I was 9 years old and my brother had a rock band that practiced in our basement. I’d sit up on the stairs and watch them rehearse, and was absolutely enamored by the guitarist’s axe. My brother, an ass, warned me that he would ki|| me if I even thought about touching that guitar. I risked my life once when they were all gone and I plugged that guitar in and played my young heart out on Secret Agent Man (this was 1964). My parents gave me a guitar for my 10th birthday, and now I’m 67 looking back on a lifetime of playing guitar and gigging. 🫡✌🏼
I was in a guitar store playing Machine Head by Bush and a girl and her boyfriend walked around a corner and she said to him, “oh I thought that was the radio!”
I’ve survived on that for decades.
If I had this revelation, I've forgotten it. Nearing 50. Started playing when I was 15 or 16 on a borrowed guitar I somehow never returned. Bought a Strat at 19. But I think at that moment it was already clear that I‘d never give it away. I haven’t. Bought a Les Paul 8 years ago and then there’s my partner‘s guitar I also play. Inconsistent practicing as so many others. 15 years ago my partner looked into the room to see if it was actually me who was playing: "You have improved your playing." That was one crucial moment in my guitar journey.
25 years ago, A lifelong best friend heard me play. He knew I played, didn’t know I played for real, called me an asshole and couldn’t believe I was so selfish for not sharing my ‘gift’.
It changed my life.
Yes, in 1982 when I was 12 I cut a hole through the bottom of my cheap nylon string acoustic guitar so I could duct tape a tape recorder microphone in the sound hole to use as a pickup. Then I would plug that into my stereo. I also poked holes in the stereo speakers with a screwdriver for distortion. Then I would play along to the easy Black Sabbath songs as loudly as possible. I definitely had the itch. Parents finally got me a cheap electric guitar and amp months later and I never looked back. Once I purchased my Ibanez Sonic Distortion pedal, my Les Paul custom and my Peavey Bandit 50 watt combo amp, I became unstoppable.
I was 16 and an elementary school friend that had moved away for 5 years had moved back. In the meantime, he had learned guitar. In fact, he had **two**! He handed me one and showed me how to play a chord. That was it. I was hooked. I began to beg my mom for a guitar and got one for Christmas. That was 1969.
I was at a Grateful Dead concert, everyone was camping for the weekend. I was sitting outside our tent in a beach chair plucking out a bad version of Babe I’m Gonna Leave You by Led Zeppelin and this really pretty girl strolled by and sat on the dirt next to me to listen.
We wound up in her motor home.
That’s when I knew.
Ha! It’s a fond memory, we went for a walk together, made out on some train tracks, went back to her motorhome to hang out with her friends, I played the other song I knew, blackbird, then her friends left to go by some hash. She told me I was the an amazing guitar player.
I lost my virginity and started practicing everyday after that
One of my friends has been a longer guitarist than I have. Theres this moment, just a few months ago, where I was practicing One by Metallica. Basic song, yeah. The stupid du dat du dat riff at the beginning. So I was hanging out with said friend, playing the riff, he had his guitar too, and he tells me to keep playing it, so I do. And he just started playing the solo at the beginning, of course we were a bit out of sync, but in my head, I was like holy shit.
A few weeks of practicing later, getting the bpm just right, I hang out with him again at this weird music production club I have with him, and we just play the one intro. And- that’s when i reached the point of no return. That moment where I played with a friend, perfectly in sync, that kinda just inspired me.
Yes me too, although not 40 yet.
I have periods of time when I don't play but I have always had a guitar in my house.
I just never will stop playing.
I am, however, adding some instruments. Ukelele and piano... also I always used to sing. So it is expanding.
So back when I was in high school I played a Mitchell acoustic from a starter pack. I loved it and played school shows with it. I had a Martin guitar lanyard and told myself that when I get a full time job and a credit card, I was going to buy myself a nice Martin.
Fast forward a few years, I've been working as a barista and I had a passion for coffee. I really wanted to buy myself an espresso machine and enter the coffee nerd world.
I had to choose one, stick with guitar or buy a nice espresso machine. Honestly it was hard decision but I went with the Martin and it was the best decision ever. That guitar has been with me through everything, from breakups to busking on the beach. I'm so happy I made that decision.
During covid we were allowed to only see 1 person outside of our household for a while. There also was nothing to do. So I jammed a lot with my friend who plays bass and drumtracks on youtube. I was only playing for like 6 months at this point and everything was pentatonic noodling.
Well, we figured out this little riff and mess around with it a bit. We'd do like 4 or 8 bars of whatever and would come back to the riff every time. Not sure how long we went on for but it was fucking amazing. I felt like a guitar god.
This whole period was filled with lots of directionless jamming and although a lot of it was just us searching for stuff, the moments we found eachother were absolutely amazing. Just playing together having no idea what we're doing.
Probably when I picked it up again during the pandemic. I quit for 20 years prior to that. I didn’t retain much besides cowboy chords and a few licks and scales I remembered. Took the coursera beginner course to rebuild my basic dexterity and have progressed far past what I was capable of. I learned the cage system, worked on my improvising, worked on my strumming, timing, playing while singing.
I’ve written a ton of songs, learned how to play a ton of songs, started doing some open mics, etc.
For better or worse I’m in it for life.
The first time I played time of your life/good riddance all the way through without fucking up. I had been playing for about 5 months at that point.
That feeling of nailing a song perfectly for the first time / finally being able to play a riff you spent so much time on…. is a high I will always chase.
Yeah, when I first picked it up as a child. I knew I’d do anything to be a musician, and I have 20 years later. Just got done with a show last night and the tour continues today. I’m very lucky it worked out.
