Tourette support - Tourette's Syndrome?

Author

Tourette's Syndrome?

RoadRunner

2005-06-30, 8:50 am

My brother and I have been professional guitarists since we were teens.
However, speaking with him over the last few months has led me to think he
has Tourette's Syndrome.

There have been several instances in which he just "blurted out" really
strange statements. The first one to come to mind is his evaluation of a
Taylor guitar that I own. I, being a rock & roll lead guitarist, use very
light strings. Light strings can be bent to other notes, a technique used
by blusemen from B.B King to Eric Clapton and countless rock/blues and
country guitarists. The technique has been a "hallmark" of mine since I
began to play in my teens.

One day, he was visiting from Nashville, and he picked up the Taylor Guitar.
The first thing he blurted out was "this guitar would play a hell of a lot
better if someone put better XXXXing strings on it."

Well, at first, knowing he preferred a heavier string set, I began to
explain why I liked the lighter strings. But he acted as thoug he had never
said anything. Later, before bedtime, I again tried to explain why I liked
the lighter strings, and again, he acted as though he had never heard his
own statment!

This is the only example that I can remember word for word, but there have
been several others since this. Does this mean my brother has Tourette's
Syndrome? What else can it be. he blurts out stuff that even he seems not
to remember.

Thanks,

Chuck

Blurt Durtwurd

2005-06-30, 8:50 am

In article <AiLwe.71301$XQ.1060379@twister.southeast.rr.com>,
"RoadRunner" <chucksan@sc.rr.com> wrote:

>My brother and I have been professional guitarists since we were teens.
>However, speaking with him over the last few months has led me to think he
>has Tourette's Syndrome.
>
>There have been several instances in which he just "blurted out" really
>strange statements. The first one to come to mind is his evaluation of a
>Taylor guitar that I own. I, being a rock & roll lead guitarist, use very
>light strings. Light strings can be bent to other notes, a technique used
>by blusemen from B.B King to Eric Clapton and countless rock/blues and
>country guitarists. The technique has been a "hallmark" of mine since I
>began to play in my teens.
>
>One day, he was visiting from Nashville, and he picked up the Taylor Guitar.
>The first thing he blurted out was "this guitar would play a hell of a lot
>better if someone put better XXXXing strings on it."
>
>Well, at first, knowing he preferred a heavier string set, I began to
>explain why I liked the lighter strings. But he acted as thoug he had never
>said anything. Later, before bedtime, I again tried to explain why I liked
>the lighter strings, and again, he acted as though he had never heard his
>own statment!
>
>This is the only example that I can remember word for word, but there have
>been several others since this. Does this mean my brother has Tourette's
>Syndrome? What else can it be. he blurts out stuff that even he seems not
>to remember.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Chuck
>

Maybe he hates GHS strings. What brand do you use?

It might not be the gauges that he hates, but the brand. Or maybe
they were old and rusty. Or maybe they were new, and he hates his
fingertips turning black from the strings. I worry about ingesting
too much bronze and nickel alloys, so I wash my hands between guitar
and snacks and don't play while eating. That way I don't get crumbs
inside my guitar anymore, too.

His blurted insult of your guitar strings sounds more direct and
timely than most tics, but still could be a tic.

What else has he blurted out and in what circumstances? Does he ever
yell "IDIOT!" while reading the paper, or else at an inappropriate
time like when listening to an Albert King recording?

Blurt

2005-06-30, 11:49 am

"RoadRunner" <chucksan@sc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:AiLwe.71301$XQ.1060379@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> My brother and I have been professional guitarists since we were
teens.
> However, speaking with him over the last few months has led me to
think he
> has Tourette's Syndrome.
>
> There have been several instances in which he just "blurted out"
really
> strange statements. The first one to come to mind is his evaluation
of a
> Taylor guitar that I own. I, being a rock & roll lead guitarist,
use very
> light strings. Light strings can be bent to other notes, a
technique used
> by blusemen from B.B King to Eric Clapton and countless rock/blues
and
> country guitarists. The technique has been a "hallmark" of mine
since I
> began to play in my teens.
>
> One day, he was visiting from Nashville, and he picked up the Taylor
Guitar.
> The first thing he blurted out was "this guitar would play a hell of
a lot
> better if someone put better XXXXing strings on it."
>
> Well, at first, knowing he preferred a heavier string set, I began
to
> explain why I liked the lighter strings. But he acted as thoug he
had never
> said anything. Later, before bedtime, I again tried to explain why
I liked
> the lighter strings, and again, he acted as though he had never
heard his
> own statment!
>
> This is the only example that I can remember word for word, but
there have
> been several others since this. Does this mean my brother has
Tourette's
> Syndrome? What else can it be. he blurts out stuff that even he
seems not
> to remember.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck
>
>
Hi Chuck, thanks for writing. Does your brother have any motor
(movement) tics? Eye-blinking, head movements, shoulder-shrugging,
etc? Or any other vocal sounds (sniffling, grunting, little noises,
single words?) From what you've described alone he would not meet the
criteria for TS.....Have you asked him directly about the things he
says? Let us know, I'm sure others' can jump in here to offer
suggestions/advice!

