I haven't touched my guitar in almost 2 months

[MisterZ]

After my last gig I put my equipment away and haven't touched it since. It's been almost two months. A newish job and an aged mother with dementia have sort of sapped my desire to play for the time being.

I'm not looking for sympathy or validation (although either is welcome), just needed to say that out loud, as it were.

 

[kafka]

Being a musician and an adult at the same time is hard. There's always something that gets in the way of playing. Hang in there.

 

[Bakeacake08]

I didn't play for about a year after my first son was born. Then I started playing my acoustic for him, and it was another year or so before I touched my Strat. Life happens. Take care of your self, your family; music will always be there.

Fun side note: my first strum on the electric (after almost two years) was basically in tune!

 

[4pickupguy]

I dont have but one of those challenges and still sometimes go weeks without practicing.
One thing that sometimes helps me is to discover a very good album or player. Sometimes it will "light a fire" in me to make it happen. I wish you all the best with your family. It can be very difficult. During my sons illness my wife and I put it down for the better part of two decades. Hang in there.

 

[mnutz]

Hope you get inspired soon!

A loved one with dementia is a very hard time for sure.

 

[Big-Tele]

Its an old saying " life is what happens while you are busy making other plans "

Things will settle down maybe soon, maybe later. Sometimes you just have to take care of what needs to be done at that time.

 

[alnicopu]

I haven't touched mine in at least 6 months. Life hits ya. Same with me. My sister recently pasted away from Alzheimer's and I've also taken a new job that's an hour+ commute both ways. We've lost our routine and now have another. We've both gone from cruising along a highway to navigating a pig trail. I just try and take deep breaths as I wait for the upswing.

 

[soulgeezer]

Geez, now you have to start all over again!

 

[william tele]

I'm not going to offer sympathy or validation...I just wanted to state out loud that I read your post...

 

[Sjnoring]

You'll get the desire to play again.

 

[Obsessed]

Life has it's bumps and valleys. You are going through both, so not to worry, guitar playing is on the other side and that is okay.

 

[unixfish]

I went through phases like that when the kids were younger. Life just - got in the way.

I came back. You probably will as well,when things calm a bit.

BTW - I have not been out to the finger lakes since I was 15 - almost 40 years ago. We rode our bikes there from Ohio. Fun trip - 4 days of riding, about 80 miles a day.

 

[Il Duce]

I know the feeling! It's been about a month since I've really done any guitar playing and that's after years of playing at least every day, usually for at least a hour or more.

Don't sweat it you'll know when the time is right to pick it back up! Hang in there!

 

[Teleposer]

I've bought 4 exceptionally good guitars this year.

I've hardly touched them. When I do, I have memory loss and can't think of anything to play - I'm like a child, the first time he picks up an instrument - what am I supposed to do with this?

Don't worry, I've always been like that. I'll pick one of them up the next day/night and just knock out a killer riff that comes out of nowhere (I won't be able to remember that either the next day). It keeps things fresh.

My Zoom recorder is my best friend.

If I practice for a few days straight I can get back in the zone and this doesn't happen. Use it or lose it!

I've just made up so many improvised and spontaneous guitar parts that no human being could hold them all in their head (well maybe some, but not me). I'm not that great a player, but I constantly surprise myself at what I can come up with, just letting it all flow through me like a conduit.

If I was technically good I'd be frightening (obviously), but if I had a good memory and was technical, I'd be out of this world. Ah well, one out of three ain't bad. I can't help being guitarded.

The older I get, the more songs I've learned, the more parts I've made up.

I tend to riff on an idea/theme for a few days and let it develop, then I'll forget it after recording it and then move on to something else. But if I leave it a week or so (like I have been doing) it's like I can't even play the instrument.

Having so many guitars seems a bit pointless when I don't (can't) play any of them. They look good though.

Just like riding a bike, you can get back to speed pretty quick, all the same. I took years off at one point, and that was rough getting it back together, but within a month or two, I was back in full flow. Amazing really, the motor-coordination and muscle-memory aspect of playing guitar. I just get off days when I'm really bad, but it makes it all the more exciting when I pick it up and I'm on fire.

If you're healthy and don't have a neurological condition or a physical condition like arthritis or whatever, then don't sweat it. I enjoy fumbling about in the dark until I find the sweet spot. And it always comes.

Take it easy.

 

[Gdolly]

Ebb and flow. Ups and downs. Hang in there. We wish you the best.

 

[motwang]

I can't stay away that long, but I do have a break every now and then! I feel more inspired when I break the silence though.!!

 

[kafka]

I can't stay away that long, but I do have a break every now and then! I feel more inspired when I break the silence though.!!

I'm really consistent when this. My playing is never fresher than when I'm coming off a hiatus.

 

[kelnet]

I keep my Thinline beside me here in the office. I have three guitars on hangers and stands in the home theatre room, which is also where the Tassimo coffee maker is. I'll pick up a guitar while waiting for the coffee. I'll play the Thinline while reading emails.

Keep guitars nearby and you only need a minute or two every day.

 

[RoscoeElegante]

Sometimes the muse pauses. You've got a lot of giving, grieving, and enduring going on. The muse will flow again. Best wishes.

 

[jannodude]

At least you know your guitar is forever ready to be played. It would be ugly if your guitar had an expiration date and it disappeared into thin air!