Episode 003 - Guitars "Just Are..."

The Thursday ThoughtCast  - 7/7/2016

The Thursday ThoughtCast  is based on my experience as a musical instrument retailer, guitar teacher, player, and guitar technician.

“I Thought that Guitars “Just Were” ...”
A few weeks ago I began working with a student –  he's been playing for nearly twenty years and is semi-pro with a local band.
As usual he has most of the problems I find in all self-taught players who come to me for help: they’ve got as far as they can with what they’ve managed to learn, but their technique and approach has reached its limits.
That’s the point where they seek help – when there’s no chance for progression using their current knowledge.
The interesting thing, for me, was his idea that guitars “Just were...” and that players should adapt themselves to it.
It was fascinating - because I once had that idea, too.
I explained that instruments recognisable as guitars have been around for 800 years or so; that they were made by illiterate, mediaeval peasants as playthings.
They are just toys.
Yep – the guitar is a toy, made for short-arse, illiterate, mediaeval peasants to play – just for fun.  So, relaxation would be a huge part of the design philosophy of the instrument – toys aren’t made to be painful or unpleasant to play with, are they?
The Hand came first – bear that in mind when you’re tempted to think that the guitar is the problem – and ask yourself whether you are using your own hands properly, efficiently, and effectively.
Chances are that you’re doing one or more (maybe all) of the Weird Things Guitarists Do, which doom them to frustration, failure and fist-fighting their guitars.
What’s holding you back?

I have a cover design for the book: what do you think?