When You First Learned Electric Guitar: An Unorthodox Journey into Classic Rock
About the author's initial journey to learning the electric guitar, they share insights into their unorthodox approach and the incredible coincidence of playing songs years before their release.
Unorthodox Learning: A Different Approach
Learning the art of the electric guitar can be overwhelming, with countless songs and techniques vying for a player's attention. Why does the order matter? Just learn them, and enjoy the journey. This article explores the author's unique path to learning the guitar, revealing that sometimes, the best way is not the conventional one.
My First Song: Tender Years
As an enthusiastic guitarist, the author's first song to learn was Tender Years by John Cafferty from the Eddie and The Cruisers soundtrack. This choice was not random. Released in 1978, the song provided a simple and enjoyable entry point into the world of electric guitar. The choice to start here paved the way for a spontaneous and fun learning experience, making the process less daunting.
Smoke on the Water: A Coincidence of Epic Proportions
Though Tender Years was a great start, the author's favorite band—B.O.C.—inspired a new level of motivation. Smoke on the Water caught their attention because it is an easy and fun song, even for beginners. The author's journey took an unexpected turn when, in 1972, this era-defining classic was released. What's more, the author had already learned this song before its release. Playing a song five years before it was written is nothing short of a musical anomaly. This coincided with the author's early guitar playing days, which began in 1967. This timing not only adds a layer of excitement to the learning process but also highlights the unpredictability and serendipity of musical discovery.
Reaper and the Fading Crescendo of the 70s
Another significant classic rock song that influenced the author's journey was Reaper by Black Oak Arkansas. First heard on the radio in the mid-1970s, this song complemented the author's burgeoning collection of learned tracks. However, by the time Reaper was on the radio, the author had already stopped playing it. This shift in musical preferences reflects the ebb and flow of music trends, which don't always align with conventional time periods. From 1965 to 1974, the classic rock era thrived, and songs like Reaper and Smoke on the Water came to define the sound of a generation. By the late 1970s, the music landscape had changed, and the author found themselves moving on from these older songs.
Discovering Classic Rock: An Epoch in Music
The music genres and trends tend to last around a decade, but don't always align with our decade divisions. For instance, if you started playing guitar in 1976, you might have been interested in songs from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. However, the songs the author learned, such as Smoke on the Water being from 1972 and Reaper from 1976, belong to different musical generations. This highlights the importance of understanding the context and evolution of music in shaping one's learning journey.
Final Thoughts: Embracing Unorthodox Learning
The author's experience teaches us that the conventional order of learning songs is what's best for you, but sometimes the most exciting moments arise from taking a detour. Playing songs years before their release, or even learning in a slightly unorthodox order, can be incredibly enriching. Enjoy the journey of learning, and let the sounds of classic rock inspire your guitar playing.