Getting Back Into Music After Years Away
Haven’t picked up your guitar, bass, drumsticks or microphone for years? Thinking about making music again but not quite sure where to start? You might be surprised how quickly it all comes back.
There was a time when music was a big part of your life.
Maybe you played in a band, rehearsed every Thursday evening and spent your weekends loading amplifiers into the back of somebody’s car.
Perhaps you played guitar at home, sang with friends or dreamed of getting a band together but never quite got around to it.
Then life happened.
Work, family, moving house, changing priorities. Before you knew it, the guitar was gathering dust, the drum kit had disappeared into the loft and the idea of playing with other musicians became something you used to do.
Sound familiar?
Well, here’s the good news.
There’s no rule that says you can’t start again.
Whether it’s been five years, fifteen years or half a lifetime, getting back into music can be one of the most enjoyable things you do.
And you don’t have to pick up exactly where you left off.
1. Forget About How Good You Used to Be
This is probably the biggest hurdle for returning musicians.
You remember how you used to play.
The songs you knew, the solos you could manage, the gigs you played and the confidence you had when you picked up your instrument.
Then you try playing again.
Your fingers don’t quite cooperate. The chords feel unfamiliar. Your timing’s a little shaky.
And that song you once played without thinking suddenly seems rather more complicated.
It’s easy to feel disappointed.
But here’s the thing: you’re comparing yourself with somebody who was playing regularly.
Give yourself a break.
You wouldn’t expect to run a marathon after spending twenty years sitting on the sofa, and playing an instrument is no different.
Start where you are now, not where you think you should be.
You might be rusty, but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your ability to enjoy making music.
2. Start With Songs You Love
One of the best ways to get back into playing is to revisit the music that made you want to pick up an instrument in the first place.
Forget complicated exercises for a moment.
What songs do you really enjoy?
Perhaps it’s a bit of classic rock, some 50s rock ‘n’ roll, blues, soul, punk, country or whatever gets your foot tapping.
Put on a favourite track and see what you can remember.
You might be surprised.
That old riff could still be lurking somewhere in your fingers, even if it takes a few attempts to find it.
And don’t worry if you need to simplify things at first.
The important thing is to rediscover the enjoyment of playing.
There’s plenty of time to work on the difficult stuff later.
3. A Little Practice Goes a Long Way
You don’t need to practise for hours every day to make progress.
In fact, a short, regular session is often much more useful than one enormous practice session followed by a week of doing nothing.
Try setting aside fifteen or twenty minutes a few times a week.
Warm up, play something familiar and work on one or two things you’d like to improve.
Perhaps you want to get your chord changes smoother, improve your timing or learn a song you’ve always fancied playing.
Keep your goals manageable.
And remember to take breaks, particularly if your hands and fingers aren’t used to playing regularly.
You don’t want your grand musical comeback to end with a sore wrist and three days of complaining.
4. Your Equipment Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
If your instrument has been sitting in a cupboard for years, it might need a little attention.
Guitars and basses may benefit from new strings and a basic setup. Drum kits might need fresh heads or a few adjustments. Old amplifiers and cables are worth checking before you rely on them.
But don’t feel you need to spend a fortune on new equipment.
That old guitar might be perfectly good once it’s been cleaned up and properly adjusted.
And if you’re thinking about buying something new, there’s no need to rush into purchasing the most expensive instrument in the shop.
Start with what you’ve got.
You can always upgrade later, once you’ve rediscovered what you enjoy playing.
Although we all know how difficult it can be to walk into a music shop and leave empty-handed.
5. Don’t Let Confidence Hold You Back
This is a big one.
You might feel perfectly comfortable playing at home but nervous about playing in front of other musicians.
What if they’re better than you?
What if you make mistakes?
What if you’ve forgotten everything?
Here’s something worth remembering.
Most musicians are far more interested in enjoying themselves than judging somebody else’s playing.
And plenty of people are in exactly the same position as you.
They’ve been away from music for years, they’re a little rusty and they’re wondering whether they’ve still got what it takes.
You don’t have to pretend to be more experienced or confident than you are.
A simple explanation is enough:
“I used to play bass in bands years ago, but I’ve been out of it for a while. I’m getting back into playing and would love to meet some easygoing musicians for a jam.”
