What song/Band made you want to play?

xtremehardy388

Was there a song or a band that inspired you to start playing?

My mom played piano so I banged (literally) on the keys, when I was young. In 4th grade, I played the violin. Then I started the trumpet and drums, in band (BAND GEEKS RULE)! But, for guitar, it was a bit different. The first song that really made me want to play was "Back Here Baby" by BB Mak. I heard/saw them on the Disney Channel, when I was much younger, and I wanted to play. Fast forward to high school (and all the drama and adolescence that goes with that) and I was introduced to Pearl Jam and Nirvana. My buddy had a Fender Mustang (which he eventually gave me as a graduation present) and taught me how to play. I was hooked. Though I rarely play now (because life gets in the way), I still get the occasional itch. What about everyone on here?

2-feign-reluctance

Sultan's of Swing, Machine Gun and Mike McCready's solo during Garden at Atlanta 94'

BHealy

Pearl Jam of course! But actually, seeing a buddy play "In The Pines/Where did you sleep last night" on a river trip, made me think that it might actually be possible to learn to play cool songs. That got me motivated to rent a crappy acoustic and try it.

Stickman12

2-feign-reluctance said:

Sultan's of Swing, Machine Gun and Mike McCready's solo during Garden at Atlanta 94'

My answer to the question is Pearl Jam. But I have been really digging some YouTube videos of people playing Sultans of Swing. An underrated classic.

ehbacon

Neil Young

mccreadyisgod

I have a different sort of answer. The musicians who made me want to play were my friends and kids I knew in Junior High and High School. I was amazed to see people I knew get up on stage and play really good music, and it made it seem possible for me to do that. So I did. I still remember going down to the local record store and buying a CD from one of those bands, kids I sat in English and Math classes with. That blew me away.

No doubt I had my musical heroes, like Pearl Jam and Nirvana and Green Day. I also had the music my dad listened to when I was young. I had the music my friends were listening to, and learning how to play. I had the songs that made girls stop and pay attention to me. But pretty soon, it was me and my band that made me want to play.

The last key to my playing music is this: in June of 1998, the summer before my senior year of high school, I saw Pearl Jam in concert for the first time. One of Matt Cameron's first shows on drums, in fact. And a friend of mine was at the show separately, watching with his other friend. After that show, we started talking about how awesome the show was. Apparently, the two of them had started playing music together in the basement, and they asked if I would come by and jam sometime. I did. Those guys became my first band, and created the whole entire path I spent the next 15 years following. There is little doubt in my mind that I wouldn't be playing music anymore, and never would have gone as far as I have, if it weren't for that Pearl Jam concert in 1998.

tempo_n_groove

"Bass solo take one..." even though it was a bass solo it inspired me to play.

All Those Yesterdays

My story is semi on the same plane as MIG. Growing up I never knew what music even was other then country music on the AM radio that my parents listened too. In grade school I did listen to some Rock type music that was around that my brother and sister listened too. Bon Jovi etc.. (LOL). But music was never a big deal to me. I then started high school and became friends with these guys, that listed to music like Fugazi, Alice In Chains, Nirvana The Ramones, Dead Milkmen etc. All this new stuff that I never heard in my life that was nothing like I heard before. One of the guys worked at a record store, and let me borrow "Ten", and my mind was blown. That Summer I got my first job at the local zoo. I worked with a bunch of college kids there, and one of the guys that I befriended, was a guitar player. And that simply just amazed me. He listened to all the stuff I was just introduced to during the school year, but listened to even more stuff that I never really heard before. Bands like Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Stevie Ray Vaughn etc. He was the first person that really started to make me want to try to play. The job was only seasonal so come winter I was laid off. So I got a job at the local McD's. There it seemed like every kid working there was in a band, or played guitar or bass. That's where I met the guy that sort of pushed me to take the next step. I convinced myself that I couldn't play guitar because of the size of my hands (tiny)... very stupid thought. So I went with him bought a bass and amp. I tried to take lessons but quit. Board the hell out of me. So my buddy said screw it lets start jamming together. I learned more from those sessions then any lesson taught me. Sure it started out with him going "here play this note, then this note this this note, that's the verse. Then for the chorus play this and this". Within a few months I was adding my own walks to each note etc... Never looked back.

xtremehardy388

I love all these stories. @All Those Yesterdays --I had the same problem---small hands. But the guys who introduced me to guitar kept me going and I learned so much from playing with other people than I did from any lesson. I play by ear and can't really read music (same with piano and trumpet). Those guys and the wonderful people on this board have helped me so much. i was "that guy", in 2006, and my first post was about pedal placement (which later led to the sticky at the top of the forum). I've gotten so much help on music and life, on here. Big ups to PJ_Gurl (I haven't spoken to her in years) for helping me, too.

