Man I haven't played guitar for more than 20 minutes in 3 weeks. I seem to be losing interest in playing alone. I haven't been in a full band since 1996 and we were a working band. It was awesome and it gave me a goal and motivation to practice and learn alot of songs but lately just sitting in a bedroom playing along with tracks is just not appealing anymore. No one wants to start a band playing the 'oldschool' music anymore or they have no time to do it. I refuse to play modern shit metal in a band.

I'm not into recording anymore either, I'm not the best at mixing and its become a chore rather than fun. I went back and listened to stuff I've mixed and the song quality and tones sounded terrible to me. I'm working alot more now and basically I'm just too tired after work to mess with it. I've gone through burn-out periods before and it usually passes and eventually I start wanting to play again. I think I'm going to start watching some of my old concert DVD's and maybe that will inspire me..I dunno. :(

Hmm i got like this abit back m8, everything i did just didn't sound right , i was very close to saying bollocks to music and turning my back on it for good:wtf:
I think its great to go back to the roots of your music, try and remember what made you pickup the guitar in the first place and not to give into self pity or any other distractions:thumb:
Don't worry about sounding good or not, music is for enjoyment , i think some ppl lose sight of that, keep going at it m8 and find something new to get into:thumb:

Hmm i got like this abit back m8, everything i did just didn't sound right , i was very close to saying bollocks to music and turning my back on it for good:wtf:
I think its great to go back to the roots of your music, try and remember what made you pickup the guitar in the first place and not to give into self pity or any other distractions:thumb:
Don't worry about sounding good or not, music is for enjoyment , i think some ppl lose sight of that, keep going at it m8 and find something new to get into:thumb:


thanks, I hope its just temporary as usual. My problem is I don't really dig anything new musically. The stuff I love is all but over and the ones who go see bands nowadays are into stuff that makes my skin crawl.

Work on some originals then m8, bring those days back :rock:
If not do some collabs , share your love of the music bro:rock: :rock:

same happened to me awhile back, i went on a spree of recording a whole bunch of tracks, but then just lost my flow

i took maybe a 2-3 month break, and played drums for a punk band (which i still do), but recently picked back up guitar, and have a whole new view of it. Ive also joined a band (with an old friend) and currently writing tunes for them.

just take a break for awhile ;)

-clay

I'd agree, a break gives you fresh ears. There's SOME guy in a 50 mile radius of where you live thinking the same thing aboutwanting to play old skool..you just gotta find him and you won't if you don't look mate. I pretty much did fuck all between about 1994 and 2000 and had only my £50 Squier, no amp, no effects. A mate dragged me out to a jam and that was it...6 years was a hell of a long time but I came back wanting to be better and more ME than before. I'm still trying to sound like ME but the tide is turning.

Look for that other guy and get writing music...that's what we do in Black Rose...FUCK it if it isn't 'today'...you can only be truly happy writing what YOU wanna hear. If you try and formularise it, homogonise it or write for an audience, you've lost it. ;)

Hang in there RiffAddict. If you want to do a collab I would like to collab with ya. Don't give up mate:thumb:

I'd agree, a break gives you fresh ears. There's SOME guy in a 50 mile radius of where you live thinking the same thing aboutwanting to play old skool..you just gotta find him and you won't if you don't look mate. I pretty much did fuck all between about 1994 and 2000 and had only my £50 Squier, no amp, no effects. A mate dragged me out to a jam and that was it...6 years was a hell of a long time but I came back wanting to be better and more ME than before. I'm still trying to sound like ME but the tide is turning.

Look for that other guy and get writing music...that's what we do in Black Rose...FUCK it if it isn't 'today'...you can only be truly happy writing what YOU wanna hear. If you try and formularise it, homogonise it or write for an audience, you've lost it. ;)

Seconded Riff ... from a guy who DID get up off his butt and find a band playing 'old school'

Made me realise just what it was that was missing from my life (amongst others) ... and had been for over 12 years.

Get out there and FIND that other guy to play with and maybe start a band with. The audiences are still there ... just waiting for someone like you to remind them how good the music was 20 years ago and more.

