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01-14-09, 02:12 PM
Funny thing about taking up a pastime that you gave up years ago. The enthusiasm may be rekindled- but how do you get back into it? Is it just a passing fad that within a few weeks you realise that in no way do you have the skills that you used to have. OK-30 years ago you were not at a professional level- but you were good- but can you get back to that level?
So how do you get back? After all you used to be good and had good equipment- but prices have gone up drastically. $2000 to get the same quality of equipment you used to have is a lot of money and what happens if after a few months you decide that there is no longer any enjoyment any longer? Even if you set yourself a target and push yourself into the training and practice required- are you going to be at a level that says that if you persevered- you could get some of that expertise back? It's a lot of money to take a risk with.
Perhaps you go down a grade of equipment but is that what you really want? You know that the more expensive stuff works better and will give you better results- but it is still a lot of money. So look at second hand- but are you buying a heap of rubbish that some one else is trying to pass on as they don't want it either. After all- you know nothing about modern equipment and you can't tell if you are getting a good deal that will get you back on the right track- or something that is so poor- you get disheartened and just give up.
So lots of perusing the small ads- looking at the trade magazines to see what is about and trying to get ideas on current trends. Then it is out to look at the shops. Not much affordable around and not much that is what you want- but you keep looking. Eventually you find what you think is what you want and you buy it.
Then the hard work starts. You have to get it fitting you- get it tuned to the way it should be and you start practicing. That is when the pain starts coming in. It was nothing years ago to do an allnighter but now all you can do is about 30 minutes before the pain sets in. And you no longer have the skills you used to have. But you fight your way through the pain barrier and start remembering a few shortcuts to get yourself back to a passable level. Then one day it clicks. You do have the right equipment. Not the best around but it will do and it will teach you a lot before you summon up the courage to tell the wife that you need a better guitar now as the one you bought to get back into playing is now below the standard you have reached.
Sound familiar?
6 months ago I bought a 12 string guitar to give me another interest besides cycling. It has taken that long for me to get the finger tips hardened up and the fingers to work properly so that I can play the chords well enough to accompany my voice singing some of the Folk songs I used to sing round the clubs. All I have to do is practice the Finger style a lot more so I can get somewhere back to my old expertise- but I am afraid the voice will take a bit more than that.
So how do you get back? After all you used to be good and had good equipment- but prices have gone up drastically. $2000 to get the same quality of equipment you used to have is a lot of money and what happens if after a few months you decide that there is no longer any enjoyment any longer? Even if you set yourself a target and push yourself into the training and practice required- are you going to be at a level that says that if you persevered- you could get some of that expertise back? It's a lot of money to take a risk with.
Perhaps you go down a grade of equipment but is that what you really want? You know that the more expensive stuff works better and will give you better results- but it is still a lot of money. So look at second hand- but are you buying a heap of rubbish that some one else is trying to pass on as they don't want it either. After all- you know nothing about modern equipment and you can't tell if you are getting a good deal that will get you back on the right track- or something that is so poor- you get disheartened and just give up.
So lots of perusing the small ads- looking at the trade magazines to see what is about and trying to get ideas on current trends. Then it is out to look at the shops. Not much affordable around and not much that is what you want- but you keep looking. Eventually you find what you think is what you want and you buy it.
Then the hard work starts. You have to get it fitting you- get it tuned to the way it should be and you start practicing. That is when the pain starts coming in. It was nothing years ago to do an allnighter but now all you can do is about 30 minutes before the pain sets in. And you no longer have the skills you used to have. But you fight your way through the pain barrier and start remembering a few shortcuts to get yourself back to a passable level. Then one day it clicks. You do have the right equipment. Not the best around but it will do and it will teach you a lot before you summon up the courage to tell the wife that you need a better guitar now as the one you bought to get back into playing is now below the standard you have reached.
Sound familiar?
6 months ago I bought a 12 string guitar to give me another interest besides cycling. It has taken that long for me to get the finger tips hardened up and the fingers to work properly so that I can play the chords well enough to accompany my voice singing some of the Folk songs I used to sing round the clubs. All I have to do is practice the Finger style a lot more so I can get somewhere back to my old expertise- but I am afraid the voice will take a bit more than that.