The Guitar pt 1

I'm not sure if I've ever fully "opened up" about what the guitar means to me, and its role in my world. This isn't going to be anything along the lines of "it saved my life," but since I'd rather talk about something positive...well, this is up there.

After 12 years of playing, it seems my interest in guitar is one of the few things where the passion never declines. I never forget about it for a month and then get back into it. Drawing, politics, comics and more are all regularly very important in my life, but not continuously.

Some things I love about playing guitar (in no particular order):

Riffs! It's so fun to jam on a badass riff by the likes of Led Zeppelin or Pantera.

Writing! As silly as it may have seemed to try to write "songs" before I could play an instrument, I'm glad I did. Composing music and/or lyrics is one of the most fulfilling things in my life. I wouldn't be able to do it properly without my instrument of choice.

Bands! Having a band is clutch. I'm in my 5th now, and it's incredible working towards a common goal with other musicians. I'm grateful that I can play with people who impress and humble me, and push me to grow.

Shows! This is it. Onstage is a place where I can only have fun. It's been proven. For one show, I went in with a terrible headache - not something you want to play a headbang-filled metal show with. Another show saw me ready to break up the band (not Ruins of Now) and end my friendship with another member. Both times, none of these issues existed once the first song was underway.

I like to throw on various songs and play along, constructing a "set." Sometimes with a specific goal (like working on my acoustic repertoire, playing along to an album/band), but a goal isn't always necessary. Most of my playing at home consists of this, with true "practice sessions" focused on what I have difficulty with during these playthroughs. Original songs are included too. This is a really fun way to play, and it seems to keep me ready for playing through a complete set.

Well that's all I'm going to put up for now. I'll continue later, with some commentary on my individual guitars.