is playing guitar is good for your mental health?

[gustavowoltmann]

We see playing guitar as a form of mindful escapism, a way to create space between an individual and their busy mind. Guitar-playing is beneficial to your overall well-being and mental health in other ways, too, including helping you develop a greater sense of personal achievement.

What you say about this?

[Pigmy Pony]

The same could be said of any musical instrument, although the guitar has portability on its side. Plus it'll work better than most a solo instrument. Certainly seems to be working for Keith Richards, who has kept his shit together for nearly 100 years, in spite of himself :)

[User211]

Keith said the only reason he is still alive is because he went pharmaceutical:D

Guitar playing has bugger all effect on mental health overall I would say, when it really boils down to it.

It can be as frustrating as it can be relaxing. Especially went you realise you can't play as well as the best and never will be able to.

I have been playing for quite a while now, so feel qualified to comment.

It seems plausible it could have positive effects, but basically I think that assertion is bollocks.

[dave2010]

I have wondered about this kind of thing, though from a different viewpoint. I don't play guitar, either acoustic or electric, but I do play other instruments, and sometimes I even write music. I've been surprised at the way guitar music seems to present ideas in a different way from a keyboard or other instruments, so I have wondered whether I ought even to consider getting one, even just to play simple things.

Probably a daft idea - but maybe there's still time!

[Macca]

jamming along to a beat or tune I enjoy, that is therapeutic as it is being creative.

Learning other people's songs I find very frustrating, as I'm crap with no innate musical ability and when, following a long gap, I took it up again after getting a new guitar I found that age has not improved the brain - fingers connection at all.

[Pigmy Pony]

Keith said the only reason he is still alive is because he went pharmaceutical:D

Guitar playing has bugger all effect on mental health overall I would say, when it really boils down to it.

It can be as frustrating as it can be relaxing. Especially went you realise you can't play as well as the best and never will be able to.

I have been playing for quite a while now, so feel qualified to comment.

It seems plausible it could have positive effects, but basically I think that assertion is bollocks.

All about mental attitude and expectations. Down to whether you want to be good, or need to be the best. I'd just tell myself Jimi would probably have been a shit plasterer/airline pilot/gynaecologist.

[Pigmy Pony]

Keith said the only reason he is still alive is because he went pharmaceutical:D

Guitar playing has bugger all effect on mental health overall I would say, when it really boils down to it.

It can be as frustrating as it can be relaxing. Especially went you realise you can't play as well as the best and never will be able to.

I have been playing for quite a while now, so feel qualified to comment.

It seems plausible it could have positive effects, but basically I think that assertion is bollocks.

All about mental attitude and expectations. Down to whether you want to be good, or need to be the best. I'd just tell myself Jimi would probably have been a shit plasterer/airline pilot/gynaecologist. Sorry, don't know what you do for a living, but you're probably better at it than me. And that's fine :)

[mightymonoped]

Interesting that the discussion goes straight to soloist instruments such as the guitar. I suspect rhythm section musicians have a different perspective on the mental health of guitarists? [emoji13]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[struth]

i think if your fairly able to play at a level your happy with then it is both challenging and relaxing. if you struggle then its very annoying and stressful.
im in latter these days but my late brother was very good at learning and playing (at his humble level) and got great pleasure from playing guitar all his life..and keyboards in later life. if i had his ability(which wasnt pro by any manner) id enjoy it myself... yet you also see folk enjoy air guitar so it must help in some way, like dancing to relax etc, moving to music

[Stratmangler]

As Paul Smith says, guitars are sophisticated drugs, designed to make you smile :D

[Jazid]

If I play the guitar it is no good for anyone's mental health.

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk