Jack-Flash-Jr
I don't mean to use the forum for therapy but here's the current situation: 6 to 8am fun with the toddlers, work takes up the day (punctuated by tea times of sheer GFSA joy), 5 to 7 is fun fun fun with the toddlers, 7 and after is sheer exhaustion. I am too tired to practice. Oh not to have kids, be independently wealthy and not beholden to movies with the wife. On the other hand I love my kids, wife and job.
I feel skills fade away when I miss a week (going on a month) of cradling the guitar for more than 10 minutes at a time.
Hints and tips appreciated.
DonovanB
does your wife know how you feel?
I read that Wes montgomery used to practice while his wife was asleep. He used to practic on the bed while she slept and tried not to wake her.
but I feel your pain. FInding time is tough
chris77
No kids here, but my time to play is also severely limited. What works a charm is to take the guit with while you draw a bath at night. Whie the taps are open, plonk yourself down on the loo and strum away. The acoustics are marvelous....
Jack-Flash-Jr
Wife is happy for me to practise even while she's awake but at night I'm too zonked and on the weekend kids like to play with daddy...
I will put a stand and axe next to the throne though ?
shaundtsl
Hi, my name is Shaun and its been 3 days since I last picked up my guitar........ :'(
(all together) HI SHAUN....
Seriously, It could almost have been me writing that post. I am in the exact same boat dude. The only time I get to play is also after around 8-9ish. During the day, been amped to get the kids to bed etc and then start playing, but come 8pm most nights, I seem to exhausted and mostly just go to bed. I dont get to play as much as I would like to. But when my boys are old enough to start playing, I really look forward to having some awsome jam sessions with them and thats some motivation ?.
Life is stressful dude, just gotta make time for everything that you love.
arjunmenon
chris77 wrote
No kids here, but my time to play is also severely limited. What works a charm is to take the guit with while you draw a bath at night. Whie the taps are open, plonk yourself down on the loo and strum away. The acoustics are marvelous....
+1, but i sit outside the bathroom and practise because of the steam.
Renesongs
@ JJ Jr - I feel your pain brother. I had so little time to play guitar when my dauter was growing up the I leant my strat to my brother for a few years. When I picked up the guitar again I had to spend about 2 years getting back to where I left off. But once the kids hit about 10 they demand a lot less of your time (except for guitar lessons). Why do you think there are so many rock bands who's members are well into their 40's
IceCreamMan
time is a problem
i way up earlier in the morning and practice and then after my kids gone to bed. That way i dont steal time from anyone. so far its working out ok.
if i do practice in other times its for a brief period with headphones on.
clinton
Just a season....will soon pass...
I have 2 children aged 3.5 and 9months so my days are kinda like yours. I usually practise when everyone is asleep (10:00pm to 13:00am)I love that time to myself where i can really get some meat and direction into my playing. Then on tuesday night its band practise. (7:00pm to 11:00pm). Those are special times.....
BMU
What Rene said. I never touched a guitar for 3 years after my second was born. Now they're 7 & 10 and there's time again. Just a season, hang in there, keep the long term perspective (not easy to do) etc.
Heath
I had a good regime that kept everyone happy . Work , get home have dinner with the kids and some playtime , bath and put the kids to sleep , wife watches her series , I play until 9 . Then some quality time with the wife , then bed. Worked well for me .
aubs1
Hey JF, I can so relate to your problem/pain........I stopped playing for many years (not even gonna say how many...., but many!!!) Than, now I get back into wanting to "have my fun time", I also go have two boys, 9 and 4!!!!!!!!..........Hahahaha .....my problem is also finding time, but then I feel so guilty because I am really having fun when I plug in the guitars....
Ok so now my 9 year old is learning to play, and I have to take 99 steps back to sit and "jam" with him, so by the time he's done, I am STUFFED.. ☹
Do I feel depressed? No, just wish I had more time!!! ?
DonovanB
aubs1 wrote
Ok so now my 9 year old is learning to play, and I have to take 99 steps back to sit and "jam" with him, so by the time he's done, I am STUFFED.. ☹
Aubs I can't think of anything that could be more rewarding.
Squonk
I have the same problem Jack and I follow Clinton's setup
I generally get some of my own time from 21:00 onwards but not always as my wife loves entertaining, so a lot of nights are not that free.
The secret is to try and purpose the time. I do feel tired, but come alive playing guitar for awhile, I just have to be disciplined because the next minute it's 01:00 AM.
I have heard that Christopher Parkening (Classical Guitarist) used to wake up 2 hours before anyone else in the morning to play guitar.
But like AUBS said it's not depressing just need more time.
Treat the Kids well and hopefully they will look after you when you are old!
aubs1
DonovanB wrote
Aubs I can't think of anything that could be more rewarding.
Absolutely, I really get amazing pleasure sitting with him, especially when he gets excited when he cracks a new chord........that's my reward.
Squonk wrote
Treat the Kids well and hopefully they will look after you when you are old!
Exactly, ........... the little spoilt brats!!!!! But we love 'em to bits...........
Bob-Dubery
Jack, maybe you need to strategise so that you make the most of the playing time you do get. I have done this in the past, and I'ts something I really should do all the time. I know I have so much time in which to practice so I draw up a schedule. 5 minutes of warming up with exercises, then maybe 10 minutes on the pentatonic scale etc. Content and allocation would vary according to what you are trying to accomplish. So you don't get more time, but you do maximise the use of it.
SvR65
Random (and might be useless) Tip: Learn a couple of Lullabies on the acoustic and start playing that for the kids @ bedtime. As you play them more often you can start adding techniques to that or start playing them in different styles... back to front, front to back... all the while helping the kids off to a good night's rest AND getting your guitar time in... ?
lindsmuse
I'd go with the lullaby thing and play to them a lot - eventually it becomes part of them and they become naturally musical. Surround them with music whenever you can.
Also I read somewhere - Segovia - when he was stuck somewhere - in a hotel room or anywhere where he couldn't practice properly - he would just work on strengthening his fingers - and the simple exercise was (and it may have name) -
working your way up the fretboard, starting on bass E string and working your way(down on the guitar but up in pitch) thro all the strings
correct fingering, play - think tabs - 1,2,3,4,...4,3,2,1 ...1,4,3,4 ...2,4,3,4, move to next fret, go again - and so on. You can do this mindlessly once a day - its SOMETHiNG at least. And the less time you have the quicker you have to play it! ?
Jack-Flash-Jr
ALL brilliant suggestions and support. Thanks for sharing...
The slump has lifted and I got some DADGAD noodling done last night and early this morning. Much happier for it and more productive in other aspects too!
DaFiz
Get the kids to participate and learn some children songs. I have a niece named Layla so I do a bit of that song and my "Winnie The Pooh" song,
(House on Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins) and then they go and do something else and leave me alone to carry on playing my guitar... ?
I involved my own daughters when they were small and got one a nylon string guitar and the other a keyboard. I would give them each a task to practice in their rooms while I practiced my own guitaring in my room.
Y'll be surprised how quickly they learn. ?