All Those Yesterdays

xtremehardy388 said:

I love all these stories. @All Those Yesterdays --I had the same problem---small hands. But the guys who introduced me to guitar kept me going and I learned so much from playing with other people than I did from any lesson. I play by ear and can't really read music (same with piano and trumpet). Those guys and the wonderful people on this board have helped me so much. i was "that guy", in 2006, and my first post was about pedal placement (which later led to the sticky at the top of the forum). I've gotten so much help on music and life, on here. Big ups to PJ_Gurl (I haven't spoken to her in years) for helping me, too.

Yea the stupid mental self pitty of small hands. Then I start to learn guitar, and still thought my issues were small hands. Turns out it was just determination. LOL....

FrankieG

Mike McCready's Yellow Ledbetter solo on the Live at the Garden DVD.

mfc2006

Pearl Jam, Zeppelin, Petty

2-feign-reluctance

mfc2006 said:

Pearl Jam, Zeppelin, Petty

Solid.

FoxyRedLa

FrankieG said:

Mike McCready's Yellow Ledbetter solo on the Live at the Garden DVD.

That intro to led. I cannot even count how many times I've said "I wish I could play that".

There is just something about the way Mike does what Mike does.

I've been trying to learn guitar since hmmm January 2013. I've maybe gotten to touch my guitar 2-3 x's this year. Just like any other parent my hobby is last with youngsters around. Some day I will get my turn.

FoxyRedLa

What is meant by small hands? Short fingers?? And how did we overcome these small hands? Lots of practice?

xtremehardy388

FoxyRedLa said:

What is meant by small hands? Short fingers?? And how did we overcome these small hands? Lots of practice?

Small hands/fingers make is hard to stretch and bar chords. I learned with my thumb (big no no). Practice and learning to play chords different ways helped me.

FoxyRedLa

Hard to stretch I get that!! Ok. Once I get my fingers stronger I will look at alternatives too. Thanks.

2-feign-reluctance

I have small-ish hands, or maybe my fingers aren't super long. I simply don't play chords that require too much stretch. Additionally, I only augment chords in places I can reach. Injury not worth it. I hurt my pinky playing too aggressively once and was out of action for about 6 months. Then my wife broke my middle finger throwing a laser beam at me in the end zone in flag football. Caught the ball, won the game, but tacked on another 6 months of not playing. : (
So, I find ways to play chords that suit my hands and dexterity.

2-feign-reluctance

On a somewhat slightly unrelated note. Why the hell don't people hurt there fingers and toes more often? They are so damn vulnerable.

xtremehardy388

2-feign-reluctance said:

I have small-ish hands, or maybe my fingers aren't super long. I simply don't play chords that require too much stretch. Additionally, I only augment chords in places I can reach. Injury not worth it. I hurt my pinky playing too aggressively once and was out of action for about 6 months. Then my wife broke my middle finger throwing a laser beam at me in the end zone in flag football. Caught the ball, won the game, but tacked on another 6 months of not playing. : (
So, I find ways to play chords that suit my hands and dexterity.

Your wife sounds like Stafford and you sound like Johnson...or, since you broke your finger, maybe Charlie Batch.I'm a diehard Lions fan. Forgive me. And i hurt my fingers on a daily basis, thanks to my job. I've broken all of them at least once, from wrestling, too. I'm surprised I still have them

2-feign-reluctance

xtremehardy388 said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

I have small-ish hands, or maybe my fingers aren't super long. I simply don't play chords that require too much stretch. Additionally, I only augment chords in places I can reach. Injury not worth it. I hurt my pinky playing too aggressively once and was out of action for about 6 months. Then my wife broke my middle finger throwing a laser beam at me in the end zone in flag football. Caught the ball, won the game, but tacked on another 6 months of not playing. : (
So, I find ways to play chords that suit my hands and dexterity.

Your wife sounds like Stafford and you sound like Johnson...or, since you broke your finger, maybe Charlie Batch.I'm a diehard Lions fan. Forgive me. And i hurt my fingers on a daily basis, thanks to my job. I've broken all of them at least once, from wrestling, too. I'm surprised I still have them

Haha! It's good that you can joke about your fave team!

mccreadyisgod

2-feign-reluctance said:

On a somewhat slightly unrelated note. Why the hell don't people hurt there fingers and toes more often? They are so damn vulnerable.

If it makes you feel better, I cut three fingers off my right hand in a table saw accident many years ago. Totally can't play melody on a piano anymore, and fingerpicking is a challenge.

FoxyRedLa

2-feign-reluctance said:

I have small-ish hands, or maybe my fingers aren't super long. I simply don't play chords that require too much stretch. Additionally, I only augment chords in places I can reach. Injury not worth it. I hurt my pinky playing too aggressively once and was out of action for about 6 months. Then my wife broke my middle finger throwing a laser beam at me in the end zone in flag football. Caught the ball, won the game, but tacked on another 6 months of not playing. : (
So, I find ways to play chords that suit my hands and dexterity.

