On when I first started playing guitar. It was like learning to speak, I could barely form a sentence, let alone even dream of writing my own stuff or play with a band. I'm re-listening to all of those old songs that would drive me insane because I knew I couldn't play them and now I'm visualizing what I would play. I don't know, but some of them seem to bring back so many memories from years past. Sometimes I miss those years, ya know? I miss discovering new things about my playing that I could apply. But 2 years ago, I was such a different person. I was isolated, angry, and didn't know what to do with myself. I had nothing, really. Nothing in the sense of, not having anywhere to put my energy, my thoughts, my feelings, or anything like that. I guess it was the help I was trying to get when I needed it the most. It'l be 2 years since I bought my guitar on October 29th. I consider that to be a day that seriously changed my life. I had never wanted to dedicate myself to something that badly. I had eventually gotten to the point where I was playing 4, 5, 6, and sometimes even up to 10 hours a day during the weekends and during that summer. I literally bled for something I love.

Anyways, I can't find the song that really just got to me on the internet, so I can't post it. But, for those interested, it's Teenage Fantasy by Cockney Rejects.

I wrote this because I heard that song today and I really thought about how far I've come.

Cheers.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Cheers!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

WOW... what a great post !

It really spoke to me !

I am in exactly the same position you found yourself in 2 years ago.

But, I'm not rising from a place of despair... I have a Life that I love, a Woman I haven't been able to live without for the past 20 years (and one who miraculously feels the same way !)

I have ALWAYS wanted to learn the Guitar... but now that I think back, I do see a Dark Place that I allowed to prevent me from ever doing so.

I moved overseas at an early age and was enrolled in Violin Lessons at age 7. We had just moved, and I didn't speak the language (French), the class had started 2 weeks prior. It was exactly like learning a 2nd language as you describe, or in my case a 3rd. Progress was slow and the Teacher (who seemed to have an attitude toward Americans) was most difficult to please.

Anyway, our class recital was looming, and I was struggling to learn my piece. I practiced as hard as I knew how.

The day of the Concert arrived and when my turn came to go on-stage, I started my piece and within 4 bars, the Teacher walked on-stage, took the Bow out of my hand, hit me on the head and, still brandishing the Bow, pointed to my Mother in the 2nd Row and shouted: "C'est imposible Madamme - il et un Imbicile... " !

My Mother visibly shrank down in her seat to the point she would have fit inside carry-on luggage, and I exited the Stage in Shame.

From that moment on, while I appreciated Music much more than my contemporaries, I refused to ever try and take up a musical instrument again.

That was more than 50 years ago, and after retiring this year, I decided to show that old, wicked, Music Teacher that I would not be defeated ! My wife asked what I wanted for a 20th Anniversary present, and I said a Guitar.

Prone to excess when it comes to buying me presents (bless her heart), my wife and I went to a small local guitar store. I was checking out standard Strats, but she spotted the 'expensive' section and pointed out a CAR FSR AM Vintage '57, saying : "I like this one better..." - so did I, believe me, it simply felt better in my hands and the tone, even to my uneducated ear sounded much better !! So, after a little haggling, it followed us home !

That was 3 weeks ago tomorrow and I have played it a lot every day since... (I'd play more, but my fingers can't take more than 45 min. at this point... I've lost all feeling in them !). So I spend the rest of the time learning to read Music, learning Tabulature, noodling, etc. but this week, it's starting to feel much more natural, and I've broken the 1-hour mark a couple times.

I have learned 16 chords (though I've not yet mastered the 4-finger chords as I have very small hands which must be re-taught how to move properly) - I'll get there ! Still suck at strumming, though my Tone is good. But, still, I can feel it's something I should have done long ago !

Once I can sight read and play the chords sightless (making progess there), I'm going to begin formal lessons.

My goal is to be accomplished enough to play songs and maybe even get together with like-minded guys and form an informal 'garage band', maybe even attend some 'Open Mike' Nights at some local Clubs.

I don't usually get discouraged when I try new things... when those feelings inevitably pop-up, I tend to bear down even harder.

My initial thought was that I would be at the place you describe in 4 years of hard work. It's inspring to hear you say you got there in two !!

I cannot remember ever wanting to accomplish something as badly as I want to master the Guitar, and your post is a HUGE Boost!

Thanks, and Major Kudos to you for all you've accomplished !!

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

The guitar is just a tool.

What you build with it is up to you and how hard you are willing to work.

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Gary

@Buxom : Cool !
@Lightnin MN : What an $@! of a teacher ! Such people are not entitled to their profession
Congrats with that fine guitar ! I find it a bit unusual starting out with an electric - but , hey - it should work out just perfect ! Keep on !

