Share Your Acoustic Guitar Journey: How and Why Did You Start Playing?

[Gordon Currie]

As a small kid, I had music around a lot - my mom and dad were into classical and jazz, respectively as well as some 50's pop.

I loved to listen to music, but never considered playing - until 1964 and the Beatles. All of a sudden I had a mission in life. Took me almost two years to get my first guitar, but I was hooked.

[jaymarsch]

Music was almost always playing in my house. My mom loved to sing and my dad whistled tunes while he did chores around the yard and in his workshop. Mostly, folk, western swing, big band, country and old timey.
I fell in love with Ricky Nelson and his guitar when he would play guitar on the Ozzie & Harriet show in the late '50s, early '60s. Then it was Peter, Paul and Mary and in high school, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez and all of those folks. Saved up for a classical and eventually got a steel string in 1971 or thereabout. Taught myself and played the same 7 chords until I had some discretionary income and could save up enough to get a Martin and some actual lessons!
Playing the guitar has gotten me through some pretty tough times. I am so grateful to have music in my life.
Best,
Jayne

[Mcmac]

Originally Posted by Photojeep

I initially played the clarinet in grade school but in Junior High I came home from school one day (1969 ish) and my Mom was watching the Mike Douglas Show. Chet Atkins was playing Yankee Doodle and Dixie simultaneously on the guitar. I thought to myself, "I GOTTA learn how to do that!"

I ran to my room and took a hammer to my piggy bank. I gathered up my entire life savings of $14 and went to the Navy Exchange (we were living on Treasure Island Naval Base at the time) and bought a 3/4 sized acoustic steel string no-name guitar with mile-high action and a Mel Bay chord book. I was dead broke but I had a guitar!

I skipped right past the pages about tuning and started learning how to finger chords. My sister hated the fact I hadn't tuned the guitar and while I'm sure it was horrible sounding to her I was hooked. About a week later I went back to the tuning part and was amazed to find how much better my new guitar sounded!

We moved to the midwest shortly after that and as time passed I learned more and more songs and chords. The local paper used to print a column called "Words and Chords" to popular songs which helped quite a bit.

My biggest influences were Jim Croce and John Denver. My friends and I swapped various songs we'd learned. I once even learned a song over the phone. I was on restriction and couldn't leave the house so I spent the afternoon in the kitchen on the phone (remember those wall-mounted beauties?) and learned "Time in a Bottle" from my girlfriend.

In college I played in a bar once. My friend and I wandered into the mostly deserted place in search of cheap beer. As I watched the musician on the riser playing, I absentmindedly started fingering chords to the song he was playing. He noticed and asked me to play a spell. He was the bartender and had to get back behind the bar so my friend and I enjoyed free beer as long as I kept playing.

I used to lead a choir in my old church for about 20 years, mostly as the only musician, leading around 10 singers and now am one of three guitars at my new church. We accompany about 15-20 singers, a piano and an organ. I don't lead this group but am having a lot of fun playing.

I've owned proabably 10-15 different acoustic guitars over the years and now own a Gibson and 2 Martin acoustics.

I've been playing around 54 years. I thoroughly enjoy playing but I always think I should be much better than I am.

And no, I still haven't learned how to play Yankee Doodle and Dixie at the same time ...

Best,
PJ

Hey PJ,

I couldn’t help but respond to you being at the Treasure Island base when you were younger. Over the past 4 years I have been supporting a large subway project and n SF and the warehouse I was working out of was located on Treasure Island and in fact they say we were in what was once the morgue 😂.

One of my uncles was also stationed there in the Navy. Small world, just wanted to share. By the way, they are demolishing most of the old buildings and are putting up expensive housing… as you probably remember, they are some of the best views around.

[s2y]

Started playing guitar in '95. I was mostly into rock and classic metal. Getting an acoustic seemed to be part of the game for the obligatory song or two. My first acoustic was an Ovation Elite. I later picked up an Alvarez nylon. Traded my Ovation for an Adamas. I liked a little bit of everything. Saw Preston Reed, which was an interesting take on playing.

Switched to bass from 2000-2013. Kinda learned about fingerstyle, but just in time to get busy with bands. Played fretless bass almost exclusively during this time.

