Why Play Guitar?


Try Emusic FREE for 14 days, keep the 25 Free songs even if you decide not to continue.

As a full-time guitar instructor, I am constantly faced with people in all walks of life who, for all different kinds of reasons, believe that playing the guitar will add something to their lives. Most people that are just starting the guitar for the first time are young (pre-university) although certainly not all. One of my favorite students last year was a 65-year-old retiree who wanted to learn enough to be able to start a bar band with his friends.

There is no "one" reason to play the guitar. This instrument can bring joy to everyone regardless of their primary motivations for taking it up. There's no such thing as being too old or too musically inexperienced for the guitar either. Neither the Beatles or Jimi Hendrix could read music, and I think most would agree that they did all right without it.

Many guitarists will ask me, after their first lesson, how long it will take them to become good at the guitar. I've never been able to answer this question. No one can. Your success or failure in playing the guitar depends completely on the effort that you put into it. One of my favorite stories is about Eddie Van Halen: he would come home after school and pick up his guitar. He would sit at the edge of his bed and play until he had to go to sleep. Not once, not every once and a while: every day. Of course, most of us don't have the luxury of this much time to practice, but this story helps to illustrate that success isn't completely dependant on some inborn talent, but on hard work. There's no easy way into it. Please, whatever you do, don't take up the guitar if you are only going to practice the last hour before your lesson. You'll just annoy me and you'll never get any better.

Remember, if you go to an instructor or you take lessons online or from a book, what you learn is, for the most part, up to you. You're the one hiring the teacher and, although you're putting yourself under their direction, it's your responsibility to inform them as to where you want to go. Find a teacher who will help you succeed in the style of music that you want to go into.

So, why play the guitar? There isn't a day that I don't wake up and am glad that music is such a big part of my life. Music has brought me more happiness than almost anything else. When you accomplish something, the sense of success becomes real, whether you've recorded your first song, or finally learned to play all the chords to "Smoke on the Water". Playing music, like any other art form or skill, greatly enriches those who study it.

You can learn more about playing guitar at http://www.guitar-4u.com. You can find here lots of information for players from beginner to advanced, as well as tips about and links to online guitar lessons and other great player's resources!


MORE RESOURCES:

7digital sees DRM-free music downloads surge
Afterdawn.com - Jul 9, 2008
The music download store 7digital.com is reporting that since the introduction of DRM-free music from the labels Warner and EMI, sales have skyrocketed over ...


MasterCard joins with Universal to offer free music downloads
BloggingStocks - Jul 3, 2008
Billboard reported Thursday that MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) has launched a new campaign titled "Roots of Rock" that offers free downloads for cardholders ...


5 Groovy Sites for Free Music Downloads
PC World Canada, Canada - Jun 23, 2008
Want to fill up your MP3 player for free without facing the wrong end of an RIAA lawsuit? These five sites offer DRM-free downloads from exciting artists. ...


Music subscription silenced
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - Jul 19, 2008
The purchase came with 50 free music downloads from a company called emusic.com. Upon logging into the site for my free downloads, I quickly realized that ...


Sears and High School Musical's Vanessa Hudgens Urge Kids 'Don't ...
MarketWatch - Jul 15, 2008
... exclusive benefits, including free music downloads, discounts and great prizes to help them arrive at school in style like a private jet or limo ride. ...


Enlightenment in the Music Industry: Tribe of Noise Launches ...
MarketWatch - Jul 16, 2008
Tribe of Noise is expected to kick up quite some dust by offering a lawful alternative for free music downloads. Last year's artists like Moby, ...


Ticket News

Tim McGraw ticket sales hit $20 million
Ticket News, CT - Jul 9, 2008
The fan-friendly McGraw made free music downloads available to every fan who bought a ticket to the concert on his website from artists Halfway to Hazard, ...


Apple iTunes 7
CNET.com.au, Australia - Jul 16, 2008
... TV shows, games, a free University lecture podcast section titled iTunesU, a selection of unrestricted (DRM-free) music downloads called iTunes Plus, ...


HeadCount: Win a Jam Cruise
JamBase, CA - Jul 16, 2008
People must first sign an online "Pledge to Vote" to be eligible for the contest, which also entitles them to receive free music downloads and discounts. ...


Eircom Rolls Out Broadband to Cappagh
Waterford Today, Ireland - Jul 16, 2008
... music.eircom.net, features free music downloads of independent Irish artists for everyone, album reviews, music videos, gig listings and over 850000 ...

Free-Music-Downloads - Google News

Free Music Download Sites (Home Page) |   Free MP3 Downloads  |   RSS Feed  |   Artists  |   Music Resources  |   Music Downloads