Well, some of us have been playing for 45 years, some of us have only been playing for 3 months. I'm just curious, whats your guitar journey been like?

Mine kicked off at the age of 7. I was staying at my uncles (Major guitar enthusiast), an he had about 3 guitars in the living room. Me and my cousin were playing army men in there, and my "base" was right next to his most prized guitar (dunno the model, its a fender though), and I was so tempted to play it, i went up to him, and asked him if i could play it. He laughed, and said, " Ha ha, no you cant play that one. But you can play this acoustic." I had a few strums on it, and i really enjoyed it, despite me being able to not play a simple chord. And i kept playing it every day til my mum took me back home. I played it every time we went over there.
8 years of age; I cant really remember the 8th year of my life, or much of 9, apart from me having a stroke.
Late days of 9 and early days of 10; My uncle was really worried about me then, as he saw something "missing" since the stroke. So he convinced my mum to buy me a 3 quater size acoustic, ashton acoustic. I wasn't that really interested in music at that point, but i did pick it up and give it a few strums when i was exetremly bored, and occasionally learn the odd system of a down song, my favourite band at that point.
11 and 12 years of age; I was really starting to get into the heavily distorted, dirty sounding music then. I picked up the acoustic more now, but couldn't get the sound I wanted, cause it was acoustic. So I convinced my parents to get me squier bullet strat, and a fender frontman 15g. My uncle was so pleased that I was getting into guitar, so he organized a few jams with us and a few of his mates. It was fun.
early days of 13; I probably got serious about it on my 13th birthday. I really really was starting to get into the heavily distorted stuff, and then, nirvana were my favourite band. I learn't alot of nirvana songs, and started writting my own material. Of course, it was total crap during those days, but I have eventually got better at it. I bought a distortion pedal, behringer um 300 with the help of my uncle, and a epiphone SG, also with the help of my uncle.
mid 13 years of age; I was playing it for about 2 hours a day then, i loved it. But, my dystonia in my right hand had been getting alot worse for sometime, and still is. As a result, i got a bit depresed at times, and thought if my dreams would ever come true. Some days i couldn't be stuffed playing guitar.
late days of 13 (now); Now im playing it 2-4 hours a day, and I reckon my dystonia's very slowly getting a bit better. I'm still having the occasional jam with my uncle, and with my mates, my song writtings getting a lot better ( i write about 2 songs a day), I'm GASing out of control for a jaguar, and i love what i do!

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riley

Let's see.....

A few years ago my friend brought Guitar Hero over to my house (a lame starting point, I know ) and it was pretty cool, so my brother and I ended up buying it ourselves. Once we got really into it, we started talking about playing real guitar. We talked to my bass player cousin to get some advice, and next thing you know we were on musiciansfriend looking at starter guitars. My brother finally settled on a black Squire (just the cheap one, $150 US) and a Line 6 Spider III amp. I didn't buy anything.

After listening to him play for a few weeks and trying a few basic chord patterns myself, I decided to order myself a cheap yamaha acoustic. It was a little too deep for me and uncomfortable to play so I boxed it up within a week, returned it to musiciansfriend, and bought a new Epiphone SG Special in Cherry red. I played unplugged for a while because I couldn't afford an amp, but that's ok because my SG is oddly loud unplugged. This is around the start of August '08.

Sometime around June 1 of 09 I decided to upgrade to my current #1 - a MIM Standard Strat. I originally planned to get a Tele but at the last minute decided to do a strat instead, figuring that more pups = more tones and more versatility. I love this guitar and I'm not letting go of it, though I think I'm probably gonna mod it some.

