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June 24, 2005

Guitars are like puppies

I had my first guitar lesson last night.

I have had a new year's resolution to learn guitar for more than a few years in my life including this one. I tried to teach myself before but I found that to be a really frustrating process and my student had no confidence in my ability. So I gave it up.

This year is bound to be different I've sworn to myself. This year I have a niece who soon will be old enough to impress with my musician-ship and should at some point be an accomplished pianist. I also have a sister who just got a gorgeous new electronic piano on which she has also resolved to learn to play. My brother plays guitar. My uncle plays piano and my cousin and her husband play a couple of instruments each. When it's time for the family jam, I want to be able to step up. So this year, I've opted to get a teacher who actually knows how to play. The NYC Guitar School has promised to make, at the very least, a rudimentary guitar player out of me in 10 easy lessons and a little practice a few times a week. After my first lesson, I went home and looked at my sad, forlorn little Hohner Guitar and got a little depressed. Maybe if I change the strings? I bought it used from a friend in South Carolina and I'm pretty sure I paid too much even though I really didn't pay much at all. I certainly shouldn't go out and buy a guitar right now. I should learn how to play the one I have, right?

Fast forward to my lunch break this afternoon. I have to buy an electronic tuner and a dozen picks (Fender, medium) for my next class. It wouldn't hurt to just look at the acoustics. If I do learn to play I will definitely give myself permission to buy one in the fall and I want to be an informed buyer. Today's expedition will be about reconaissance. Information only. I go to 48th Street which is considered "musician's row" to discover it's become a sort of Sam Ash strip mall. Practically every store is Sam Ash. I walk across the street to Manny's Music shop and, after loitering around the acoustics for far too long (I couldn't get arrested by the salespeople who I swear must have seen right through me) I finally recruit a really nice guy to tell me a little bit about them. He gave me a little history and recommended a good guitar that's good enough to be inviting to play and inexpensive enough to not feel like a major commitment. He sells me my picks and a tuner and tells me the sordid truth that Manny's is indeed a part of Sam Ash. I leave the store not the least bit tempted to buy a guitar.

Across the street, I pop into Sam Ash Guitars (Next to Sam Ash Percussion which is also next to Sam Ash Orchestral Instruments) to check the prices of my tuner, picks, and the guitar that Manny's recommended. They had some nice stuff, and the prices looked to be a little bit cheaper. The only thing I was even remotely curious to buy was a cute little light pink guitar with a heart-shaped hole made for kids. Magda would look so cute with it! But the girl on the box looked at least 10 and I'm not so besotted to buy a girl a toy she can't use for 10 years. Hell, her parents would probably lose it by the time she's ready to play with it. I walk out of Sam Ash with my assets unscathed and feel pretty good about my steel will. Then I see Rudy's.

Oh Rudy...I finally figure out how to get to the second floor where the acoustics are and the sales guy is very friendly and helpful. I tell him I'm a beginner, that I'm looking for something easy to play so I can see progress, but nice enough that I'll be able to enjoy it once I've passed my beginning stage. We decide to look at nylon string guitars. He shows me the bottom of the line. A nice guitar at about $150. He tunes it and lets me play with. I like it; it's pretty and sounds nice but I'm still not even tempted. I'm feeling pretty great about the ability to "just say no". I'm more than anything frustrated that making a D chord is so difficult. I ask him to show me the next level up...just for recon remember. And my will is strong. No guitar will sway me.

He shows me Etta, the La Patrie Etude made by Canadian guitar company Godin. She's beautiful. But lots of guitars are beautiful. He tunes her up; tells me a little bit about her and then hands her over. As soon as I hold her in my arms I know. The sound she gave out, the way the strings felt on my fingers. This guitar, not just the La Patrie Etude line of guitars but this very guitar, was meant for me. And then I learned a very valuable lesson on my quest towards musicianship; Guitars are like puppies. You can walk into a million pet stores, find dozens of strays, or you can just find one. The moment you look in the eyes of The One, or pet him, or see him look at you with an eerie combination of love, acceptance and recognition you know without a doubt this puppy belongs to you and you belong to him. Even before you ever make the decision that you might even want a dog. It's a truth between you; it was meant to be.

It's the same way with guitars. I felt that way with Cosmo, I felt that way with Sheeba and I feel that way about my little La Patrie. I could not abandon her, so I'm taking her home.

And I'm certainly going to think twice before I step into another pet store.

Posted by mermu at June 24, 2005 02:09 PM

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