This makes sense. If I can't make a chord or am struggling I could try an alternate. However, I definitely have to build up to bar chords. Keeps my hope alive. Thanks for the tips guys.

xtremehardy388

Keep us posted!

dudeman

I grew up hearing Dylan, the Beatles, Zeppelin, Hendrix, Pink Floyd etc.... When I was 12, I used the money I earned from mowing lawns to buy "Ten", thus marking my introduction to curating my own music collection. I had already been a fan of great rock and roll for years, thanks to my Dad. When I was 15, he took me to see the Grateful Dead and that was when I realized that I wanted to play. I bought a guitar and started my first band that summer.

PJammer4life

When my friend from college showed me how to play using tabs for Alive from altpearljamtabs.net back in 1994, early days of the internet. I was blown away to be playing that opening riff.

gimmesometruth27

i was lucky enough to have cool mom. she got me into elvis, the beatles, the beach boys, old motown like the supremes. i remember being a 5 year old and trying to mimic guitar strumming that i had seen on the dukes of hazard opening sequence. i used to listen to my mom's records all the time. even the little 45s. i remember playing jailhouse rock for ours on end, back to back to back. my mom would say "FOR FUCKS SAKES, WILL YOU PLEEEEEASE TURN OVER THAT RECORD AND LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE?!?!?!?!

fast forward to 1992. i first heard smells like teen spirit on a "smash or trash" segment on local radio. it was like 10 pm so i was listening on my headphones. i was not sure of what i had just heard, all i knew is i wanted to play the guitar like i heard in that song. not too long after that i heard alive at a friend's house. it was then i knew i was going to be a guitar player. i bought my first guitar 8 months later.

2-feign-reluctance

gimmesometruth27 said:

i was lucky enough to have cool mom. she got me into elvis, the beatles, the beach boys, old motown like the supremes. i remember being a 5 year old and trying to mimic guitar strumming that i had seen on the dukes of hazard opening sequence. i used to listen to my mom's records all the time. even the little 45s. i remember playing jailhouse rock for ours on end, back to back to back. my mom would say "FOR FUCKS SAKES, WILL YOU PLEEEEEASE TURN OVER THAT RECORD AND LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE?!?!?!?!

fast forward to 1992. i first heard smells like teen spirit on a "smash or trash" segment on local radio. it was like 10 pm so i was listening on my headphones. i was not sure of what i had just heard, all i knew is i wanted to play the guitar like i heard in that song. not too long after that i heard alive at a friend's house. it was then i knew i was going to be a guitar player. i bought my first guitar 8 months later.

Cool to see another person from St.Louis on here!

Of The Aggie

For all the bashing that the music video games got, it was Rock Band that made me want to learn the drums. I borrowed a set for a friend, took some lessons and loved it. I'm still very much a beginner, but I love it when I get some time to play.

gimmesometruth27

2-feign-reluctance said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

i was lucky enough to have cool mom. she got me into elvis, the beatles, the beach boys, old motown like the supremes. i remember being a 5 year old and trying to mimic guitar strumming that i had seen on the dukes of hazard opening sequence. i used to listen to my mom's records all the time. even the little 45s. i remember playing jailhouse rock for ours on end, back to back to back. my mom would say "FOR FUCKS SAKES, WILL YOU PLEEEEEASE TURN OVER THAT RECORD AND LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE?!?!?!?!

fast forward to 1992. i first heard smells like teen spirit on a "smash or trash" segment on local radio. it was like 10 pm so i was listening on my headphones. i was not sure of what i had just heard, all i knew is i wanted to play the guitar like i heard in that song. not too long after that i heard alive at a friend's house. it was then i knew i was going to be a guitar player. i bought my first guitar 8 months later.

Cool to see another person from St.Louis on here!

we have been on these boards for how many years and did not realize that? cool, there aren't too many of us on here. gotta represent

2-feign-reluctance

gimmesometruth27 said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

i was lucky enough to have cool mom. she got me into elvis, the beatles, the beach boys, old motown like the supremes. i remember being a 5 year old and trying to mimic guitar strumming that i had seen on the dukes of hazard opening sequence. i used to listen to my mom's records all the time. even the little 45s. i remember playing jailhouse rock for ours on end, back to back to back. my mom would say "FOR FUCKS SAKES, WILL YOU PLEEEEEASE TURN OVER THAT RECORD AND LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE?!?!?!?!

fast forward to 1992. i first heard smells like teen spirit on a "smash or trash" segment on local radio. it was like 10 pm so i was listening on my headphones. i was not sure of what i had just heard, all i knew is i wanted to play the guitar like i heard in that song. not too long after that i heard alive at a friend's house. it was then i knew i was going to be a guitar player. i bought my first guitar 8 months later.

Cool to see another person from St.Louis on here!

we have been on these boards for how many years and did not realize that? cool, there aren't too many of us on here. gotta represent

It's true! Hey, by the way, I"m a big fan of what you do on guitar!