There’s nothing wrong with that.
In fact, it’s exactly the sort of introduction that could appeal to somebody else who’s returning to music.
6. Find Musicians Who Want the Same Things
One of the nicest things about getting back into music is discovering that there are other people out there who want exactly the same thing.
Perhaps you’re not interested in playing gigs every weekend anymore.
Maybe you’d enjoy a relaxed rehearsal once a fortnight, a few familiar songs and the occasional local performance.
Or perhaps you’re ready to throw yourself back into a serious band.
Both are perfectly fine.
The important thing is finding musicians whose interests and expectations match your own.
That’s where Up For A Jam comes in.
You can browse adverts from musicians looking for bandmates, jam sessions and other musical opportunities.
And if you can’t find quite what you’re looking for, why not post your own advert?
You might discover a guitarist, drummer, singer or keyboard player living just down the road who’s been thinking about getting back into music too.
7. Your First Jam Doesn’t Have to Be an Audition
When you’re ready to play with other people again, keep things simple.
You don’t need to join an established band straight away.
Why not arrange an informal jam with one or two musicians?
Choose a few songs you all enjoy, find a suitable rehearsal room and see how things go.
Make it clear that you’re returning to playing and looking for a relaxed session.
There’s no need for anybody to feel under pressure.
You might make a few mistakes.
You might forget how a song ends.
You might even spend half the afternoon trying to remember who originally recorded it.
But you’ll be making music again.
And that’s a pretty good result.
8. Don’t Worry About Your Age
It’s easy to assume that joining a band is something you do when you’re young.
But music doesn’t work like that.
There are musicians in their forties, fifties, sixties and beyond who are still playing, performing, learning new instruments and forming bands.
Some have been playing all their lives.
Others are starting again after decades away.
And some are picking up an instrument for the very first time.
You don’t have to be twenty-five to enjoy playing rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz or anything else.
You just need to find people who share your enthusiasm.
And while your taste in music might have changed over the years, there’s a good chance that somewhere nearby are other musicians who grew up listening to the same records as you.
That alone can be a great starting point.
9. You Might Enjoy Music More This Time Around
Here’s something you might not have considered.
Getting back into music can actually be more enjoyable than it was the first time.
When you’re younger, there can be a lot of pressure.
You want to be brilliant, play bigger gigs, impress people and perhaps even make a career out of music.
But years later, your priorities might be different.
You might simply want to play songs you love, meet interesting people and enjoy a couple of hours away from everyday life.
There’s something rather liberating about that.
You don’t need to prove anything.
You don’t need to become famous.
And you certainly don’t need to spend six months arguing about a band name.
You can just enjoy the music.
10. Take That First Small Step
If you’ve been thinking about returning to music for a while, it’s easy to keep putting it off.
You tell yourself you’ll start practising next month.
You’ll look for a band when you’re a bit better.
You’ll post an advert once you’ve learned a few more songs.
And before you know it, another year has passed.
But you don’t need to wait until everything is perfect.
Pick up your instrument today.
Play something you enjoy.
Spend a little time practising.
Then have a look at the musician adverts in your area.
You don’t have to commit to joining a band immediately.
Even sending a friendly message to another musician can be a good first step.
And who knows where it might lead?
The Music’s Still There
Perhaps it’s been years since you last played in a band.
Perhaps your fingers are a little slower, your memory isn’t quite what it used to be and you now appreciate a comfortable chair between sets.
None of that matters.
Because the feeling of making music with other people hasn’t changed.
That moment when the drummer counts everybody in, the bass joins the groove and the guitars come together?
It’s just as enjoyable now as it ever was.
Maybe even more so.
And you might find that the thing you’ve been missing all these years wasn’t just playing your instrument.
It was the friendships, the laughter and the simple pleasure of being part of something musical.
Fancy Giving It Another Go?
If you’ve been away from music for years, there’s no better time to start making connections.
Up For A Jam is here to help you find local musicians, arrange informal jams, join bands and rediscover the enjoyment of playing together.
Whether you’re an experienced player returning after a long break or somebody who’s still finding their feet, you’re welcome.
You don’t have to be brilliant. You just have to be up for a jam.
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