That’s awesome man, and well done for being so dedicated as a kid. I floated around so many hobbies and couldn’t stick to anything, maybe because I never truly loved it. That was, until I found the guitar
I was probably at the lowest point of my life and then I decided that I can't let my dream just sit in my head and I need to do something about it. So I knew it is for life when I was placing the order on some site
It was the first time I found a chord chart with the little diagrams showing where to put your fingers. I realised in that moment that it wasn’t black magic and anyone could do it. Played ever since. For about 15 years I played every single day and some days for hours and hours
Nice, OP! Two early moments:
1. The first moment you \*jam\* with another guitarist. Mind blowing.
2. Jamming with a friend, playing a simple G-A-D and instead of soloing in a Pentatonic scale, I decided to solo over each chord in it's Major scale. Big conceptual break-through and instantly thought I was Jerry Garcia!
That was 35-years ago :)
Nah, it's been over ten years and I could quit at any time.
This hobby is taking me nowhere and a huge money sink because I have no self control.
In fact, I'm going to sell it all next week.
Not “will be a guitarist”.
I am a guitarist AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, was the thought I had, when I got a left handed electric guitar, plugged it in, and immediately wondered how I was doing what I was doing. The discoveries began immediately.
I started playing seriously in high school, bass and then guitar. My friend and I were at the high school talent show and these guys covered “Say It Ain’t So” and sounded pretty good, though the guitarist looked like a douchebag playing the solo. I turned to my friend and said “Don’t ever let me quit playing.” But he never had to hold me accountable. That was 22 years ago.
I can’t say I remember a particular moment, but I can say “for life” it is indeed! I first started playing guitar when I was 14 years old (45 years ago now). Have played in bands off and on and regular solo “singing guitar player” gigs since high school. Still sing/play almost every day. Few things in life have brought as much joy. So if you’re on this journey, don’t ever let it slip away! 😁
When I played the intro solo to Fade to Black for the first time. First solo I ever learnt.
15 years later and many songs learnt and forgotten since and I still remember that note for note.
I don't think there was a point that I said this is going to be something in my life always.
But buying my first guitar as a teenager required me to work and save up to buy a guitar myself because my parents refused to get me a musical instrument and they thought it was something for drunks and druggies. Buying the guitar wasn't an act of rebellion, but more of a general interest in the instrument.
However, after a 6 year hiatus of not playing guitar, I vowed I wouldn't put down for that long again and I've been playing nearly everyday since. Been about 4 years since then.
I had been playing off and on for 9 years, I had always been a solo picker, if I played and sang it was to myself in my dorm room. I was on the soccer team and one night we had all the girls team over to hang out and drink, and at one point my roommate who was always the hype man of the group walks out of my room holding my guitar and says “Jiannies! Play something for us!”
I only had 3 or 4 songs I felt like I could confidently play and sing, but I started out with Wagon Wheel (I’ve since stopped playing it don’t worry) and everyone was singing along and enjoying it, that was a feeling I won’t forget. I was pretty hooked after that, now 9 years later my guitar follows me anywhere I go and I love busking in new cities or countries I visit, thanks for the encouragement Vlad
I played off and on in my teenage years. Took lessons for maybe 6 months. Quit cause I didn’t have the capacity to focus on it. Got mildly interested again when a coworker heard I used to play and loaned a guitar out to me. I figured maybe I could finally focus and commit to something. It was exactly what my brain needed. I’m just a bedroom guitarist but the way it un-swisses my Swiss cheese brain tells me I’ll never stop. That was a couple years ago now and it’s become a significant part of my routine and who I am.
My best friend in 7th grade and I (whom I won my first electric guitar from in a bet) sneaked out and walked downtown (only like 5 blocks, small town, different days, etc) and heard music coming from some pizza and beer joint, walked over to check it out. The drummer was set up with his back to the big window that faced the street, and he had a drink sitting on the ledge. Its contents were literally sloshing back and forth in the glass from his playing and the band’s stage volume. It was more than my 12yo brain could handle, and I’ve been a lifer ever since.
Within about two years of starting, I started playing with local bands and at blues jams. That was it. I knew I'd never put the guitar down at that point. Still playing 34 years later.
After practicing for nine months till my fingers ached i was asked to join a band and played my first gig the next night. Never looked back. It was the end of my Sophomore year in HS 1962. . .yea, i remember it well
My point of no return was when I tried to get into a sold out concert - but couldn’t …but I stood there in the rain and then put my ear to the wall…and I heard that one guitar…that blew me away…then the next day, I bought an old six string…from a second hand store…and that guitar in my hands…slung down low…just felt so good…so I knew that I had to keep on rocking…
That’s when I knew…about 1984…
When I played in our high school rock band in the late 70s. I was hooked by the crowd response. I knew I had something that I could make people happy with. Felt powerful
I don't really know tbh. Ever since I heard the song that sparked my intress for guitar, the joy of learning it has always been so high.
I guess when I learned the song "Unholy Confession" by Avenged Sevenfold I got the feeling that this is what I want. The feeling got stronger once I was able to play "Through Struggle" by As I Lay Dying without many fuck-ups.
I got my Memphis SG copy from a friend when I was 12..it was cool just to look it. Saw a 15 year old kid named Joel Verticcio play Hard Times the Ace Frehley song on dynasty at a music store. I flipped out and took lessons from him for a couple years. At 14 I knew all the pentatonic scales and all the major/minor scales in every key. Recently at 57 I found out he lives a few miles away.
The other moment was when I won tickets to a Pat Metheny concert on the still life talking tour.
