Home › Forums › Guitar Techniques and General Discussions › Why do you play guitar ?
- This topic has 15 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 4 months ago by Don Patton jr.
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September 5, 2022 at 4:33 pm #319668
Hello A.M. members!
Just a general question ⁉️
Why do you play guitar and where are you trying to go with it… aspirations?
I have heard a lot of you play and perform in your monthly challenge videos and have always wondered what motivates you are drives you forward?
Speaking for myself, I started playing 7 yrs. Ago when I retired . My love for the Blues 💙 and the opportunity to play and practice has moved me forward. Keeping my mind and hand eye coordination going, is also a motivation.
I have no illusions of being a rock star ⭐ or playing the bar scene till 2:00 a.m. etc.But how about you ? Some of you have been playing for 20+ yrs., Perhaps younger than me and are quite good..
How bout you ?🤔Don Patton Jr.
Thanks for all replies!
Don P
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September 5, 2022 at 6:16 pm #319690
Hi Don,
That’s such a good question. I think I’ve always had a love of music and was particularly drawn to the virtuoso rock guitar players of my youth like Hendrix, Alvin Lee, Terry Kath, Jimmy Page, Santana, Eric Clapton and Joe Walsh. I think only much later I realized that all the rock music I loved was very blues influenced. So, one of the big motivators for me has been to achieve some understanding of how my idols were able to make that music and beginning to understand how music works, in general. Guitar, and especially electric guitar, for me is the such an expressive instrument. It has been a joy to learn how to find ways to produce that expression with technique, amps, pedals and software. Another bonus has been the side hobbies of recording and video. The best part are the connections and sharing that music offers. Finally, it is a very good thing to have a such a great hobby in retirement that keeps your hands and mind challenged. No particular aspirations other than continuing to improve and trying to collaborate more.
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September 5, 2022 at 10:33 pm #319717
Actually, I could just take what you said and sign my name to it. And like Charjo, I enjoy making videos, because there is no end to what you can learn about about audio and video recording. So if we never plan to play on stage or elsewhere in public, making a good quality video of what we do is the best other option.
Mary Spender has some thoughts on this matter:
Sunjamr Steve
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September 6, 2022 at 3:48 am #319723
I started at the age of 10 because I wanted to do like my cousins did: play at campfires. So I asked my parents to buy me a guitar. They said ok, provided I’d take lessons – if you want to do something, you better do it right, so they thought.
But back then the only guitar lessons you could find were classical guitar lessons… and that’s how it all began. I never stopped ever since although in some periods of my life I obviously couldn’t spend as much time on it as I wanted. And of course I explored many other genres. When the late Marcel Dadi brought Chet Atkins’ music to Europe, I was blown away!Nowadays I play mostly live, alone or in small gigs with some bandmates/friends. Usually my own songs. And for small audiences, obviously: bars, charity concerts, small festivals, that sort of things. But being on stage is a feeling I can’t do without anymore.
We also record our music, so music production is my other (related) hobby.-
September 6, 2022 at 6:58 am #319736
Hi, J-M, can we persuade you to post some of your playing? I hope so!
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September 6, 2022 at 6:07 am #319734
I play guitar because i can’t collect pop bottles for 2 cents no more.
The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
Active Melody
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December 16, 2022 at 2:08 pm #328615Anonymous
That was my favorite way to get some candy at the local grocery. Take old pop bottles in and get my 2 cents a bottle and buy some candy.
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September 6, 2022 at 1:40 pm #319775
My musical background goes back to grade school as I was in the school band, etc. I dabbled with guitar over the years, but never got past memorizing fingerstyle songs. For a few years back in the ’90s, my younger brother was in a rock band that got to the point of headlining clubs in San Francisco. I always thought it would be great fun to be able to play together with him. I’ve also worked in entertainment and wished I could play with some of the musicians I met along the way. I couldn’t then, but I can now. This is my motivation. As I approach retirement years I want to sit with friends and family and make music together, to have that musical conversation just for the fun of it. That’s what keeps me going, and the guitar is a fascinating instrument… so many mysteries to unlock.
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September 6, 2022 at 2:38 pm #319780
The guitar ticks many boxes for me.
Music has become more and more important to me throughout adult life and I really like to be able to make an occasional modest little musical utterance of my own. When I started playing at age 13 the guitar seemed so cool to us kids, as we saw all these bands on TV with their exotic Fenders, Gibsons and Gretschs. Stratocasters were guitar heaven, but about as attainable to us as an Aston Martin with machine guns or a Ferrari.
