[ArcheM]

I used to play guitar and then stopped (long explanation). But recently I've been hearing about beneficial effects of music, and also the fact that I have not one but two guitars taking space in my room has been making me consider picking it up again. The problem is, the ways I know to do guitar aren't actually very helpful. First, the beneficial ways I've heard about include just playing whatever and zoning out. I don't know how to do that. When I played it was either doing exercises or learning songs, and those can be mechanical, but generally at least after half an hour of focused practice, and that's too much time for what I want to be a relaxing distraction.

There's also motivation. Generally, exercise books come with the assumption that you want to become an amazing player, which sort of involves hours of daily practice. And with learning songs, just strumming chords feels unsatisfying, but more complicated arrangements, again, require hours of focused practice.

In addition to that, there's barre chords, which I put up with in my previous mindset, but from my current point of view they don't help things because they can be painful and annoying because of how easily they go wrong and destroy your tone with buzzing, etc.

Any advice? Ideally I think I'd like to find a way where guitar would be akin to a quick videogame session except maybe instead of exciting you it relaxes you.

[Skeezyks]

Hello ArcheM: I don't really have any suggestions for you here. I'm an older person now. But many years ago I played guitar. Actually, at the time, I was considered to be quite good... although by today's standards I was pretty amateur. Anyway I stopped playing many years ago.

A few years back I decided I'd like to start playing some music again. But I didn't care to return to the guitar. I decided I'd like to play the autoharp (chorded zither.) I thought it would be easy. It wasn't... at least not the way I would have wanted to play. After a while, I just became frustrated. So I put my instruments away. Now they're just collecting dust in a back closet. Good luck figuring out your dilemma...

[*Laurie*]

Hi ArcheM, I think it is wonderful that you play guitar. It sounds like it would be beneficial for you if you just play...be sure to breathe calmly while you play...just play, breathe, and enjoy the activity without placing expectations upon yourself of having to achieve or be perfect.

Practicing meditation might be helpful for you, then use the time with your music as a kind of mediation time.

[ArcheM]

The problem is, what do I play? I don't think picking random notes would be helpful, because random notes are bound to sound discordant and out of rhythm, and that probably doesn't have a nice, relaxing effect.

Incidentally, yesterday I saw an ad for an app called Yousician, which is supposed to make playing music into a game. But it seems its free version is very limited and the premium costs $20/month, which is kind of out of my budget.

Maybe you, Laurie, mean just jamming. Unfortunately, I never learned how to do that. Like I said, I spent all my time practicing exercises (from books) and learning songs.

Also, my guitar mindset has been turning pretty negative, and something I realized yesterday is that a way my comparison with a videogame session is inapt is that a guitar you pretty much have to play every day. Not only are there muscles that have to be kept in shape, but also calluses to be maintained, otherwise it'll be painful. I feel like this factor turns it into a chore instead of a fun activity that you can pick up whenever you want.

On the one hand, I see all these negatives, and on the other hand I don't want to believe that it's just been a many-year-long, expensive mistake.

[TishaBuv]

You already have guitars, why not enjoy them? I gave my kids guitar lessons. They worked from a beginning book by Hal Leonard. They were told to practice just 15 minutes a day between weekly lessons. You can teach this to yourself. You can also find videos on YouTube for free to help you.

Once you get past the beginning stages and learn to read music and play, you'll probably find playing guitar very relaxing and enjoyable.

My son picks up his guitar the minute he comes home and watches TV while playing by ear the music he hears on the TV!

My other son is in a top music university for jazz bass/music engineering.

There's no telling where the skill can take you.

P.s. Go to a music store to find someone to tune your guitar strings.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by ArcheM

The problem is, what do I play? I don't think picking random notes would be helpful, because random notes are bound to sound discordant and out of rhythm, and that probably doesn't have a nice, relaxing effect.

Incidentally, yesterday I saw an ad for an app called Yousician, which is supposed to make playing music into a game. But it seems its free version is very limited and the premium costs $20/month, which is kind of out of my budget.

Maybe you, Laurie, mean just jamming. Unfortunately, I never learned how to do that. Like I said, I spent all my time practicing exercises (from books) and learning songs.

Also, my guitar mindset has been turning pretty negative, and something I realized yesterday is that a way my comparison with a videogame session is inapt is that a guitar you pretty much have to play every day. Not only are there muscles that have to be kept in shape, but also calluses to be maintained, otherwise it'll be painful. I feel like this factor turns it into a chore instead of a fun activity that you can pick up whenever you want.

On the one hand, I see all these negatives, and on the other hand I don't want to believe that it's just been a many-year-long, expensive mistake.

Yes, just jamming is kind of what I mean. Can you mindfully practice jamming? Just because you haven't learned to do so before does not mean you cannot learn now. Use your guitar as a tool to relax, instead of it being something you have to be perfect at.

[ArcheM]

I don't know how clear it is from my original post, just in case, I played for about 10 years, and stopped over a year ago.

I guess I've got to try this "jam" thing, because these guitars aren't going anywhere and I'm just going to grow to regret and resent them more. Although I'm not quite sure what "mindfully practice" means. I know mindfulness meditation (although it's never worked for me)...

[*Laurie*]

Yes, you've played for a long time. I'm not sure what feedback you're looking for. Is there something I/we can do to help you out?

[ArcheM]

Mmm... mmm.

I just "jammed" while watching Netflix before bed (or, more properly, before this, I guess), and I'm feeling kind of wrong and afraid and agitated... Although, I guess since I can't explain the reasons myself, you won't be able to help me with that.

[leejosepho]

I used to play and I still have an acoustic 12-string in a case in a closet, but I doubt I would find much relaxation or anything very soothing from playing it again. I used to spend a lot of time learning chords and new songs so I could play and sing along with other people, but I actually found the bass much easier to play and even more enjoyable whether alone or with others. Music certainly can be relaxing, but not for me when producing it requires so much concentration and actual work.