Another thread has caused me to want to ask this...
I play guitar because I love making music with it. I'd play guitar if I was on a desert island and no-one even knew it was happening. For me, it's the end in itself.
I understand that some people make their living by being a guitarist (pre CV-19) and some of them (not all) might stop playing if they retired or changed profession. It's the means to an end.
There are also many people who love gigging (on a semi-pro or amateur basis) who only play guitar because they like being in a band and doing gigs.
Which one are you? And what are you doing now?
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My band, Red For Dissent
I have quite a few friends who are really into guitars. They have sizeable collections, enjoy going round music shops and looking online. I've always enjoyed the playing but have zero interest in the actual guitar as an object and find it completely bizarre people seem to care what amplifiers look like or paint jobs on effects pedals.
So no gig's this year but a shedload of gigs booked next year with a new agent. In the meantime it's all writing recording and learning that craft after years of being a covers artist.
I think I’ve said this on here before, I worry that I use the guitars and the fact that I “play” as a prop to my personality or something
i would usually play a couple of different musical styles in a couple of bands, but that’s all off at the moment. However my big passion has been fingerstyle acoustic, for quite a few years now. I’ve always got some finger-twisting instrumental piece to learn/get the hang of and I find it very rewarding to do just for myself.
I’m not troubled by GAS because I’m happy making music.
I’m not working at the moment, so I have a practice session every day, developing technique and fretboard knowledge on the electric, and practicing pieces on the acoustic.
I play in a band and love making music with others. I write stuff and record etc. But if I didn't do any of that I'd still sit at home and practice every day. I love the challenge, I love drifting off into a zen like place when focussing on trying to perfect technique etc.
I also love the gear, the GAS, the history and all that rubbish as well.
Hasn't stopped me taking a break on a couple of occasions but there's such a hole without playing that nothing else can fill.
I also dreamt as a kid that I'd love to make a living playing guitar but I've realised that I'd hate it turning into a 'job'.
It's just a shame I'm rubbish at it
Si
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
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Football is rubbish.
Doesn't even matter which instrument I use.
When I had a big house I had all sorts of music making equipment.
I love making noise.
During the past few months I've been mostly playing Travis/Atkins/Reed type stuff to keep all fingers working on both hands and maintain co-ordination. It's not something I'd gig but otherwise I'd just be noodling. I sometimes dig out the 335 and play bluesy/jazzy type stuff to backing tracks but end up sounding disturbingly like Greg Hilden
No intention of trying to make money or become a rock God, just a hobby that chills me out for a while.
I enjoy mucking about with fx and things too. Bugs me when people say things like stop mucking about and just play! No, you stop mucking about and just play, if that's what you want to do.
I'm a pianist first and foremost and will always be loads better on piano than guitar, but most of the modern music I like to hear is electric guitar based therefore it seemed logical to learn that. My actual music ability on guitar, or maybe you could say my music voice, is in the chilled mellow or melancholy finger style stuff but what I enjoy obsessing about playing is loud crash bang stuff like White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs which is ultimately not satisfying long term because I can't make any music of my own in that style as my singing doesn't suit it.
So I think really I could wean off guitar and move to a different instrument if it related to the music I like to hear, I could see myself deep diving into synthesizers in my middle age maybe for example. Piano is more my core musical conduit though and always will be