Drinking hindering your playing,..

bubinga5 · #1 01-07-2011, 09:37 PM

im not talking live... but was just wondering your thoughts on practicing and drinking.... does general drinking hinder your practice, or general playing...would you be a better player if you didnt drink...

i know i would be twice the player if i didnt drink...really pisses me off sometimes..

**barebones** · #2 01-07-2011, 09:38 PM

You should quit drinking.

behndy · #3 01-07-2011, 09:41 PM

seriously. get some help homie.

bubinga5 · #4 01-07-2011, 09:45 PM

yeah ill do that straight away..thanks.. what a painful life some of us have to live...

JoeVictim · #5 01-07-2011, 09:52 PM

Nahs man.

What? WHAT YOU LOOKING AT!
man... hey man, I loves you. youz are the best friend.

bubinga5 · #6 01-07-2011, 09:55 PM

sorry guys..this is not the place for this..

Waterpilot · #7 01-07-2011, 09:59 PM

When I drank I couln't accomplish anything... But I used to drink a lot.

behndy · #8 01-07-2011, 10:23 PM

i'm not trying to be insulting at all. it just sounds like somebody getting comfortabl admitting they have a problem. sounds like you'll be way happier if you adress it.

good luck.

Beersurgeon · #9 01-07-2011, 10:39 PM

I agree with behndy. If you're drinking to the point of making yourself angry because your f'ed up and messing up your lines..... yeah, your drinking too much. Closer question, are you drinking this much the other time when you're not playing? If you are, please talk to someone. I don't find alcoholism cool....

C.Linton · #10 01-07-2011, 11:41 PM

Somewhat related - Big Band drummer Gene Krupa used to tell a story about how when him and his musicain buddies would rehearse they would smoke some reefer,and when they played they had a great time and thought they were playing some incredible music. Only once when someone had recorded and played back one of these stoner sessions that they all thought was some of the most incredible music they ever played, did they realize the reefer was fooling them and the music they thought was so great was actually utter crap. Being high while playing, (unless maybe you're just having a private jam session for fun), is not a great idea.

subexpression · #11 01-08-2011, 01:21 AM

If you can to stop yourself at a beer or two, you should be fine...given you have average body weight.

When I practice at home, I never practice when drinking anything. The neurological processes required for learning are severely hindered by drugs (alcohol, pot, etc.). I learn all the material my band will be playing completely sober...and I learn it perfectly.

Then, when I rehearse with the band, each member brings a six pack of different types of beer...which makes things fun. When we rehearse, we gauge our performance level according to how much we consume...and how far into each set we are. We do this so that when we play out in bars, we don't destroy ourselves by drinking beer and not being accustomed to how it feels and affects our motor skills. Additionally, we play our most technical songs early in the night so that we aren't fighting our favorite libations.

It's manageable if you're wise about it. If you cannot possibly play accurately while consuming reasonable amounts of alcohol, then you shouldn't drink whatsoever.

Body weight, race, food consumption, drinking speed, alcohol %, and overall physical health are factors to consider. Some folks are lightweights and can't play after consuming a single beer. It varies.

I don't condemn it, nor do I condone it.
It is what it is.
You're the only one who can make the right choice.

thumpbass1 · #12 01-08-2011, 06:59 AM

Yes drinking too much can mess up your playing, as well as getting buzzed on other substances. Let's just say I've had my run in with hanging around with Brother Barley and Headmaster Hops a bit too much during some of my younger day's with a particular band, and while I had my fun, or so I thought, the evidence was brought to light that my playing suffered as a result. I'm not gonna get preachy about it, but yeah beer and booze in general, and other substances can hinder any one's performance, even if they haven't gotten to the chronic heavy use and addiction stages. If one has the notion they may be having a problem, it's time to go get help. I've known and have dealt with my share of casualties with drinking and drug problems. Many managed to recover, while sadly others didn't.

unclejane · #13 01-08-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubinga5

i know i would be twice the player if i didnt drink...really pisses me off sometimes..

Twice is about right, maybe more. I drank my way through many a gig when I was in college the first time, played and sounded like Zhit the entire time.

Another phase of my gigging career went from the late 80's to sometime in the mid 90's after I'd quit drinking. Even with a Rick 4003 as my main bass, I sounded and played much better. I could remember songs, I could play my parts and I wasn't a slobbering moron to everyone else in the place.

I highly recommend playing sober, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

LS

DONZI97 · #14 01-08-2011, 07:55 AM

When I practice at home, I usually don't drink, maybe once in a while i'll have a beer, most of the time i will have a good cup of tea. But band rehearsal, i will 2-4 beers in a 3 hour time, i feel a couple beers relaxes me, but anything after 5 i'm a yard sale and start making mistakes. Moderation and knowing your limits is the key.

Eater_of_Birds · #15 01-08-2011, 08:13 AM

''Drinking: you cant really play while doing it.''

have to admit my newish band has hand a few cold ones at practice recently, and our rhythm guitarist usually comes in late with a bloodstream that would fall under class A.

but we dont ever get wrecked. and i wont drink alone, almost ever. at gigs ill have a couple cause my nerves can get really bad if its been a while, but ive never played drunk, cause i cant, and i doubt anyone who paid money to get in really wants to see anyone try.

comet9 · #16 01-08-2011, 08:38 AM

I gotta say beer makes you stupid an I Love beer.Played dec 30th at a private party with an open bar.The guitar/singer has a 300 song set list(really!)an I have to follow his lead.I didn't drink a drop and it really worked out well.We played 2weeks before and I had imbided at that show an I got lost a few times,but playing sober greatly improved my ability to play his off the cuff improvised set lists.I was shocked at the difference it made.probly the first time I played 100%sober in many,many moons.

ggunn · #17 01-08-2011, 09:55 AM

Many years ago a band I was in played a freebie for beer. They had us set up conveniently right next to the keg. Our lead singer had time to refill his glass during a solo.

I recorded the gig.

At our next rehearsal, the guys were all high-fiving and stuff about how well we had done at the gig. Ya think so, huh? I played them the tape.

Oh.

New band policy: very moderate to no drinking at gigs.

Pilgrim · #18 01-08-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubinga5

im not talking live... but was just wondering your thoughts on practicing and drinking.... does general drinking hinder your practice, or general playing...would you be a better player if you didnt drink...

i know i would be twice the player if i didnt drink...really pisses me off sometimes..

Then don't. Some people can't drink and make good judgments about it, and they can't stop at one. Clearly, you're not having ONE drink...you're drinking to the point where you're negatively affected.

If you can't stop, it's time for AA or a similar group.

I limit myself to one beer an evening when playing, and it usually takes me two hours to drink it.

ggunn · #19 01-08-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Then don't. Some people can't drink and make good judgments about it, and they can't stop at one. Clearly, you're not having ONE drink...you're drinking to the point where you're negatively affected.

If you can't stop, it's time for AA or a similar group.

I limit myself to one beer an evening when playing, and it usually takes me two hours to drink it.

I usually have one beer per set and rarely finish it.

Mojo-Man · #20 01-08-2011, 04:04 PM

If you HAVE to drink to do anything, you have a problem.
The key word there is have to.
Don't kid yourself.
If your trying to learn something, drinking is not a good idea.
My rule is if I'm playing a payed gig, I do no drink while working.
A beer, after a gig is O K. TJM