You know you want to really ... so DO it ... one life ... USE it! :toothless:

Well Riff, I guess it´s all different perspectives,...I´d sum it up as simple as grab your guitar whenever you feel like playing. We all get old sooner or later, bands are for the young guns, we may be turning 18 y/o for another 20 years, but lets face it: we grow up, pop music tastes changes, (and yes, rock, heavy, eighties rock or whatever you can think of done in the last 60 years aired on your mass media is pop...)
I remember my dad used to say "damn, those hippies can´t make anything worthwhile?" That was around 78. He was a hardcore fan of mild pop and jazz from the sixties, go figure. Well I see that kind of closed minded behavior amongst many rockers: "damn! those grunge doods fucked it all up, then came the rappers!". As if it´s all black and white. Hell, there are TONS of different music out there, who the fuck cares about the label it has on it? Oh yeah, when I was 16, for God sake I didn´t want to listen to any New Wave stuff, my older sister was bringing on a lot of crap music home, no way! But then without noticing it you start to enjoy stuff without thinking what label it has. You just simply enjoy what you listen to, whatever it is. I don´t know, I never forced myself into listening to other stuff, I just let my ears flow, but I see many people have some sort of "musical taste-stress". I guess it has to do with our own personality. Man, music is just pure fun, and if you happen to play a musical instrument it´s even more fun. If all you think is that because eighties rock has died everywhere it makes you want to collect dust on your guitar, I feel you are loosing the point of what playing is for,...

I lasted 3 weeks in a 'new' rock band last year ... playing "Kaiser Chiefs", "Ocean Colour Scene", etc. I was desparate to be playing to an audience again.

I didn't MIND the music ... but playing it didn't INSPIRE me.

I didn't feel that soul-deep cleansing fire again until I joined a crackin' rock/blues band in April this year, letting me just get down and ROCK ... and I instantly felt 'at home' ... even more so when we shed the other guitarist and 2nd singer, stripping us down to the archetypic 4-piece.

Now I feel hungry for a life of playing again (not that I'm gonna be able to do it professionally again).

There's room for all genres of music ... but I'm happy in my little corner with what I know and love.

I feel alive again ... and believe me ... it's been a long, long time just 'sleeping' with my eyes open.

I don't know how many times I have said that. Something did change my life as far as playing. I bought the equiptment that I always wanted and made some changes. Buying a new guitar helps. Maybe one that you have had your eye on. Another is change what you know. I'm like everyone else. I got so caught up with effects I forgot how good my guitar sounds without all of them. Try new types of music and don't worry about being the shreddist! It's not all about speed. It's about performance. Well I'm 47. I rather hear 5 clear nicely enritched tonal notes than 115 midi sounding heavily effected notes.


My2....

Riff, I am jumping in without reading anyone elses posts....I'll check them later though. My guitar sits against the wall of the living room and if I am watching football...i am doing chords or runs or tones (on an acoustic at that)...and you start to get back into playing music...it won't matter what you play. You will enjoy it, and we all repeat what we enjoy...:boobies: ....ya know what I mean? ;)

Think about it. :)

Man Ive felt the way you have many times. I started in the clubs in 83 while stationed in Germany. I havent been on stage since 89' I had all but given up a few times. You know you dont really want to quit but you get so dam frustrated sometimes. Im self taught so things came slower. Getting out of those ruts were hard. I had a 84 Les Paul and played that for 20 years. I got it when I was 20. I just got sick of it. Seemed like everything I did sounded like crap. I bored myself to tears with everything I played. To be honest there is no way I could stop playing. That guitar is like heorine. Two things that are responsible for Breathing New Life into me were.. 1st: getting a new guitar. I got my Zakk Epi. Epi's today are every bit as good as a Gibson. I took out the HZ's and put in a set of the Zakk 81/85's. and the 2nd was I got the Vamp2. It was a life changer. A killer axe with sweet action with pickups that are monsters and that V-amp2..well you've heard it :rock: Its got the tones I like! I would suggest doing that man. I can't stress enough what that did for me and how much it got me going again. I'm having a blast like I did back in the day only I play better now:thumb: Whatever you do, dont stop playing..or Im comin over there!!

Hang in there Riffer. .

I feel the same as you a lot of the time.

It's a real pain sometimes making songs - programming the drums - editing the sounds - mixing them all together.

