I don't feel it anymore.

[ignorant]

I was struck by something just now. I didn't know where to post this so I put it here. I was just sitting here trying to digest some of the things I have gotten from this site and thinking about how I listened to music. When I was in my teens the music seemed to move me. It was like it was inside me, in my bones so to speak. Now it seems like it is out there somewhere and I can't feel it anymore. What happened and can I get the feeling back. This very discouraging.

[phantom]

What happened and can I get the feeling back. This very discouraging.

hey.. i think you can. you might have been "ignorant" too long, but if work yourself into it again you'll discover the beauty again.

don't.give.up.

[rmuscat]

i think you need to look for music which satisfies your emotions/tastes.

Happens to me soooo often .. that's when i change CD:)

But you have to look for it. It won't magically find you through your letter box.

Over here at ibreathe i have learned about so much good music i don't know where to start! Search the forums :) unfortunately most of it is too guitar oriented but anyway, you never know.

my little tip anyway

[ignorant]

hey.. i think you can. you might have been "ignorant" too long, but if work yourself into it again you'll discover the beauty again.

don't.give.up.Ireally hope I can. Right now I just want to cry.

[Koala]

Nah dude you´ll be alright, as the guys said, there comes a time in every mans life when he´s gotta change cd´s. It´s hard to recommend anything as I don´t really know your tastes, but surf the web, im sure you´ll come across something that will move ya.

[ignorant]

in the last couple of hours I put on some blues( From Memphis to the Mississippi Delta) because of my mood and really listened. I actually felt it. I am right now listening to Credence, what I used to listen to as a boy, and have been dancing with tears running down my eyes. I heard it through the grapevine has me bawling. I haven't felt this way in years. I can't thank you enough. I should probably tell you that I am a preacher who thought the past was something to forget. I haven't listened to this stuff in years.

[ignorant]

Credence" Chuglin" Wow!

[Koala]

Hell yeah, thats the spirit, now pick up that axe ans start makin some music yourself! Glad to hear it´s all better now.

[Bongo Boy]

When I was in my teens the music seemed to move me. It was like it was inside me, in my bones so to speak. Now it seems like it is out there somewhere and I can't feel it anymore.All I can say is that I know this feeling--I think of it everytime I think about creating music, but also when I'm listening. Don't know what to tell you.

I think part of it has to do with our 'having something to say'. I don't have anything to say (as surprising as that may seem). There isn't anything I want to express with music, nor is there anything I hear anyone else expressing that I give a crap about.

Having said all that, I have seriously enjoyed much of the old delta and country blues stuff I've been listening to. It actually puts a smile on my face and feels good. So...you may have to do some wild-*** exploration of what's out there in order to find something...something you weren't expecting.

I picked up a few of the Putomayo-label 'world' music CDs over the past few years--absolutely blown away by how fun music is. The stuff out of Senegal and Ivory Coast artists, and a bit of Cuban stuff.

So...maybe go to the music store, strap on the headphones and take a listen to something you'd NEVER listen to...country, punk, ska, reggae, whatever. Hell, you don't know what will happen. You may get a big-*** smile on your face without even knowing it.

[ignorant]

I know I will have to come down to earth soon. Right now I am walking on air. I haven't been so moved by much of anything for such a long time. Thanks again is all I can say.

[sugarbee]

The other factor you need to consider is time and responsability. When I was a teenager after dinner I would lock myself in my room and write or draw by candlelight all night as I listened to music. The writing or drawing was to give my hands something to do while the rest of me wallowed in music. I have also noticed that I don't get that same feeling of giving myself over to those listening passions as often as I used to, far from it. Then, one day, I realised that I just didn't have that luxury of time with little to do anymore. When I have free time I have to clean or budget or stress about something, because I'm an adult now, and it comes with the territory. I don't think it's a bad thing, and it does sometimes make me sad to remember how it used to be, but man, put on some rocking tunes or something that pleases my ears and I fall -partly- back into that feeling. But for me, to really feel it and be incased in that feeling I go out to a concert or a recital or something. I sit and watch and listen and feel the vibrations and that does it, takes the breath right out of me. Just keep up on that cloud as long as you can and if that doesn't get you through, listen to a choir sing or a band on stage and it'll get ya.

Don't worry though, man, we have all either been there or will be there. It's just called life.

