Why Do We Play, Collect Guitars and Compose

Rebosbro

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Have really enjoyed reading this thread! Lots of great reasons!

I played piano for years when I was young and then picked up the guitar in my early teens. Was in a couple garage bands in high school, but found alcohol and drugs about the same time. Eventually sold all musical things(except ‘79 Strat) for my addiction. On January 26th 2015, I got sober. I was told to stay busy, so out comes the Strat. I pick up a Blues Junior and discover there are a LOT of musicians in recovery. About 6 months in, I met a guy with 25 years and a Martin. We have been playing together ever since. Added a sober drummer and base player a couple years ago. Rebos Brothers Band. Rebos is sober backwards.
Today, music is a HUGE part of my recovery. It’s how I meditate. It’s how I decompress. It’s how I reach serenity. It’s how I talk to my Higher Power. It’s how I survive in the crazy world.

As far as collecting, did I mention I have addiction issues!🤪
Paul
 
walrus

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Paul, that is a great and uplifting story! And thanks for explaining your screen name!

walrus
 
Guildedagain

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A farm house near Culpepper. Hour away from Charlotesville and a couple hours away from Richmond? Such a long time ago.

Rolling green hills. Hot. For Lovers.
 
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There is something special about crafting a "good" song and thinking to myself "I wrote that". As far as collecting guitars, I'm married to an enabler.
 
DrumBob

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Guitar is my second instrument, obviously, and although I will never attain the proficiency on guitar that I have on drums, I still love playing. As far as collecting, I have been doing that for years. Hundreds of guitars have come and gone, but there are forever keepers I will never sell. Guitars are things of beauty, pieces of art that you can hold and play. You can't do that with a painting or sculpture.

I have never been a songwriter, but did put together a tune with a friend in 2019, a tribute to Tom Petty that is based around my Rickenbacker 12 string and Byrds/Petty vibe. I wrote the chordal structure and she contributed lyrics and melody. I have yet to register the song, but I plan to.
 
dreadnut

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I got kicked out of piano lessons when I was about 9 - my teacher told my Mom "You're wasting your money on lessons - he won't learn to read music." I think it upset her that I would play my pieces perfectly at recitals without looking at the sheet music.

Not to be deterred, my Mom, bless her heart, bought me a guitar at age 14. I've never looked back. And I still don't read music.

Besides the other stuff, music is my own personal therapy - I can just get lost for an hour all alone playing and singing songs I know. Happy songs, sad songs, contemplative songs, worship songs...
 
lungimsam

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Paco De Lucia could not read music for a lot of his career until he decided to do a recording of the Aranjuez Concerto and learned to read for it, or so I was told.
 
ruedi

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Great thread, interesting read! I play, like many of you, mostly for myself. I find joy and distraction in making music, and guitar is my favourite instrument, so there you go. And like Paul, I have a history of addiction, so I see my dedication to music as contribution to my healthy and sober way of life, since I feel it has some kind of therapeutic effect. I can express feelings and go through emotions that wouldn't be possible without music - be it composing my own, or playing famous songs. And I like the challenge of learning new songs.

We also make music as a family, my kids both go to drum lessons, and we have a lot of fun! So it's good for family life :)

I would not consider myself a collector, but I do like to have a fine choice of good guitars at hand - currently one for every day of the week.
 
Rich Cohen

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Rebosbro said:
Have really enjoyed reading this thread! Lots of great reasons!

I played piano for years when I was young and then picked up the guitar in my early teens. Was in a couple garage bands in high school, but found alcohol and drugs about the same time. Eventually sold all musical things(except ‘79 Strat) for my addiction. On January 26th 2015, I got sober. I was told to stay busy, so out comes the Strat. I pick up a Blues Junior and discover there are a LOT of musicians in recovery. About 6 months in, I met a guy with 25 years and a Martin. We have been playing together ever since. Added a sober drummer and base player a couple years ago. Rebos Brothers Band. Rebos is sober backwards.
Today, music is a HUGE part of my recovery. It’s how I meditate. It’s how I decompress. It’s how I reach serenity. It’s how I talk to my Higher Power. It’s how I survive in the crazy world.

As far as collecting, did I mention I have addiction issues!🤪
Paul
Click to expand...
Very helpful, Paul. Thanks for your candidness and smarts.
 
Rich Cohen

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Here's a video of Neil Young that's within the theme of this thread. He's playin' at the Farm Aid Festival (2013). He's remembering Phil Ochs with Phil's song "Changes," and responds to a catcaller from the audience. Patent Neil about 1:35 into the video.
 
cupric

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Because I always have.
My first love was drums. Then a ukulele I found in a pawn shop when I was around 10. Then guitar. I never took lessons so it's all on me. Anything I can do I learned or picked up. I've always had a thing for Guilds. I was mostly a acoustic player but so wanted to rule on electric. It never really happened....but that's ok! I cannot afford to collect anymore, but still love to look. And I keep at least one guitar in the stand to grab when I hear a great tune, or when something pops into my head.
I have up my other artistic endeavors over the years, but guitar is still there. It provides something I need. It makes me happy. And it even makes me dream sometimes. And is the source of many memories.
 
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