Jo

Blurt Durtwurd

2005-06-30, 5:50 pm

In article <Rf6dndWRUPpAjFnfRVn-3A@comcast.com>,
"Jo" <jocohen@comcast.net> wrote:

>Hi Chuck, thanks for writing. Does your brother have any motor
>(movement) tics? Eye-blinking, head movements, shoulder-shrugging,
>etc? Or any other vocal sounds (sniffling, grunting, little noises,
>single words?) From what you've described alone he would not meet the
>criteria for TS.....Have you asked him directly about the things he
>says? Let us know, I'm sure others' can jump in here to offer
>suggestions/advice!

Also, does he make any faces or make any other unusual movements while
blurting, or does his voice change from his usual? Still can be tics
even if not, but those could be clues, along with blurting things
completely out of context.

Blurt

Pablo

2005-07-03, 12:15 pm

"RoadRunner" <chucksan@sc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:AiLwe.71301$XQ.1060379@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> My brother and I have been professional guitarists since we were teens.
> However, speaking with him over the last few months has led me to think he
> has Tourette's Syndrome.
>
> There have been several instances in which he just "blurted out" really
> strange statements. The first one to come to mind is his evaluation of a
> Taylor guitar that I own. I, being a rock & roll lead guitarist, use very
> light strings. Light strings can be bent to other notes, a technique used
> by blusemen from B.B King to Eric Clapton and countless rock/blues and
> country guitarists. The technique has been a "hallmark" of mine since I
> began to play in my teens.
>
> One day, he was visiting from Nashville, and he picked up the Taylor
> Guitar. The first thing he blurted out was "this guitar would play a hell
> of a lot better if someone put better XXXXing strings on it."
>
> Well, at first, knowing he preferred a heavier string set, I began to
> explain why I liked the lighter strings. But he acted as thoug he had
> never said anything. Later, before bedtime, I again tried to explain why
> I liked the lighter strings, and again, he acted as though he had never
> heard his own statment!
>
> This is the only example that I can remember word for word, but there have
> been several others since this. Does this mean my brother has Tourette's
> Syndrome? What else can it be. he blurts out stuff that even he seems
> not to remember.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck

I'll let others address the nuts and bolts. I am posting to say I hope your
Taylor wasn't just sitting out. That's no way to treat a Taylor.

Pablo
812ce

Blurt Durtwurd

2005-07-03, 12:15 pm

In article <lq3xe.1808$aY6.200@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
"Pablo" <nono@yes.com> wrote:

>"RoadRunner" <chucksan@sc.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:AiLwe.71301$XQ.1060379@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>
>I'll let others address the nuts and bolts. I am posting to say I hope your
>Taylor wasn't just sitting out. That's no way to treat a Taylor.
>
>Pablo
>812ce

Leave it out of the case and you're much more likely to play it. If
you want to discourage playing a guitar, leave it in its case. If you
want to play it more, having it readily available for moments when you
intend to pick it up just for a moment is very helpful, and many of
those times might even turn into longer practice sessions.

Your Taylor is a lot more sturdy than you think. If you're concerned
about something like a dog knocking it over or jumping on it, you can
probably come up with a better solution than locking it up. One is to
hang it.

If you have several guitars, it might make more sense to keep some in
their cases.

Blurt

Blurt Durtwurd

2005-07-03, 12:15 pm

In article <96kbc1hvn9v5njmtac6kehllie9vqhgnrk@4ax.com>, Blurt
Durtwurd <blurtdurtwurd@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

>In article <lq3xe.1808$aY6.200@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
>"Pablo" <nono@yes.com> wrote:
>
>
>Leave it out of the case and you're much more likely to play it. If
>you want to discourage playing a guitar, leave it in its case. If you
>want to play it more, having it readily available for moments when you
>intend to pick it up just for a moment is very helpful, and many of
>those times might even turn into longer practice sessions.
>
>Your Taylor is a lot more sturdy than you think. If you're concerned
>about something like a dog knocking it over or jumping on it, you can
>probably come up with a better solution than locking it up. One is to
>hang it.
>
>If you have several guitars, it might make more sense to keep some in
>their cases.
>
>Blurt

I'll add to this by saying it was my reaction to your comments and
your Taylor guitar. If it was on old, dried out guitar and/or one
with very light construction, greater control of its environment could
be important. Many of the best sounding acoustic guitars would fit
that description.

Blurt

Pablo

2005-07-03, 12:15 pm

"Blurt Durtwurd" <blurtdurtwurd@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:96kbc1hvn9v5njmtac6kehllie9vqhgnrk@4ax.com...
> In article <lq3xe.1808$aY6.200@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
> "Pablo" <nono@yes.com> wrote:
>
>
> Leave it out of the case and you're much more likely to play it. If
> you want to discourage playing a guitar, leave it in its case. If you
> want to play it more, having it readily available for moments when you
> intend to pick it up just for a moment is very helpful, and many of
> those times might even turn into longer practice sessions.
>
> Your Taylor is a lot more sturdy than you think. If you're concerned
> about something like a dog knocking it over or jumping on it, you can
> probably come up with a better solution than locking it up. One is to
> hang it.
>
> If you have several guitars, it might make more sense to keep some in
> their cases.
>
> Blurt

We have lots of guitars here. I keep the 812ce in the case but unlocked and
out for easy access. I also have a low end Martin out on a stand. Two sons
play (one of whom no longer lives with us), so a lot of instruments are here
and there. The youngest plays bass. He wants a stand-up, but I don't want
to hock my liver to pay for it.

Playing music is one of my main forms of self-care.

Pablo