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  • Steve Krenz
    Steve Krenz

    Why Do You Play?

    Copy of Copy of WHY DO YOU PLAY_.jpg

    Yes, I know that we play guitar for our own edification – of course. 

    But, each of us have other reasons that we want to learn and play guitar - often profoundly personal and individual reasons why we want to play guitar. 

    Often times, some of our wonderful guitar family will email me and let me know why they want to play.

    Here are some of the amazing reasons I've heard...

    • To Play for My Kids or Grandkids
    • To Pass on Music to My Family and Kids.
    • To Play a Song for My Daughter's Wedding.
    • After a Dad's Death, to Learn My Dad's Favorite Song and Play on His Guitar.
    • To Play at My Local Church
    • To Play for a Local Nursing Home or VA

    I’ve realized that there are a multitude of profoundly personal reasons why people want to learn to play guitar. 

    Reasons as simple as “playing makes me feel better” to the profound “I want to play a song for my daughter’s wedding”.

    No matter what YOUR reason is – dive into learning whole-heartedly.

    Take a minute to think about WHY you want to learn – what the goal and motivation is in your heart.

    Once you figure your reason out, then try to form it into one sentence - your personal guitar learning mission statement.

    Then, write it out and tape it on your music stand or on the wall in your practice area.

    A simple glance will be a little motivational reminder to keep pressing on when the learning gets tough.

    Every little bit of motivation and focus will help you get where you want to go.

    If you would like, share why you play in the comments below.

    - Steve

    Edited by Steve Krenz

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    Why do I play guitar...hmmm. Well let's see The love of music has to be number one. The challenge of learning, which for me has been a life long pursuit, would be another. When I'm playing and practicing, it's a chance to do something just for me, and escape for a while from the pressures of life and business . I think of nothing else while doing it and relish the moment. Hopefully when I play, others find it enjoyable too. One of the nicest things about learning guitar is you can take it as far as you wish. Now I've been at it a while, and beyond the "beginner" stage, there's still so much more to learn, and this propels me forward. I hope  to be doing so as long as God gives me strength. I hope you do too. All the Best; N

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    I started playing, because one of the teens in my youth group wanted to learn to play.  So, we started having a portion of time set aside for everyone to pick up an instrument to learn it.  We had guitar, bass, keyboard and drums.  One of the teens plays for a worship and praise team now doing bass.  I'm still progressing and learning.    Rocksmith and Bandfuse allowed me to learn in an interactive way, and helped to make it fun for the teens.  Now I'm learning with L&M Guitar to help learn how to read sheet music and more fundamentals.

    I play now, because I just enjoy playing the guitar.  I might play with the worship team at times on Bass, and a little guitar.  For the most part, I keep to playing at home for the enjoyment of it.

    Edited by josev
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    started playing guitar when I was 9, playing at school assembly. By the time I was 14 I was part of a group leading worship at our church, making lots of mistakes but learning a lot at the same time. 

    I play for the pleasure it brings me and those that benefit from my playing, whether that be on stage entertaining others or in church, leading others in sung worship.

    Of all the players Steve has introduced me to through the live lessons, I would love to meet Will McFarlane as there is something about his attitude and playing that I feel I identify with, although being in Europe I doubt I will get the chance.

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    11 hours ago, NeilES335 said:

    Why do I play guitar...hmmm. Well let's see The love of music has to be number one. The challenge of learning, which for me has been a life long pursuit, would be another. When I'm playing and practicing, it's a chance to do something just for me, and escape for a while from the pressures of life and business . I think of nothing else while doing it and relish the moment. Hopefully when I play, others find it enjoyable too. One of the nicest things about learning guitar is you can take it as far as you wish. Now I've been at it a while, and beyond the "beginner" stage, there's still so much more to learn, and this propels me forward. I hope  to be doing so as long as God gives me strength. I hope you do too. All the Best; N

    Neil, I think that word for word you have expressed my feelings. The only thing that I could add is, at the beginning (66 years old, 5 years ago) I had the luck of joining the Guitar Gathering (L & M). As Steve guides my journey, I am constantly helped and encouraged by a group of devoted and really nice members. Thank you all.