I've been playing for almost two years now, and I've played everything from Wolfmother to Johnny Cash to Nirvana to Queens of the Stone Age. After two years spent teaching myself how to play individual songs, I'm starting to move into scales and theory. My strat turned out to be the perfect guitar for any kind of music, and that's why I love it.

started taking lessons in 1960. after about a year of rentals, i got a new fender musicmaster. a few years later, i was the proud owner of a strat. i held on to that guitar until 1974, when i got a deal on a les paul custom. i sold the lp in 1986 because i was no longer playing in bands (which i did from 66-77). i got married, had kids, and got into a car accident that injured my shoulder. man that les paul was heavy.

from 1986 until 2002, i only had my 70's ovation acoustic in the house. that was ok- i had been playing so much, and had no time for a personal life- you know- working full time, and gigging on weekends. i just wanted to have some time with my family.

fast forward to jan. 2002. i had just lost my job- i was bummed. my wife called my brother to find out what kind of guitar i had. she then went together with my in-laws, and got me a squire strat pack. i was thrilled- i still have it to this day, and it is put away now, and will go to my grandson(due may 24th).

today i also have my ovation, an ibanez af75, and i'm also back to having a strat- mim lake placid blue-maple neck. i'm now trying to form a 60's band we'll see how it goes

Well, my journey in music started in middle school when I played trombone in band. Was quite a bit of fun, probably my favorite class, until marching band in high school. Quit before my freshman year even started.

Fast forward to Senior year. I had the car I wanted, 1994 Honda Civic Hatchback, and was already saving up for a new engine, wheels, etc. Then I wrecked my car right after I gave my senior project presentation, right smack into a tree. Cost me all of the money I had in my savings to fix it (Couldn't afford the front bumper, it's still scratched as hell.)

Anyways, I decided to buy a guitar before going to college. In retrospect I should of got the used Flying V they had in stock at my local shop, but instead I got the cheap Les Paul knock-off, more like a rip off. Cost me 180 bucks plus I spent 220 on a solid state amp (no name brand). Looking back this was the dumbest financial decision I made (Save going to college)

After dropping out of college because I spent more time playing ping pong than studying, I worked full time at Primanti Bros for 2 years now, which completely sucks, but it gave me money to buy gear so that's something. I took up guitar lessons and discovered this here forum, which has given me some very good advice about pretty much everything. Probably why I own a Fender AVRI 57 Strat, a 52 Hot Rod tele, a cheap acoustic, a 1976 Champ, and a 1968 Ampeg Portaflex. And that's where I'm at up to this point, probably going to quit Primantis soon and see if I can find a better way to make a living for myself.

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

i started playing bass.. but then dad wouldn't buy me one... and would want me to stand out in the crowd.. they he got me a Squier Strat.. i was playing mostly hardcore and rock, and i can't seem to play good a lead guitars, then I went back to bass and gave up guitars... I've been trying to play again but I seem to lost my touch..

I always got some kind of toy guitar for christmas when I was a little kid, and when I was really young, my grandpa would always put in SRV and Buddy Guy tapes when we went somewhere in his truck. I was bound to start playing sometime Been playing seriously since I was 13 or 14.

nice..... mine started when i heard green days american idiot and wanted to be a 'rockstar'. at that point it was more a childish dream than a serious passion for music.... i started takin lessons at about 9 (2 years after i got my guitar) and then a few months later i discovered a little band called AC/DC and really started getting into it.... now im 13 and im devoted and ATTEMPT to write (unfortunately im not making much progress, writing or playing, because im constantly drowning in school work ).....
also, good to hear youre getting better at writing riley, i wish i was ..... i still only manage to crank out something that sucks like once month....

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

Started playing in bands at 17. Have played in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, The Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Penn, NJ, NY, CT, RI, NH, MA, VT, Maine,
Toronto, Montreal, Canada and Cruise ships out of Florida.

I've been to halfway houses (where some of the finest musicians were found!) to some of the big casino's in Atlantic City and Connecticut.

It's been a wild journey.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

have you played mohegan sun or foxwoods?

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

The Wolf Den @ Mohegan

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I had gotten my very first guitar(a black-and-white Lyon by Washburn, which was basically a knock-off of a Strat) for Christmas in 2005, I want to say....? Although I didn't really get into it until probably about near the end of 2007. I had begun to get really heavily inspired by Brian May, who had been my "guitar hero" for several years(since I turned 9 in Las Vegas). I picked up my guitar and sat down in with my dad in front of the instructional DVD that came with the starter pack, and I got so frustrated that I couldn't get all of the strings of Am and Em to sound. I kept trying to play a few days a week, though, and Dad really wanted me to get lessons because he knew I was trying very hard to progress my skills.
I started my lessons at our local YMCA a few months after my 12th birthday(I started in January, I believe.) At that very first lesson our instructor, whose name was Jeff, was talking about chords, and I, SO excited that I knew what he was talking about, said, "Oh, like these??" and having been practicing those dangin' Am and Em chords for months, I played the Am and Em flawlessly. I was so proud of myself.