A decade or so later classical guitar more or less took over for me and I became really passionate about this but this had to take second place to the time and energy consuming matter of earning a living and doing professional exams, and other distractions. I think now I should have had different priorities, and worked harder on the guitar.
These days I really enjoy the complex musical, technical and intellectual challenges which trying to improve my classical and electric guitar playing involves and trying to unravel further the mysteries and subtleties of musical interpretation.
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September 6, 2022 at 5:35 pm #319791
Inspired by the current rock n roll stars of the time my first guitar was bought for my 15th Birthday. My first two guitar tutors were both modern jazz players and I certainly learned a lot from them however my interest was really blues. Played in quite a few bands throughout the 60’s using mainly a Gibson 335 and Gretsch 6120 until family, career and children became a higher priority.
Missing fellow musicians to play with I set about learning to play acoustic fingerstyle blues as a solo performer. I can’t stress enough about the satisfaction I would get from finally getting a new blues or ragtime piece under my fingers. Stefan Grossman at Kicking Mule Studios played a major part in my progression as a solo player and whilst indulging myself in learning from the recordings of Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy and the Delta Blues players etc. I never lost that inner thrill of playing with other musicians.
Today, I subscribe to a couple of blues guitar internet sites and enjoy the lessons and teachings on offer, I’ve been a member of ActiveMelody for over ten years and thoroughly enjoyed the company of the members over those years. However I’m no longer the model student and don’t see myself on a set learning path towards a particular goal but now spend time listening and playing only stuff that excites me and I get that inner buzz from.
Richard
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September 7, 2022 at 6:53 am #319840
i start playing guitar (other than cowboy chords) during COVID lock down.
main motivaiton are :
– joy to discover new things : i never heard of mode, triads, pentatonic before : just like a children each day i learn, each day i progress a little.
– my main objective is to have an other way of expression, i learn guitar with the target of creation/composition/adaptation of piece, not of learning to play ‘as the original’ which does not interest me. may be in future years i will get into jazz music which is highly inventive and creative, but i do not have the level now.Where does the white go when snow melts?
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September 15, 2022 at 1:09 pm #320279
I came up on trumpet and was a music ed major, so I’ve always had music in my life in some way.
I fell in love with bass in college (it’s a kind of guitar, right?) I love holding down the fort, and allowing other melodic instruments to shine.
I’ve played acoustic guitar for a long time too, I just love the simplicity, and singing along.
I came to AM with the pandemic, and the damper it put on bass gigs. I got an electric guitar and I just love to play it. It makes me happy, I really just do it for me. I wouldn’t mind jamming with folks sometime soon, but I don’t really desire to get out there and be famous or anything! 🙂
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November 11, 2022 at 10:33 am #325328
Hi Don, I joined AM after your original post, so hope you don’t mind my late reply. Music has always been a source of joy for me, but I never had the patience to practice any instrument well enough to play it. What drives me most now is seeing how far I can go in unlocking what I find to be the most fascinating puzzle. I’d love to become competent enough to perform with others even if it’s just over the internet through the monthlys on here. That being said however, all of us should remember if being a rock star is in the cards, well who are we to decline? After all, NO ONE knows rock like we do. 😀
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November 11, 2022 at 5:43 pm #325350
Welcome to Active Melody Liz!
Please join us in the monthly challenges. It is a great way to interact with other members and gives you an opportunity to perform for a friendly and encouraging group of fellow guitar players. Positive experience and great place to start!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!Don P
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December 16, 2022 at 2:44 pm #328617Anonymous
I have a hard time figuring out why I play guitar, but now that I’ve started, I hate to quit and lose what I’ve gained. Basically, I’d say I do it simply for my own entertainment and for no other reason. A very selfish thing but after raising 4 kids and driving truck for too many years, I feel like I deserve something just for me. Besides, electric guitars are cool.
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December 17, 2022 at 5:29 am #328647
Thanks for sharing Robert!
No justification for playing the guitar needed. I think the first reason each one of us plays is for the sheer enjoyment of it. If it goes no further than that…that’s cool 😎. I’m with you, I retired from a job I worked for 40 yrs and raised my kids.
Now l have the time to pursue some interests , such as the acoustic blues and guitar that I enjoy…thanks for posting!Don P
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