How Long have YOU been playing Guitar?

[matthewsa1]

I've been playing for 17 years just now and just can't get enough of my guitar.

My influences are Brian May and Richie Sambora.

Why did you start playing? When did you start playing? Who are your influences?

[davph30]

I've been playing 13 years, Started off with Iron Maiden and heavy stuff but mellowed out a bit. Play mostly acoustic now but try to play anything that catches my ear. :cool:

[theARTiSAN]

For about 3 hours.
Well, three hours today that is.
I've been playing for about 15 years - with short breaks here and there for various reasons.

[Agent Orange]

.....now? 16 minutes...just got my first.....

[lostdave]

I have been playing for about 20 years.....
And upon reflection..I should be alot better than I am

Dave

[willi001]

I've been hammering my guitar for about 23 years, but actually playing it, oh , I'd say about an hour or so....I switched to bass about 12 years ago, but still play guitar evertime I can.Our guitarist just got a 7 string , wow, talk about weird...Just like switching from 4 string bass to 6...totally alien at first.....

[Ronny]

Started playing bout 23 years and like Dave I should be a whole lot better than I am!

[boudreaufrancis]

I've been playing for 12 years... But it took few years before I started to take it seriously and wanting to make it for a living.... It started just as way to have a good time.... And still, it is right now.... The only difference is that it helps me to pay my bills nowadays.....

[Clansman]

I've been playing for 12 years. My influences: Dave Murray (Iron Maiden), Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Ritchie Kotzen

[MB2]

I must be the old dude here. I've been playing for 30 years now. The first song I ever learned was Grand Funk's Heartbreaker.

[jeffL]

like MB2 I also have been playing 30 years
played almost every style out there
first song played I can't recall but my favorite guitarist
Jimi Hendrix Robin Trower frank Marino,etc
and witch I got to hang with on the 25th and 26th of sept.
they came to town for the second time
I got frank to sign my strat got my picture taken with him
Real Cool
you know what I want to know ?
how is it that a band such as marino can go from concert hall
to small clubs Whats up with that??
don't take this wrong the show was great but there was no one there for them!
We had more people at our show then they did
jeffl

[FlorianapoliS]

Phwoar, I would love to hear some of you play. I've only been playing 4 years and loving it :)

[NOFX ROCK!]

Been playin bass for about a year and was in a band 'till recently when I moved house. Trying to get another band up and running at the moment. Can't live without my bass!!

[Zack]

probably going on a year and a half, two years now :P

Zack

[evansst]

Played for 28 years.. but got married in the middle somewhere and felt too committed to play as often.... regretting it now. Pick up my axe these days and the feeling is just not there:(

Learning the didgeridu now to annoy everyone:p

[-Mm-]

I've been playiing for 3 - 4 Years....which isn't much compared to many of you, yet it feels a lot longer than it actually is though...
ummm my influences are Mark Knopfler (god knows if thats the right spelling) and Jimi HendriX. I started because my dad was in a band and he played guitar so that got me going as well. :D

[dd6444]

1 year

[justme]

About 10 years...still cant play for crap!

[Wizzra]

1 year... can play all basic chords ;] no lessons ~~

[Smiles]

10 Years. Fav guiatrists inlclude: Martin Taylor, Frank Gambale, Buzz Feitan, Joe Pass, Steve Vai and John Schofield

[song demon]

Probably been about 15 years, roughly!

Wanted to play after just buying the Live Killers concert by Queen on vinyl...... heard the 20 min version of Brighton Rock, realised what you can do with just one guitar (and a rack of effects) and convinced me parents i'd be really good and of course i'd practice!!!

It all went wrong, though..... instead of just practicing, i stayed in every night and weekend, learning the fecker!!! Sod the mates, i was having fun!! The pictures i've seen of me asleep, still playing the guitar make me cringe! But wouldn't change it, to be honest!!!

now playing with a very popular band (though the singer and I are leaving in the next coupla monthes for personal reasons) and am looking to start up a duo together.... which is why i've gotten back into this MIDI malarky!!

All i'll say to any young guitarists out there, is......

Keep plugging away.... it's one of the best feelings in the world to be able to go out to a pub/club/whatever and play live.... either with a band or whatever..... you'll love it!!

In the words of my old guitar teacher....

Keep rocking!!

[maxcatto]

I've been playing for 15 years, then stop for 4 (got married, make a baby, worked hard,...the usual stuffs). suddenly, 2 years ago I re-started.
Influence.. let's think... Hard and Heavy bands in general.... Iron, Judas, Saxon, AC-DC and led Zep.
But now i'm an old guy, so i play nirvana's songs and things like that.

[TheStone41]

2 years baby... got an ovation acoustic/electric. I think I can say I'm decent

[NolaN]

i'm playing it now for 1 month or so, i only can play 1 song: isn't she lovely from Livingston Taylor but with the chords from Stevie Wonder cus i couldn't find the chords from the other version. im now on this forum to get more sheet music for guitar and piano

[besty]

25 Years for me! I started because I had no choice. Ha! I grew up in a very musical family. Father - Drummer, Sister-Guitar and vocals, Mother - Guitar and Vocals. Had a few breaks here and there and played in a fair few bands in different styles!

