How It All Started:
I feel so blessed to be able to play guitar. I first started playing acousitc about three to four years ago at church. I don't remember what made me want to start learning to play, but I did anyway. I remember learning a few chords from some church people, and then I bought a chord book that shows different finger positions for the same chord, and every chord. I do not remember anything...or much of the inbetween... from then to now..a splendid memory i have. I just remember that I played for my church, and then I joined a band that I am currently still in now. I remember once that someone related to me came to my house for dinner and he taught me to play a song on the classical guitar. Then I also remember lots of practising, and learning chords on my own, following tabs, and trying to play along with bands or recordings, or the radio. Now I mostly play for/at church and band (and of course, at home).
The Expensive Hobby:
The classical guitar I got belonged to my mother, who never played it, so I have no idea why she had one, and then she gave it to me. I don't really play on it too much, but once in a while it is fun to play some classical/country songs on it.
I got my first acousitic at a school garage sale, for $30 canadian. It's neck was slighty bent, so the low E string would always be out of tune. Nevertheless, I still used it to start learning guitar. I wasn't afraid to bang it up because it was so old, and if I ever popped the strings it was because I was careless with it (leaning it against my leg, and then it falls and hits a desk corner), but that was how I learned to restring a guitar. I also got a guitar strap so I could play and stand.
After a few months of using that guitar, my dad decided that I was ready for my own guitar (as in not as big a nub anymore) and he accompanied me to the music store. I picked one out that turned out to be slightly smaller than the regular sized ones, and the guy who was helping me with them at the music store (long and mcquade) told me that it was a good choice since i was small too (Simon Patrick). haha. Anyway, I also bought a chromatic tuner, a capo, and some picks. Then I was all set, and good to go.
I had my new acoustic guitar for about two to three years, when my dad saw an advertisement (also from long and mcquade) for a giant sale. My dad suggested me to get an electric guitar. Can you believe it? He has a cool side (i bet from all those old school rock songs he likes to listen to). But little did he know, that it would cost much more than just the price of an electric guitar. After we went to the store and picked out a guitar, I tried it out, liked it, and bought it (Ibanez SA series). Then, we realized that I would need something that would be able to produce and amplify my sound, as electric guitars aren't loud enough on their own (hence electric) and need to be plugged in. Awesome. So then we waited for another big sale, and I bought an amp (Line 6 Spider 4 - i did some research don't worry). I just needed something that had effects, and was durable, and loud enough with good sound quality. But little did we know (again), that I wouldn't need those effects on my amp - especially when I'm getting a pedal. Oh dear. So I did lots of research this time, and went to lots of different music stores and many sales and events. I bought one pedal after another, trying them out at home, but always returning them because I couldn't find one that was just right for me. I ended up buying the Line 6 POD XT Live. It came with a power adapter (most do not, and probably because it was used, and whoever sold it obviously didnt need the power adapter anymore)! Yay! Then we had to buy patch chords, so that I could use my gear.
And you wonder how those music stores make money - you buy one thing, you'll need this, this, and this, and by the way, bring your stuff in for repair and tune up every so often. no wonder they make a business (thats why i do the little things myself, or get them to do as many things as you need for the one free warranty set up)! Also, taking good care of all my equipment and gear and my babies have also been very helpful in avoiding spending lots of excess money that i do not have.
Being a musician can really make you broke, but I do not regret it at all. Thanks to my dad, for contributing financially, and my summer jobs, I was able to pay for all this stuff. So blessed. I remember when I bought one of the pedals (that i later returned), I also got free picks because the guy saw that i bought something expensive, and probably didnt want to punch in something worth two dollars, so he let me take them for free. =) what a nice guy lol. Also, thanks to my friend for buying me a guitar stand - very useful in getting me to practise more often, and gives me some place to stash my guitar inbetween shows and songs. =)
The Addiction:
At first, it was very difficult to get a grasp of how to position my left hand on the fret board, and how I was supposed to get comfortable with having a huge bulky thing infront of me. After lots of practise, I finally got my fingers accoustomed to callouses, and my body found a comfortable spot for the guitar to rest on/ hang against. There were so many people at my church who were patient with my questions and would show me cool strum patterns or give me neat tips to play better. After I grasped simple strumming patterns, I went into a frenzy learning different chords, major and minor. Then, I learned whatever new chords showed up on music that I wanted to play. On my acoustic, I would mostly strum and sometimes pluck - rythmn and filler.
