Why do you play guitar? | Forums

[Rockmatrix]

So I was evaluating how far I've come in six months and how incredibly far I have yet to go as a guitar player, and I asked myself this question. Why am I doing this?
At 43 years old and never having played an instrument of any kind, I'm a new guitar player. Like most everbody I'm a very busy person, working, spending time with the family, taking care of the house, etc. etc. So why am I devoting such a huge portion of my extremely valuable free time to RS?
I have no illusions of being a "guitar God", I'm not looking to start a band, doubt if I'll ever play in front of a live audience, I'm not looking to impress anyone. Yet every chance I get I'm on the guitar. I haven't even told most people about my new obsession. Friends want me to play golf, no thanks I'm busy. Poker game tonight, sorry can't make it. Ball game? Nope. My guitar playing skills may be improving but my social life is paying the price. Along with my fitness routine, yard work (really should mow the lawn today) and anyother hobbies I used to have.
Anyway I have no good answer as to why I'm doing this at this stage in my life other than it's something I've always wanted to learn. I see other people playing and making it look easy and it bothers me that I can't do it. So I continue to practice. I enjoy the feeling of mastering a song or portion of a song, grinding out Riff Reapeater over and over and over till you finally get it right.
Sorry this is long winded, feeling a bit philisophical today I guess.
Not sure if I should thank Ubi and RS or curse it for what it's done to my life!

[Dizzyg12]

I'll put in the simplest terms I can come up with......

To forget about life for a while.

[BobPeters61]

Because the soft rock of the early '70s made a big impression on me with acoustic guitars, then I took to liking hard rock with the electric guitar as it's signature instrument. Throw in occasional chance to socialize with somebody playing a guitar and observing as well as feeling the attraction their instrument has on people, I want that for myself.

[PRS_Rocker]

In my teens, twenties, and thirties, it was girls. Now, it's women.

[PRS_Rocker]

I'll put in the simplest terms I can come up with......

To forget about life for a while.

That's piano. LOL (lyrics from Piano Man - Billy Joel)

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday,
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming to see
To forget about life for awhile.

[crispyfunk]

i play guitar because it gives me a huge rush of adrenaline, when i get into the grove. some people get addicted to sky diving or racing or other extreme sports that give people a huge rush of adrenaline. but for me its all about the feeling i get when i come up with a new song , or make in old song sound like a new song. some times when i get done playing some songs it feels like im floating and that feeling is what its all about for me . i dont have many friends i work from home and its been way to hot out lately to go walking any other time than first thing in the morning so the rest of my time is devoted to trying to get that rush i love , i guess you could say im an adrenaline junkie but its from rocking out hella hard

[rednhax]

In my teens, twenties, and thirties, it was girls. Now, it's women.

That is exactly the answer I was expecting in this thread



As someone else said, when you're playing guitar and you're in the zone, nothing else around you exist or matters for awhile.
It's a great way to relieve work related stress.

[Typhoon7M]

Why do you play guitar?

Because it makes me happy!

[dm_gsxr]

Well, my Dad played a trumpet when I was growing up and he loaned me his when I took band in school. I did enjoy the camaraderie and competition (two of us would swap 1st Chair and 1st Trumpet throughout the year ).

About 16 years ago, my youngest daughter decided she wanted to learn to play and sing. She took piano lessons, singing lessons, violin lessons, and guitar lessons. We happened to have a standup piano to practice on, and we bought a blue guitar when she got to that (we rented the violin for those lessons ). Anyway, before I knew it, they sold the guitar. I didn't realize that I wanted to give it a try until I found out it was gone so I went to Apple Music in Fredericksburg and bought a '92 MIM Tele and a Fender practice amp.

I didn't have the resources we have today. I bought a tab book, the Guitar for Dummies book (which I immediately covered; I hate the 'Dummies' books) and tried to learn on my own. Well, it was a lot harder than I thought although I did learn a few riffs.

Move forward to Dec 2010. My wife is pretty picky about being a minimalist. If we're not using it, she wants it gone. So I got an ultimatum. I've had the Tele all this time, either take lessons or sell it to someone who'll play it.

Can't argue with the logic. So I went to a local store and signed up for lessons.

As to motivations to play, I have a few.

1. At company functions, most of the time the band consists of folks in the company. Since I'm an introvert and generally a wallflower, I figure I'd be perfect for playing in a company band

2. Oddly, when I play air guitar, I always seem to play it correctly (as in the higher notes are played closer to the body and on the bottom of the neck). It just seemed like I was mentally playing guitar anyway so why not?

3. For us older folks, there are studies that if you pick up an instrument later in life, you'll be less likely to get dementia. (Essentially, if you don't use your brain, you'll lose it). I am a computer geek and gamer so I'm constantly learning new stuff anyway so I didn't figure that'd be all that much of a problem but it's just one more thing that motivates me.

I've been up on stage and with Funk-n-Stein, I've played with someone else. Heck, the way I'm going, I should be in a band soon

Carl

[Rockmatrix]

That is exactly the answer I was expecting in this thread



As someone else said, when you're playing guitar and you're in the zone, nothing else around you exist or matters for awhile.
It's a great way to relieve work related stress.

All good answers, Love this one! Haha
Seriously though I get similiar feelings ( forget about life, stress relief, adrenaline fix) from motorcycling and guitar playing! Never equated the two before. Also as Typhoon said, they both "make me happy". Guess that's plenty good reason enough!