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Hi all,
Do any of you go through periods where you stop enjoying playing your instrument ? If so - how long does that last, and do you see any rhyme or reason regarding the why ?
Do you just stop playing until the joy comes back, do you push through it and just keep practicing/playing anyway ?
Asking for a friend (not, lol)
TIA
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Joe, just speaking for me, when I don't enjoying playing an instrument I just stop playing it. Since my instrument of choice is a guitar, I MIGHT pick up another guitar and see how it goes: acoustic vs electric, single coils vs humbuckers, long scale vs short scale, etc. Or I might pick up a keyboard or a bass, or something else if I have one lying around. Or just listen to music. Or just do nothing related to music at all, like read a book. I find that if I go on vacation for a week without a guitar, when I come back everything seems fresh and new again. But I don't think your friend is alone. Wish him luck from me! 
Last edited by DC Ron; 01/08/25 11:59 AM.
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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I played an upright bass for decades ... hauling it to clubs and festivals. Toward the end and as I got older it was feeling like moving a sofa around. Nowadays I rarely play it (a bit of hand arthritis) and don't really miss it - but do often consider getting an acoustic bass guitar. BTW Janice and I both enjoy writing and recording music and have zero aspirations to ever gig again, BUT she does work up her vocals on her ole '43 D-18. J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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A great question I think many of us face at times. I stopped playing guitar for about 15 years in my mid-life due to pursuing another passion which was fine art photography. BUT thank heavens I did not sell my beautiful guitars, because as that passion wound down, I took out my guitar one day and just the smell of it reignited my interest. I strummed my Martin D35 and said Ooo that sounds nice and off we were to the races again. So if there is no passion now, just stop. If it doesn't reignite, life changes. If it does reignite, wow that can be exciting. Constant change is the rule of life and if we assume a fixed "identity" of being a musician, then when we don't want to do it, we suffer. Impermanence is such a pain. BTW there is no criticism here, just sharing my perspective as I have gone through different musical phases.
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Your comments about the upright bass made me think of a story my Estonian friend tells me about the Estonian musician nickname for the upright bass. They call it the "mother in law" because nobody wants it in the car! Funny, but also speaks to the royal pain of the size of that wonderful beast of an instrument. I wish I had one just to hear its awesome resonant tones, but where the heck to put it?...... I played an upright bass for decades ... hauling it to clubs and festivals. Toward the end and as I got older it was feeling like moving a sofa around. Nowadays I rarely play it (a bit of hand arthritis) and don't really miss it - but do often consider getting an acoustic bass guitar. BTW Janice and I both enjoy writing and recording music and have zero aspirations to ever gig again, BUT she does work up her vocals on her ole '43 D-18. J&B
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Just take the break.
I think we all go through that. I know I do..... everything from songwriting to playing the instruments I have. Something should ignite the spark again after a brief respite from the instrument or task. When you come back to it, you should have a new enthusiasm to go into new territory.
Some of my more interesting songs have been written when I take a break and then come back recharged.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Your comments about the upright bass made me think of a story my Estonian friend tells me about the Estonian musician nickname for the upright bass. They call it the "mother in law" because nobody wants it in the car! Funny, but also speaks to the royal pain of the size of that wonderful beast of an instrument. I wish I had one just to hear its awesome resonant tones, but where the heck to put it?...... I played an upright bass for decades ... hauling it to clubs and festivals. Toward the end and as I got older it was feeling like moving a sofa around. Nowadays I rarely play it (a bit of hand arthritis) and don't really miss it - but do often consider getting an acoustic bass guitar. BTW Janice and I both enjoy writing and recording music and have zero aspirations to ever gig again, BUT she does work up her vocals on her ole '43 D-18. J&B Here’s where I put it. Corner of the living room. Bud ![[Linked Image from janiceandbud.com]](https://www.janiceandbud.com/uploads/4/4/3/1/44312/img-1403_orig.jpg)
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Pick up something else and play that?
If I start getting uninspired with the keyboards, I'll pick up the guitar ..
Sometimes even the bass or horn
Eventually something stirs in me again
At least that's how I've always dealt with it
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Hi all,
Do any of you go through periods where you stop enjoying playing your instrument ? <...snip...> Never. I've been playing since I've been in middle school, and that was a long time ago, and it's still a pleasure to put one of my instruments in my hands.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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<...snip...>
BTW Janice and I both enjoy writing and recording music and have zero aspirations to ever gig again,<...> Me? Gigging is the most fun Mrs. Notes and I can have with our clothes on. When the COVID lockdown happened, gigging is what we missed the most. We had our gear set up, played a few times a week, and continued to learn new songs. But there is something about the performing for an audience that brings that special feeling out of each of us that is so hard to explain. The only thing I don't like about gigging is being the 'band salesman', but consider it a necessary evil.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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..... there is something about performing for an audience that brings that special feeling out .... that is so hard to explain.
The only thing I don't like about gigging is being the 'band salesman', but consider it a necessary evil. Indeed. I always loved being on stage, in band or even solo, and having an audience that was into the music and enjoying themselves with the band in a "Zen-like" auto pilot mode.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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..... there is something about performing for an audience that brings that special feeling out .... that is so hard to explain.
