learn guitar

When I roll one of my 1 through 12, I’m supposed to do one thing in favor of the goal, but about all I did was think about songs that made me wish I knew how to play guitar.

I think I’ve already done that, though, right? Early Peter, Paul, and Mary, some acoustic Bjork, this great Katell Keineg song I discovered earlier this year…

Okay, I know. I like to write. How about writing songs that will someday be put to music? I can learn about song structures and keys and how the music and the lyrics go together (or just think about those things as I write).

Whew! Didn’t like that slip, but I feel better now.

Since I don’t have the funds for a guitar yet, I’m doing mental prep toward this goal. I’ve just found that our local library has some books for learning guitar, and I intend to look through some today, if I have a chance to get up there. I also think I should be on the lookout for songs that have nice simple guitar lines that I could challenge myself to learn; I’ll start the list with The Gulf of Araby by Katell Keineg, but the Spanish-style of Bjork’s So Broken acoustic version and Spanish Doll by Poe will both make the list, too. I’m pretty sure I’ll want to get an acoustic guitar with a pickup for an amp, should I want to play something with a little more volume. I just don’t see myself as an electric guitar type, though I love the music.

I emptied a box of pens and wrote “Squirrel fund” on it, in big letters, with a Sharpie. It’s exactly the size of dollar bills, and this week I squirreled away another $5. I won’t track all my squirrels on here, but eventually, I’ll have the funds for a new guitar and a few lessons to get me started.

I think I have to admit that my lack of success in the past is NOT a reflection of my lack of desire to learn, and I should recommit to learning to play someday.

I will:
*squirrel money away until I can afford to buy a guitar.
*read about guitars on the market so I’ll know what to get.
*purchase a guitar, when I can.
*take lessons.
*learn a song I like as soon as possible to make me feel like I’ve actually gotten somewhere.
*practice.

I don’t like knowing I’ve let this go for so long, but I’m not giving up.