[fortymile]

when i was a teen, i was being exposed to all kinds of new stuff. the world can really open up around that age, especially if you're learning to have lots of fun and exploring your freedom. i think thats why a lot of that music from that time period affected me pretty hardcore. because it was a soundtrack to what was subjectively a pretty exciting life. the tunes augment and become attached to your emotions. pretty soon the tunes ARE the emotions. when i listen to certain albums i am transported.

now i can still get turned on by music, but it's true: i do have to look harder to find it. and i've noticed a pretty telling trend. seems that only albums that i hear when i have--or am just getting to know-- a girlfriend or potential girlfriend end up becoming suffused with emotions. this supports my theory that the key to feeling music is partly to live a full life and be excited about something. to not get into a rut in your life and just stay home. you need to feed the fire for the fire to feed you.

well. *stretch.* back to watching tv.

[Chim_Chim]

I was struck by something just now. I didn't know where to post this so I put it here. I was just sitting here trying to digest some of the things I have gotten from this site and thinking about how I listened to music. When I was in my teens the music seemed to move me. It was like it was inside me, in my bones so to speak. Now it seems like it is out there somewhere and I can't feel it anymore. What happened and can I get the feeling back. This very discouraging.

I know what you mean.When I was young before I ever played the guitar I felt more musically connected and like I had a sort of "natural understanding" of the musical creative process that somehow got lost somewhere along the way...

To get it back you need to get back in touch with the music.

I suggest singing...

That's the best 'direct link' to the music.And it's a natural uncontrived thing.

Besides that there is of course rhythm.You might want to listen to some really rhythmic and percussive music to get the old juices flowing.

TAB probably killed your soul...

[adambum]

in the last couple of hours I put on some blues( From Memphis to the Mississippi Delta) because of my mood and really listened. I actually felt it..



I think most of the guitarist tends to "go back" to blues/jazz when you come to a point that you have enough of those loud guitars, loud drums, happy rythms, party songs etc... I was fed up with the "nu-music" today and I thought that I've just lost the love for music. one day a friend of mine bring his (older) friend, a guy who plays shred so we setup all our gears to jam. I expect him to play those complicated fretworks for the fact that he was a shredder, so I was not ready when he said that he'll just warms up for a minute and then close his eyes and play some blues and jazz on his guitars. It's just 15 minutes but it opens up something in me that already inside of me since I was a kid. So that's why I like Guns N' Roses and Eric Clapton, they have blues in their music... He told me that everytime he's feeling that he don't like to play anymore because of the current trend today he'll just get his CD's and blast on some Jazz and blues stuff. That's where I get my obsessions to Delta Blues/Mississippi music... I realize that some Musician are "forced" to play music for today to have a living and even if they don't like what their playing, they know that when they can't take it anymore, they can go back to whatever music they like that hooked them up in the first place.

[adambum]

Whenever I do "go back" listening to Guns N' Roses and Eric Clapton and all those Blues and Jazz artist, I found myself that I recharged, I have a new love again to play music. I can now go back again and play Heavy songs...

[phantom]

TAB probably killed your soul...

i know this might be just a little off topic as i see that ignorants "problem" was not tab, but i just wanted to agree chim chim and i think a lot of you out there experienced the same:
if you are totally into a song, one that reeaally catches you bigtime, you want to learn how to play it to be a even bigger part within that feeling. but what happends is the complete opposite! taking a song apart like that, transcribing and analising instantly kills the mistery, and probably that part of the song that connected to you so much.
i have "lost" a lot of my favorite songs like that until i realized that whenever i bump into a tune that i like, it's better to leave it like it is - i don't even want to know what the guitarplayer does cause i'm afraid that i'll see his hands moving whenever i hear the song.

does anybody know what i'm talking about or am i nuts? :eek: ;)

[rmuscat]

yes phantom i do know what you mean!

i sometimes meet untouchable songs, songs which i don't think i should be trying to learn simply because i might risk loosing the feel and emotional connection i have.

I get pathetic actually, i hear the guy playing and say, it sounds so cool but yet played so simple. Even worse when i hear someone else playing, i become one of those idiots who goes to a gig and starts commenting about the guitarist when my friends say he's good!. :(

ok ok i'm out of that phase now but i was for a while :o

On the other hand, something which worked out for me is to learn a song totally by ear, no tabs, no sheet music, no transcribtion ... by ear and by heart (Both senses of "by heart"!). At that point i wouldn't care what i'm playing until it the same one i'm hearing on the CD and i'd be enjoying it as much.

my 2c + VAT + Import Duty + Tax + Profit ...

