Alcohol and playing

clarkefan

Sensitive subject so I'm stating up front, I'm taking about two beers, not shitfaced.

I notice a difference between playing with and without alcohol. My hands just work better after two beers. This is at home, no gigging pressure, etc.

Before those two drinks I struggle to play single note stuff at speed, even having done some arm and hand stretching exercises.  My fingers feel stiff and awkward. 

After two beers it's totally different, my fingers seem to just move as I want them to.

Does anybody have any ideas how I can achieve that without alcohol?  

prlgmnr

Have you got recorded evidence of this difference? You might be surprised.

gringopig

.

richardhomer

prlgmnr said:

Have you got recorded evidence of this difference? You might be surprised.

My thoughts exactly.

In a live situation, I can imagine it might help with stage-freight up to a point - but can’t see it helping at all when nerves aren’t a factor.

skullfunkerry

I always used to feel like this when I went bowling. A couple of beers in and I'd be more relaxed, all was good... it was a very small window until it all went to shit though... as @prlgmnr says though, have you recorded it? It could be that your hands are more relaxed so you feel like you're playing better, but actually you're not.

I'd suggest that the best way to get to that loose feeling without alcohol is to practice, make sure you're totally comfortable with what you're playing, make sure you're physically comfortable (do you need a footstool/different chair/longer or shorter strap)... my final point was going to be to learn some relaxation techniques, but thinking about it that's probably more of a gigging thing than playing at home...

rossi

Jack Daniels .Two doubles .I can face anything  after that even believing I can sing .

Zoolooter

Yes, get your guitar on its stand, put your head on it, then run around it for a few minutes. 

octatonic

I record people all the time- alcohol almost never makes it better.
Musicians are usually rubbish at assessing their own playing too, because they conflate how they felt playing with how it sounded.

What alcohol does is relax a musician and make then feel better about their playing- that's doesn't make the playing better, I've often found it does the opposite.

Caffeine_Vampire

I quit the ale 4 weeks ago. Zero effect on my playing. The difference is in your head. 

bandmaster188

I just like combining my two favourite pastimes.

King85

I'm even worse after a few than sober. How professionals do it high as a kite I find amazing.

fastonebaz

I can't play guitar after a drink, I literally can't remember how to play.  I always gig sober. 

gringopig

.

scrumhalf

You have to ask yourself whether the alcohol inproves your playing or lowers your standards.

Bellycaster

I work on the Theory that the Punters are definitely more pissed than I am and that'll balance out the perception

I used to have about 3.5 pints of pissy Lager from beginning to end of Gig if you want stats. We always went down well and got re-booked. I don't think it affected me to any detrimental level. I suppose people have to gauge these things themselves.

JAYJO

gringopig said:

King85 said:

I'm even worse after a few than sober. How professionals do it high as a kite I find amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBV-FYy8lww

I reckon Johnny thought he was pretty slick at the time but......er

Looks more like hes ate a couple of wraps of whizz lol...

Grunfeld

If alcohol improves your judgement and coordination in your driving how can it fail to improve your judgement and coordination in your playing? 

Because we all know that elite racing drivers like a couple of pints before they race; ballerinas obviously like a tipple to dance better (like anyone does down a club on a Saturday night), and elite Olympians only ever get a world record after they've been down the pub.

EDIT:  Just to state the bleedin' obvious:  alcohol has certain effects, well known, but improving co-ordination and performance isn't part of the package.  However, misjudging the effect that alcohol is having on executive control is absolutely par for course. 

hollywoodrox

Darts players in the 80s ?

roberty

JAYJO said:

gringopig said:

King85 said:

I'm even worse after a few than sober. How professionals do it high as a kite I find amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBV-FYy8lww

I reckon Johnny thought he was pretty slick at the time but......er

Looks more like hes ate a couple of wraps of whizz lol...

Jesus that's stressing me out

Danny1969

Personally I find about 3 beers is the sweet spot for me, the most complicated piece I ever recorded was after 3 beers and it was a better take than the no beers were. Maybe it's because it relaxes and focus's. 
Playing live I tend to really cane the beer, typically 7 or 8 Stellas a gig but I can still play OK these days. When I used to do that when I was young though the playing used  to really suffer 

LPManic

My best playing comes from that nervous adrenalin that you only get from being too clear headed and focused in those moments before the first note (and torturing yourself! ha!). Couldn't imagine having a drink before going on and losing that.