The only thing I don't like about gigging is being the 'band salesman', but consider it a necessary evil. Indeed. I always loved being on stage, in band or even solo, and having an audience that was into the music and enjoying themselves with the band in a "Zen-like" auto pilot mode. It's being in "the zone" where there is no space, no time, no self, just pure experience. As I've said before, it's the most fun I can have with my clothes on.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Hope you are invited to play at a nudist party soon Notes where you might ponder the idea of playing the sax with your clothes off!! Go for it Notes, might be a great new experience!! and don't forget to post a few pics.
Last edited by musiclover; 01/10/25 03:20 PM.
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As I've said before, it's the most fun I can have with my clothes on. I never knew that physical examinations in FL were so much fun! You must have some kind of wonderful doctor  [Sorry, couldn't help myself.]
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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Never happened!!
But I am getting knocked off one instrument at a time by physical challenges.
Although the pace is increasing, it started in college when I was learning to play cello. Lovely instrument, one of my favorites to write for. I broke my ring finger twice in a month playing basketball and took that as a sign I wasn’t meant to play cello!
After I retired, I met a goal of learning a new instrument each year (to help my writing). Now, it’s arthritis making it harder to hold some instruments. But I’ve never lost the desire to play any of them.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Hope you are invited to play at a nudist party soon Notes where you might ponder the idea of playing the sax with your clothes off!!<...snip...> We played at a nudist RV/Motor Home park for quite a few years, until a hurricane came and destroyed their clubhouse. It wasn't as erotic as you would imagine. In fact, in a short while, it seems quite normal.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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<...snip...>Now, it’s arthritis making it harder to hold some instruments. But I’ve never lost the desire to play any of them. I had bursitis in my hip, so severe I couldn't walk 2 blocks without sitting, couldn't drive more than a few minutes without a 'blue ice' pack behind my hip, and needed a stool on stage. I inherited that from my father, but he didn't mean to give it to me. I also had arthritis in the little finger of my left hand from a basketball injury. (They shouldn't let musicians play sports.) Anyway, it was so bad, I skipped playing G#s and the lowest notes on the sax because it hurt too much. Then a doctor gave me the arthritis/bursitis diet. The diet is restrictive, but I tried it and felt improvement in a month. Within a few months I could play all the G#s and low C#s, Bs and Bbs I wanted, don't need a stool, and can drive 8 hours or more with no pain. I realized I wanted to be pain free more than I wanted to eat some of the foods I love. +20 years later, I am still on the diet and pain free. If interested in trying it, here it is: For both arthritis and bursitis, treatment is similar:
Try the dietary approach first, and if that doesn't work, take stronger action.
Foods that may contribute to chronic inflammation are foods with a high glycemic index (foods that convert to sugar quickly), such as fruit juices, sugars, simple starches, or rice cakes, foods heavy in polyunsaturated or saturated fats, and foods high in arachidonic acid. Some specific foods to avoid are:
* Fatty cuts of red meat (high in saturated fats), lean is good
* Organ meats: liver, kidney, and so forth (very high in arachidonic acid)
* Egg yolks (very high in arachidonic acid)
* Poultry - chicken, duck, turkey (very high in arachidonic acid)
* Pasta (high glycemic index)
* Juices (high glycemic index)
* Rice, especially rice cakes (high glycemic index)
* White bread (substitute whole grain breads such as rye)
* Nightshade Plants bother many people (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, paprika)
Glycemic index charts can be found on the Internet.
Better choices are foods with a low glycemic index and foods that are heavy in monounsaturated fats. Some specific good foods are:
* Salmon and other fish
* Oatmeal
* Low glycemic fresh fruits and vegetables
* Olives and olive oil
* Peanuts and other nuts
* Whey proteins
* Lean beef is good, 100% grass fed is betterI read somewhere that the problem with chicken and eggs is due to the feed the farmers give them. Chickens are supposed to eat seeds, insects, and grubs, not corn and soy. I had a neighbor who was walking her dog using a cane for herself. I gave her the diet and in a month she was no longer using the cane. Several months later, she was using the cane again. I asked her if the diet quit working, and her answer was, "I just couldn't give up pasta or eggs." So if you are thinking about it, it's a lifetime commitment. You have to decide if you like being pain-free more than eating certain foods. Me? I won't go back. I'd rather be pain free than eat certain inflammatory foods. Now this is unofficial and a guess, but I think this anti-inflammatory diet might be the reason why at this age, I have no indications I'll ever need a knee or hip replacement, as they don't trouble me at all. Disclaimer: Let me add that this is not medical advice from me to you. You might have a condition that the diet doesn't agree with, so checking with your doctor is never a bad idea. Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Last edited by Notes Norton; 01/11/25 07:16 AM.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Put me in the I have never stopped enjoying playing my instruments club.
At the age of 10 I started on the trumpet, at 14 the guitar, at 16 the French horn, and with my MIDI controllers I have enjoyed playing. Yes starting a new instrument can be challenging but I never gave up and the rewards have been tremendous.
When you are at the checkout line and they ask if you found everything say "Why, are you hiding stuff?"
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Regarding arthritis, inflammation is your mortal enemy and too much ibuprofen can wreck your kidneys.
Garlic, ginger and green tea are good anti-infammatories.
You can buy ginger in capsule form.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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Regarding arthritis, inflammation is your mortal enemy and too much ibuprofen can wreck your kidneys.<...>. That's why I'm glad I found the Arthritis/Bursitis diet. Instead of adding drugs that have harmful effects on the body, I just eliminated the foods that have inflammatory effects on the body. It was easy, and I'm pain free, and it seems to work for everyone that I know who tried it. And I even lost a lot of weight as a bonus.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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