Playing guitar in December

[sabasgr68]

Silly subject, but as good as any to start a conversation and see where it goes...

As December/Christmas is - for most people - usually a time for gathering with family and friends , or travelling, or fixing house issues, or running everywhere to find "that special present" for loved-one-1, loved-one-2, etc., do you actually play less or not at all this time of year, or play the same, or play more?

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[tonebender]

I play almost everyday. I only play electrics at rehearsal or gigs with the band. So when I say everyday, I mean the acoustic. I play and sing everyday to stay ready for the solo shows. I am always trying to learn a new song, write and song or improve one I already know. The only time I miss a day is when I have a couple of back to back gigs. Then I will take a day off.

[Tonray's Ghost]

Play every day, multiple times a day usually.

[Spike]

I also play almost every day, even if it’s just a few minutes. However, December is a very busy month and there are days where I don’t get a chance to pick it up. We generally don’t book any gigs in December.

[andrewsrea]

For me, there are various distinctions of 'play.'

Every day I pick up a guitar to fix one, test an amp, test a pickup, test a pedal, etc. Very rare a day goes by and I do not. That said I do not consider this 'playing.' It is my tried and true 'music store' riffs that give me understanding of what I am attempting to fix or build. This type of playing does not provide the same satisfaction as the next category of playing for me.

Playing to me would be learning a new song, recording, or jamming live with people (I never gelled with the single guitar-performer side of me). To which I have been doing more of this in 2024. It has slowed down due to the holidays and some minor medical setbacks over the past few months (which are on the mend).

[glasshand]

The early part of December is normal enough for me, but in the second half, my band is pretty much all out of town. I have a lot of free time, but my wife also has an extended break in late December/early January, so we'll see how much guitar time I get in!

[tlarson58]

I pick up the guitar most every day and jam along to some favorite tracks.

Much of my time is spent vetting Ultimate Guitar posts with the acoustic. Then I print the new music for the band to practice and add to our catalogue. Many get round filed right away but at least we try them. That's fun.

I'm in two "meh" bands so I play then, but much of that is on bass. The time on the bass is worth the laughs we have at practice.

[sabasgr68]

@tonebender @Tonray's Ghost @Spike @andrewsrea @glasshand @tlarson58

It´s cool that most of you get to play frequently this time of year. I bet that when you're not, you're playing in your head; at least that's what I've been doing the last months haha

@andrewsrea I like that expression: 'music store' riffs. Cool!

[andrewsrea]

@andrewsrea I like that expression: 'music store' riffs. Cool!

Yeah - I may be showing my age and this may have been a local thing. Growing up, there were at least one instrument store per square mile (1.6km^2). They were very social places that people went to talk like we do here, take lessons or try out gear. Since the latter can be embarrassing for some (a form of stage fright?), players would have a set of musical passages that they were prepared to play to take the apprehension off and focus on how the gear was responding. In my locality, we called it "music store riffs.'

There are definite rules to music store riffs: no playing 'Stairway to Heaven,' no 'Freebird,' no 'Sweet Child O mine,' no 'Enter Sandman.'

[BatUtilityBelt]

I think the only thing this season changes about my playing is the amount of time I can give it. Ugly weather brings me indoors more, so I get to play more (instead of getting other things done, of course).

[sabasgr68]

@andrewsrea I like that expression: 'music store' riffs. Cool!

Yeah - I may be showing my age and this may have been a local thing. Growing up, there were at least one instrument store per square mile (1.6km^2). They were very social places that people went to talk like we do here, take lessons or try out gear. Since the latter can be embarrassing for some (a form of stage fright?), players would have a set of musical passages that they were prepared to play to take the apprehension off and focus on how the gear was responding. In my locality, we called it "music store riffs.'

There are definite rules to music store riffs: no playing 'Stairway to Heaven,' no 'Freebird,' no 'Sweet Child O mine,' no 'Enter Sandman.'

Nice. Kind of an unspoken established code.

[Rollin Hand]

I can't freaking wait to have the chance once my hand heals.