I don't know how I'd cope without my guitar. Often when I'm feeling down it helps to thrash out some chords, or write a song (even just a line or two).
I have 3 guitars – 2 classical and one electric.
My first classical guitar is currently gathering dust on top of a wardrobe in my parents’ house after an ‘incident’ several years ago involving my mother and a heavy suitcase in which the poor guitar sustained considerable damage. I still haven’t forgotten about that, Mum…
The second classical guitar was bought as a Christmas present for my brother after I got my first guitar (he kept ‘borrowing’ it, and my parents thought he’d like one. The novelty wore off after 3 weeks…). After my guitar was put out of action, I ‘borrowed’ his and never gave it back…
I begged my parents to buy me an electric guitar for ages. They finally gave in and got me one for my 17th birthday. I hardly ever play it, so I do feel kinda guilty… It’s a Yamaha Pacifica telecaster. I’ve never had any lessons on it, so I don’t do it any justice, but I like playing it when I’m pissed off with stuff…
I first started to play the guitar when I was in second year at high school, so I would have been about 14 years old. I’m nearly 20 now, so that’s been almost 6 years (feeling old…). I had lessons at school from a fantastic guy called John McGee. Despite sharing lessons with Neil and Iain (you know who you are…), I did manage to master the basics of classical guitar (well, almost…), learn a load of chords (not just C, D and G…), and pass Standard Grade music with a 1 (that’s the highest grade, for those of you not familiar with the Scottish education system). Happy days… (Oh great, now I’m quoting Jamie Oliver…***sigh***)
I also learned to play the drums at school, but my parents wouldn’t let me get a drum kit… Dunno why…
Anyway, since starting university I haven’t really improved much (apathy’s a bitch…), but I’ve learnt a bunch of new tunes so I can sing along and annoy the neighbours, hahaha!!! (‘Humans are inherently evil, so why feel guilty?’ – personal belief)
