just ONE thing

[univalve]

guitar
it is already like that. I have not time for BMX, dirt bike, drawing or anything else. Pro tip: a baby changes your life dramatically.

[kaboom]

drums.

or composition. can i choose that? i'd be a composer maybe.

[aens_wife]

I'd choose upright bass, but only if I was guaranteed that my hands and shoulders wouldn't hurt anymore. I already tried to only practice one instrument for hours every day. And while I did get to be alright on the instrument, but fucking arms and hands KILLED!

[snipelfritz]

sex

[Chankgeez]

If you could only learn/practice/use ONE thing well for the rest of your life, what would it be? By this, I mean things like painting with one medium (oils, acrylics, etc...) or drawing only with graphite/charcoal, or playing only guitar, just the bass etc. If you could do just ONE; guitar and not draw, or paint but never sing, etc....what would you choose? I'm gonna be kind of a dick and say that you couldn't use pedals if you choose guitar/bass, just an amp without effects (overdrive/distortion is ok, I suppose) because that would defeat the purpose of the challenge. While you could only ever practice or use this one thing, you would get extremely good at it. OK, GO!

[gunslinger_burrito]

If you could only learn/practice/use ONE thing well for the rest of your life, what would it be? By this, I mean things like painting with one medium (oils, acrylics, etc...) or drawing only with graphite/charcoal, or playing only guitar, just the bass etc. If you could do just ONE; guitar and not draw, or paint but never sing, etc....what would you choose? I'm gonna be kind of a dick and say that you couldn't use pedals if you choose guitar/bass, just an amp without effects (overdrive/distortion is ok, I suppose) because that would defeat the purpose of the challenge. While you could only ever practice or use this one thing, you would get extremely good at it. OK, GO!

HA! I was thinking about how in Japanese culture, it's much more common (in a historical and contemporary sense) for someone try to be the best at whatever they do. Also, I took a LOT of martial arts training growing up, and my teacher would always tell us how in older/ancient times, and in the really hard, traditional schools, you had to basically perfect just ONE technique before you could move on to others. If all you learned was one kind of punch, you may get a black eye in a fight, but that other guy is GOING DOWN. Plus, I like the idea of practice makes "perfect."

I am constantly up in arms with myself over whether or not I'd rather be a phenomenal visual artist or a great guitarist/musician. That's why i started this.

For the sake of the thread, though, I think I'd have to go with drawing. I can draw for hours already but it takes effort to keep playing the ol' ax.

[Fuzzy Fred]

acoustic guitar

or a camera. does a camera count? because if it does, then i'm fucked

[Chankgeez]

If you could only learn/practice/use ONE thing well for the rest of your life, what would it be? By this, I mean things like painting with one medium (oils, acrylics, etc...) or drawing only with graphite/charcoal, or playing only guitar, just the bass etc. If you could do just ONE; guitar and not draw, or paint but never sing, etc....what would you choose? I'm gonna be kind of a dick and say that you couldn't use pedals if you choose guitar/bass, just an amp without effects (overdrive/distortion is ok, I suppose) because that would defeat the purpose of the challenge. While you could only ever practice or use this one thing, you would get extremely good at it. OK, GO!

HA! I was thinking about how in Japanese culture, it's much more common (in a historical and contemporary sense) for someone try to be the best at whatever they do. Also, I took a LOT of martial arts training growing up, and my teacher would always tell us how in older/ancient times, and in the really hard, traditional schools, you had to basically perfect just ONE technique before you could move on to others. If all you learned was one kind of punch, you may get a black eye in a fight, but that other guy is GOING DOWN. Plus, I like the idea of practice makes "perfect."

I am constantly up in arms with myself over whether or not I'd rather be a phenomenal visual artist or a great guitarist/musician. That's why i started this.

For the sake of the thread, though, I think I'd have to go with drawing. I can draw for hours already but it takes effort to keep playing the ol' ax.

Oh, OK, I gotcha now.

Highly theoretical and stuff like that.

In that case, I'm going with calligraphy. I think, if I master that, everything else will fall into place.

On a somewhat related note:

"I gave up my music because I had received from it all that I had to receive. To serve God one must sacrifice what is dearest to one; and so I sacrificed my music. I had composed songs; I sang and played the vina; and practicing this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the Music of the Spheres. Then every soul became for me a musical note, and all life became music. Inspired by it I spoke to the people, and those who were attracted by my words listened to them, instead of listening to my songs. Now, if I do anything, it is to tune souls instead of instruments; to harmonize people instead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others. I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony in every feeling; and I have tried to interpret the same thing, with clear and simple words, to those who used to listen to my music. I played the vina until my heart turned into this very instrument; then I offered this instrument to the divine Musician, the only musician existing. Since then I have become His flute; and when He chooses, He plays His music. The people give me credit for this music, which in reality is not due to me but to the Musician who plays on His own instrument." - Hazrat Inayat Khan

[gunslinger_burrito]

In that case, I'm going with calligraphy. I think, if I master that, everything else will fall into place.

Yes! That's the kind of answer I was hoping for!

[nieh]

sex

but for realzies, guitar. Even if I can't use effects, give me a super overdriven amp with spring reverb, and I'll be set.

[gruizmuller]

The list of things that I've been into is endless: Music, comic book writing and drawing, Mechanical engineering, business management, acting, football...
So I think being a movie director could have part of most of them, that would be my choice.

[alexa.]

"I gave up my music because I had received from it all that I had to receive. To serve God one must sacrifice what is dearest to one; and so I sacrificed my music. I had composed songs; I sang and played the vina; and practicing this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the Music of the Spheres. Then every soul became for me a musical note, and all life became music. Inspired by it I spoke to the people, and those who were attracted by my words listened to them, instead of listening to my songs. Now, if I do anything, it is to tune souls instead of instruments; to harmonize people instead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others. I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony in every feeling; and I have tried to interpret the same thing, with clear and simple words, to those who used to listen to my music. I played the vina until my heart turned into this very instrument; then I offered this instrument to the divine Musician, the only musician existing. Since then I have become His flute; and when He chooses, He plays His music. The people give me credit for this music, which in reality is not due to me but to the Musician who plays on His own instrument." - Hazrat Inayat Khan

wonderful.