Strumming Away

When I was in 6th grade I took guitar lessons on a Yamaha Classical Acoustic guitar.  It had a wide fretboard, and I got to take lessons from the “cool” teacher at my Lutheran school.  He was Mr. Moore, a 4th grade teacher who was in a band and played guitar, offering lessons for students after school.  It took awhile to get used to pressing down on the nylon strings, but sure enough, I was able to stretch my fingers wide enough to play the G chord.

Barre chords, on the other hand, were more difficult, so the F was usually a challenge. However it wasn’t too long after I started playing that I could strum a handful of tunes, including the likes of “Tom Dooley”.

I didn’t stick with the guitar long, however – partly due to peer pressure as I was incessantly mocked by my friends for bringing a guitar to school on the days I had lessons, and my ongoing piano lessons got in the way of finding sufficient time to practice guitar.  The guitar sat unused in a dark closet for years.

Of course, high school came and our youth pastor would have a couple of guitars close by – a favorite was his 12 string acoustic.  While he wasn’t exactly Leo Kottke (sorry Dave), there was a certain “cool” factor that exuded whenever he pulled out that particular guitar – the richness of the chords added a layer of depth to our vocal accompaniment, especially during those summers that we spent on the beach in Mendocino.

But when college rolled around, I found myself among friends who had guitars, and I found myself inspired to once again take up the instrument.  I taught myself the various chords, purchased songbooks and taught myself to fingerpick.  Before long, my fraternity had a group of guys ready to play “Hotel California” at the Greek Week talent show, as we had a lead guitarist who learned the entire solo, while I and another played rhythm.

I still pull out the guitar every now and then…and now the number of guitars in the house has increased as both kids are learning.  I still play that Yamaha Acoustic – briefly dabbling with a Fender Strat in college, which has since been given away – but I harbor no illusions of playing in front of a crowd, or even on a beach with a bunch of friends.

It’s not going to happen.

Nor am I so cool like this guy…and we’ve all known one or two of these guys…especially in church.