Hell, that track I just made for the Boogie Woogie jam turned out like crap! You think you can't mix? Hell I can't even mix a 2 track guitar solo correctly! It sounded like crap! I'm totally embarresed!

But I keep going regardless. I will make mistakes, and so will you.

There is nothing wrong with NOT playing - taking a break from it is a GOOD thing. Come back to it when you feel ready.

Maybe if you bought yourself a new toy, like a new drum machine, or a new effects processor, maybe that would re-spark your interest?

Either way we all know you will never give up for good. So take a break, watch some concert DVDs and rock on.

:rock:

Murph. You da man d00d!!!!!!!

Thanks for the words fellas, I'm sure its just a temporary loss of interest and all it will take is a bit of inspiration to get me playing regularly. Last night before I went to bed, after reading your responses, I reached over and grabbed a guitar and plucked on it a bit. I've just been so tired and overworked I guess. I guess I should work harder at finding other musicians with my same musical interests. To have a band again would be all the motivation I needed. I miss band rehearsals and having to go home and learn 2 or 3 new songs a week for next practice and the feeling of being on stage and hearing that applause, even its a room full of drunk friends. lol Playing guitar alone with no reason to learn anything has just lost its appeal to me.

Thanks for the words fellas, I'm sure its just a temporary loss of interest and all it will take is a bit of inspiration to get me playing regularly. Last night before I went to bed, after reading your responses, I reached over and grabbed a guitar and plucked on it a bit. I've just been so tired and overworked I guess. I guess I should work harder at finding other musicians with my same musical interests. To have a band again would be all the motivation I needed. I miss band rehearsals and having to go home and learn 2 or 3 new songs a week for next practice and the feeling of being on stage and hearing that applause, even its a room full of drunk friends. lol Playing guitar alone with no reason to learn anything has just lost its appeal to me.

That applause is addicting isn't it :)

I'm with ya Riff. I need to find something that gets me back into it. I feel like I can play nothing and everything sounds like shit at the moment.

It will come back, i know it, but right now I feel like the worst guitarist on the planet !

:maddance:

I'm with ya Riff. I need to find something that gets me back into it. I feel like I can play nothing and everything sounds like shit at the moment.

It will come back, i know it, but right now I feel like the worst guitarist on the planet !

:maddance:

Is that happening to you too? :D

Music can kick your ego in the ass thats for damn sure. Happends to me all the time. But I try and get motivated to improve so it won't happen again.

Im in this phase atm too, except still recording.
Im kind of enjoying making tracks, but not enjoying them at the same time, im close to packing up sometimes, and the decision might get made for me now im back on day work from next week :(
I think everyone has off weeks, but as mentioned above, you need goals, mine was to get the show on the road (bts, guitaring and a touch of singing) and im there now, but now i've hit the stops, i've done alot of my favourite tracks to the best of my ability, and its kind of a question of, what now?
As you might have guessed, im not the motivational speaker for the day lol, but all i can say is, go back to the music that made you smile in the first place ;)

I actually came into the chat room the other night and was listening to TopJimmy jamming to Van Halen tunes.

I'm not putting Jimmy down in the slightest, but I have watched that cat develop his guitar strengths over the years.

Like me, he had always aspired to play Van Halen songs.

Well, the other night he was just pulling loads of them out of his ass and playing them away.

Well, he inspired me no end. I thought to myself, "if Jimmy can make the jump, then so can I!" Again, and Jimmy understands where I am coming from, I don't mean it as a put down on Jimmy's abilities. I just mean that he was another regular guy playing guitar who thought to himself he couldn't play Van Halen tunes. Well obviously he started thinking that he could and went about proving to himself that he could.

So, instead of asking people how to play Van Halen tunes but never putting the time in, I plugged in last night and had a whale of a time. I played Panama, a bit of Eruption and Hot For Teacher.

I still can't play them note for note, but I had a heck of a lot of fun trying !

I just started believing that I could play for once. And I went back to my favourite guitar, my Wolfgang. It was like coming home. For the first time in a long time, the stuff I was playing was putting a smile on *MY* face once again.

And that was what is was all about.

So I thank eric and Jimmy and all you other guys for the inspiration. It's really all about getting back in the saddle and playing it through !