After I got my electric, I started learning to play guitar licks, and solos. I also learned to play barre chords, and power chords. I enjoyed experimenting with different techniques and playing around with the whammy bar, and using the effects pedal. I'm still learning to shred faster, and play different styles and techniques. I am also trying to learn to improvise my own solos, which i have found the need to improve my knowledge of techniques and music rudiments & harmony (scales, chords progressions, etc). Although it has been increasingly difficult to find and make more time to practise at home, I am always pushed to improve when I play at church and at band. As I struggled to balance school work, friends, and practise, my band mates and other worship team members have been very supportive and patient with me.
His Part in My Journey:
I think it should probably be more like guitar is a part of my walk with God, because He was the one who got me started in the first place and guitarring has brought me closer to God. Learning to play guitar withchurch friends was really cool because they were so kind and patient with me, and also playing along with my church friends together to worship God is truly a wonderful experience. I am so glad that God has blessed me so much, giving me parents that support me both financially and through words of encouragement, church friends that help me to improve and play better, and bandmates who also help me to improve and play better. I have also been able to come closer to God through music because I can feel His presence when I play, and I feel like practising and improving my guitar skills for God is a motivation that I can never lose. With every step of the way, God has provided me with people who I can trust to give me good advice and tips, who push and help me to improve, and who show their love for God through loving me, as well as endless opportunities for me to learn new things and play for Him. If I hadn't been for God who gave me the opportunity and eagerness to learn to play guitar, to seek people out to practise with me, and parents who encourage and support my expensive hobby, I wouldn't be the person I am today - so I will use the gifts that God has blessed me with to praise Him. Thank you God & everyone. =)
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 4:11-14
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Romans 12:1, 3-8
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
I feel so blessed to be able to play guitar. I first started playing acousitc about three to four years ago at church. I don't remember what made me want to start learning to play, but I did anyway. I remember learning a few chords from some church people, and then I bought a chord book that shows different finger positions for the same chord, and every chord. I do not remember anything...or much of the inbetween... from then to now..a splendid memory i have. I just remember that I played for my church, and then I joined a band that I am currently still in now. I remember once that someone related to me came to my house for dinner and he taught me to play a song on the classical guitar. Then I also remember lots of practising, and learning chords on my own, following tabs, and trying to play along with bands or recordings, or the radio. Now I mostly play for/at church and band (and of course, at home).
The Expensive Hobby:
The classical guitar I got belonged to my mother, who never played it, so I have no idea why she had one, and then she gave it to me. I don't really play on it too much, but once in a while it is fun to play some classical/country songs on it.
I got my first acousitic at a school garage sale, for $30 canadian. It's neck was slighty bent, so the low E string would always be out of tune. Nevertheless, I still used it to start learning guitar. I wasn't afraid to bang it up because it was so old, and if I ever popped the strings it was because I was careless with it (leaning it against my leg, and then it falls and hits a desk corner), but that was how I learned to restring a guitar. I also got a guitar strap so I could play and stand.
After a few months of using that guitar, my dad decided that I was ready for my own guitar (as in not as big a nub anymore) and he accompanied me to the music store. I picked one out that turned out to be slightly smaller than the regular sized ones, and the guy who was helping me with them at the music store (long and mcquade) told me that it was a good choice since i was small too (Simon Patrick). haha. Anyway, I also bought a chromatic tuner, a capo, and some picks. Then I was all set, and good to go.
