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  • Guitar
  • Why do you play guitar and make music

I have been asking myself that question over and over. So some disclosure at the risk of being ridiculed, my analysis of why I play.
All my other hobbies and interests have fallen by the wayside with the odd lukewarm visit. However since school days the guitar has intrigued me with its false promises to fame.
Sadly to this day fame has been an illusive dream and the absence there of, a reality.
So it raises the question why does an assembly of wood and steel have such a fascination and such a firm grip on my life?
To be honest, i don't know. I feel like I am in a love hate relationship with myself and the guitar manages to expose and extract those emotive feelings which I cannot express in words.
It raises me up, yet humiliates me with its challenges and at the same time, provides solace and refreshment to a weary soul with its comforting tones.
It exposes my feelings to the bone and allows me the freedom to express loss, anxiety, joy and musical ideas within my limited capabilities.
It has taught me patience; to go slow and its gift will present itself at the right time. It demands effort and concentration in a noisy silence. It provides a shield against the onslaught of everyday life battles and realities.
So, i guess its my magic door to the other world where I can hide and feel the guitar's soundscapes stitch together snippets of disjointed dreams and phrases, eventually ending in something I can call a song.

A wise guitarist once shared this truth: "Play like you breathe" I never fully understood what he meant till I managed to play a cover with my heart and not my head. In doing so, my fingers relaxed, found those notes on the fret board without haste or tension and cast form to the wind. Interpreting the song and feeding its soul with my breath and rhythm. The result was exciting, satisfying and inspirational. Like a drug, it fuels the desire to achieve that state of total immersed relaxation, like meditation to achieve a state of self actualization and perfection.

Yet I still dream of that hit, I still aspire to be a respected and unique guitarist. So in noisy silence in a hopefully quiet studio, I still pluck the strings and strum the beats like it belongs in my soul.

For me it is the closest friend I ever had. Yes I know, it sounds a bit corny. Although I definitely have neglected the talent as life, work to survive and responsibilities took over. I started to play guitar when I was 12/13 yo. I wasn't really good at it, but it is something I enjoyed and still enjoy.

why do I attempt to play...
Simply put music has been a big part of my life, not in the sense that I've made a living off it, but rather that I surrounded myself with noise of some sort for as long as I can remember, Music has the power to sooth me through the bad, and cheer me through the good, so the next step is a natural progression of that, from mere listening and enjoying, to creating and playing,

3 months later

I grew up with music... from Abba to ZZ top.. and when Dire Straits Brothers in arms landed , I was hooked, I wanted to play guitar. Got a crappy (this is 1986, I'm 9) accoustic for R50. Played and messed and tried to learn by ear. hAD IT for 10 years. gAVE IT away as it started to break apart. Thought I buy a fender, ddint' have the money. 10 years on 2006 I win Pink Floyd Delicate sounds of thunder cd on Radio 2000 I think. And this time I had the money, bought a Squire to start off again. Love it. Still have it. Love the escape it provides. Looking to upgrade to a Gibson Les Paul early next year. I loved Fender, wanted it, then they made Edge and Bozo(U2) who I despise and I said never will a Fender come near me.

Strataxe, So if you change to a LP you will have to change your name then? ;-) Why not have both, a full range of tones.

I don't hold Fender to blame for any of their endorsements, rather Gibson have been the big bad brother lately. Try a Tokai (either Strat, Tele, or LP style)

I also have played from early teens, with similar histories to other stories here. Eventually bought a good guitar in my mid 20's then went cold again with family growing. The last 10 years I have been very actove playing daily, I love my music, it is my escape

strataxe

Problem with boycotting a company because of an endorsement is, eventually you'll run out of companies, there will always be problematic endorsement ..

Just find An axe you like, feel comfortable with and enjoy...

Tuckstir TRUE, but I have the Squire, so that style is covered, though can get something similar with single coil pickups from another co.Though Fender rules that, maybe I'll change my mind in the future. Its a reason why Gilour, Knopfler, Jeff Beck, etc plays them. That sound. But for now I'd rather go Gibson LP.

strataxe

Ah you see that changes things.. if you want to EXPAND your collection to get a different feel and sound..

thing is with Pickups there is soooooooo many options which will change your sound... even just between single coils. add in Humbucker's, P.A.F's, P90's and well the world is your Oyster.

Tuckstir the squire has a 2 single coil pickup and one humbucker. Has great sound, use on a Roland Cube 30. Now I want something with 2 humbuckers, and something proper.

    15 days later

    Stoffeltoo

    Well done brother. I found myself doing a slow clap while reading your post. Being prepared to bare your naked self is a requirement of being a "good guitarist" IMO - so now you know that you're doing at least one thing right ?

    In response to your headline question: I think that the guitar has become an absolute essential element of my mental health strategy. It is both my escape and my reality check. And of course, I also chase those dreams and harbour some fantastical ambitions - but upon reflection, the journey has already paid off in a huge way. Reaching "the destination" will merely be a bonus.

    10 days later

    As a further exploration into my motive for playing the guitar and making music, reality...
    As we grow older, we realize a couple of things, first, time is running out, pension is a reality and not something far out there in the future and I express my thoughts and insecurities in song. I am in the fortunate position to own a copy of Band in the Box which serves as a great comping and accompaniment tool for chord and melody inspiration.
    Real life issues and thoughts remain the foundation, love songs, well ja, not really, way past that

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