Playing Frustrated, Playing Well

CaliGull
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Location: Los Angeles area
Playing guitar since: middle school, but with big gaps in between!

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 2:49:42 GMT -5 via mobile

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Post by CaliGull on Apr 21, 2017 2:49:42 GMT -5

Sat down to play some fingerstyle tonight on the new maritime folk and it was as if the guitar changed dimensions, or I regressed in my playing ability, or both.

I kept flubbing notes, struggled to fret without buzzing, banged adjacent strings while picking. I put it right back in its new Gator case that came today, frustrated. Going to check the action and truss rod this weekend.

What a completely different experience than usual. So different than when I played last night, Martin CEO7, with new set of Titanium Core strings ($40) that Martin sent me for free to try. I could do no wrong, and the guitar played like magic.

Ever have those days when you can't play to save your life, or when you can't believe how well you're playing?

CTGull
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Playing guitar since: Early 80's & 2011

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 3:10:25 GMT -5

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Post by CTGull on Apr 21, 2017 3:10:25 GMT -5

What are you doing up at this hour?? It's 4am here in CT (and I'm at work 2 hours early)!

I definitely had one of those days last night. Everything I touched turned to POOP!!! I attempted to play the guitar but "it" just wasn't there. I attempted to go to bed at 9pm and couldn't fall asleep, woke up at 2:30am, at work at 4am. Hopefully today goes better!!

Get some sleep!!!

yamahavintagefg.boards.net/
yamahavintagefg.com/

RobertW
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Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 6:20:43 GMT -5

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Post by RobertW on Apr 21, 2017 6:20:43 GMT -5

Apr 21, 2017 2:49:42 GMT -5 CaliGull said:

Ever have those days when you can't play to save your life, or when you can't believe how well you're playing?

Yes, lack of consistency has always been my problem, both playing and singing. Age related memory lapses make it worse. Sometimes I can't even remember how to play a tune I composed.

The other day, I was relieved to discover it was the height of the lutehole causing that session's flubs.

Sometimes, it is where you sit! I often play in my office chair, which is possibly the worst place to be for arm positioning. My right elbow on arm rest is not great for fingerstyle. Sometimes I think the edge of the dining room table is the perfect spot for arm positioning. My bum begs to differ.
Sinking into a couch might be real comfy, but....

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ remember my Profile AKAs...

Seagull S6 Cedar/Cherry (1998)
Seagull Amber Trail CW Mini-Jumbo Spruce/Maple Long scale (2012)
Seagull Coastline Cedar 12 Cedar/Cherry (2015)
Ibanez Artwood Parlour 2 AVN3-NT Spruce/Mahogany (2015)
Martin GPCPA5K Stika Spruce/Koa HDL/Birch Stratabond/Morado Fretboard (2015)
Gretsch Mahogany Boxcar Round-Neck Resonator (2015)
Alvarez ABT60 Baritone Spruce/Mahogany (2016)
Sigma 000M-15 Mahogany, Rosewood Fretboard (2018)

Jim Supreme Member Posts: 1,939 Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada Playing guitar since: circa 1960	Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 6:34:18 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Jim on Apr 21, 2017 6:34:18 GMT -5 Yes. Some days it seems everything falls into place and other days I can't even get it in tune. That's the time to take a hike or make a pot of coffee. Or try the banjo.
	Last Edit: Apr 21, 2017 11:31:05 GMT -5 by Jim -1962 Martin D-21 -1950 Gibson LG1 -1958 Goya M-26 -1974 Yamaha FG75 high strung -A number of banjos, mandolins, Autoharps, ukuleles, dulcimers, mouth harps, a Tele clone and various other stuff. -I own a fiddle, but only play it when Maggie and the cats are all out of the house.

Blackback Gull
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Posts: 303

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 8:25:30 GMT -5 Derick likes this

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Post by Blackback Gull on Apr 21, 2017 8:25:30 GMT -5

Apr 21, 2017 2:49:42 GMT -5 CaliGull said:

Ever have those days when you can't play to save your life, or when you can't believe how well you're playing?

Frequently the former, seldom the latter...

"If you can't boogie woogie, you sure can't rock and roll"
Danny O'Keefe

Deleted
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Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 8:52:17 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 8:52:17 GMT -5

Apr 21, 2017 8:25:30 GMT -5 Blackback Gull said:

Apr 21, 2017 2:49:42 GMT -5 CaliGull said:

Ever have those days when you can't play to save your life, or when you can't believe how well you're playing?

Frequently the former, seldom the latter...

What Blackback Gull said!

Derick
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Playing guitar since: Way back yonder.

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 10:39:33 GMT -5 CTGull likes this

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Post by Derick on Apr 21, 2017 10:39:33 GMT -5

CaliGull ,
Yes i can relate to your post.
Not an expert on this, so could be totally incorrect, but i believe its the brains fault, if your mentality tired, or have other problems on your mind, your playing can suffer, think thats why the boffins say relax, i think they mean relax physically and mentally.
My problem is if i relax, i fall asleep.

