That’s what a lot of people might think. And, that is THE reason some say booze makes them play better. Really, it doesn’t, but it loosens them up some. In my opinion, anything that reduces coordination and the other things alcohol does to you, can never make you play better. But that’s natural explanation to many for why I might say I played better with a buzz. The ole “loosens me up” or “get’s rid of my stage fright.” But trust me, that ain’t it. Weed is different. The group of friends that ran and played ball and all together… we all talked about why some of us liked playing basketball with a buzz, and some didn’t. Some got “mellow” with a buzz, and thus it was not a good way to play basketball. I got super into everything I was doing. If we were playing cards, I was non-stop cracking jokes, laughing, etc. while several friends would get quite and not talk much with a buzz. They’d mellow out and enjoy, but I’d get fired up.
I first noticed the “enhanced” playing, when playing Hendrix and Trower. No doubt, I was “letting go” a little more and was getting deeper into the music. But it’s not just that because I also played more intricate weird timing things, like some Rush songs with no problem. And some more technical things like DiMeola songs better. And Yngwie stuff. And Van Halen stuff. Pretty much everything. Not the “slop” that alcohol would cause.
Again, I only bring the basketball into it, to prove that it wasn’t a “downer” or “sedative” to me. I’d have 4 beers and just getting a buzz, and my basketball would go to crap. I almost never even tried to play after drinking. I played guitar often after drinking and my guitar playing would be affected. I never drank much though, so it never got too bad. But weed, was never anything but an upper for me. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