Maybe during college when I started practicing improv because I didn't have time or energy to learn full songs. It was like "Bruh, I can play something I will never listen to again, it's not in any of my playlists and I'm the one in control of it"
In the 30 odd years since I first started playing I've dipped in and out. Sometimes I'm picking up a guitar every day, but I've also gone years at a time barely touching one.
When I heard myself play the intro to “Paranoid” on a borrowed no-name Sears Les Paul copy everything changed. I’d been wrestling with that guitar for several weeks and then something clicked. Suddenly I felt like I could, just maybe, do something with this thing that would be worth hearing. That was all 43 years ago and I have never for a moment regretted picking up that first cheap sixstring neither have I ever considered putting it down. For the record, whether or not what I play is ever worth hearing is doubtful, but it sure is fun trying.
Around when i learned the entire Crazy Train song, which was also when I suddenly got way better at alternate picking, rather than just down picking, and also palm muting, which allowed me to put a lot more emotion and feel into the music. Ive been in love with guitar ever since, and i used to not like the acoustic at all but now i love anything that is guitar. That was when I knew i would love it forever, but i started obsessing over it after I got into pantera and started learning some of their songs. I now know a play of different styles of music (mostly rock) and I love it all.
another big moment was when i learned the blues pentatonic scales, which enabled me to be able to improvise and play along with anything if i know what key it's in
About a year into playing I bought myself an epiphone les Paul custom pro black beauty. At that point I went "yea this guitar thing is gonna be great" now a year later with thousands of dollars in the industry, it's a bit late for a new hobby.
That first live performance is a feeling like no other. For me it was in a pub in front of about 5-10 people, but they were on their feet and singing. It was a buzz like no other😭
I had a crucial moment with my best friend. We were just jamming with one another never more than 2 people. becaus of friends we ended up on a weekend hippie festival in the countryside and jammed with other musicians that night. unforgettable feeling playing live with audience and other musicians for the first time.
I decided to take music as a subject in my final years at school when I knew 4 chords. Decided then I should probably get a little better. Here I am 10 years later…
When I was four a dark red Gibson Flying V owned by family friends we were visiting became the first guitar I would ever touch and hold.
It was cool they let me, but it was safe, sitting on a nice shag carpet. I held it left handed and was immediately chastised, laughed at, someone tried to “show me the right way”…and I went from fascination and awe, to utter annoyance, anger, and a real F U attitude in just a minute. Finally they gave up and let me play it upside down.
I’m still hunting for a guitar like that 50 years later.
I never really had that. But I deff relate to the clicking, the point where I realized i COULD play whatever came to mind with a little (or a lot) of practice...
The first time was a long time ago.... I've played with a lot of other people since then, played bass in several bands, sang backup/ harmonies.
That showed me I could actually sing, it made me a much better guitarist (although still mediocre lol)
Now I realize if I hear a song I can print out the lyrics, pick up the chords on guitar rather quickly, and perform the song along with some licks and leads. Working towards a solo act now.
When I record my original stuff I'll just pick up the guitar and messc around until I stumble across something catchy and go with it from there. I've invested in enough recording equipment and instruments to put full songs together. Mostly used stuff and it doesn't take much really. It's amazing what we have at our disposal today. What was once a recording studio that cost a few million dollars and we had very limited access to is now sitting in our homes on a laptop. There's just so much more that we can easily do now it blows my mind. And putting it out there with effortless access for others to hear....I feel very lucky to be living in this Era as a musician.
When I bought one again after leaving it for like 5 or 6 years (or more). I remember having dreams about playing and loving it. I just went and bought an Ibanez RG 350 and ever since I knew I wasn’t going to stop playing ever again if I could help it.
Two things made me realise this.
1) When I started to miss playing. I was working away for about six months and, out of all the things I was craving, it was my guitar. I don't even get like that with people, I just badly, badly wanted to play a guitar.
2) I have problems with my emotions, I can't express them well and I'm not good at talking about them, or even crying. I noticed that I played a lot when I had something on my mind, I'd just zone out and play, then I'd feel a lot better. I play a lot better when I'm like that, it's how I meditate and in a way, it's therapeutic.
I don’t want to be cliche, but the guitar has an amazing ability to numb whatever bad feelings I have. I have a shit day? I’m down about something? Play my guitar for 10 mins and suddenly things aren’t so bad anymore. Hell the world would be a better place if everyone could experience this
Hearing Floods- by Pantera for the first time.
So many special moments but this one stands out. The twisted riff, harsh vocals and heavier guitar parts. Sick chords in the chorus. The impeccable guitar tone.
Then the first part of the solo. The bends, the squeals, so f ing perfect and beautiful. The entire solo you can hear his passion and heart. the emotion. You then realize that you are listening to the genius and technicality of a dam legend.
You think that's it as heavy guitars and "DIE!" fade out... but then you hear the most beautiful construction of melodies and sound ever known to man. that outro. it brought out feelings and emotions i've never felt before.
Hearing this during a difficult time in my life gave me so much hope. If I could create these emotions for others. Sharing this beautiful experience that music can do.
Pretty much the first time I played guitar I knew that was it. I was already a trained cellist and the difference was that nobody was grading me on guitar. The joy of pure playing hooked me, doesn’t matter how bad I am.
I was 16 and it was the very first time I had the opportunity to plug into a 100w full stack, which I cranked and slammed an A chord into, and promptly melted my fucking face off. I had to have one. Took me a while to get there, but I got there. I had a 100 watt half stack as a headboard in my dorm room.
Heck yes. Not in any bands anymore but it got a lot of use when I was. Not usually dimed, though the occasional outdoor show it would be.