Last Edit: Apr 21, 2017 14:40:13 GMT -5 by Derick

Faith Mercury, Parlour Guitar.
Tanglewood TW40 Sundance Historic, 12 freter. Solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides.
Takamine GY93E-Nat, Parlour Guitar, solid Spruce top.
Epiphone ES339, semi acoustic Electric guitar,
Fender Mex Stratocaster, White with Maple neck.
PRS se Custom, 24 fret, Mahogany back with Maple cap.
Tanglewood TW 45 Re Sundance Reserve, All solid wood, Cedar Top,Mahogany back and sides.

TonyKgull
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 10:45:14 GMT -5

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Post by TonyKgull on Apr 21, 2017 10:45:14 GMT -5

Ever consider it might just be the guitar you're playing that time?

There's days when I just don't meld with one guitar but do with another. Right now, my Alvarez is the guitar I play well on most consistently. But there are days when for some reason, I jive better with my Cort or the Taylor. It's weird. It's not even like "I'm" picking the mood or whatever. It's just that some days my hands just seem to be in their own mood and like one guitar over another.

I used to get this to an even bigger degree when I still had a Seagull. Some days, my hands only wanted that 1.8" neck, even if I did not. Other days, I couldn't stand and couldn't play squat right on the 1.8" neck and had to grab something else.

I won't even go into what body shape your body might be in the mood for. lol. For me, I definitely have a direct mood change for Dread or OM. Sometimes I gotsta have my dread, sometimes I don't. The Taylor GA seems to be that happy middle ground for when I really don't have any idea what I'm in the mood for so I'll just grab the Taylor and I'm good.

It's nice having small, medium and large. It mitigates guitar mood swings nicely.

=====================================
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Jesus, from Matthew 11:28-30

RobertW
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Location: The Home of Seagull
Playing guitar since: the early 60's with a 20 year hiatus during 80s-90s.

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 13:57:29 GMT -5 TonyKgull likes this

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Post by RobertW on Apr 21, 2017 13:57:29 GMT -5

Apr 21, 2017 10:45:14 GMT -5 TonyKgull said:

Ever consider it might just be the guitar you're playing that time?

There's days when I just don't meld with one guitar but do with another. Right now, my Alvarez is the guitar I play well on most consistently. But there are days when for some reason, I jive better with my Cort or the Taylor. It's weird. It's not even like "I'm" picking the mood or whatever. It's just that some days my hands just seem to be in their own mood and like one guitar over another.

I used to get this to an even bigger degree when I still had a Seagull. Some days, my hands only wanted that 1.8" neck, even if I did not. Other days, I couldn't stand and couldn't play squat right on the 1.8" neck and had to grab something else.

I won't even go into what body shape your body might be in the mood for. lol. For me, I definitely have a direct mood change for Dread or OM. Sometimes I gotsta have my dread, sometimes I don't. The Taylor GA seems to be that happy middle ground for when I really don't have any idea what I'm in the mood for so I'll just grab the Taylor and I'm good.

It's nice having small, medium and large. It mitigates guitar mood swings nicely.

wait.... youd still talking about guitars?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ remember my Profile AKAs...

Seagull S6 Cedar/Cherry (1998)
Seagull Amber Trail CW Mini-Jumbo Spruce/Maple Long scale (2012)
Seagull Coastline Cedar 12 Cedar/Cherry (2015)
Ibanez Artwood Parlour 2 AVN3-NT Spruce/Mahogany (2015)
Martin GPCPA5K Stika Spruce/Koa HDL/Birch Stratabond/Morado Fretboard (2015)
Gretsch Mahogany Boxcar Round-Neck Resonator (2015)
Alvarez ABT60 Baritone Spruce/Mahogany (2016)
Sigma 000M-15 Mahogany, Rosewood Fretboard (2018)

ladyssolo
Supreme Member

Posts: 1,267

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 20:55:31 GMT -5

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Post by ladyssolo on Apr 21, 2017 20:55:31 GMT -5

Frequently. One night I was trying to learn a new tune (reading the music and trying to put my fingers in the right places) and was having minimal success. I suddenly got the inspiration to just "trust my fingers" and play it, and it went beautifully! That was the one and only time that ever happened. Usually I have all kinds of trouble, and switch instruments (to mandolin, or if I'm having trouble with the mandolin, to guitar.)