I'm 14 now, and ever since that first lesson I've been a guitar nut. It's the nearest and dearest thing to me in my life, and ever since I started playing guitar, my musical tastes have broadened exponentially. When once I refused to listen to anything else but Queen, I now gladly listen to jazz, classical(which I couldn't STAND before playing guitar), blues, and EVEN rap and hip-hop. I appreciate every genre, because they all have something to offer.

Good God, I love music.

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"If it's planned, it's boring." - Freddie Mercury

My dad and brothers all play guitar and I tried to teach when i was about 7 or 8, but it didn't happen.Then when i was about 10 i decided to i give bass a go. When i was like 12 i took up the drums.When i was nearly 13 i dropped them due to the teacher getting "a real job".Then i joined my schools jazz band playing bass (biggest mistake of my life, look up jumpy stew by the piano connection and you will understand).
Once i started getting into theory stuff and chord structure and things I once again started teaching myself the guitar.And i wish i had just stuck with it from my first attempt because i'm better than either of the guitar players in my "band" yet im still playing bass.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

I will have been playing for one year on April 1st. I feel like I have made good progress and now it is really getting tough. I am tackling music theory a little more and blues progression, barre chords, scales, etc. I am determined to learn the blues if it kills me and I will! But overall I feel good because I have learned most of the songs I set out wanting to learn and have gotten better at improvising with soloing. Regardless of my progress or anything else, I am having fun and that's really what matters to me the most.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

My guitar journey...let me think. I would have to say that it started when I was 8 and I got an acoustic for Christmas. I wanted drums but I got that instead. My parents had no intentions of letting me take lessons and being 8 I was hardly up to the task of paying attention to something like that for any amount of time especially when I didn't want a guitar to begin with. As the years went on I would play around with that little guitar and become frustrated because at that point it wasn't even in tune and I had no one around to even know any better or teach me. I wanted an electric but I couldn't afford one so that dream just kind of stayed in the back of my mind. Fast forward to 2 years ago and the Guitar Hero craze. My best friend had known of my desire to play guitar and the fact that I always had excuses and bad memories from trying to play this impossible instrument. He forced me to play with him and went as far as buying me a copy of Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock because he knew I was a big Slash and Gibson fan...I didn't know any better shoot me . Anyways knowing how my mind worked I was hooked and then got to thinking that if I can do well at this stupid game then maybe there is hope for me with a real electric guitar? We then went a week later to a few local shops. I walked into a shop that I knew had Gibsons and the guy gave me a Gibson, a Strat and a Telecaster. Once I saw the price of a Gibson I thought my dream was dead again but the Strat and the Tele felt so good to hold that I ended up buying a Squier Telecaster and a Spider III 15W amp. I signed up for lessons and took them for the first 6 months. At that point I was 33 and wanted to play classic rock, grunge and Metallica. I had zero knowledge of the blues or really anything other than mainstream guitar music. As I became hooked on playing I bought a Epi Les Paul about 7 months after I bought my Tele. I was listening to anything I could find and discovering artists and genres that blew my mind. There were the legends who I felt I was listening to for the first time, the new guys who I appreciated and the non commercial players who felt like new discoveries to me. About a year ago I really started to get into the blues as I was discovering that many of my favorite players all had a huge blues influences. I started concentrating on branching out in my practice sessions and playing with some emotion by allowing myself to think that I had enough skill to really try and play the songs that I was learning. Then this last December I bought my first Strat, an American Standard, and my guitars are a part of me and who I am now. My skills still aren't amazing but really that doesn't matter. I'm not concerned with where I am now but where I want to be and I know that I will play for as long as I live and be learning the entire time. I wish I had started way back when I was 8 and had that guitar given to me but at least I started now and I'm on my way to becoming a decent player already. That's my guitar journey.

Khashoggi and Hoeycow;

interesting stories, better than mine!

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riley