thats personal ......
now my main point ...........as for your so called struggle and lows with guitar playing ...........dude do you really want me to get in my car in pretoria right now and drive all the way to you and kick your butt ?
you forget i knew you from 5 yrs ago .. and then i had the pleasure of hosting that open mic in pretoria at the end of last year that you drove thru for and performed at .......... and say what you will the development in 5 yrs is chalk and cheese... when you performed... you had a unique story telling style , with nice fingerpicking technique .... and above all it was all original ..... and you entertained us all that evening........
squonk , you have a product there that is marketable........ if you do what i heard that night and btw i still have the video i shot that night .... maybe you should watch it before you think you at a musical low............ i think in 5 yrs you have developed a unique style .... and a pleasant and captivating stage presence ....
you should be performing your set at all acoustic festivals ....... you definitely have something that is in your own style
and remember very few ever become the Joe Pass's or tommy emmanuels, or martin taylors ...... so learn from them...... but few ever reach their level of skill.........
so what i'm saying is sure leave the forum , in fact the forum is not quite aimed at fingerstyle acoustic players... so that i understand ......
but SQUONK you have done all the hard work to develop your style and you are NOT a clone or doing covers ......... and remember it's NOT just the guitar skills that define you as a musician ... it's the entire package of songwriter , singer , performer and player ... and many great names in our biz are not the best players but they have the unique original package
personally i won't pay money to see a tommy emmanuel clone.....or someone immitate another artist but i will pay to see someone like you doing an "original" concept in your own style
also i know a few phenomenaly technically brilliant guitarists who sit at home never gigging cos they don't have the rest of the package or lack the ability to 'find their own voice" ......
and you squonk have in the last 5 yrs "found your own voice"
so quit the forum but DON'T quit performing live
ps. if you need to chat or just need your butt kicked till you see what you actually accomplished in last years or just help getting your show out there just email me and i can help where i can.....
ps 2. you need to see that video ...
Very Inspiring! This is why I can't turn my back on GFSA. Post like this make this a brilliant forum!
Squonk, I hear you, but you underestimate the pull of the 'beauty way'. I do hope that hopeless struggle for 'imitation' gives way to creation.
=
Riaan-Combrink
Squonk, really enjoyed your posts over the last few years, and will miss them. Re the Forum, many of us have gone through ups and downs. I've moved between being a 30-log-ons-a-day guy to the odd visit to somewhere in between many times over the years - but the pull of the GFSA community is very strong! Just pop in and chat on the "off topic" board every now and then. Best of luck with whatever you'll do. ?
Ray
X-rated Bob wrote:
Ray wrote:
Ja I dont know about these sabbaticals preceded by announcements I see every now and again. What sparks it? Does someone make you the moerin? Is there an epiphany of sorts that you arent going to be a Chet Atkins or the like? Maybe you've been buying so much kit that you cant hide it from your chick anymore? Am I barking up the wrong tree here.
The thing is, you participate in this forum you become part of a community. Now, for whatever reason, you decide that you don't want to participate in the activity that this community revolves around what do you do? There's no rules, of course, you could just devote your time to stamp collecting or tracing family trees or whatever and leave GFSA to get on with itself. Squonk wanted to leave an explanation.
I don't think we should read more into it than that in this case.
I think I said what I said all wrong. And I'm sorry for it. I was just thinking about what we expect from this guitar playing thing. I've been following a similar thread on another forum and wondering the same things there. Maybe the goals that Squonk set himself are pretty stiff ones and he isnt getting there. But if he says he is getting frustrated becasue he feels that he has attained very little, then it could be in relation to his goals or aspirations. And it's maybe a little bit silly to say he is getting there if we dont even know where there is for him. I can say that some while back he posted a recording of something he was going to play at a wedding and I thought heck that sounds pretty grand - and I havent heard much else of what he does so I cant say much more. So I think that encouragement is great.
Sean
Keira WitherKay wrote:
ps 2. you need to see that video ...
Can we see that vid too? ?
singemonkey
Well said Keira.
Fingerpicker
Hey Squonk, take a break, it's one of the few things you can do for free. I have done it many times over the years, sometimes as long as 6 months. Always came back stronger. Think about what you want to do in the meantime and what is limiting you in your playing. Creating original music in non standard tunings would drive me batty but it may be your niche. During your break work out goals for the future, eg learn music theory, create your versions of covers etc just to break the mold. Visit TJs, know what they're missing.
Main thing, enjoy.