I had my new acoustic guitar for about two to three years, when my dad saw an advertisement (also from long and mcquade) for a giant sale. My dad suggested me to get an electric guitar. Can you believe it? He has a cool side (i bet from all those old school rock songs he likes to listen to). But little did he know, that it would cost much more than just the price of an electric guitar. After we went to the store and picked out a guitar, I tried it out, liked it, and bought it (Ibanez SA series). Then, we realized that I would need something that would be able to produce and amplify my sound, as electric guitars aren't loud enough on their own (hence electric) and need to be plugged in. Awesome. So then we waited for another big sale, and I bought an amp (Line 6 Spider 4 - i did some research don't worry). I just needed something that had effects, and was durable, and loud enough with good sound quality. But little did we know (again), that I wouldn't need those effects on my amp - especially when I'm getting a pedal. Oh dear. So I did lots of research this time, and went to lots of different music stores and many sales and events. I bought one pedal after another, trying them out at home, but always returning them because I couldn't find one that was just right for me. I ended up buying the Line 6 POD XT Live. It came with a power adapter (most do not, and probably because it was used, and whoever sold it obviously didnt need the power adapter anymore)! Yay! Then we had to buy patch chords, so that I could use my gear.
And you wonder how those music stores make money - you buy one thing, you'll need this, this, and this, and by the way, bring your stuff in for repair and tune up every so often. no wonder they make a business (thats why i do the little things myself, or get them to do as many things as you need for the one free warranty set up)! Also, taking good care of all my equipment and gear and my babies have also been very helpful in avoiding spending lots of excess money that i do not have.
Being a musician can really make you broke, but I do not regret it at all. Thanks to my dad, for contributing financially, and my summer jobs, I was able to pay for all this stuff. So blessed. I remember when I bought one of the pedals (that i later returned), I also got free picks because the guy saw that i bought something expensive, and probably didnt want to punch in something worth two dollars, so he let me take them for free. =) what a nice guy lol. Also, thanks to my friend for buying me a guitar stand - very useful in getting me to practise more often, and gives me some place to stash my guitar inbetween shows and songs. =)
The Addiction:
At first, it was very difficult to get a grasp of how to position my left hand on the fret board, and how I was supposed to get comfortable with having a huge bulky thing infront of me. After lots of practise, I finally got my fingers accoustomed to callouses, and my body found a comfortable spot for the guitar to rest on/ hang against. There were so many people at my church who were patient with my questions and would show me cool strum patterns or give me neat tips to play better. After I grasped simple strumming patterns, I went into a frenzy learning different chords, major and minor. Then, I learned whatever new chords showed up on music that I wanted to play. On my acoustic, I would mostly strum and sometimes pluck - rythmn and filler.
After I got my electric, I started learning to play guitar licks, and solos. I also learned to play barre chords, and power chords. I enjoyed experimenting with different techniques and playing around with the whammy bar, and using the effects pedal. I'm still learning to shred faster, and play different styles and techniques. I am also trying to learn to improvise my own solos, which i have found the need to improve my knowledge of techniques and music rudiments & harmony (scales, chords progressions, etc). Although it has been increasingly difficult to find and make more time to practise at home, I am always pushed to improve when I play at church and at band. As I struggled to balance school work, friends, and practise, my band mates and other worship team members have been very supportive and patient with me.
His Part in My Journey:
I think it should probably be more like guitar is a part of my walk with God, because He was the one who got me started in the first place and guitarring has brought me closer to God. Learning to play guitar withchurch friends was really cool because they were so kind and patient with me, and also playing along with my church friends together to worship God is truly a wonderful experience. I am so glad that God has blessed me so much, giving me parents that support me both financially and through words of encouragement, church friends that help me to improve and play better, and bandmates who also help me to improve and play better. I have also been able to come closer to God through music because I can feel His presence when I play, and I feel like practising and improving my guitar skills for God is a motivation that I can never lose. With every step of the way, God has provided me with people who I can trust to give me good advice and tips, who push and help me to improve, and who show their love for God through loving me, as well as endless opportunities for me to learn new things and play for Him. If I hadn't been for God who gave me the opportunity and eagerness to learn to play guitar, to seek people out to practise with me, and parents who encourage and support my expensive hobby, I wouldn't be the person I am today - so I will use the gifts that God has blessed me with to praise Him. Thank you God & everyone. =)
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 4:11-14
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Romans 12:1, 3-8
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
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