Like Dave and many others. I should be much better for the years but these days I hardly practise, just when I go to a gig. I sort of don't feel like picking it up after four nights of playing for 4 hours. Ha ha!!

[brc 103]

8 yrs, fav guitarists have to be albert lee, ricky skaggs & brent mason, (yep, i'm a country boy)

[mattisdx]

5 years. slipknot and mudvayne. and my own stuff. like my penis.

[freak]

Not long. I am only capable of playing a couple of chords. I am hoping to impove.

[felszakal]

I started playing 5 months ago.
I practice like a fanatic.
When i have a little free time I
do this.

I got here because I am finding
midi files, because with midi editors
i can extract the notes from the
midi file. So, now i can play
The Lord of the Rings soundtrack
(Concerning Hobbits) on my guitar.

Favourite bands are, Sentenced, Stratovarius
Nightwish.

I like Classical and metal music.


Peace! :)

[wooddog]

10 years playing acoustic, six months playing electric (pro that is) and I didn't know what I was missing. Ahh the sustain.

[ryu830]

I've been playing for about 3 years now. I have a Ibenez rg 220b and use a smashbox pedal (overclocked) to get nice heavy tone.


* A good tip for new guitar players is not to learn music theory but to learn ear training lessons. Then you'll be able to play what ever is in your head.

[M.O.T.E.]

[QUOTE]I must be the old dude here. I've been playing for 30 years now. The first song I ever learned was Grand Funk's Heartbreaker.

well I've been playing 34 years and the 1st song I remember learning "The Home Town" or someting like that. I think. I also remember Grand Funk's Heartbreaker. But then Neil Young hit big time in 70's. Dran I should have been playing more Black Sabeth, but ho know I had to play , Lenard Cohan and Bob Dylan, because I sang like them.

:mad: Ho well .................

[U-110]

Been playing for 23 years, 13 years professionally. Nothing better than hitting an E chord with your amp turned up real loud! ;)

[firefaery]

I'm a newbie... I've only been playing for a few months. I love to play tho... even thought I'm not that good

[Tycho77]

Maybe a couple years, but not that often, so I stink.

[Spawn880]

i wanna start playing the guitar but i never have time too

[M.O.T.E.]

Originally posted by Spawn880
i wanna start playing the guitar but i never have time too Hey just by a cheep guitar for now, pick up a esay to learn song book. something everone will like to here... and pluk away. 10 mins a day.

[guitarswbars]

Dont know. I can only count to 4.

[guitarswbars]

Dont know. I can only count to 4.

[emceedavid]

been 10 years now...

[Jayling]

Good question! when I think about it I've been playing for 15 years! Wow!

I started at school I bought a guitar off my uncle for a bottle of rum! I then gave up after 6 weeks I still can't stand "lay down your head Tom Dooley"!

2 years later I got right into the Beatles and Eric Clapton I found the ol' guitar and we have not been seperated since!
I'm lucky my wife is a singer so theres no conflict of interest just lots of sweet music at home!

[jazzism]

playing proffesionally for about 13 years. Am now, believe it or not doing a hotel duo gig in Kuwait

[pleathal]

have been playing for 11 years and still no better!!!!

[Blue Cheese]

I played for a year in the Year 8 program two years ago [everybody in our school year spends a year playing an instrument of their choice which they selected during the rotational year 7 program], and then just at the end of last year [end of year 9] i got a guitar for christmas and started teaching myself. suddenly all the chords i found difficult to play in year 8 are really easy, and i can play all basic song tabs. Awesumm! I love playing Peter Paul and Mary

[ReBeL]

about a year or so, no teacher, basicly playing metal songs
and having a ball
guitar ownz

[tonicxavier]

I'm a newbie, sorta...I suck at guitar, can only play by ear...and peopel say I play fairly decently..unfortunatley, My guitars neck is warped and slightly twisted because the idiot who owned it before me pulled the rod out of it...>.<'

But I also have my granddad's 12 string..unfortuneately, it won't bre able to hold twelve strings ever agian..the neck was broken once and then repaire, but it will never be the same again...;_;

[lacima]

I just finished the theory course at Berklee and I think I'm going to start with guitar instead of piano.

[SheSaiD_TaTu]

since i was 11 yrs old, now i'm 15 yrs old..

[SheSaiD_TaTu]

my fav. guitarist ... umm... John Squire from The Stone Roses

[miks696]

10 years and i still only know the pentatonics... hahhaha

[nackcao]

I played for 14 years now, but there have been some years where I didn't play that much, but it keeps coming back :)

[jai]

Something like 7 years now ... and I'm *still* mediocre -_-;;; I guess I can say I'm the worst guitarist with the nicest guitars! :p

[TheSlayer81]

I've been self teaching since last year. Haha! I only know about 5 chords... I'm taking proper lessons soon

[smithkf51]

I've been playing for 47 years. Influences have been the Everly Brothers, Beatles, Clarence White, B.B. King, Johnny Rivers.

[lifeisguitar]

I've only played a little over a year but am hooked, its like a drug, cant stop.

