3 Reasons Not to Take Up the Guitar
So, you want to learn to play the guitar. But why? People take up the guitar for various reasons, and many of these same people will give up quickly within a few weeks or months after starting. In many cases those that fall by the wayside do so because they never should have been playing the guitar in the first place – they took it up for the wrong reasons. Let’s take a look at three of the worst reasons for learning to play the guitar.
1. Because you think it’s ‘cool’
The guitar probably has one of the most desirable images of all instruments, especially among younger people. The stereotype of the socially awkward or unattractive person who plays the guitar and is suddenly surrounded by admirers is a stereotype for a reason. As a result, some people take up the guitar because they think it’s a ‘cool’ thing to do, and that they’ll become more popular as a result.
This may well happen, but if this is a person’s only reason for starting to play guitar, chances are they’re not going to do very well. Those who care more about what others think of them than they do about the instrument itself probably won’t have the discipline to stick with it when things get tough, as they will.
So if you’re thinking of taking up the guitar because you think it’ll improve your image, maybe you should work on your self-esteem instead, and stop worrying about what other people think.
2. Because you want to get rich & famous
Some people start playing the guitar because they want to become famous rock stars and make a ton of money. And there’s nothing wrong with that – after all, there wouldn’t be any rock stars at all if those who had the ambition never followed through with it.
But if this is your primary reason for wanting to learn to play, you probably won’t make it. What the most commercially successful guitarists have in common is not just their fame and wealth, but the fact that this fame and wealth is a natural consequence of their musical skill – skill which was developed as a result of having a natural passion for the guitar, and putting in the countless hours of practice that it takes to get to a world-class level.
Nobody should give up on their dreams of becoming a great guitarist, but success is much more likely if those dreams are inspired by a love of playing the guitar and of music in general, as opposed to a desire for adulation from others.
3. Because you feel pressured into it
Not everyone who chooses to play the guitar (or any other instrument) is doing so because they really want to learn that particular instrument. Unfortunately, some people are pressured into learning guitar by others. This is more often the case with younger people, who may be experiencing pressure from their parents or even their peers.
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If you’re in this situation, and you know in your heart of hearts that you don’t really want to learn to play the guitar, but would perhaps prefer another instrument instead (or would rather not learn any instrument at all and would prefer to do something completely different), then it’s important to try to stand up for what you really want.
And if you’re a parent who is trying to pressure your son or daughter into learning the guitar when they don’t really want to, stop it! They’ll just end up resenting you and hating the instrument, and maybe even being turned off music for life.
So these are some reasons not to learn to play the guitar. There are many other reasons why you might want to learn to play, but they should be underpinned by an enjoyment of playing the guitar for its own sake. If that simple day to day pleasure in playing the guitar just isn’t there, it would be best to find another instrument or activity.