:thumb:

I actually came into the chat room the other night and was listening to TopJimmy jamming to Van Halen tunes.

I'm not putting Jimmy down in the slightest, but I have watched that cat develop his guitar strengths over the years.

Like me, he had always aspired to play Van Halen songs.

Well, the other night he was just pulling loads of them out of his ass and playing them away.

Well, he inspired me no end. I thought to myself, "if Jimmy can make the jump, then so can I!" Again, and Jimmy understands where I am coming from, I don't mean it as a put down on Jimmy's abilities. I just mean that he was another regular guy playing guitar who thought to himself he couldn't play Van Halen tunes. Well obviously he started thinking that he could and went about proving to himself that he could.

So, instead of asking people how to play Van Halen tunes but never putting the time in, I plugged in last night and had a whale of a time. I played Panama, a bit of Eruption and Hot For Teacher.

I still can't play them note for note, but I had a heck of a lot of fun trying !

I just started believing that I could play for once. And I went back to my favourite guitar, my Wolfgang. It was like coming home. For the first time in a long time, the stuff I was playing was putting a smile on *MY* face once again.

And that was what is was all about.

So I thank eric and Jimmy and all you other guys for the inspiration. It's really all about getting back in the saddle and playing it through !

:thumb:




Hey Mondy no prob dude, you are right dude, if I can do it you can too man, you definetly hit the nail on the head it is all about having fun, I am glad you had a blast playing VH, for me that is what it is all about having fun playing the tunes, I mean there is no way I can get VH note for note anyway so I just concentrate on having fun playing to em, I have always thought you can play Mondy and have always enjoyed hearing your posts mate and am definetly looking forward to hearing you play in the future dude!!! :thumb: :thumb::yourock:

buying a new guitar is the cure:rock:

buying a new guitar is the cure:rock:

Yeah Man! Worked for me too!!:thumb:

making a guitar is even better!:woot:

making a guitar is even better!:woot:

Doing that too! Made a black with white stripes Vh1 for my son and am almost done a 5150 replica for me!

DOOD! you gotta post some pics, man! don't hold out on us!:D anything that you think will add to your fire for playing guitar, go for. just look around and see what works. even listen to a totally different type of music.:thumb:

Doing that too! Made a black with white stripes Vh1 for my son and am almost done a 5150 replica for me!


OOH Murph Post some pics would love to see what you have built mate:yourock:

making a guitar is even better!:woot:

Amen to that:D :thumb:

making a guitar is even better!:woot:

hmm:headscratch: i really dont see any relation whatsoever in buiding a guitar and playing one...but whatever works for ya:thumb:

hmm:headscratch: i really dont see any relation whatsoever in buiding a guitar and playing one...but whatever works for ya:thumb:

it gives you a sense of accomplishment, which makes you want to play it, because YOU made it. you know what i mean? tryin' to sound too prophetic, you catch my drift.

It makes you unique to m8, thats why i love mine, no bugger has a guitar like it and nobody sounds like me:toothless:
Obviously it takes some skill in knowing what your doing when building one, but hell i will use mine over any bought guitar anyday:woot:

hmm:headscratch: i really dont see any relation whatsoever in buiding a guitar and playing one...but whatever works for ya:thumb:

It's gives you a good feeling jamming on something you painted up yourself. People are just trying to help.

Here are a couple pics.
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7982/imgp0069fi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)-http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6795/imgp0067dt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Here are a couple pics of the 5150 before I started shooting the clear. I have about 20 coats on it now.
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3574/1001569xp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)-http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9700/1001570um9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

good job on the vh1, man! the 5150 looks sweet, too! i'm planning on making my own paint job with a starpower guitar kit... you should check them out bro! probably gonna get a les paul kit, looks pretty sweet. what do you use to paint and how long does it usually take you to get the bad boy done?

This is a starpower model 9. They are from Ma. too. I learned how to do this here (http://www.paintyourownguitar.com/)

okay, that's what i do too. what paint do ya use, though? thanx man! i just want this next guitar to be perfect!

I use Krylon that I get right at a local Walmart. All the 3m fine line tape came from ebay. Get the Paint your own Guitar books. They are great!!

thank you sir! those books do rock, too! have great technique suggestions and the sort.

K@@L Guitars Murph!

