Maturing as a musician...

[jwhitman]

After just over twenty years of playing ( keep in mind, I'm only 27 years old ) I find myself growing as a player and a musician as a whole. This applies in multiple ways, such as choice of listening, what I actually put forth the effort to learn technique and cover song wise as well as what I actually do with my abilities....

Rewind three years... I was touring with a groove rock/modern hard rock band wearing eye liner and playing in one finger drop tunings with alcohol and snatch on my radar. I had no stellar abilities or "expertise", but by all means was a decent player. I had borrowed or pawn shop purchased cheap gear and was living off unemployment and the little bits of money from playing shows and the occasional solo gig for a bar tab and gas money.

Today... I've self studied or "woodshed" theory and I'm up to three students now. Between my two jobs that I'm working, the bills are getting paid and the GAS is funded reasonably. I feel accomplished in multiple genres and have developed decent improv chops. I've collected a decent collection of nicer instruments that are versatile in various tonalities and I'm constantly working on new techniques to fill my "tool box" as I write and produce not only my personal music and other artists in my local area.

This is a complete turn around in who I was as a person and a musician. I was just sitting here thinking and realized how much music has played a part in my life as both a positive and a negative aspect. Positively, as a passion and with desire and direction, music can develop you as a person intellectually. But, used negatively, it can absolutely be the downfall of people with a weaker will.

All ego's aside, what has music done for you? Once I discovered what it really meant to me to be a musician, it turned my life around and provides me solace in my most stressful of times.

 

[Devilinside]

Damn man, sounds a lot like my story

 

[Bob Savage]

Once I discovered what it really meant to me to be a musician, it turned my life around and provides me solace in my most stressful of times.

Music's turned my life upside down a few times but I can't say it's ever turned me around. And boy do I wish music gave me solace in stressful times. I am completely uninspired musically during stressful times.

But, music has given me a hobby that I absolutely love and the sense of accomplishment after finishing a project, regardless of how small, is good for the soul.

 

[jwhitman]

Damn man, sounds a lot like my story

Glad to know I'm not the only one!

Once I discovered what it really meant to me to be a musician, it turned my life around and provides me solace in my most stressful of times.

Music's turned my life upside down a few times but I can't say it's ever turned me around. And boy do I wish music gave me solace in stressful times. I am completely uninspired musically during stressful times.

But, music has given me a hobby that I absolutely love and the sense of accomplishment after finishing a project, regardless of how small, is good for the soul.

I can imagine it's different for everyone. The solace I find is in my aimless playing after a hard day. I find myself on my big ole' wrap around porch with my Taylor, watching the lightening bugs and strumming away and various progressions and leads just for the sake of hearing noise other than the thoughts in my head. Some of my best tunes were written with no intention of writing while strumming away. I don't try to create anything when I'm just trying to unwind. I just play for the sake of playing. It's such a "zone" that my fiance will occasionally get fussy about my silence as I play. She'll be talking away and I'll be playing and not have caught a word she said because I was just.... "gone".

 

[Bob Savage]

She'll be talking away and I'll be playing and not have caught a word she said because I was just.... "gone".

This is because humans can't truly multitask and 98% of your brain is focusing on playing. I know the feeling of staring somebody in the eyes while they're talking and having them get mad because they wasted their breath talking to me when I was wanking away. Eventually I told my wife to just not talk to me if I'm playing guitar because I'm not listening.

 

[MississippiMetal]

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

 

[Bob Savage]

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

Wait, do you mean that maturing as a person equates to no longer thinking farts are funny? This is somewhat disturbing and will require some self-analysis and rationalizing to work through it.

 

[Greg Riley]

[ quote="Bob Savage"]

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

Wait, do you mean that maturing as a person equates to no longer thinking farts are funny? This is somewhat disturbing and will require some self-analysis and rationalizing to work through it.[/quote]

 

[The Hoff]

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

Wait, do you mean that maturing as a person equates to no longer thinking farts are funny? This is somewhat disturbing and will require some self-analysis and rationalizing to work through it.

Seriously!!!

Thanks for sharing that story. Bet it was a good time but even better that it helped lead you to where you are now. Congrats man, I hope you continue to find success.

 

[TrueTone500]

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

You totally stole my reply!!! I was going to say "high-pressure farts" though.

 

[Bob Savage]

You totally stole my reply!!! I was going to say "high-pressure farts" though.

Oh yeah? Well I was going to say atomic farts, so there!!!

 

[MississippiMetal]

Let's play mailman! Who has the coffee can?

 

[jwhitman]

She'll be talking away and I'll be playing and not have caught a word she said because I was just.... "gone".

