Current Events > It really sucks to stop being good at something because you gave it up.

(+) Yeah! (+)

So basically from the age of 10-23 I played guitar a couple of hours a day. I got pretty good. I was in various bands in high school, the school jazz band, classical ensemble, etc.

Thereafter I stopped playing guitar all that much and I literally haven't touched one at all in about 3-4 years.

My brother recently asked me to play "here comes the sun" at his wedding and shows me a basic acoustic version of it, and I think "hah, easy peasy. That'll take me all of 5 minutes to learn by ear". Because really when i was about 22 I would have been able to do that.

Holy shit it's been 4 days of practise now and I still can't get it down. It's like I've regressed back to when I was 14 or something. I had to look up various "how-to" videos. I keep making mistakes and stubbing strings.

Even worse, I'm being tortured because I can mentally understand what I need to do. I know exactly what notes are missing and what my fingers should be doing. But that brain/hand connection is gone. Remember that guy who would come over to your house, pick up your acoustic, play 8 bars Wonderwall about 10 times over and then put it away? I'm that guy now.
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'cause after all

HolierThanMao posted...

'cause after all

the 5 Ds of dodgeball

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Yeah I kind of feel that way about drawing. From elementary school all the way up through college I was an above average illustrator and I used to draw constantly. I even took studio art classes in college. Then I got a job as a graphic designer and the only things I draw are quick thumbnail sketches.

Now my son is 7 and he's way into drawing, and I'm finding myself struggling on technique. I just can't seem to flesh out a drawing the way I used to.
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There arent any guitars in classical bands, though.
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Same for me. Drawing and piano. Sucks having kids. I'll force them into art and piano class

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So start practicing again, and get better at it than you've ever been! Anything that has been lost can be regained.
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Came in to mention guitar

I've recently been dabbling back into it, and its certainly not like riding a bike

Plus reacclimating your fingers to that pain sucks
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you can probably relearn it quickly tho
compared to learning it for the first time anyway

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WerewolfPaws posted...

There arent any guitars in classical bands, though.

there are many classical pieces for solo guitar, and many that include guitar as part of an ensemble
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I have the same problem when i try to play my drumset. Back in my teens and early 20s i could play for hours and jam with friends or solo. I tried playing them the other week and lasted about 30 minutes because I was out of rhythm and kept dropping the damn sticks.

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