Last Edit: Apr 21, 2017 20:56:53 GMT -5 by ladyssolo

Greg Ballantyne
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Location: Maryland, USA
Playing guitar since: 1974

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 21, 2017 23:21:00 GMT -5

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Post by Greg Ballantyne on Apr 21, 2017 23:21:00 GMT -5

CaliGull ,CTGull ,RobertW ,Jim ,Blackback Gull ,@sleigh ,Derick ,TonyKgull ,ladyssolo , I notice some inconsistency in my efforts quite a bit over the years. One variable is if it's a good singing day - as I get older, the not so good singing days seem to come along more often. As for the playing, I have variation there as well. It is going the other direction compared to the good singing days - I think it's due to progress with better instruments and motivation. I believe I've been on an upward track since I went to the shop in town 7 years ago for a set of strings and came out with a Seagull Maritime. I've also spruced up my bag of harmonicas in recent years, and simply have been spending more time at it. As I pick up a new guitar here and there, the motivation gets a pick up as well, and my interest in the whole thing increases. As TonyKgull mentions, a choice of guitar types helps me as well - a strummer as compared to a picker, or different tonewood combinations/sounds.

In order of appearance:
Aria LW-20
Seagull Maritime HG Dread
Seagull Natural Elements Cedar/Cherry Dread
Taylor 418e
Taylor 514ce LTD
Trinity College TM-375 Irish Bouzouki

CaliGull
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Posts: 285
Location: Los Angeles area
Playing guitar since: middle school, but with big gaps in between!

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 22, 2017 11:44:54 GMT -5 CTGull, Derick, and 2 more like this

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Post by CaliGull on Apr 22, 2017 11:44:54 GMT -5

Great points, everyone. I do agree that any and all the things mentioned could be operating, such as the particular guitar, my energy level at that time of day, and where I am emotionally at the time I decide to play. I would also mention the frequency (or should I say, infrequency) of regular playing has an impact too. I think that there is an interesting thing that happens when we pick up the guitar and play and how that experience of making music, and our perception of how well we are doing it, also impacts our emotions. So, for example, I pick up my guitar to play and I am going along nicely, hitting all the notes, not struggling, and it makes me feel confident, happy, content. Then that emotional energy feeds back into the guitar playing and so forth. Same is true when mistakes happen, and we keep trying to correct them, and then perhaps frustration or discouragement sets in. Luckily, there is always another day, another guitar, another opportunity!

tbman
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Playing guitar since: 1964ish

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well Apr 30, 2017 19:19:07 GMT -5 Derick and henk like this

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Post by tbman on Apr 30, 2017 19:19:07 GMT -5

I've had those nights after a good one. My opinion is that when we're feeling good, we over do it, then the next night is a recovery night. When that happens I do a longer warm-up, play slower and sometimes run warm/hot water over my hands and massage them a bit before playing.

Alvarez AP66SB, Gibson J-45, Martin D-16GT, Larrivee OM-05, Republic Tricone 200, Seagull Cedar Folk

A little bit of my playing:
soundcloud.com/barry329/waltz-for-rebecca

CaliGull
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Posts: 285
Location: Los Angeles area
Playing guitar since: middle school, but with big gaps in between!

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well May 8, 2017 23:35:37 GMT -5 via mobile CTGull and Derick like this

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Post by CaliGull on May 8, 2017 23:35:37 GMT -5

Played for almost two hours today, the CE7, the Dread Jr and the new Maritime Folk. Cracked open my Mark Hanson book on Travis picking and worked on getting Hesitation Blues under my fingers.

I sanded the Tusq saddle a bit on the Maritime and what a difference. 😄😄

TonyKgull
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Playing Frustrated, Playing Well May 9, 2017 4:20:40 GMT -5

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Post by TonyKgull on May 9, 2017 4:20:40 GMT -5

May 8, 2017 23:35:37 GMT -5 CaliGull said:

Played for almost two hours today, the CE7, the Dread Jr and the new Maritime Folk. Cracked open my Mark Hanson book on Travis picking and worked on getting Hesitation Blues under my fingers.

I sanded the Tusq saddle a bit on the Maritime and what a difference. 😄😄

Do you know by any chance how much you took off the bottom? Just curious. Ya, nothing beats nice, low action!

Just not too low. ha ha.

=====================================
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Jesus, from Matthew 11:28-30

WELCOME TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR CABIN!!!

Post by CaliGull on Apr 21, 2017 2:49:42 GMT -5

Post by CTGull on Apr 21, 2017 3:10:25 GMT -5

Post by RobertW on Apr 21, 2017 6:20:43 GMT -5

Post by Jim on Apr 21, 2017 6:34:18 GMT -5

Post by Blackback Gull on Apr 21, 2017 8:25:30 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 8:52:17 GMT -5

Post by Derick on Apr 21, 2017 10:39:33 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on Apr 21, 2017 10:45:14 GMT -5

Post by RobertW on Apr 21, 2017 13:57:29 GMT -5

Post by ladyssolo on Apr 21, 2017 20:55:31 GMT -5

Post by Greg Ballantyne on Apr 21, 2017 23:21:00 GMT -5

Post by CaliGull on Apr 22, 2017 11:44:54 GMT -5

Post by tbman on Apr 30, 2017 19:19:07 GMT -5

Post by CaliGull on May 8, 2017 23:35:37 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on May 9, 2017 4:20:40 GMT -5

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