At What Point Do You Start Wearing Glasses To Play?

[TSJMajesty]

I can still get by pretty good w/o readers, but lately I've been putting them on while learning something new. Helps me see, well..., better, as in, my pick strokes, and any fingerings that aren't quite "natural" to me.

But once I get the pattern memorized, I don't use them. My thinking is, the more I use the muscle that focuses my eye, the longer I can prolong not needing the glasses.

 

[Chocol8]

I don’t need glasses to play, as I don’t need to see much of the fretboard. If I am trying to learn something, I either need glasses to read an iPad or laptop screen, or I project it on a 65 inch TV and sit back far enough for it to be clear.

Luckily (for anyone within earshot) I don’t sing, so I don’t need to do the oversized teleprompter for lyrics like JT is exploring.

 

[Mikael Dez]

This past year I’ve spent a lot of time playing while strictly not looking at the fretboard at all, just off in the distance. At first I was a mess, because I had a crutch to stare at whatever my fingers were doing. After a while it became an exercise in trusting my ears and my fingers.

I still find myself staring at the fretboard if I’m doing something new or above my skill level and if you’re learning DT then well… That’s above my skill level lol. I tried to learn Strange Deja Vu 3 years ago or so and omg I couldn’t get the intro cleanly. I need to get back to it because I HAVE gotten better since then, but I remember it being a sobering moment lol

 

[Mikael Dez]

I don’t need glasses to play, as I don’t need to see much of the fretboard. If I am trying to learn something, I either need glasses to read an iPad or laptop screen, or I project it on a 65 inch TV and sit back far enough for it to be clear.

Luckily (for anyone within earshot) I don’t sing, so I don’t need to do the oversized teleprompter for lyrics like JT is exploring.

Singing and playing at the same time is a skill I’m working on now and it’s very, very not in my comfort zone lol - I respect the HELL out of frontmen like Mikael Akerfeldt etc, it’s like you split your brain in two

 

[Steinmetzify]

2nd grade lol

If I showed you guys my glasses from the front you’d be like ‘nice, I dig on some Armani’ and if I showed you them from the side you’d all ask if I’m trying to create my own lasers…

 

[TSJMajesty]

2nd grade lol

If I showed you guys my glasses from the front you’d be like ‘nice, I dig on some Armani’ and if I showed you them from the side you’d all ask if I’m trying to create my own lasers…

Burning ants?

 

[Eagle]

When you can’t read the set list.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Only need the readers if I happen to be playing and also staring at a screen periodically.

 

[Dave Lewis]

If you are questioning your eyesight ? Go and get tested .
Always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to one’s eyes

 

[Warmart]

Since I've been at a job that demands non-stop multi-monitor usage, I have to wear blue-blocking readers. I haven't had any eye strain since getting them a couple of years ago!

But, yes, I wear them playing, too, lol!

 

[RGB]

 

[EOengineer]

Is this like when you’re in your car trying to find your destination and you turn down the radio to…help you see better?

 

[Byrdman]

I actually stopped playing when I was about 42 because I started to need them to read lyrics & music. Started back playing a few years ago after 10 years off. Now I wear them all the time when playing

 

[Chocol8]

Is this like when you’re in your car trying to find your destination and you turn down the radio to…help you see better?

That's not as illogical as it seems. The brain gets task saturated and automatically sheds load. Turning down the music really can help you visually scan and interpret what you are seeing. (I had a friend who worked in a university lab studying this type of shit)

 

[EOengineer]

That's not as illogical as it seems. The brain gets task saturated and automatically sheds load. Turning down the music really can help you visually scan and interpret what you are seeing. (I had a friend who worked in a university lab studying this type of shit)

Totally, but it’s still just one of those funny things I laugh about every time I do it.

 

[Byrdman]

Is this like when you’re in your car trying to find your destination and you turn down the radio to…help you see better?

 

[EOengineer]

I actually stopped playing when I was about 42 because I started to need them to read lyrics & music. Started back playing a few years ago after 10 years off. Now I wear them all the time when playing

One of the disappointing challenges I've had gigging in my 40s that didn’t have when gigging in my 20s is that I now lose my glasses off my face if I’m rocking out hard enough.

If there’s a cool way to bend down and pick up your glasses on stage, I haven’t found it yet. I’m desperately trying to avoid the noodles goggles.

 

[Mikael Dez]

One of the disappointing challenges I've had gigging in my 40s that didn’t have when gigging in my 20s is that I now lose my glasses off my face if I’m rocking out hard enough.

If there’s a cool way to bend down and pick up your glasses on stage, I haven’t found it yet. I’m desperately trying to avoid the noodles goggles.

Lean into it

 

[EOengineer]

Lean into it

Great idea. While I'm in there I can augment in larger, more enthusiastic crowds.

 

[kaysersoze]

Why concern yourself with what notes to play? Play all the notes!!