Alcohol effects

[dougazbass]

I cannot play very well at all under the effects of alcohol. I'm talking about two or three drinks although that would vary based on the person. Just wondering, is everyone else affected the same?

 

[Baird6869]

This thread is prolly going to get moved, but in any case....

I have 2 or 3 beers usually at gigs. That is over 5 hours+. I can drink 5-6 pints with next to no effect, but I drive to gigs, really don't want to run to the washroom the second a set ends and it isn't professional.

The plant based material is a completely different story. I can't do that and play to save my life.

 

[dougazbass]

Yeah, sorry, I guess I always default to this forum because most people are here.

 

[PWRL]

I've only found it to impair both my playing and hearing.

 

[BazzTard]

my coordination goes out the window if I am drunk.

Stoned is OK coordination wise, but my mind wanders and I forget where in the song I am

A little of both eases my anxiety enough to play well.

 

[Fernando Costa]

Yes, my performance degrades a little.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Alcohol doesn;t seem to have much effect on my playing, but the blues makes a lot more sense when filtered through a few drinks.

Plant-based recreation? Not sure if it hurts or helps to the audience, but I know I get more entertained personally when playing. Maybe that translates.

 

[akukulich]

I've learned that alcohol very quickly degrades my playing. I rarely have more than one beer on a gig and I've tried to cut it out completely. Plus, not drinking makes the long drives home safer as I'm less tired when I get on the road.

 

[Sav'nBass]

Since I primarily play in church the only time I may have a beer or two in relation to playing is if I am at home practicing... With no deleterious effects. I haven't indulged in anything plant based in years.. And the last time I did playing had to be back in the 80s... But that never worked for me.

 

[NoiseNinja]

A beer or two usually helps me loosing up a little, more than that and I begin loosing control which is not good for my playing.

Plant based stuff makes me better at improvisations, as it enhance my ability to get into music and listening in general, further more it seems to enhance my creativity making it easier to come up with stuff on the spot.

It's not that effective for more structured songs though, as it tend to affect my memory.

 

[Thumper19605]

One or two, no problem. I quit bands due to over indulgence, remembering you are being paid to do a job and provide a service.

 

[Kmonk]

I know a lead singer who has a great voice and incredible range but he can't sing after two or three drinks.

As for myself. I have been told by several people that my playing actually get better when I drink. I played a private party about 10 years ago and people kept bringing drinks to the band. The BL (who didn't drink much) started calling out songs that I had never played. I had heard them many times but had never played them. I somehow managed to get through all of the songs. The BL called me the next day and told me that I was the only musician he had ever seen that plays better when he drinks. Nowadays, I have two or three before I go onstage but my band has a strict no alcohol on stage or at rehearsal policy due to the fact that our lead singer is a recovering alcoholic.

 

[DD Gunz]

Alcohol will affect anything that involves fine motor skills. It's just fact and not up for debate. Your ability to play after # of beers comes down to your tolerance of alcohol. However, if you introduce enough of it in anyone's system their ability to play will be decreased.

There is no wrong way to go about it. If it is getting in the way of your playing and it bothers you, don't drink. If you are good to go, have another. It's way to subjective and is tailored to the individual and their goals.

I like to have a couple.

 

[twinjet]

I can do alright with a slight buzz. I keep it to one beer per hour if I plan to have more than a pint for the night.

Funny drunk story, I get pouty and frustrated when my mind can play a bass line flawlessly but my fingers don't make the connection on the fretboard.

 

[Mike A]

A few drinks doesn't bother me much as long as it's moderated. I won't play with anyone that has to smoke before or during a gig anymore. I've never seen anyone play better because of it. Usually their timing is flat out ruined, as is their ability to see that it is.

 

[SirMjac28]

EYe doont KnOww aBoouT mE PLaaying bUt ME wRiTINg gOes tO HelIl

 

[Qlanq]

Experimented with this the other day, just playing in the house. Playing along to 2112.
One beer, fine, two beers, timing gone.

 

[Jack MN]

My playing goes straight to hell after a couple of beers. Manual dexterity and timing just disappear. The plant based stuff I have no problem with though, i can practice for hours and hours just fine. And it all sounds fantastic lol.

 

[andruca]

Don't dring alcohol. Never did in fact, maybe it's because I didn't start at the age everyone starts, and you know, at 40, well, that train long passed my station now. You give me a beer and I don't exactly get drunk (as in incoherent) in any way, I just head to sleep within 15 minutes. Now plants and I get along way better. I almost always play/sing moderately stoned no problem.

 

[gln1955]

My playing is much better after the audience has had a few. Or so they tell me.