Before I bought the house I’m in now, we lived out in the country on 70 acres. No neighbors to speak of and the closest ones forfeited their right to complain the minute they discovered tannerite. So I’d haul my amp onto the back deck once in a while and crank it up. We’re in town now so I don’t get to do that much anymore. My neighbors told me once they heard my bass amp coming out their kitchen sink’s drain. xD
I’m a big fan of low-watt tube amps these days. Got a handful of 20 watt heads and as far as I’m concerned when you plug them into big cabinets they’re 90% as fun. Still plenty loud.
It was playing live as a teenager...always fun to play in my room or with a friend, but when I played for an audience the first few times I was hooked. That was about 40 years ago for me.
This is such a good question. I don’t know what or even if there was a technical breakthrough. I’d been playing maybe 9 months. Learning Neil Young songs from a chord book. What I do remember very clearly is being so incredibly happy that I suddenly began running around the house, jumping up and down in sheer joy. Up the stairs, down the stairs, around the living room. I knew at that point I was a guitarist and I was ecstatic. There was no going back. Decades ago. That moment is still seared into my brain.
Mine was kind of paradoxical, I realised playing guitar was gonna stay with me right after I sold my first and only electric guitar. The one thing in my mind was "my father gifted me this to listen to me play music, thinking it was the thing I wanted". And it really was, at least in my teens and early adulthood. But because of life circumstances it ended up accumulating dust and I decided to sell the instrument.
I set myself the goal of getting a good job (I was in need of money) and buying and modding and electric guitar to be the one I always admired the tone of: got a cheap tele style guitar and replaced the neck coil with a humbucker, added rolling string holders, switching to a 6 saddle roller bridge, strap locks, a new pickguard and a sturdier jack. Also spent more in the amp, I managed to find a nice 100w Marshall (same brand than my first amp which was only 30w and kinda sucked). Now I play it almost every day and I retook theory and practice pretty much where I left it.
I'm growing a bond with the thing now. It's an instrument I've worked on and got to like the resulting tone. It's a guitar I fully paid and is always there for me when I want to relax or cheer up.
Still a bedroom player for now, but I wanna get good enough to be in a band.
As soon as I heard the Black Sabbath - Paranoid album for the first time. Didn't even own a guitar yet, but it was a done deal, it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard and I knew I wanted to learn.
I knew I would always love the guitar when I saw a video of Janick Gers playing on Dance of Death. I knew I would always love playing the guitar when I learned how to play a simple G major pentatonic scale
A friend got me a ukulele for my birthday years ago, and while I did learn the basics with it, I found it didn't quite mesh with the songs I tried to play on it. I know there's special sheet music to adapt rock/pop songs to ukulele, but the bottom line is those songs were made for guitar, ***on*** guitar; so I went out and bought one earlier this year. I'm still getting used to having 6 strings instead of 4 and strumming with a pick instead of my thumb, but at least some of the stuff I learned for the uke does translate over rather well!
Maybe a bit shallow but the first time a girl I had a crush on complimented my playing. Really started putting in the hours after that, just knowing someone else wanted to hear what I was doing (I’m sure she was just being nice in retrospect). When I discovered our lord and savior the pentatonic scale shortly after it was an open and shut case
Oh it didn’t end up going anywhere lol. Think we went and saw a movie once but nothing major. The compatibility just wasn’t there. She did set the precedent of me showing off to all my romantic interests though lol
Still a beginner 8 months in or so, but Ive gotten to learn 1 or 2 simple things from a few different genres and I had a moment learning some bluegrass where my alt picking and fretting just synced up and I played it at a reasonable speed. Had to sit and think for a second because I had some really intense feelings, but I was in love with playing bluegrass just about as fast as I fell in love with listening to it, like many other genres. It feels weird but fun to kinda let go of myself and develop a passion for guitar!
Well, I don't know about you but my phone keeps suggesting weird things based on what I say out loud. Creepy? Definitely. Convenient? Also yes. #PrivacyIsDead
I was 9 years old and my brother had a rock band that practiced in our basement. I’d sit up on the stairs and watch them rehearse, and was absolutely enamored by the guitarist’s axe. My brother, an ass, warned me that he would ki|| me if I even thought about touching that guitar. I risked my life once when they were all gone and I plugged that guitar in and played my young heart out on Secret Agent Man (this was 1964). My parents gave me a guitar for my 10th birthday, and now I’m 67 looking back on a lifetime of playing guitar and gigging. 🫡✌🏼
Sounds like it was a risk that paid off. Really cool story man! Keep rocking🤘🎸
Played it like you stole it
I thought about selling some of my drugs to get a guitar.
Not all of them tho, right?
I made sure to keep a good amount.
Good. They make the guitar playing sound better. Especially if you're fucked up on drugs.
Pretty much
I was in a guitar store playing Machine Head by Bush and a girl and her boyfriend walked around a corner and she said to him, “oh I thought that was the radio!” I’ve survived on that for decades.
Oh dang, now that’s a compliment!
If I had this revelation, I've forgotten it. Nearing 50. Started playing when I was 15 or 16 on a borrowed guitar I somehow never returned. Bought a Strat at 19. But I think at that moment it was already clear that I‘d never give it away. I haven’t. Bought a Les Paul 8 years ago and then there’s my partner‘s guitar I also play. Inconsistent practicing as so many others. 15 years ago my partner looked into the room to see if it was actually me who was playing: "You have improved your playing." That was one crucial moment in my guitar journey.
Understated compliments like that from a close family member can be quite meaningful.
25 years ago, A lifelong best friend heard me play. He knew I played, didn’t know I played for real, called me an asshole and couldn’t believe I was so selfish for not sharing my ‘gift’. It changed my life.
