Lessons I learnt from playing the guitar.

Many years ago, when I was at secondary school, I decided I wanted to learn to play guitar.  So, with visions of being a rock star in my mind, I went with a friend to a guitar shop and chose my instrument (a beginners electric guitar and practise amp set) and started paying it off bit by bit, using birthday and Christmas money and pocket money from my parents. 

As this took a long time and I was extremely enthusiastic I made up a practise guitar fretboard out of a piece of wood.  I drew on the frets and strings and practised my chord fingering before I actually held a guitar in my hands.  I’m pretty sure while I waited there may have been some serious air guitar playing done as well.  When I finally picked up my guitar I knew numerous chords and all I had to do was toughen up my fingers and practise my spacing, but in a very basic way I was ready to go. 

I quickly realised that learning to play an instrument needs dedication and willingness to practise regularly and diligently.  I’m not sure I ever did this enough and my progress was patchy at best.  I became competent quickly enough, but I’ve never got passed basic strumming and lead work and in some respects this was enough for me.  I can play rhythm along with songs I like, improvise in a very straightforward way and work out simple lead lines.  My friend, on the other hand, is an incredible guitarist and someone I really look up to.

The main thing for me, from learning to play guitar, is that I now appreciate the skill and dedication it takes for musicians to create and perform their music, whether this be in a live situation or on a recorded album.  This applies to a whole variety of instruments and not just guitars.  Knowing how difficult it can be to get proficient and dexterous on an instrument makes me enjoy good musicianship all the more whenever I hear it.  I am sad to say it also makes me notice flaws and poor playing as well.  This is the downside, but I hope overall it makes me a more discerning music listener.

I have also noticed that I hear details in music that never stood out to me before I learnt to play guitar.  I will hear a certain bass phrasing that I never heard before or will notice the ways the drums and keyboards interact etc.  Again, this helps me feel and engage with the music I listen to in a deeper, more profound way.

My acousitc guitar.

I don’t think you have to learn an instrument to fully enjoy music and everything it can give you.  But in my case I think learning to play guitar in a very rudimentary way has increased the pleasure I derive from music and makes me appreciate it on another level that wasn’t there before I picked up a guitar. 

I am still happy to pick up my acoustic and strum along with an old favourite now and then, but this also doesn’t stop me from turning up the volume sometimes and playing some ferocious air guitar along with a song either.  I mean, I’ve got to get my ‘rock n roll’ kicks somehow!