Greetings guitar people! 33 y.o. music lover checking in.
In a galaxy far, far away, I took up the guitar as a more appropriate substitution to substance abuse after becoming a first time father in 2000. This guitar was a Johnson Thinbody off eBay for less than $150. I went down to the local shop, picked up a Mel Bay chord book and haven't looked back since. Learning to play and finger chords on an instrument with excessively high action was a bittersweet blessing. As I upgraded guitars over the years, my hands thanked me tremendously.
Fast forward a few years, I graduated to an Alvarez RD20SC. Aside from a Big Baby, this was the only drednaught I would ever own. I experimented with a Taylor NS for a while but didn't care for the lacking volume I experienced. The single best purchase I've ever made on anything was the day I picked up my 414CE-L7. Shortly thereafter, I had a chance to grab a plain jane 214 off craigslist pretty cheap.
I cut my "learning guitar" teeth on 3 chord wonders, playing with a bunch of old dudes after work. These weekend jam sessions helped me learn rhythm, chord changes, and volume control when playing with others. This is when I fell in love with the likes of folk, oldies, acoustic blues, and "other music" that was literally 20-30 years older than I was. I learned so much around this time and often feel I became more educated about music and life in that short time than I ever did in school or college.
My musical tastes range from innovators of the 50's to jam bands of the present. A few years ago, I began to realize my guitar hobby would become more than just a hobby when I was called to become a worship leader in the church I attend. Our music team at church consists of a female vocalist and 2 other acoustic guitarists. Most times I will lead in the playing but also like to accompany the group on tambourine or cajon.
A couple months ago, I reached yet another point in my playing where something needed to change. My locally owned guitar shop has a guy that offers lessons on every instrument under the sun. I decided I would take lessons. The wife kinda felt it was a waste because I could already play. The way I looked at it, I wanted more tools in my toolbox. For 6 weeks I've been studying with this guy and it's totally been lightbulb moments from then on. Scales take on a new meaning and I don't feel I'm confined to my own little box anymore. Just when you think your spouse doesn't understand you, it's nice to be pleasantly surprised. In a couple weeks, on Christmas day, I will open a '99 Fender classic 50's stratocaster, fittingly enough, done in surf green. I've played it several times at the shop since I began improv lessons and apparently my wife talks to the shop guys because she already told me it's now mine. Just have to wait. Really excited to the see what electric playing does for me but will never stray from what I love most, my beautiful acoustic guitar.
