What are your playing goals?

[jaymarsch]

I have been focusing on rhythm these days. I feel that is one of my weak areas. So it is counting, working with a metronome and getting more solid with my patterns. I think that will help me play syncopated rhythms more successfully and add interest to my guitar accompaniments.

I have backed off doing more performing until I feel more confident with my guitar playing.

Best,
Jayne

[KDepew]

Love the list man. Love seeing "second halfers" embracing the guitar too. And the signature stuff clip is really nice too!

[TBman]

Originally Posted by KDepew

Love the list man. Love seeing "second halfers" embracing the guitar too. And the signature stuff clip is really nice too!

Thanks!

.....

[rick-slo]

Goals:

try to stay out of ruts

coming up with good melodies

having more free time

[embo]

I turn 45 this week, and been playing, really, for only about 3 years. My goals at the moment are:

1. Get good at as many Grateful Dead songs as I can.
2. Find a group of people who want to play the Dead acoustically (a couple acoustics, upright bass, maybe a piano and some stripped down drums). I think this kind of thing would be an absolute blast at local farmer's markets or outdoor gatherings.
3. Play music for people that makes them feel good and makes them smile.
4. If all of those fail, I just want to play my guitar and get better, every day, for the rest of my life.

[Toby Walker]

I've always adhered to the name that Ken Kesey gave his bus in the book "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests" by Tom Wolfe.

"Further."

For me, it's sort of a mantra which means to always follow wherever the spirit of the music takes me. The second I actually write a 'goal' down with a 'timeline' I know that I'm kissing it goodbye when the next bend in the road comes along. As long as I can keep moving "Further" down that road, I'm good.

[Steve0]

I just turned 62 last week.

My goal is simply to play at all. Life has taken me away from the guitar (fortunately, not my guitars away from me) but there they sit, gathering dust.

I gotta find the will, the inspiration, something more than "I gotta do it" and do it.

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by Toby Walker

I've always adhered to the name that Ken Kesey gave his bus in the book "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests" by Tom Wolfe.

"Further."

For me, it's sort of a mantra which means to always follow wherever the spirit of the music takes me. The second I actually write a 'goal' down with a 'timeline' I know that I'm kissing it goodbye when the next bend in the road comes along. As long as I can keep moving "Further" down that road, I'm good.

Pretty much my mantra as well though I must confess I don't think of it in the formal sense. If I might say so, reading your mention of it sounds like you give it similar treatment.

I play, I learn but it's just an unremarkable natural progression of continued searching around the fret board for interesting stuff.

Once the mechanics of playing no longer inhibit the capacity to try anything and everything, what naturally comes next is the free will to let curiosity roam the board. That alone will carry me forever into a musical journey of ins and outs. Covers are always fun to romance my influences of old but the true sport of play is making new music.

[51 Relic]

Just turned 60 in Feb and just enjoying playing fingerstyle . I gigged for thirty years and now enjoy playing and leading worship. I find at this age you must play regularly or your hands get stiff . Goals , well I’ve only played acoustic 100% for the last seven years and to make the most musically out of each day and just enjoy the wonderful world of the guitar

[mr. beaumont]

To keep learning more tunes (those othets wrote and those i wrote) more deeply.

[Skarsaune]

Originally Posted by embo

I turn 45 this week, and been playing, really, for only about 3 years. My goals at the moment are:

1. Get good at as many Grateful Dead songs as I can.
2. Find a group of people who want to play the Dead acoustically (a couple acoustics, upright bass, maybe a piano and some stripped down drums). I think this kind of thing would be an absolute blast at local farmer's markets or outdoor gatherings.
3. Play music for people that makes them feel good and makes them smile.
4. If all of those fail, I just want to play my guitar and get better, every day, for the rest of my life.

I'm in, what's your location?

The bold one especially.

Personally, I try to work on a certain technique (currently bass runs/fills to accompany/accentuate my strumming), run through the repertoire rotating songs in or out, and always devote some time to just PLAY.

[Johnny K]

Originally Posted by embo

I turn 45 this week, and been playing, really, for only about 3 years. My goals at the moment are:

1. Get good at as many Grateful Dead songs as I can.
2. Find a group of people who want to play the Dead acoustically (a couple acoustics, upright bass, maybe a piano and some stripped down drums). I think this kind of thing would be an absolute blast at local farmer's markets or outdoor gatherings.
3. Play music for people that makes them feel good and makes them smile.
4. If all of those fail, I just want to play my guitar and get better, every day, for the rest of my life.

If you live near Annapolis, MD / DC, i'd join you. I know a couple GD songs. And I have all those instruments, except a banjo. (why dont I own a banjo? Hmmmmm)

[embo]

Originally Posted by Johnny K

If you live near Annapolis, MD / DC, i'd join you. I know a couple GD songs. And I have all those instruments, except a banjo. (why dont I own a banjo? Hmmmmm)

Originally Posted by Skarsaune

I'm in, what's your location?

Unfortunately, Eastern Iowa is a LONG trip to MD/DC! I actually have a banjo, but I cheated and bought a six string, which is tuned like a guitar, it just has the banjo sound. I got it cheap, and I'll easily get what I paid for it back out of it just in terms of fun. One day though, maybe I'll seek out a 4 or 5 string and learn the tuning on it.

[KevWind]

At 68 my goal for the last 2 years has been get back into electric after 47 years away, and really learn how to play lead

[gwlee7]

To become accomplished enough on acoustic guitars to be able play all three styles that are backing up the lovely Ms. Krauss here:

https://youtu.be/nnowvP8oFWE