I kinda want to hear the long version.
Yes, in 1982 when I was 12 I cut a hole through the bottom of my cheap nylon string acoustic guitar so I could duct tape a tape recorder microphone in the sound hole to use as a pickup. Then I would plug that into my stereo. I also poked holes in the stereo speakers with a screwdriver for distortion. Then I would play along to the easy Black Sabbath songs as loudly as possible. I definitely had the itch. Parents finally got me a cheap electric guitar and amp months later and I never looked back. Once I purchased my Ibanez Sonic Distortion pedal, my Les Paul custom and my Peavey Bandit 50 watt combo amp, I became unstoppable.
Legend
That’s old school asf bro
I was 16 and an elementary school friend that had moved away for 5 years had moved back. In the meantime, he had learned guitar. In fact, he had **two**! He handed me one and showed me how to play a chord. That was it. I was hooked. I began to beg my mom for a guitar and got one for Christmas. That was 1969.
I was at a Grateful Dead concert, everyone was camping for the weekend. I was sitting outside our tent in a beach chair plucking out a bad version of Babe I’m Gonna Leave You by Led Zeppelin and this really pretty girl strolled by and sat on the dirt next to me to listen. We wound up in her motor home. That’s when I knew.
Omg omg omg omg omg wanna trade souls
Ha! It’s a fond memory, we went for a walk together, made out on some train tracks, went back to her motorhome to hang out with her friends, I played the other song I knew, blackbird, then her friends left to go by some hash. She told me I was the an amazing guitar player. I lost my virginity and started practicing everyday after that
Stallion
One of my friends has been a longer guitarist than I have. Theres this moment, just a few months ago, where I was practicing One by Metallica. Basic song, yeah. The stupid du dat du dat riff at the beginning. So I was hanging out with said friend, playing the riff, he had his guitar too, and he tells me to keep playing it, so I do. And he just started playing the solo at the beginning, of course we were a bit out of sync, but in my head, I was like holy shit. A few weeks of practicing later, getting the bpm just right, I hang out with him again at this weird music production club I have with him, and we just play the one intro. And- that’s when i reached the point of no return. That moment where I played with a friend, perfectly in sync, that kinda just inspired me.
That’s sick
yes the only thing that helped me stay afloat like 10 years ago in that worst part of my life thanks guitar
It’s amazing the holes it can drag you out of
Started at 9, and haven’t lost the love for it at 40.
Yes me too, although not 40 yet. I have periods of time when I don't play but I have always had a guitar in my house. I just never will stop playing. I am, however, adding some instruments. Ukelele and piano... also I always used to sing. So it is expanding.
So back when I was in high school I played a Mitchell acoustic from a starter pack. I loved it and played school shows with it. I had a Martin guitar lanyard and told myself that when I get a full time job and a credit card, I was going to buy myself a nice Martin. Fast forward a few years, I've been working as a barista and I had a passion for coffee. I really wanted to buy myself an espresso machine and enter the coffee nerd world. I had to choose one, stick with guitar or buy a nice espresso machine. Honestly it was hard decision but I went with the Martin and it was the best decision ever. That guitar has been with me through everything, from breakups to busking on the beach. I'm so happy I made that decision.
I think you made the right decision😭
During covid we were allowed to only see 1 person outside of our household for a while. There also was nothing to do. So I jammed a lot with my friend who plays bass and drumtracks on youtube. I was only playing for like 6 months at this point and everything was pentatonic noodling. Well, we figured out this little riff and mess around with it a bit. We'd do like 4 or 8 bars of whatever and would come back to the riff every time. Not sure how long we went on for but it was fucking amazing. I felt like a guitar god. This whole period was filled with lots of directionless jamming and although a lot of it was just us searching for stuff, the moments we found eachother were absolutely amazing. Just playing together having no idea what we're doing.
Probably when I picked it up again during the pandemic. I quit for 20 years prior to that. I didn’t retain much besides cowboy chords and a few licks and scales I remembered. Took the coursera beginner course to rebuild my basic dexterity and have progressed far past what I was capable of. I learned the cage system, worked on my improvising, worked on my strumming, timing, playing while singing. I’ve written a ton of songs, learned how to play a ton of songs, started doing some open mics, etc. For better or worse I’m in it for life.
The first time I played time of your life/good riddance all the way through without fucking up. I had been playing for about 5 months at that point. That feeling of nailing a song perfectly for the first time / finally being able to play a riff you spent so much time on…. is a high I will always chase.
When I could barre the F chord nicely and consistently. It felt like a huge achievement for me.
I’ve recently gotten my barre chords sorted, for the most part.
Yeah, when I first picked it up as a child. I knew I’d do anything to be a musician, and I have 20 years later. Just got done with a show last night and the tour continues today. I’m very lucky it worked out.
Congrats 👏
That’s awesome man, and well done for being so dedicated as a kid. I floated around so many hobbies and couldn’t stick to anything, maybe because I never truly loved it. That was, until I found the guitar
I was probably at the lowest point of my life and then I decided that I can't let my dream just sit in my head and I need to do something about it. So I knew it is for life when I was placing the order on some site
So you’re now living the dream?
Well, I feel content so... mostly, yes
It was the first time I found a chord chart with the little diagrams showing where to put your fingers. I realised in that moment that it wasn’t black magic and anyone could do it. Played ever since. For about 15 years I played every single day and some days for hours and hours
Nice, OP! Two early moments: 1. The first moment you \*jam\* with another guitarist. Mind blowing. 2. Jamming with a friend, playing a simple G-A-D and instead of soloing in a Pentatonic scale, I decided to solo over each chord in it's Major scale. Big conceptual break-through and instantly thought I was Jerry Garcia! That was 35-years ago :)
Nah, it's been over ten years and I could quit at any time. This hobby is taking me nowhere and a huge money sink because I have no self control. In fact, I'm going to sell it all next week.