I am impressed...good work.......I wish i had the patience to try building one:woot:

I sniff the clear stuff. A better high..J/K. Working with wood drives me nuts!!! Sanding and the like.

I used car paints on my guitaral, mine came out just like a shop paintjob:woot:
Not quite as colourful as murphs though lol, mines just plain yellow:D

I mentioned the guitar painting as just another example of something that could help get someone out of that rut of wanting to throw in the towel and give up, Didnt mean for Riff's thread to turn into a talk about guitar painting. It does give you a good feeling doing up your own though.:rock:

I mentioned the guitar painting as just another example of something that could help get someone out of that rut of wanting to throw in the towel and give up, Didnt mean for Riff's thread to turn into a talk about guitar painting. It does give you a good feeling doing up your own though.:rock:

Heh heh, if you have the skills to build one. I tried to build a flying v on an evening course one night a week.

I spent the two hours planing the two halves to try to get them to join and never actually got anywhere near.

:stick:

I shoulda listened to wahwah when he told me to get a kit to simply paint and assemble for starters !

:toothless:

Either way, I am loving it again. I actually played a full Van Halen solo the other night. Very slowly, but every note was there. I was very chuffed. It sounded like Eddie Van Halen playing slow for an instruction video !

LOL !!!

Whatever way gets you back into it has got to be good !

:thumb:

Building a guitar is a great way to get interested, it was practically the start of me playing to an acceptable level, i had been playing the guitar for around 7 years before i built my Av-1, and had very limited skills.
I had only been playing on basic guitars until then, my floyd rose which i started on (and still use for trem work) cost me £90, and has no decent pickups or anything.
When i started using my Av-1, with the Dimarzio pickups (not everyone's favourites i know) i sounded half decent, i slowly started practicing again, and generally getting my ass in gear (joined 101, started making BTs) and here i am a few years later, playing to a pretty good standard (i have my moments lol).
I've never wanted to play another guitar since, because for the first since i'd picked up a guitar, i felt at home on it, its by no means the be all and end of guitars, but its exactly what i wanted.
Does it make me enjoy my music more?, yes, because everytime i look at it, i remember why i built it.
Building your own might not be for everyone, but buying loads of guitars isn't for me, everyone to there own.

those are some good replies and advice guys. i have to tell you that a $99 v-amp2 completely changed my life a couple years ago. the sound totally amazed me to where i couldn't stop playing with it. then i started recording with it when i found out there were things called backing tracks that i never knew existed. while looking for some i found a site called guitars101. another life changing moment. since then i have been more involved with music than i ever have. and the best part is that i met all of you guys that have the same passion for guitars that i do. rif you just need to get involved in a music project with some of the great guys here or look for the band mates. there are a lot more than you think who want to do the same thing you do. you just have to start looking.

those are some good replies and advice guys. i have to tell you that a $99 v-amp2 completely changed my life a couple years ago. the sound totally amazed me to where i couldn't stop playing with it. then i started recording with it when i found out there were things called backing tracks that i never knew existed. while looking for some i found a site called guitars101. another life changing moment. since then i have been more involved with music than i ever have. and the best part is that i met all of you guys that have the same passion for guitars that i do. rif you just need to get involved in a music project with some of the great guys here or look for the band mates. there are a lot more than you think who want to do the same thing you do. you just have to start looking.

Very well put Kenny I agree 100%. I have come close to giving up so many times. I get a lot more fun out of my playing with all the resources that exist these days. So I keep just making it fun for myself and that way I stay interested. :wavey:

i definitely agree with kenny about getting together with doods. before ninth grade, i had only played with other kids maybe twice, but then i moved to pa where everyone enjoys classic rock. i developed my skills VERY quickly, because people like to see dudes that rock it out. in the matter of about a year, i discovered van halen, yngwie malmsteen, jeff beck, charlie christian, randy rhoads, and too many other greats to name. i can't put the damn thing down now!

if ya dont have a modeling amp, getting one could get ya out of a rut also...they are fun to explore tone you normally would never try and gives you a new perspective

I'd say my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe changed my life. Having the right axe also has alot to do with it. If I don't like how my Ash is sounding, I'll keep switching axes untill I find the right tone. Everyone of my guitars have a different tone. I just find what ever suits me.