    Henk

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    I love playing guitar for many reasons.  Grandpa bought my 1st Kay in 1959. I learned chords to play along with dad in the kitchen. In 1966, my dad bought a Chet Atkins Home Studio Album.  I was turned upside down, 10 yrs. old in love with Chet's style.   I discovered the Beatles and rock music, and then I went to college in 1975 and played country/bluegrass.  One of my buddies who had taken lessons from Joe Pass showed me some chord progressions and I got bit by the jazz bug.  I just loved it.  I went to seminary and became a pastor and played worship and gospel music.  I've attended CAAS in Nashville for several years and my fingerstyle playing improved 100%.  Since 1997,  I've been playing guitar for a gospel group called Singing Churchmen of Okla. In  2003, our group was invited to tour Sydney Australia and played the Sydney Opera House.  I'll never forget the sound check there.  I played classical gas and a Tommy Emmanuel tune.  That was awesome experience that I would never have dreamed of in my life.  I'm writing this (too long I know), but hopefully, some young kid is holed-up in his/her room holding their guitar and dreaming.  I would encourage all guitarists at any level to discover the "gifts of Steve's instruction" and eat and sleep with it.  Hopefully, and prayerfully, the guitar will become your friend and with the good Lord's help, it will take you around the world.  That's why I love to play guitar!  Sorry for being too wordy.

    Pastor Randy Parker

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    I am learning guitar as a means to express myself, my feeling and emotions, through music. 

    When I first picked up a guitar many years ago, I just wanted to repeat songs that I liked...that only lasted a very short time.  I decided that I wasn't musically inclined and quit because I couldn't play like Eddie Van Halen after a couple weeks of trying.  Now as an adult, I love to see musicians play with passion and feeling.  The desire to translate my feelings and passion into music is what drives me.

    I've been using the L&M Guitar course for a year now and supplementing with the Blues Guitar course.  I appreciate the music theory that Steve provides in the courses...I am a "Why?" type of person...I have to understand the scales and the layout of the guitar to understand why each note is used in each instance.  With the instruction I am beginning to build a foundation from which I can develop my personal style of playing.  Through this I hope to be able to express myself through music, in addition to being able to play songs that I enjoy.

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    I've taken a bit of time to think of an answer.. 

    the question is: Form the idea into 1 sentence.

    Answer.. to make people smile.

    we go through stages of learning. Prt 1 is we hear something pleasing and go I'd like to try that (we're smiling). Prt 2 is trying to learn/play beginner style (we're not so smiling). Prt3 when we start to make private practice progress (we have a few smiles, but many frowns), Prt 4 is when we start playing out in front of others. 

    once we've been "on stage" in part 4 is where it all comes back around, hopefully our playing makes others smile, which in turn makes us as musicians smile. (the giving back if you will)

    I don't get much feed back from my choir playing, but I hope that what ever I've played for the kids in the choir (good and many bad's), I've started a spark in them to enjoy making music and in turn pass it forward

    Edited by Eracer_Team-DougH
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    Started with goal to play/sing (strum) gospel. First "gig" was rest home then church. Fast forward about twelve years, and like Randy120: Play everyday or almost everyday, love it, and have gone further than ever imagined. Recently started a small band. We play gospel hymns, gospel bluegrass, contemporary, folk, and 50's. Now I'm looking at trying some very basic finger style blues and Chet Style but at a very elementary level. I only do what is FUN. 

    Music Is Life. 

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    I play guitar because it makes me feel good. There is no other instrument that sounds as good as guitar, except the human voice.

    So I play whenever and wherever I can, and the better I get, the more fun it is.