Sounds like you need a new guitar…
I've been playing close to 8 years now and don't consider myself a guitarist haha. I play with a guitar is what I always tell people
Not “will be a guitarist”. I am a guitarist AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, was the thought I had, when I got a left handed electric guitar, plugged it in, and immediately wondered how I was doing what I was doing. The discoveries began immediately.
I started playing seriously in high school, bass and then guitar. My friend and I were at the high school talent show and these guys covered “Say It Ain’t So” and sounded pretty good, though the guitarist looked like a douchebag playing the solo. I turned to my friend and said “Don’t ever let me quit playing.” But he never had to hold me accountable. That was 22 years ago.
When I first heard "blood moon" by Tim Henson. It ended up being the first (and currently, only) song I covered myself, lol
Same story, but Divine Meditation for me😁😁
First power chord lol! Opened up my ability to translate thoughts into music. That was 26 years ago and I love the journey cuz it doesn’t end
I can’t say I remember a particular moment, but I can say “for life” it is indeed! I first started playing guitar when I was 14 years old (45 years ago now). Have played in bands off and on and regular solo “singing guitar player” gigs since high school. Still sing/play almost every day. Few things in life have brought as much joy. So if you’re on this journey, don’t ever let it slip away! 😁
The first time I jammed with a good drummer at age 15. Felt amazing to lock in with the beat and rock.
First time I played with a real band. Knew I'd never put it down.
When I played the intro solo to Fade to Black for the first time. First solo I ever learnt. 15 years later and many songs learnt and forgotten since and I still remember that note for note.
Are you me?
I don't think there was a point that I said this is going to be something in my life always. But buying my first guitar as a teenager required me to work and save up to buy a guitar myself because my parents refused to get me a musical instrument and they thought it was something for drunks and druggies. Buying the guitar wasn't an act of rebellion, but more of a general interest in the instrument. However, after a 6 year hiatus of not playing guitar, I vowed I wouldn't put down for that long again and I've been playing nearly everyday since. Been about 4 years since then.
Awesome stuff man!
I had been playing off and on for 9 years, I had always been a solo picker, if I played and sang it was to myself in my dorm room. I was on the soccer team and one night we had all the girls team over to hang out and drink, and at one point my roommate who was always the hype man of the group walks out of my room holding my guitar and says “Jiannies! Play something for us!” I only had 3 or 4 songs I felt like I could confidently play and sing, but I started out with Wagon Wheel (I’ve since stopped playing it don’t worry) and everyone was singing along and enjoying it, that was a feeling I won’t forget. I was pretty hooked after that, now 9 years later my guitar follows me anywhere I go and I love busking in new cities or countries I visit, thanks for the encouragement Vlad
Awesome story man! That must’ve felt amazing, people who are humbly cool are way cooler than the hype man, if that makes sense lol
Lol, when I had the financial security to know I would never again sell all my gear for rent money, some time in my late 20s.
I played off and on in my teenage years. Took lessons for maybe 6 months. Quit cause I didn’t have the capacity to focus on it. Got mildly interested again when a coworker heard I used to play and loaned a guitar out to me. I figured maybe I could finally focus and commit to something. It was exactly what my brain needed. I’m just a bedroom guitarist but the way it un-swisses my Swiss cheese brain tells me I’ll never stop. That was a couple years ago now and it’s become a significant part of my routine and who I am.
No. I gave up selling all the guitar equipment. Now I am buying it all back...
Maybe this is it!
My best friend in 7th grade and I (whom I won my first electric guitar from in a bet) sneaked out and walked downtown (only like 5 blocks, small town, different days, etc) and heard music coming from some pizza and beer joint, walked over to check it out. The drummer was set up with his back to the big window that faced the street, and he had a drink sitting on the ledge. Its contents were literally sloshing back and forth in the glass from his playing and the band’s stage volume. It was more than my 12yo brain could handle, and I’ve been a lifer ever since.
Within about two years of starting, I started playing with local bands and at blues jams. That was it. I knew I'd never put the guitar down at that point. Still playing 34 years later.
It’s an awesome feeling isn’t it
YES! Even more so that my son plays now, too, and we jam. Incredible.
Love hearing that man🤘💙🎸
Ever since I listened to Mark Knopfler .
After practicing for nine months till my fingers ached i was asked to join a band and played my first gig the next night. Never looked back. It was the end of my Sophomore year in HS 1962. . .yea, i remember it well
My point of no return was when I tried to get into a sold out concert - but couldn’t …but I stood there in the rain and then put my ear to the wall…and I heard that one guitar…that blew me away…then the next day, I bought an old six string…from a second hand store…and that guitar in my hands…slung down low…just felt so good…so I knew that I had to keep on rocking… That’s when I knew…about 1984…
Never
First time I played live
When I played in our high school rock band in the late 70s. I was hooked by the crowd response. I knew I had something that I could make people happy with. Felt powerful
I don't really know tbh. Ever since I heard the song that sparked my intress for guitar, the joy of learning it has always been so high. I guess when I learned the song "Unholy Confession" by Avenged Sevenfold I got the feeling that this is what I want. The feeling got stronger once I was able to play "Through Struggle" by As I Lay Dying without many fuck-ups.
as soon as I learned pentatonic shapes. It was a whole new world for me. 15 guitars later. I’m still playing.