My ''bad story'' is about my son - many years ago I gave him a guitar for his birthday , as I had noticed him being very interested in daddy's guitars . I had been divorced a short time before that - and I knew his mother wanted me to buy him something else ( which I can't recall what was .. ) What I did not know was that the same mother had instructed my son to only accept what SHE wanted him to have ! Result : crying kid who did not accept the gift - had to return it
He is now a grown up (with a good job ) - still VERY music interested , but never tried to play again. Sad , I think . Sometimes people are not entitled to being grownups

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A-man

[quote="asgeirman]@Lightnin MN : What an $@! of a teacher ! Such people are not entitled to their profession
Congrats with that fine guitar ! I find it a bit unusual starting out with an electric - but , hey - it should work out just perfect ! Keep on !

My ''bad story'' is about my son... [/quote]

Actually, there are a couple reasons why I took up an electric from the start...

First, I always wanted to own a Stratocaster and I thought owning one would help keep me motivated...

Next, I live in a Condo, and with an electric I can play into a small practice amp and use headphones (I have an Orange Crush Pix) so I don't disturb my neighbors (especially in these first few months of producing mostly 'noise'), once I'm actually making Music, I won't be as concerned.

But I do also have an accoustic - Epiphone AJ-200 which I play along with the Fender, mostly during the day when my neighbors are away. My local guitar store pretty much threw it into the deal. The action is too high and the strings are really bad. I can play the Strat for an hour at a time at this stage, but my fingers give up after only 15 minutes on the accoustic.

The local Guitar store is going to improve the action on the Epiphone by sanding down the Bridge and replacing the strings with better ones, then it will be much more user-friendly for a beginner like me.

Be sure to advise your son not to wait for 50 years like I did if he truly has the passion. I hate to think of all the years I wasted.

cheers!

_________________


'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

I don't need a mansion.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Buxom, thanks for a great post. I was in my forties when one of my sons brought home an acoustic guitar and said he was learning to play. I, having been into music most of my life but had never settled on an instrument that I wanted to spend the rest of my life learning went to the hock shop an bought a guitar. That has been several years ago and I now have three sons and a couple of grandsons who play. I play nothing but electric now. I'll bet everyone on this forum has a story, some of them really interesting as to what turned them on to guitar.

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OK, I'll hum a little bit, got it now?

I guess this has turned into a story of how you got into guitar thread, eh? I love reading this stuff.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

My father is a folk musician, so as long as I can remember, I've banged away on acoustic guitars, music to my ears only.
Looking back though,I guess it really started happening for me when I was given as a gift "The Beatles Complete" songbook. I quickly realized that to play the songs I loved, I would need to get serious about music. I had to learn correct tuning and practice chords. I found that whatever I put into it, I got back with interest. In only a few months, I found myself being able to impress my self and others. I was so satisfying to be able to play the "right" notes
I rarely play a Beatles song now, if ever, but learning these well crafted songs was a great basis for my understanding of the relationship between notes and the general principles of music.
That was some thirty years back and I'm so glad i made the extra effort back then.
Some guys I knew back then were just into it for the "scene" and don't play at all anymore. I never get caught up in genres. Lately I've been playing some CLASH songs (more complex than you would think)
You young guys still have plenty of time.
Look forward.
Goodonya ...Mark

I have owned guitars for 20+ years. About 5 years ago I decided to do more with my guitars. In those 5 years I have learned to do major modifications, learned new chords, scales, and a new style of music to play...in general to become a better musician.

Looking back, my only regret was to not learn what I have learned over the past 5 years at an earlier age. I would be so much better now if I had.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Ive put some thought into this post and I agree with you Buxom on so many levels what a guitar does for you mentally is unsurpassed my opinion. I too am one of the older people in the forum who played acoustic off and on for decades but just discovered I have an unnatural obession for the electric and have been taking lessons since February for a variety of styles including some slide. I too at one point thought I how much better would I have been if I had started decades ago but then..eureka it dawned on me..Even Eric Clapton is constantly trying to improve find something new evolve etc..so when you think about it I have basically just saved myself decades of stress! Even the very best want to improve there is always something to strive for! In conclusion by the time i am 90 I am gonna freaking rock!

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

-I'm sure you rock at 90
It is in the human nature to strive for getting better. And that is sometimes also a limitation. It is not always about being the fastest , as many seems to think. That is more of an obsession, IMO.
One should regard playing as a travel - you want to explore and enjoy. Not always to be in a hurry , even you sometimes have to run ! If you also can give something to an audience that they value , then you've come a long way !

Two good inputs

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A-man