Leaderboard

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. 🤔😀

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

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.

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

I'll phrase it this way: I want to speak the language that everyone understands.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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!!

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.

I play everyday because I love it. Thanks to Steve's instruction I continue to improve beyond my wildest dreams. Ten years and still playing guitar.

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

I 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 play guitar to share the joy in my heart.

I am learning guitar because music is magic and I want to know it and feel it and share it with those I love. Eighteen months ago I found I had late stage colon cancer. That has a way of quickly making you really understand what you find important in life. For me, I found music was foundational. My number one priority other than to treat my cancer was to listen to my music and to rip as much as I could to FLAC so I could hear it more. Something I found during convalescence from surgeries is it’s really important to do something new. To keep my adventure going. Last time, I choose to start to learn guitar and to bake. And then COVID came along to keep me home. I wanted to memorize and play my favorite songs, maybe even sing. We had a little 3/4 classical Hondo and started with that. I stumbled onto L&M and just loved the PDF lesson book. I wasn’t new to playing music — had played saxophone, piano, and violin at various stages in life. I had tried guitar first but it’s a hard go for a six year old. I found I really liked it this time around 50 years later. Two months in I got a Takamine GD93CE and I’m absolutely addicted. Just starting barre chords — again. When I switched to the huge dreadnaught from that little nylon thing, I basically had to relearn everything again. I’m doing well and have beat the cancer, at least for now. I’m looking forward to extended RV trips and playing along the way. Really getting to know my favorite music on a new level.

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 :-)

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!

Toss up between the challenge and the "Hey mom, look what I can do". Not sure which is stronger.

Oh yea, it's a great escape even for those of us no longer employed.

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.

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

Steven Pressfield writes in Turning Pro: “A practice has a space, and that space is sacred. There’s a wonderful book called Where Women Create. It’s a compilation of photos of studios and workshops where various female artists do their magic. … Just look at those sacred spaces. What you’ll see is this: Order, Commitment, Passion, Love, Intensity, Beauty, Humility. … [These twenty-six women] all serve the Muse. And each has discovered in that service her unique and authentic essence.” Imagine your dream space. One that is uniquely yours. Let your imagination fly, put pencil to paper, then make it so.

I think it's important to have some comfortable seating that puts you in a good position to play the guitar, too! I have a nice office-type chair with no arms in my space along with a small sofa, which works well depending on what or how I'm playing.

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

I hope you are doing well, and continue on with a long and enjoyable life.

@Eracer_Team-DougH I did! The deluxe version with the workbook videos. The workbook PDF is superb and I like Steve's intro to each of those sessions. I also like the extra material Gibson put on the DVDs, too. And its fun to use the play along CDs. I use them on my home stereo but I also ripped them so I can play from a portable speaker with my phone. The whole program -- the free lesson and workbook PDFs, the video course, the Guitar Gathering community, and the live sessions -- is so good and so effective.

Yes, no arms on a chair is a must. I've taken the arms off of chairs before so I could use them when practicing. - Steve

Best is a practice area set aside with the instruments and accessories in place. I don't have that currently and the desert is a dry place. No guitars sit out of their cases, so I always have to get one out. But I have the same routine every time--plus amp or no amp?--so in a few minutes I'm playing in my living room. Best sound! Years of drumming and didging taught me that. Make sure it's a place you like; you'll be there for years. (It took placing drumming before everything but work for years to reach an advanced level.) If you want to learn to read music, but are resistant, what I did inadvertently was place the books far enough away in so so lighting. I couldn't read the tab, so I had no option (didn't care). Conversely, I bought some brighter bulbs and now would love a nice music stand light. (Any recommendations?) My music stand is of the solid leg orchestral type, which has saved me from a few spills. The one thing I wish I would have done in my drumming practice was use a metronome. The steady beat drives the train, which exposes inner resistance and helps build a sense of time. I also need to post my immediate goals and start a practice journal. The journal works well with training for any skill. No smart phone so far. My tech is still flip phone. Would "surfitis? prove irresistible? Probably. Usually I set up my practice area even when I feel lousy or don't want to play the same durn exercise for the umpteenth time. As Steve says, even 15 minutes daily gives better results than weekend or day off binging. Even if a practice session sucks, I keep going unless I feel the familiar "approaching burn out" sensations. Then I stop, wipe my guitar off and pick up. Rock On!

You get the special achievement award.

Because I can't not play.

@Steve Goeringer great, If you love the LMG pdf book, you should get Steve's full video course, then you'll really love that pdf book. (And guitar)

Wonderful!

I've found that a foot rest to elevate my right leg (I'm right handed) helps a lot too to get a proper and comfortable positsion while playing seated (as I do most of the time). I use the folding type classical guitarists use. https://www.long-mcquade.com/1754/Guitars/Accessories/Yorkville_Sound/Guitar_Foot_Stool.htm