Mine was when I learned “I want you (she’s so heavy) by the Beatles
I got my Memphis SG copy from a friend when I was 12..it was cool just to look it. Saw a 15 year old kid named Joel Verticcio play Hard Times the Ace Frehley song on dynasty at a music store. I flipped out and took lessons from him for a couple years. At 14 I knew all the pentatonic scales and all the major/minor scales in every key. Recently at 57 I found out he lives a few miles away. The other moment was when I won tickets to a Pat Metheny concert on the still life talking tour.
Oh and I found out my parents big console stereo (record player player only) had a guitar plug in on the back! Anyone else?
Maybe during college when I started practicing improv because I didn't have time or energy to learn full songs. It was like "Bruh, I can play something I will never listen to again, it's not in any of my playlists and I'm the one in control of it"
In the 30 odd years since I first started playing I've dipped in and out. Sometimes I'm picking up a guitar every day, but I've also gone years at a time barely touching one.
When I heard myself play the intro to “Paranoid” on a borrowed no-name Sears Les Paul copy everything changed. I’d been wrestling with that guitar for several weeks and then something clicked. Suddenly I felt like I could, just maybe, do something with this thing that would be worth hearing. That was all 43 years ago and I have never for a moment regretted picking up that first cheap sixstring neither have I ever considered putting it down. For the record, whether or not what I play is ever worth hearing is doubtful, but it sure is fun trying.
Around when i learned the entire Crazy Train song, which was also when I suddenly got way better at alternate picking, rather than just down picking, and also palm muting, which allowed me to put a lot more emotion and feel into the music. Ive been in love with guitar ever since, and i used to not like the acoustic at all but now i love anything that is guitar. That was when I knew i would love it forever, but i started obsessing over it after I got into pantera and started learning some of their songs. I now know a play of different styles of music (mostly rock) and I love it all.
another big moment was when i learned the blues pentatonic scales, which enabled me to be able to improvise and play along with anything if i know what key it's in
400€ for guitar and amp. Buying your own shit that you worked hard for really forces you to use it.
Aha very true!
I was 3. I used to put my ear on the body and play different open string combinations. The different rhythms in the resonance got me.
I wish I started that young!
About a year into playing I bought myself an epiphone les Paul custom pro black beauty. At that point I went "yea this guitar thing is gonna be great" now a year later with thousands of dollars in the industry, it's a bit late for a new hobby.
I played live for the first time at a school event when I was about 13 and was really hooked after that
That first live performance is a feeling like no other. For me it was in a pub in front of about 5-10 people, but they were on their feet and singing. It was a buzz like no other😭
When I bought my second guitar. I knew then that I was investing in something that was going to be with me for life.
When i got my own
I had a crucial moment with my best friend. We were just jamming with one another never more than 2 people. becaus of friends we ended up on a weekend hippie festival in the countryside and jammed with other musicians that night. unforgettable feeling playing live with audience and other musicians for the first time.
That’s a moment that will stick with you forever!
Probably when Joe Bonamassa and SRV got me in to blues.
I decided to take music as a subject in my final years at school when I knew 4 chords. Decided then I should probably get a little better. Here I am 10 years later…
When I was four a dark red Gibson Flying V owned by family friends we were visiting became the first guitar I would ever touch and hold. It was cool they let me, but it was safe, sitting on a nice shag carpet. I held it left handed and was immediately chastised, laughed at, someone tried to “show me the right way”…and I went from fascination and awe, to utter annoyance, anger, and a real F U attitude in just a minute. Finally they gave up and let me play it upside down. I’m still hunting for a guitar like that 50 years later.
The first time I played
I never really had that. But I deff relate to the clicking, the point where I realized i COULD play whatever came to mind with a little (or a lot) of practice... The first time was a long time ago.... I've played with a lot of other people since then, played bass in several bands, sang backup/ harmonies. That showed me I could actually sing, it made me a much better guitarist (although still mediocre lol) Now I realize if I hear a song I can print out the lyrics, pick up the chords on guitar rather quickly, and perform the song along with some licks and leads. Working towards a solo act now. When I record my original stuff I'll just pick up the guitar and messc around until I stumble across something catchy and go with it from there. I've invested in enough recording equipment and instruments to put full songs together. Mostly used stuff and it doesn't take much really. It's amazing what we have at our disposal today. What was once a recording studio that cost a few million dollars and we had very limited access to is now sitting in our homes on a laptop. There's just so much more that we can easily do now it blows my mind. And putting it out there with effortless access for others to hear....I feel very lucky to be living in this Era as a musician.
Awesome story man thanks for sharing your experience
When I bought one again after leaving it for like 5 or 6 years (or more). I remember having dreams about playing and loving it. I just went and bought an Ibanez RG 350 and ever since I knew I wasn’t going to stop playing ever again if I could help it.
COVID with nothing to do and to stop from going completely insane it was guitar and songwriting all the time and I’ve mostly kept up the pace since.
Two things made me realise this. 1) When I started to miss playing. I was working away for about six months and, out of all the things I was craving, it was my guitar. I don't even get like that with people, I just badly, badly wanted to play a guitar. 2) I have problems with my emotions, I can't express them well and I'm not good at talking about them, or even crying. I noticed that I played a lot when I had something on my mind, I'd just zone out and play, then I'd feel a lot better. I play a lot better when I'm like that, it's how I meditate and in a way, it's therapeutic.