This is because humans can't truly multitask and 98% of your brain is focusing on playing. I know the feeling of staring somebody in the eyes while they're talking and having them get mad because they wasted their breath talking to me when I was wanking away. Eventually I told my wife to just not talk to me if I'm playing guitar because I'm not listening.

Well, as much as I did to damage what little brain I had prior to my revelation, I'm probably running at 110% of my capacity and nearly overheating.....

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

Maturity and farts are on two different parallels... It's a woman's deceitful nature and lie that has led us to believe maturity or lack there of is related to the humor we find in flatulence! Unite my GAS ridden brothers!

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

Wait, do you mean that maturing as a person equates to no longer thinking farts are funny? This is somewhat disturbing and will require some self-analysis and rationalizing to work through it.

After a few serious moments of thought, I broke wind on the subject and concluded that the scale of humor to flatulence volume and length is directly related in the following equation...

F= Flatulence, L = Length of flatulence, T= Timbre of flatulence, P= Pitch of flatulence, H= Relative Humor of Flatulence, X=Number of captive audience members

(FxL)(TxP)=H(X)

Explanation being that the fact flatulence is present is multiplied by it's length, which is then further multiplied by the timbre or texture of said flatulence and once again multiplied by its pitch is equal to the amount of humor that is created by said instance of flatulence. The humor is then multiplied by the number of people within audible distance of the said instance as humor has been proven in prior tests to be exponential to the number of participants.

This is undeniable proof that flatulence is humorous!

It's important to note that maturing as a musician does not equate maturing as a person. Guys who have been playing for 45 years still laugh at farts.

Wait, do you mean that maturing as a person equates to no longer thinking farts are funny? This is somewhat disturbing and will require some self-analysis and rationalizing to work through it.

Seriously!!!

Thanks for sharing that story. Bet it was a good time but even better that it helped lead you to where you are now. Congrats man, I hope you continue to find success.

Thanks! It's been a rocky road, but very fulfilling!

 

[scottywompas]

Damn.... I'm way past 27 and I still have snatch and alcohol in my sights. It's just on a computer screen and nicer glass now. : )

Seriously though, it's cool when you realize your growing as a human being, musician, etc.. You have perspective that you can use to benefit you.

Scott

 

[jwhitman]

Damn.... I'm way past 27 and I still have snatch and alcohol in my sights. It's just on a computer screen and nicer glass now. : )

Seriously though, it's cool when you realize your growing as a human being, musician, etc.. You have perspective that you can use to benefit you.

Scott

Well, for clarification.... I have bought stock in a particular snatch (the wifey) and my drinking has narrowed down to only a few select drinks on much rarer occasions.

 

[Joe-TX]

All this reflecting and self anylizing about music, being a musician and life in general leads me to ask one question...





who farted?!?

 

[Gainzilla]

Once I discovered what it really meant to me to be a musician, it turned my life around and provides me solace in my most stressful of times.

Music's turned my life upside down a few times but I can't say it's ever turned me around. And boy do I wish music gave me solace in stressful times. I am completely uninspired musically during stressful times.

But, music has given me a hobby that I absolutely love and the sense of accomplishment after finishing a project, regardless of how small, is good for the soul.

Using your response as a template, Music has neither messed with my life nor turned me around. When Im stressed, Its hit or miss; Its a happy diversion if Im playing well and more infuriating when I suck.

I knew that music was something special to me at a very young age and Im so glad that I took the extra step to learn how to play even if I did it later than most. While I havent been able to release my own CD, Just sitting down and learning a song is still loads of fun.

At 49, I still roll at fart jokes and hope that never stops. In the event that it does, please feel free to end me.

Kage

 

[Valtyr]

Music has always been a hobby for me. I listen to music more than watch TV. I'm not a great player, I haven't invested the time in the right areas to grow as a player.

Farts are still funny.

 

[Classic]

At 35, I've been playing almost 20 years and would describe my abilities as competent and tight. I'm no Hendrix but can hold my own. There's still loads to learn and more I'm not sure I care to learn but the biggest turn around for me came when I accepted where I was at as a musician and that high quality gear does not make up for a lack of practise or talent. I'm not likely [never say never] ever to make the big time but I get great fulfilment from play out regularly in a band - its why I do my day job!!!

...oh, and I completely get the playing and listening to the wife piece!

What I don't he is how farts aren't funny. Lol

 

[Gainzilla]

the biggest turn around for me came when I accepted where I was at as a musician and that high quality gear does not make up for a lack of practise or talent.

That nails it for me. If you cant make it happen with any mid level amp,effects or guitars, It aint the gear... Im happy with what I have gearwise( I have some upper end guitars and a few boutique pedals but everything else is pretty much standard run of the mill) The rest is up to me. Truth is that it always has been, I just figured it out in the last several years..