by Frank Deutschen

Created on: December 18, 2008

The guitar! A wonderful and beautiful instrument; very gratifying and enduring to the soul! Bringing the student so many rewards, but at first it could be a moderately difficult instrument to play if you are not prepared. Overtime, I became more confident with my instrument and still to this day, enjoy the wonderful, lush tones, rhythms and timbres that emanate from it.

Although I first played the guitar almost forty years ago, I didn't seriously commit to it until about six years ago. I suppose the wisdom of age has helped me dedicate my time to learning how to play and it feels like a reconnected love that was lost. The chaos and confusion of other activities weigh less on me and I have more focus and energy to give to this special gift! My life experiences have tremendously influenced my level of playing and learning.

Learning resources were very limited when I was younger, the internet wasn't readily available, DVD's were inaccessible and books seemed very technical and scientific to say the least. I had to rely on that phenomenon called the human ear to be able to tune the guitar properly! Now, I just press a button and my guitar is tuned within two to three minutes! One word of advice though, train your ear just in case the batteries die in the tuner that you use! Today, you don't need an expensive insructor, you could log onto the computer and search through hundreds of web sites for the right instruction.

My next mission in my journey with the guitar, is to consistently play in front of live audiences. I have played several times before, but suffered a stage fright so bad that it felt at times like a bad flu bug. To this day, I try to get this out of my system and I'm just about nearly rid of it. In time I know that I'll be rewarded with thunderous applause and ovations! There is just a multitude of opportunities too great that cannot be passed up!

During the course of my studies I listen to other guitarists that I admire, I do try to emulate them but my main objective is to develop an original style that other guitarists will listen to and admire. I know that I'll never be a virtuoso(eg;Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix), but Ill try to get my message across like the legendary Bob Dylan. After all it is about the message, and simple melodies are just as beautiful indeed! These well known greats have truly inspired and provoked me to be a better artist. The guitar is my canvass that creates wonderful, colorful sounds and such lovely and sweet ear candy!

Currently I'm working on several lyrics that I could use with some of the melodies and chord progressions that I have learned over the years. This task seems daunting and troubling at times, but in the end it will have a big payoff! Influences for songs should not have to be complicated, they usually come from everyday ordinary life. I just have to dilligently keep at it.

Here is my advice to anyone who wants to learn how to play the guitar, before doing so(I'm not trying to be biased), consider playing another instrument. There are many wonderful options to consider, some musicians are inclined to become multi-instrumentalists. With enough guidance, patience, practice and persaverance the aspiration to become a professional musician could very well be acheived. The trick is to take baby steps at first, with these steps huge accomplishments will surely occur!

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