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    Playing guitar, for me, cannot be separated from my inherent love of music. Instilled early in my life by parents who surrounded me with music on the radio and phonograph, a sense of rhythm took root in me...tapping my feet, drumming with fingers and pencils, bobbin my head. Picking the guitar as my instrument was a product of the 60's music explosion. There was a long lapse for family and career, but discovering LMG with Steve opened the door to actually learn music, develop untapped skills,  and not just replay the rudimentary maneuvers of my distant past. I play guitar because that is who I am and is part of what gives my life joy. Playing for and with others has only fueled my passion for sharing my joy.

    Greg

    Edited by gotto
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    it was about five years ago my brother had gone through a nasty divorce and lost everything. he was 57 years old. he had been playing guitar since he was 12. I saw a guitar hanging in the window of a guitar shop. so I bought him that guitar hoping that playing guitar would bring him out of his funk. he gave the guitar back to me told me it needed work, so I took it back to the guitar shop and the guy was a real jerk to me. so l left and figured i could fix it.  I was a general contractor and owned Anderson log homes. I figured hey it's wood I can fix it. next thing I know I went to work for this guy in the guitar store for free to teach me how to work on guitars.  then i thought maybe I could play guitar. so I bought a guitar started taking lessons  

    4 1/2  a half years later I'm still not that good at guitar. I really struggle at playing. i am 60 years old. so why do I play guitar? pure stubbornness and sheer determination to be efficient at learning songs and playing guitar because for some reason 4 1/2 years later I struggle at playing Guitar. last week I was ready to give up and never play again. as I sat there and contemplated my struggle. I looked over and I saw a course that I purchased five years ago. By Steve Krenz  Gibsons learn and master guitar. so the first song I learned was last Saturday before church ode to joy. Sunday morning at church I played ode to joy😀The beginner lesson in Gibsons learn and master guitar by Steve Krenz and I even sang the words while playing the guitar who knew I had never sang before in my whole life. thank you Steve I don't know why I didn't start learning these lessons along time ago. 🤔😀

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    On 1/22/2020 at 11:51 PM, Fretless said:

    started playing guitar when I was 9, playing at school assembly. By the time I was 14 I was part of a group leading worship at our church, making lots of mistakes but learning a lot at the same time. 

    I play for the pleasure it brings me and those that benefit from my playing, whether that be on stage entertaining others or in church, leading others in sung worship.

    Of all the players Steve has introduced me to through the live lessons, I would love to meet Will McFarlane as there is something about his attitude and playing that I feel I identify with, although being in Europe I doubt I will get the chance.

    I'm jealous , you got to learn at such a young age keep it up young man. 

    Edited by mikeA
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    On 1/25/2020 at 5:58 PM, PastorRandy said:

    I love playing guitar for many reasons.  Grandpa bought my 1st Kay in 1959. I learned chords to play along with dad in the kitchen. In 1966, my dad bought a Chet Atkins Home Studio Album.  I was turned upside down, 10 yrs. old in love with Chet's style.   I discovered the Beatles and rock music, and then I went to college in 1975 and played country/bluegrass.  One of my buddies who had taken lessons from Joe Pass showed me some chord progressions and I got bit by the jazz bug.  I just loved it.  I went to seminary and became a pastor and played worship and gospel music.  I've attended CAAS in Nashville for several years and my fingerstyle playing improved 100%.  Since 1997,  I've been playing guitar for a gospel group called Singing Churchmen of Okla. In  2003, our group was invited to tour Sydney Australia and played the Sydney Opera House.  I'll never forget the sound check there.  I played classical gas and a Tommy Emmanuel tune.  That was awesome experience that I would never have dreamed of in my life.  I'm writing this (too long I know), but hopefully, some young kid is holed-up in his/her room holding their guitar and dreaming.  I would encourage all guitarists at any level to discover the "gifts of Steve's instruction" and eat and sleep with it.  Hopefully, and prayerfully, the guitar will become your friend and with the good Lord's help, it will take you around the world.  That's why I love to play guitar!  Sorry for being too wordy.

