Recently, I've been retraining myself to play the guitar, specifically focusing on the sweep picking technique. It's a challenging style where you play individual strings in a fluid, sweeping motion. I'm following Barren's YouTube course, which I actually purchased back in 2010 but only now am taking seriously. This marks just one of many chapters in my on-again, off-again relationship with the guitar.
My journey with guitar has been a winding road. From 2005 to 2013, I was a guitarist in a metal band. When that chapter closed, I simply dropped the guitar like it meant nothing. Years passed, and it wasn't until 2021, during the pandemic, that I felt drawn back to it. Looking for something meaningful to fill my time, I returned to one of my former passions. I even bought a new guitar and started taking lessons from Sindude, making real progress for a while.
But old patterns emerged. Gaming took over in 2022, as I mentioned in a previous post. Then 2023 brought another attempt, this time trying to incorporate recording, but somehow it didn't stick. My relationship with the guitar has always been complicated, not because I lack passion – quite the opposite. My connection to music runs deep; it has shaped my life in profound ways.
I never played guitar because I dreamed of becoming a rock star or wanted to show off with impressive shredding. For me, it was always about sharing how music has impacted my life. Being in a band and performing live was a way to communicate that meaning to others, hoping our music would resonate with listeners the way my favorite songs resonated with me. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of that goal.
Part of what pushed me away from playing was the band scene itself. Late-night practices followed by drinking and socializing with other musicians – it just wasn't my scene. No disrespect to those who enjoy that lifestyle; it simply didn't align with who I am.
Now, I'm approaching guitar differently. I'm returning to it as one of my first loves, as an extension of my passion for music. I don't need to be in a band or publish music – I'm playing for my own satisfaction and self-expression. It's already reigniting something within me, and I've been consistently practicing for almost three weeks – the longest streak since 2021.
More importantly, this return to guitar represents a personal challenge, much like my running journey that I've written about before. It's about overcoming self-imposed limitations and proving to myself what I'm capable of. As a guitarist, I used to believe I was limited to rhythm playing because that's what interested me at the time. But as Jim Kwik, one of my favorite authors and brain coaches, would say, these are just limiting beliefs – or "LIES" (Limited Ideas Entertained).
The truth is, these limitations were self-imposed. Just because I previously confined myself to certain styles or techniques doesn't mean I can't expand beyond them. We all have the potential to grow beyond our self-perceived boundaries.
Right now, my goal is simply to become a better player, inspired by the music I love. Through this journey, maybe I'll find new ways to share my passion for music with others, even if on a smaller scale than before. There's something powerful about sticking to your goals and finding alternative paths to achieve them.
That's the dream I'm pursuing, and I'm committed to seeing where this musical path leads. Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys aren't about reaching a specific destination but about breaking through the barriers we've built for ourselves.
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