Ask a guitarist ...

[Thumpalumpacus]

How old were you when you picked up guitaring?

13.

Who taught you?

A few. In 8th grade I took a guitar class (back when American schools had music education!) -- Jerry Pernell was my first teacher. Old folk songs, nothing special. In 9th grade, Jim Burkell fought and won against my desire to learn Judas Priest, and insisted on me learning fingerstyle. So I did.

I spent the next few years teaching myself out of books, but in college I studied classical guitar with Carlos Gonzales and Jim Ryder. I later took private lessons in jazz from the late Raj Rathor, a student of Lenny Breau's.

 

Did you have a guitar with you, during your time spent overseas?

I hadn't started playing when I lived in Iran -- but that's where I got the urge. I heard ELO on the radio one day, "Do Ya", and golly, those chunky chords set me on a different road.

Ever taught anyone to play? 

Not formally, but I've done a lot of informal teaching sessions.

Would you teach me? Are you patient?

The real question is, are you patient? We pick it up thinking we're going to sound like Joe Whatzawho'sit next week, and when that doesn't pan out, the poor guitar gets stuck in the closet gathering dust and not applause. Raj told me the best thing I've heard about guitarin' -- "The beauty of the instrument is that it's easy to learn, but impossible to master" -- and it's true. 36 years into it, and I still feel like when I pick it up, I'm continuing a voyage into uncharted waters.

I'd be happy to give you lessons, in writing or via Skype if that works for you. Or, you could drive your butt out here to Casa del Tompalompico and we can sit on the porch and pick some git-ar and grill a couple of steaks and jam with the birds.