[adambum]

Except for the song :D "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Wonderful Tonight", I never touch any Guns N' Roses and Eric Clapton song... I'm not transcribing any of my favorite blues stuff. I'm creating my own blues songs inspired by those faves... I think if you start to transcribe songs that moves you, feelings will be gone and will be replace by technical aspect...

[Tiger Lily]

i have a lot of trouble JUST playing songs from ear alone, i need a key, or a few chords to start out, tabs arent ALL evil, some good comes from them to start out with.

anyways, if your passionate enough to reilse the great feeling from music is gone, then your passionate to find it again. Considering people are always changin so are their needs and likes, maybe the music isnt appealing anymore, try soemthing...new. new is such a harsh word, and it will lead to change, which is equally as devistating. as long as you know somehting is missing, you also have the ability to find it or move on.

[Chim_Chim]

Actually phantom what I meant was that if you use tabs to learn songs you learn the techniques involved and put them immediately under your fingers,practice the song a couple times and you've got it.You can play it.You're basically reading it,memorizing it and reciting it.

Whereas,learning songs by ear you develop your ear,you actually use your theory knowledge,you work on transcribing so you're getting better at that.Plus you have to find what you are hearing on your instrument yourself through some trial and error and so during all of that you're actually learning your fretboard too.You might try things in several positions before deciding which position actually sounds like the song you're learning.You have to explore your fretboard and ear it out.You just don't get that from tabs! By the time you are done you've not only learned the song,you've actually worked on several things that make you a better musician.

And no Tiger Lily,tabs aren't all evil.Some things are so fast that they're hard to hear.Tabs can help there sometimes if they're accurate tabs!

If you rely solely on tabs then you're cheating yourself out of alot of valuable lessons.Atleast learn some easy or intermediate songs by ear every now and then.


i have a lot of trouble JUST playing songs from ear alone, i need a key, or a few chords to start out
If you stick at it long enough and do it enough you'll be able to get those clues that you need to get you started in the right direction.Start with some easier tunes and try to pick out the melody.Odds are that the melody will outline a scale and then you'll know what the key is.Also you should watch for Dominant chords resolving to tonic major or minor chords.

Tabs are okay I just wouldn't use them as a crutch all the time.I can't imagine not being able to figure atleast some songs out by ear.

I've figured songs out by ear,forgotten them,and then had to go back later on and learn them again by ear.= PRICELESS!

TABS? I don't need no stinking TABS!

[doctorvetsill]

Music heals, you just have to be patient when the muse is sleeping! I didn't play for a year or two after college because I was so burned out from playing for my grades for 4+ years. The passion came back though and when it does it hits you like a bolt of lightning.

Smart move turning to the blues. That playing will heal ya every time :) Hang in there!

[doctorvetsill]

In reply to the tabs issue, they're fine, but musical illiteracy is rampant and y'know, there's nothing like being able to pick up a score to a song you've never heard and learning to play it. It's tough to learn but so worth it and it's never too late to start!

[mattblack850]

I picked up a few of the Putomayo-label 'world' music CDs over the past few years--absolutely blown away by how fun music is. The stuff out of Senegal and Ivory Coast artists, and a bit of Cuban stuff.

So...maybe go to the music store, strap on the headphones and take a listen to something you'd NEVER listen to...country, punk, ska, reggae, whatever. Hell, you don't know what will happen. You may get a big-*** smile on your face without even knowing it.[/QUOTE]

I completely agree with this, I have worked at the WOMAD festival (World Of Music Arts and Dance) every year for the last 14 years and am always being opened up to new beats and styles of music. As well as the Putomayo label check out the 'Rough Guide' series and also the 'Real World' label as they do some brilliant 'Introduction to....' style CD's.

[cpinegar]

I was struck by something just now. I didn't know where to post this so I put it here. I was just sitting here trying to digest some of the things I have gotten from this site and thinking about how I listened to music. When I was in my teens the music seemed to move me. It was like it was inside me, in my bones so to speak. Now it seems like it is out there somewhere and I can't feel it anymore. What happened and can I get the feeling back. This very discouraging.
Spend some money on a live show.

Meet the players, and mix it up with them a little.