Picked up acoustic again in about 2014. Took a bit of a break from playing after being fired from my last band. It got nasty and I had little desire to play. Gained some momentum since joining this forum. Covid and divorce slowed me down a bit in 2020. My ability to seriously practice can be limited with 2 boys with behavioral issues. Hoping they outgrow it.

[rko]

Self trained on the piano in my dad’s saloon, I was a halfassed piano player until I was 30. I had played enough guitar to know the cowboy chords. I happened to be in a music store and saw one of those little traveler guitars. This one was a little off brand thing, not the Martin.
So I picked it up in that store and started playing around a little bit and something clicked in my head. Been playing ever since.

[RichardN]

When I was 10 or 11 back in 1965 I acquired a very cheap, almost impossible to play acoustic. I can't remember how I got it but somehow I did it on my own. My parents noted my struggle playing this thing and bought me a decent acoustic guitar for Christmas.

With some friends we formed a band to play at the 6th grade year end party. The only song we learned was Gloria, which we thought was quite an achievement but the music teacher was disappointed that that was the only song we knew.

That transitioned into playing bass. After a trade or two I ended up with a Gibson EB-3 which is a small scale bass. I think I was physically attached to that thing. The only time I didn't have it in my lap was when I was at school.

In college I had a really bad break up with a band and decided to quit the whole music thing and sold all my equipment. I was pretty busy with school and then transitioned into raising a family so I didn't think too much about playing for the next 20 to 25 years.

Once the kids got old enough to not need my attention all the time I decided to pick up an electric guitar. That was about 20 years ago. Took a ton of lessons, learned a lot of theory, how to read music, dabbled in jazz, etc.

About two years ago I started playing acoustic and really enjoy it.

[Neil K Walk]

It was the early 70s and my widowed mother lost her parents and was into the whole transcendental meditation thing. She was big into folk music at the time, bought a cheap plywood folk guitar and started taking a guitar class but quit after a couple of weeks. It was always just sitting around and being a kid I was always in search of a toy. Lessons came letter when I pushed back hard against playing little league because I couldn't throw; that's the cost of having no dad. When I was 15 I discovered that some music had soul and other music got the girls' attention so it was game over.

[The Bard Rocks]

When did you first start playing the acoustic guitar?
1960, age 14

What inspired or motivated you to learn the instrument?
A hootenanny at a church camp. Not a good singer, I'd never realized how much fun it could be.

Did you have any musical background or experience before playing the guitar?
I played sax in the school band.

What was the first song or piece you learned to play on the guitar?
No clue; I have always wanted to learn lots of songs. That hasn't changed.

What challenges did you face while learning, and how did you overcome them?
I'm a lefty, play right and was determined to teach myself. Still haven't had a lesson, not one. And know I'd be much further ahead today if I had. While learning, I missed the ability to interact with other guitarists - there just weren't any others that I could regularly interact with until decades later.

Do you have any memorable experiences or milestones in your guitar journey that you'd like to share?
College outing club songfests: I was the only player - and the only one who knew all the words. So I was forced to sing in public.


How has playing the acoustic guitar impacted your life?
It has been with me ever since, a source of relaxation, of intellectual stimulus, a way of interacting with and making new friends, of contributing to "beauty" in my world. I have added many new branches to the interests in my life, yet have not forsaken any roots. Folk music has been the "trunk" of that tree.

[BuddyO]

I'm one of those who bought my first ever guitar (Taylor AD17e) shortly after the beginning of the pandemic (and surprised I haven't heard more similar stories).

I'm a lifelong drummer whose played in several different local bar bands (still am), but I've always loved the sound of acoustic and electric hollow-bodies.

So I did lots of online research, consulted the bandmates, and bought it sight-unseen from one of the big online sites. Have been playing it almost every day now for the last 2+ years and love it.

I'm self-taught, following Hal Leonard's book, FenderPlay, and justinguitar.com.

First song I learned the melody to was Wonderful Tonight, since it can be played on the first 4 strings, which was were I was at in Hal's book.

First song I learned the chords to that I could play along with was The Duke Spirit's Wooden Heart, since it was slow and used the only open chords I knew at that time, but it was so much fun being able to play along.

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

Playing the guitar has gotten me through some pretty tough times. I am so grateful to have music in my life.
Best,
Jayne

Could not have said it better, Jayne. Playing guitar makes the good times better and the bad times not as bad.

