While my guitar gently weeps
I had this idea at some point (probably starting about a year ago) that I'd like to try again to learn to play the guitar. I think I've gotten more disciplined over the years, and could actually make myself drill on chords. I would need a guitar. I'm thinking a nylon stringed classical guitar, because steel strings always hurt my fingers and are a bit shiny sounding in an apartment, and these are both reasons I always told myself I didn't like to practice.
So all this was a vague idea, but I told my friend Rebecca, who recently started renting a cello after a lifetime of playing violin and is now addicted to her cello. She was very keen on the idea. and then last week we were knitting at the local yarn store and we met a woman who had just started teaching herself cello and loves it, and they were both like, "You can totally learn guitar!" And then Rebecca and I were walking a bit later and we walked past The Guitar Shop (that's really the name) and she was like, "We should just go in and look." So we did.
What I'm saying is that Rebecca is an enabler. ;)
The funny old hippie guy there had us try out a guitar that was nice but not that expensive (just about what I was thinking I'd be willing to spend on one), and when I wasn't totally convinced and we were getting ready to leave, another girl came in with her friend and was like, "OMG, I just got that exact guitar and I LOVE it and now my friend is interested in buying one, it's amazing."
I did not buy the guitar. But I really wanted to. And now I keep agonizing over it. Here's what I keep rolling around in my head:
Money is tight, but I'm not broke. I could buy the guitar.
But would I actually play it? Do I really need another hobby right at this second? Probably not. I still like knitting. and there's jewelry and spinning and I should start running again, and practice dance more...
But if I'm into the idea right now, shouldn't I just get it now? And even if I don't play it right now then the guitar will be there when I do want to learn to play it.
But OMG I already have a saz (that instantly goes out of tune and I don't have music for) and drums that I don't play. Maybe I won't play this either.
But maybe I will.
Shouldn't I be planning this trip to Turkey?
Whatever. You'll figure the Turkey thing out. Get the guitar.
But if I won't play it now I could save the money for now and get the guitar later when I'm sure I'll practice.
When are you ever sure of anything, silly?
You see how this goes.
So. What do you advise, dear friends? And does your brain do this to you, too?
________________________________________
Later:
A little poking around, and I had two other thoughts:
1. There's a place not far from me that apparently rents guitars for about $30 a month. I could rent for a month or two to see if I like it.
2. My thought had kind of been that someday it would be cool to be able to play electric. I'm not sure why I always figured I'd have to learn acoustic first (though I know the feel of the strings is different). My dad has several guitars his brother's company made just stacked up in cases, which is kind of tragic because they're really nice guitars. I wonder if my dad would let me borrow one, and I could just buy an amp. It looks like amps don't have to be expensive, and you can even get ones that output into headphones so you don't have to drive your boyfriend and neighbors nuts with your terrible playing.
So all this was a vague idea, but I told my friend Rebecca, who recently started renting a cello after a lifetime of playing violin and is now addicted to her cello. She was very keen on the idea. and then last week we were knitting at the local yarn store and we met a woman who had just started teaching herself cello and loves it, and they were both like, "You can totally learn guitar!" And then Rebecca and I were walking a bit later and we walked past The Guitar Shop (that's really the name) and she was like, "We should just go in and look." So we did.
What I'm saying is that Rebecca is an enabler. ;)
The funny old hippie guy there had us try out a guitar that was nice but not that expensive (just about what I was thinking I'd be willing to spend on one), and when I wasn't totally convinced and we were getting ready to leave, another girl came in with her friend and was like, "OMG, I just got that exact guitar and I LOVE it and now my friend is interested in buying one, it's amazing."
I did not buy the guitar. But I really wanted to. And now I keep agonizing over it. Here's what I keep rolling around in my head:
Money is tight, but I'm not broke. I could buy the guitar.
But would I actually play it? Do I really need another hobby right at this second? Probably not. I still like knitting. and there's jewelry and spinning and I should start running again, and practice dance more...
But if I'm into the idea right now, shouldn't I just get it now? And even if I don't play it right now then the guitar will be there when I do want to learn to play it.
But OMG I already have a saz (that instantly goes out of tune and I don't have music for) and drums that I don't play. Maybe I won't play this either.
But maybe I will.
Shouldn't I be planning this trip to Turkey?
Whatever. You'll figure the Turkey thing out. Get the guitar.
But if I won't play it now I could save the money for now and get the guitar later when I'm sure I'll practice.
When are you ever sure of anything, silly?
You see how this goes.
So. What do you advise, dear friends? And does your brain do this to you, too?
________________________________________
Later:
A little poking around, and I had two other thoughts:
1. There's a place not far from me that apparently rents guitars for about $30 a month. I could rent for a month or two to see if I like it.
2. My thought had kind of been that someday it would be cool to be able to play electric. I'm not sure why I always figured I'd have to learn acoustic first (though I know the feel of the strings is different). My dad has several guitars his brother's company made just stacked up in cases, which is kind of tragic because they're really nice guitars. I wonder if my dad would let me borrow one, and I could just buy an amp. It looks like amps don't have to be expensive, and you can even get ones that output into headphones so you don't have to drive your boyfriend and neighbors nuts with your terrible playing.