[Hegul]

about 3 years. i ahve too many influences to list :)

[irrelevant]

been playin guitar since december 2001... almost 2 years ?
been playin bass since march 2002..... a bit under 2 years.... im abit more hooked on my bass i think.....i love bass slapping.... influenced by les claypool, robert trujillo.... i cant go a day without slapping my bass :D hehe

[alanfred]

7 years here...

[Durden]

About 15 years now and I learn something new every time I pick it up. I LOVE IT.
Play just about anything with strings or keys.
First song I ever learned from start to finish was 18 & Life by Skid Row then I sunk myself into the world of Paul Gilbert.
Relaxed a bit since then. Now I play whatever makes me feel good, or bad, whatever makes me feel.

Oh yeah, true story. I started playing because a friend of mine wanted a long-hair in his band.
Sounds a little Nikki Sixx, but it's true!!!

[telemaster]

I've been playing for 34 years. I just love the sound of the guitar and the many ways I can make it talk using different effects and playing styles. I use telecasters but I also own a Taylor CE which sounds great through my effects too.

[canuckm27]

Been playing for about 3.5 years and I love it cannot get enough of my acoustic guitar.I got a girlfriend recently and the guitar has been getting neglected a bit but I think I will start neglecting the girlfriend more now that she has got most of my attention for the last little bit.

[SeamyD]

I have been playing bass for 14 years, which is very SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I eventually managed the dream 2 years ago and bought my 6 string. My favourite players would be Geddy, Billy and Cliff on bass and Angus, James, Zack on GGGGGGGGtar.

[Balsara]

6 months now. Flys by! Not that bad, can play all basic chords with an added bit of flair.

Main inspiration has come from the beatles and bowie, so far, however always been interested in chuck berry and hendrix.

Can't help but pick up the old mucker every time i see it. Getting a band together at the moment.

:cool:

[saltydogg]

hmm two years.. still lots more to learn'

[alycia]

about 6 months...

[The Big Q]

28 years.

Started off with classical training, then I discovered the blues.

[mikos]

2 years

[ferris_monty]

It's probably not so much about how long but more how long you have practiced in those years

[ferris_monty]

I've been playing for about 15 years but am embarrassed to tell people that

[Jo-]

Nearly 25 years for me. After seeing Led Zep in concert in '79 I had to learn to play Stairway to Heaven so I sat down and picked it out. Main influences were Zep, Pink Floyd, Rush, Heart and Jethro Tull .. way back then. :D

I too, should be a lot better than I am. I just about 6 months ago started taking guitar lessons for the first time. The best bit of money I've probably spent.

I'm definitely addicted to guitars and suffer from GAS very badly, but I wouldn't change a thing!

Click my link below to see some of my guitars.

[Strangehold]

When it comes to guitars I am a newbie, I started 1 year ago. I have a band Strangehold, we are just starting out, we are a basement band right now. We are going to be great! my influence is the great Hendrix. But i dont like his style, I will reinvent what he started and make it great.
ryankoy

[kings_8_2]

Started to teach myself at about 10 , but gave up for a number of years. Started taking it a bit more seriously about 2 or 3 years ago and haven't looked back. Major influences on learning to play the guitar were the Scorpions and Metallica, although I still struggle to play a lot of their music !

[BazzerX]

Started on drums about 24 years ago at school, switched to guitar 20 years ago (cos the drums were inconvenient to practice properly in the house).

Switched to bass about 6 years ago in order to get into a gigging band (I'm still in the same band and now the only original memeber) and still dabble with guitar, the transition from guitar to bass was o.k. and I love the bass now.

Music is just the best hobby, as there is always loads of stuff to do and improve on.

Major influences are Jimi Hendrix and John Entwistle.

Cheerz.

Baz.

[guitarmik]

been playing since i was 12 i'm now 40.I started playing when i saw a guy at school play a sunburst les paul he was playing zeppelin riffs,i fell in love with the look the sound and that beautiful les paul.I finally have my own les paul even though it took me 27 years to get my dream guitar.My first influence was ace frehley but as i grew older i discovered guys like jimmy page,paul kossoff,steve morse,satriani,vai and of course eddie van halen

[deadboy]

Ive been playing almost 13 years :( god its been that long ..........

[MarkB]

Started 4 years ago, i needed an instrument for my Music course in school, and when i started playin i havnt lost interest or stopped for one minute!!

[lachrymotion]

4 yrs...still not "good"

[MarkB]

Originally posted by lachrymotion
4 yrs...still not "good"

What do you mean by that, if you mean its not long enough to be classed as good, you mustn't know were your coming from!

If someone trys hard enough, after 4 years you could be unbelieveble!

[bigbaddave81]

16 years

[Catweazle]

I also should be a ot better than my 16 years of playing might suggest. Had some gaps in there. I got really good early and then got involved in "getting a haircut and getting a real job". I should have stayed playing all day.

[Kippei]

hehe I've been playing for half a year, learning by myself right now. Had some help starting out from relatives, and I like it. Everytime I sit down, it has to be nearby or I don't feel normal anymore. :)

[blumnmz03]

ive only been playing for 2 years and im a frustrated trying-hard wannabe guitarist.