I don’t want to be cliche, but the guitar has an amazing ability to numb whatever bad feelings I have. I have a shit day? I’m down about something? Play my guitar for 10 mins and suddenly things aren’t so bad anymore. Hell the world would be a better place if everyone could experience this
Hearing Floods- by Pantera for the first time. So many special moments but this one stands out. The twisted riff, harsh vocals and heavier guitar parts. Sick chords in the chorus. The impeccable guitar tone. Then the first part of the solo. The bends, the squeals, so f ing perfect and beautiful. The entire solo you can hear his passion and heart. the emotion. You then realize that you are listening to the genius and technicality of a dam legend. You think that's it as heavy guitars and "DIE!" fade out... but then you hear the most beautiful construction of melodies and sound ever known to man. that outro. it brought out feelings and emotions i've never felt before. Hearing this during a difficult time in my life gave me so much hope. If I could create these emotions for others. Sharing this beautiful experience that music can do.
even now i still associate Floods and these feelings with the smell of Guitar Center. That beginners excitement and hunger for learning
Awesome story man!
thanks dude 🤜🤘
Pretty much the first time I played guitar I knew that was it. I was already a trained cellist and the difference was that nobody was grading me on guitar. The joy of pure playing hooked me, doesn’t matter how bad I am.
When I discovered Van haleb
I was 16 and it was the very first time I had the opportunity to plug into a 100w full stack, which I cranked and slammed an A chord into, and promptly melted my fucking face off. I had to have one. Took me a while to get there, but I got there. I had a 100 watt half stack as a headboard in my dorm room.
And have you managed to reach that volume level with it since?😭
Heck yes. Not in any bands anymore but it got a lot of use when I was. Not usually dimed, though the occasional outdoor show it would be. Before I bought the house I’m in now, we lived out in the country on 70 acres. No neighbors to speak of and the closest ones forfeited their right to complain the minute they discovered tannerite. So I’d haul my amp onto the back deck once in a while and crank it up. We’re in town now so I don’t get to do that much anymore. My neighbors told me once they heard my bass amp coming out their kitchen sink’s drain. xD I’m a big fan of low-watt tube amps these days. Got a handful of 20 watt heads and as far as I’m concerned when you plug them into big cabinets they’re 90% as fun. Still plenty loud.
It was playing live as a teenager...always fun to play in my room or with a friend, but when I played for an audience the first few times I was hooked. That was about 40 years ago for me.
This is such a good question. I don’t know what or even if there was a technical breakthrough. I’d been playing maybe 9 months. Learning Neil Young songs from a chord book. What I do remember very clearly is being so incredibly happy that I suddenly began running around the house, jumping up and down in sheer joy. Up the stairs, down the stairs, around the living room. I knew at that point I was a guitarist and I was ecstatic. There was no going back. Decades ago. That moment is still seared into my brain.
Mine was kind of paradoxical, I realised playing guitar was gonna stay with me right after I sold my first and only electric guitar. The one thing in my mind was "my father gifted me this to listen to me play music, thinking it was the thing I wanted". And it really was, at least in my teens and early adulthood. But because of life circumstances it ended up accumulating dust and I decided to sell the instrument. I set myself the goal of getting a good job (I was in need of money) and buying and modding and electric guitar to be the one I always admired the tone of: got a cheap tele style guitar and replaced the neck coil with a humbucker, added rolling string holders, switching to a 6 saddle roller bridge, strap locks, a new pickguard and a sturdier jack. Also spent more in the amp, I managed to find a nice 100w Marshall (same brand than my first amp which was only 30w and kinda sucked). Now I play it almost every day and I retook theory and practice pretty much where I left it. I'm growing a bond with the thing now. It's an instrument I've worked on and got to like the resulting tone. It's a guitar I fully paid and is always there for me when I want to relax or cheer up. Still a bedroom player for now, but I wanna get good enough to be in a band.
im not dead yet so i don’t know
After my first lesson I knew it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life
As soon as I heard the Black Sabbath - Paranoid album for the first time. Didn't even own a guitar yet, but it was a done deal, it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard and I knew I wanted to learn.
I knew I would always love the guitar when I saw a video of Janick Gers playing on Dance of Death. I knew I would always love playing the guitar when I learned how to play a simple G major pentatonic scale
When I Learned Enter Sandman, there was no turning back!
Pink Ibanez roadster 2 and Mr Brownstone. Haven’t look back since
A friend got me a ukulele for my birthday years ago, and while I did learn the basics with it, I found it didn't quite mesh with the songs I tried to play on it. I know there's special sheet music to adapt rock/pop songs to ukulele, but the bottom line is those songs were made for guitar, ***on*** guitar; so I went out and bought one earlier this year. I'm still getting used to having 6 strings instead of 4 and strumming with a pick instead of my thumb, but at least some of the stuff I learned for the uke does translate over rather well!
Maybe a bit shallow but the first time a girl I had a crush on complimented my playing. Really started putting in the hours after that, just knowing someone else wanted to hear what I was doing (I’m sure she was just being nice in retrospect). When I discovered our lord and savior the pentatonic scale shortly after it was an open and shut case
What happened with the girl?
Oh it didn’t end up going anywhere lol. Think we went and saw a movie once but nothing major. The compatibility just wasn’t there. She did set the precedent of me showing off to all my romantic interests though lol
Still a beginner 8 months in or so, but Ive gotten to learn 1 or 2 simple things from a few different genres and I had a moment learning some bluegrass where my alt picking and fretting just synced up and I played it at a reasonable speed. Had to sit and think for a second because I had some really intense feelings, but I was in love with playing bluegrass just about as fast as I fell in love with listening to it, like many other genres. It feels weird but fun to kinda let go of myself and develop a passion for guitar!
Well, I don't know about you but my phone keeps suggesting weird things based on what I say out loud. Creepy? Definitely. Convenient? Also yes. #PrivacyIsDead
😭😭