    Pastor Randy Parker

    You get the special achievement award. 

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    I think music is the ultimate expression of freedom of speech; be it lyrics, passion, or just creative ways to explore sound.  I truly believe music brings out the best in all of us.  It allows us an escape from the daily norm of work, politics, and whatever is troubling us.  Long Live Music!!

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    On 1/22/2020 at 8:21 PM, NeilES335 said:

    Why do I play guitar...hmmm. Well let's see The love of music has to be number one. The challenge of learning, which for me has been a life long pursuit, would be another. When I'm playing and practicing, it's a chance to do something just for me, and escape for a while from the pressures of life and business . I think of nothing else while doing it and relish the moment. Hopefully when I play, others find it enjoyable too. One of the nicest things about learning guitar is you can take it as far as you wish. Now I've been at it a while, and beyond the "beginner" stage, there's still so much more to learn, and this propels me forward. I hope  to be doing so as long as God gives me strength. I hope you do too. All the Best; N

    Well said, Neil, and I echo every point you made, plus:

    The further I go, the more I enjoy playing with other people. I hope I can be good enough at some point to sit around with great players and jam. 

    I'm learning that music breaks down walls. I can disagree with someone and still sit down and agree on a piece of music. It's almost too cliche to say that music is a universal language, but I'm starting to see how true that is.

    I've read in several places that learning music keeps the brain fresh and well as you age. I'll just call that a bonus.

    I hope I can be good enough to share my playing with other people. I'd love to be able to play for people in nursing homes or hospitals. 

    I guess most of all I love the challenge and the confidence that playing music brings. Learning a song, then interpreting it yourself is a blessing.

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    I started playing with Steve's instruction about 11 years ago. A part time job became a full time job; that and my husband's care (dementia) demanded more of my time and I slowly stopped playing. Since my husband's passing, I have picked it up again, mostly to improve my mind and use my time constructively. A friend who was widowed shortly after I, wants to learn to play so it is also a gift to encourage her. So grateful for such a wonderful tool for learning. Thank you so much!

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    I guess that I started playing as a teenager and did the self taught program, learning open chords and picking up a song here or there from an other self taught musician. It was driven by a love of music as well as a desire to learn and conquer a new discipline! Over time it was a challenge to put in the time and effort balanced with life, marriage, kids, career, self destructive  thoughts and poor teaching technics (Self Taught). I never took lessons and it was and has always been about the journey. It is a part of my life and will continue to be until my family pulls my cold fingers off the neck! I WILL NOT GIVE UP!! I have even concluded that I must have a real hard head or a morbid sense of self inflicted mutilation of my ego! But alas, life continues and I have multiple guitars, equipment and lesson plans to prove that the journey continues. Besides that, I just have fun with what I can learn!

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    I started playing because I adored my big brother and he was awesome on guitar. But now I play because I love singing songs and playing with my band. I love learning new songs.

    Lily

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    That's a great question Steve.  It was a life's mission to learn to play guitar & when I found L&MG in 2008 I knew I'd stumbled onto the path to achieve that goal. 

    I guess when I started the answer was to play songs, now 12 years later (OMG where did that time go) I plug in and play because I just enjoy the tone of a good guitar through an amp with good speaker/s.  My preferred style of music is Blues/Rock or just stone cold Blues.  I'm a Rory Gallagher/Lynyrd Skynrd fan and I've learnt to play a few of those songs, albeit when playing Rory you are trying the emulate the playing of the GOAT.  I'm going through a Fleetwood Mac stage at the moment, Lindsay Buckingham's style of playing is way above my pay grade but 12 years of fumbling around the fretboard courtesy of Steve's tuition has taught me how to adapt my playing to be 'sorta' faithful to the original.

    Why do I play?  Strat into an AC15, cup of coffee on the back verandah playing Rory............ Now that's why I play :-)

     

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