Wednesday 18 June 2014

Scientist's Top 8 Reasons to Play Guitar

Have you ever wondered why guitarists seem so laid back and loose on stage?

Some top guitarists even appear to stay sprightly and youthful (acting) forever, Lemmy and Keith Richards spring to mind. Obviously being very rich and very famous means they have access to the best health care going, but there has to be more to it than that. Maybe it's the thrill and exhilaration of doing what they love for a living? Or could it be the excitement of playing their guitars to thousands?

Scientists have looked into this phenomenon and come up with several reasons as to why playing a guitar can be good for you. 


Maybe, it seems that playing your Strat could boost your brainpower, sex-life, six pack and more. 

Find out how...

1) Feel The Pleasure
You don't need legions of fans to feel great playing your guitar. Neuroscientists at McGill university have found that hearing music releases dopamine in the brain, the same chemical that's release during sex. So playing your guitar on your own or in front of others can be equally as much fun. You can create your own jokes for this one!

2) Stress Free
Playing guitars has been found to help you release stress. A dual study from the Mind-Body Wellness Center and Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems concluded that you can reduce stress on a genomic level by playing an instrument. So rocking out can reverse the pressure you feel in daily life, whether it's money or relationship stress, pulling out your guitar can ease the worries.

3) Feel The Pain
Many people suffer chronic pain that requires constant medication to be kept under control. Well, according to a study from the University of Utah’s Pain Research Center, listening to music can take your mind off, and thereby reduce, pain.
4) Brain Power Turned Up To 11
A recent Scottish study says if you play the guitar—or any musical instrument—you’re likely to have a high brain activity and function, this has the added benefit of helping to prevent mental decline in later life. 
5) Is Your Heart In it?
Scientists in the Netherlands found that patients who practised music for more than 100 minutes a day showed a significant drop in blood pressure and a lower heart rate than those who didn't. Three of the people studied were guitarists, enough said.
6) Give Me The Money
Not everyone can headline Glasto/Download/Your festival of choice, however, playing guitar could help you become richer. Research from Michigan State University found that musicians who picked up an instrument at an early age and proceeded to learn and play through adulthood had a higher chance of becoming successful in business. Much of their research points to higher instances of launching successful invention—registering patents, starting businesses, and publishing pieces.
7) Give Your Brain a Workout
Even if you're stuck in the office all day, musicians are still giving their brain a workout. According to a Cambridge University study, musicians remain creative even when they’re not playing their instruments. The research found musicians generally visualise music as shapes, this processing acts as a form of practice. This is a highly creative way of learning and can help in many different endeavours.

8) Build That Six Pack
If your band has a demo recently recorded, take it to the gym and see the benefits straight away! Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences found that music isn't just fun to listen to while working out it—it actually made exercising less exhausting for study participants. Not to mention if you're a gym goer you'll know about the energy boost one of your favourite songs can give you to go a little harder.

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