The guitar is probably the worlds best known musical instrument. Or maybe a drum should hold that particular accolade. There is probably not a single adult in the world who doesn’t know what a guitar is.
One thing that makes guitars so appealing is their accessibility. Unlike a Piano, or a drum kit, a guitar is portable and almost anyone can pick one up. But creating a tune on a guitar can be a struggle.
I’ve met some exceptionally talented people who, within weeks of picking up a guitar, were good enough to start a band and begin to gig. But there are plenty of guitarists like myself, who’ve been playing for many years but still learning.
But these are the reasons why people get so enthusiastic about guitars. There is always a new tune to learn, a new guitar to buy or a new guitar gizmo to try out. Learning to play the guitar is a massively rewarding hobby but be warned, it can take over your life.
In recent years I’ve become something of a guitar collector. I am particularly keen on resonator guitars. These are a form of acoustic guitar that uses a resonator cone made of spun allumnium to give the guitar extra volume. The resonator mechanical amplifier comes from the early 20th century, before electronic amplifiers were in common use. The resonator guitar sound is very much the sound of early blues.
If you know any guitarists you may already know how obsessive they can become. Playing guitar, collecting guitars, listening to guitar music and going to gigs to see guitarists play can often take over their lives. And if you are unfortunate enough to have a guitar playing wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend you may find yourself feeling that you are less important than their obsession with guitars.