"You might also consider watch brands other than the ones you would ordinarily consider. Your budget of <$100 limits your choices, but there is nothing saying you can't get a cheap watch.
Go to WalMart and look in the case.…"
Cutting losses and moving on.
Hey men,
This has been bothering me for a while now, and I just can't seem to make the decision on my own. I've been playing guitar on and off for around 7 years now (lately, mostly off). I used to love to play. I loved the technical element and later learned to love the emotional element as well. For the last 4 years I've been kept busy with classes (just graduated), and now I'm starting a job in a few weeks and know for a fact I won't have the time to devote to the guitar. My guitars have more or less been conversational pieces. I'm one of those people that derives pleasure from things that I'm actually good at and I think that I no longer have the time or energy to be as good as I feel like I ought to be. Today really hammered the last nail in the coffin for me. I picked it up and started to pick around and didn't feel any sort of interest whatsoever.
I know people change, but I can't figure out it's that or if i'm just going through a rough patch. I think it's for the better if I just devote the time to other hobbies that I enjoy more. I will always love music and may one day consider picking up a different instrument, but for now I think it's best to cut my losses and move on. What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Mike
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brian Splash on -
l often loose interest or just motivation to do a hobby or interest , they will always be there ready , anyway l think it can be a little unhealthy if you do not balance between a few things .
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Permalink Reply by David H on -
Had the same thing happen to me. About 15 years after I stopped playing, I finally gave away (almost) all my guitars, pedals, and equipment.
About a year or so later I started wanting to play again.
Everything has been hit or miss so far and I have not been consistent. This is new for me, since I'm used to doing thing 100% or nothing. Look at the situation as a lesson that I don't have to be a pro to still enjoy something.
I'd say, if you're looking for a break, you can always give your stuff to a music school or something. Those guitars you have might help somebody write the next great song or something far more important than just sit in your closet. If you want to pick it up again, you can always get another, so nothing is lost.
Best wishes!!
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Permalink Reply by Michael on -
Thanks for the replies guys. That's not a bad idea, David. Sometimes I think that (about someone using them for a better purpose) lol. I mean, i'm definitely not giving them the attention that they deserve or that I need to improve. That's my problem too, I'm so used to doing things all or nothing that It's sometimes hard to enjoy the small things.
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Permalink Reply by Nathan Noble on
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I've gone through the same thing...
After a few months/years,I always got the urge to play again...
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Frigo on
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Keep at least one, and maybe look int the Guitars For Vets charity for the gear you don't need.
I trimmed back to one amp and three guitars that I can't part with at this time, but even those spend too much time collecting dust. It happens.
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Permalink Reply by Native Son on
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Funny how folks got by with just one guitar for centuries.
You probably need to figure out which one you feel best about playing when you're just "noodling around" and lose the rest.
Sell them, or donate them (get and keep the receipt if serious value is involved with a donation).
Fool around with the one enough to stay proficient.
And this situation is almost inevitable: I gave away my acoustic guitar after literally not touching it for several years. Two months later, a my sister calls, wants to know if I still have my old guitar, since my nephew has become interested in instrumental music...
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Permalink Reply by David F. on
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You seem to think that stopping your learning and practice of the guitar is a loss. I think you can let that aspect of your life go for the reasons you stated without counting it as a loss.
I stopped doing historically minded western martial arts (SCA) after several years of training. I spent allot of time and money in building up my kit. I will not say it was a loss that I decided to stop for the sake of my Son to have time on the weekends and such. It is just a different phase of my life.
Let it go without remorse, it is not cutting a loss. I would retain the instrument but allow yourself to move on. Perhaps in time you will pick it back up, or find someone who could use the instrument and give it to that person to get them started.
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Permalink Reply by Justin on -
I feel that our hobbies change as we change. In what ways can you renew your interest in the guitar? Maybe you ought to try to learn a new style or new songs. If you've truly taken the time to determine if there is still a spark, the answer to your question should be clear. If you are disinterested in playing the guitar and would like to discontinue doing so, sell it to someone who is more passionate about it. Use the money that you make from the guitar to fund a new interest. Sometimes it is hard to let go.
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Permalink Reply by Max Power on -
It seems this is a common situation for us.
I started playing guitar when I was about ten years old, when I got a job at fifteen I had little time between school and work, and i got interested in cars and girls.
I kept my two guitars, but rarely picked them up for twenty years or more.
My interest was reignited when my church needed more musicians and I wanted to help out by serving in the worship ministry.
I also was recruited into a classic rock band, and a blues band for a time. I had fun but it wore on me and now I am back to playing very sporadically.
The problem with playing a musical instrument as a hobby is that if you do not keep up consistent practice, you will lose your chops and when you are asked to play, you can't pull it off with any degree of skill. It ain't like collecting stamps or baseball cards...
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Permalink Reply by Scott Omega on -
"didn't feel any sort of interest." That is the sign you should move on. You can love something but get bored with it. Sounds like you need something challenging.
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Permalink Reply by Rebekah on -
I agree with the consensus. The only thing I have to add is that I really don't like unused stuff in my home. If I had an old hobby that took up the space of multiple guitars and amps, I hope I'd consider getting the stuff out of my home before it'd sat around unused for years.
OTOH, I admit I just took down my rice cooker for the first time in years, and I keep my double boiler mostly for sentimental reasons.
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Permalink Reply by Max Power on
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Guitars and amps ain't kitchenware, baby.
This stuff can be hard to replace (especially if you have quality gear), Pack it up and store it away if you must, but it is likely you may have a resurgence of interest down the road. Or, you may want to hand it down to your children, nieces/nephews. I loaned my Marshall 100 watt amp and an excellent floor effects unit to my niece when she needed gear and was on a tight college budget. I was not using it, and don't really play that stuff anymore, but she put it to good use. I will get it back when she is finished with it.
I have plenty of other gear that I would not part with at this point, and I hope to hand down to my grandchildren.
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