[keithb7]

When did you first start playing the acoustic guitar? I was given a cheap acoustic when I was about 10 or 11.

What inspired or motivated you to learn the instrument? My Dad played acoustic. I wanted to play like my Dad.

Did you have any musical background or experience before playing the guitar? No Zero experience.

What was the first song or piece you learned to play on the guitar?
The Ventures Guitar Boogie

What challenges did you face while learning, and how did you overcome them? I got a little bored with the songs I was learning. I bought an electric guitar and learned tab. Then I was learning new exciting music that I wanted to play. Modern stuff on the radio. The guitar magazines with the tab each month were my favorite.

Do you have any memorable experiences or milestones in your guitar journey that you'd like to share? Playing in band when I finally had courage and time. It was so much fun. I still do it today.


How has playing the acoustic guitar impacted your life? I practice, rehearse and gig on a regular basis. We play cover songs all on acoustics only. No drummer, just a cajone player. I have no anxiety on stage. I enjoy it immensely.

[keithb7]

When did you first start playing the acoustic guitar? I was given a cheap acoustic when I was about 10 or 11.

What inspired or motivated you to learn the instrument? My Dad played acoustic. I wanted to play like my Dad.

Did you have any musical background or experience before playing the guitar? No Zero experience.

What was the first song or piece you learned to play on the guitar?
The Ventures Guitar Boogie

What challenges did you face while learning, and how did you overcome them? I got a little bored with the songs I was learning. I bought an electric guitar and learned tab. Then I was learning new exciting music that I wanted to play. Modern stuff on the radio. The guitar magazines with the tab each month were my favorite.

Do you have any memorable experiences or milestones in your guitar journey that you'd like to share? Playing in band when I finally had courage and time. It was so much fun. I still do it today.


How has playing the acoustic guitar impacted your life? I practice, rehearse and gig on a regular basis. We play cover songs all on acoustics only. No drummer, just a cajone player. I have no anxiety on stage. I enjoy it immensely.

[Eldergreene]

Having previously played harmonica in a schoolmates' blues/R&B band, in '66, aged 17, was inspired to buy a cheap acoustic after discovering folk clubs & being exposed to a couple of very accomplished acoustic blues/ragtime fingerpickers - by watching others & having a good ear, fingerstyle came pretty easily in a few months, & I soon discovered the delights of Fred McDowell, Son House & Blind Blake, along with Davy Graham & Jansch & Renbourn,

After 10 years or so, the hobby drifted into being the occupation, & playing locally was how I made a pretty decent living for 40 years, now retired & still playing with pals for fun, mostly 1920s jazz & early blues/old time.

[PeterD18DK]

Originally Posted by Yair Matayev

Don't be shy – let's share our stories and inspire each other in our pursuit of musical growth and enjoyment! Looking forward to reading your responses!

Because I love rhythm and to pick up girls. Unfortunately the latter did not work out very well, for me. However, now I have learned a few tunes and I feel love each time I play.
Besides that, I think that music is deep, it is good for your brain, it is fun and social. It is an honest discipline.
What is not to like? :-)

[Glennwillow]

When did you first start playing the acoustic guitar?

1964 at age 16.

What inspired or motivated you to learn the instrument?

I loved to sing with the radio and I loved the music of Peter, Paul & Mary. My mother suggested that I might like to learn the guitar, so when I had the chance to buy an inexpensive nylon-string Kay guitar, I used $50 from my life guarding work and bought it. I drove my dad a little nuts because I played so much.

Did you have any musical background or experience before playing the guitar?

No music background at all. Just desire.

What was the first song or piece you learned to play on the guitar?

I think I learned to play "Man of Constant Sorrow" from P,P&M. Then I learned "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out."

What challenges did you face while learning, and how did you overcome them?

I didn't know how to get started on the guitar. For about the first month I felt greatly frustrated. Then school started and suddenly there were lots of girls around (I was 16) and they each loaned me music books with chord diagrams to help me get started. Then my playing took off.

Do you have any memorable experiences or milestones in your guitar journey that you'd like to share?

I met my future wife while playing in public when I started college. That was pretty memorable.

How has playing the acoustic guitar impacted your life?

Huge impact! It has gotten me through some tough times!

- Glenn