Quote:
Originally Posted by podunklander
I for sure in my youth, spent more time playing games than playing guitar! Cards, board games, shooting pool, sports...you name it! gee...I wonder if playing pinball and centipede (man, I was addicted) helped me with my guitar-playing at all  . Well...it did get me drinking for the 1st time (when I was of legal age) because you had to drink to play!
Myself...I never even touched an acoustic guitar until I was 16! And even then, I was completely on my own and didn't know what the heck I was doing. No other teens in my neighborhood had a guitar.
I taught myself to play chords...but couldn't read music. Somehow quickly taught myself on the piano 1st but still can't on guitar. I didn't know anything about alternative tuning or capos until I was in my 30's...but I used to have to tune all my strings down to accompany my vocals until then. |
I was just the opposite. I was raised in a family where all my aunts and uncles on Mom's side played, and they jammed just about every Saturday evening at our house. I remember telling Mom I wanted a guitar when I was 4 years old. I ended up picking potatoes and buying one when I was 7 or 8. From that point on, I was mesmerized by that old Silvertone. It was in my hands every spare minute of every day. Within a year of buying it, I was jamming with my aunts and uncles.
I don't think you can force a kid to play, or even influence him to play unless it's hardwired into them to be a player. There might be a few that will learn to play a little, but 9 times out of 10, unless they're mesmerized by the instrument, they'll most likely give it up. I was mesmerized by just about every instrument, and had a God-given talent. I realize that now. I started taking piano lessons when I was 16 or 17. My teacher said, "Your Mom tells me you already know how to play a little. Play something for me." I sat down and played Bridge Over Troubled Water, all without music. She asked me, "And why do you want piano lessons?" Of course, Mom didn't tell her I had a piano in my bedroom! I wasn't really mesmerized by piano, though. I haven't played one in at least 25 years.
Cathy