For many, the feeling is all too familiar: hands awkwardly gripping the fretboard, the sharp bite of the strings digging into fingertips, an out-of-pitch buzz emitting from the soundhole — the early days of learning to play guitar can dissuade even the most persistent student from the pursuit.
Yet those who persist often discover the hard-earned spoils of guitar playing. Campfires become enlivened with sound, impromptu jam sessions serendipitously come together and, in some cases, bands and long-standing musical careers are formed.
While many guitarists learn the instrument when they’re children, others come by it later in life – and the instrument has plenty to offer folks no matter when they pick it up. David Gilbert, a father of two from Englewood, began playing recently because he wanted to expose his young children to the magic of live music.
“I’m pushing 40,” Gilbert said. “At this point, the likelihood that I’m going to end up some guitar virtuoso is pretty slim, but what I recognize is that I can get to a point where I can subject my family to some campfire songs.
“And I think that kind of speaks to the essence of guitar — kind of as this common man’s instrument that doesn’t take too much to get to a point where you can play some simple sing-along songs with kids, or get to a point where you can just make a fun sound or a little tune,” he continued. “So at this point, that’s my goal; to learn enough chords that I can play some music.”
Gilbert, like many other later–life-learners, has turned to a common source of information in the modern age for instruction: YouTube.
The widely-utilized social media site is sought out by both novices and seasoned professionals alike.
Warren Rubin is a lifelong guitarist who began playing at an early age, and now plays bass guitar in the Arvada-based band, Dive Bar Diva. Rubin works as a soundman for artists such as Hazel Miller and operates an amplifier repair shop out of his garage. He is sometimes known as the “Amp Whisperer.”
Rubin says that there are more resources out there for aspiring guitarists now than there has ever been.
“You don’t have to take classes every week or every month; as much as you need to just pursue interesting ideas,” Rubin said. “Watch other people who have other approaches to the instrument. We live in a golden age for this sort of thing, because you can turn to YouTube and there are people who are just absolutely brilliant guitarists showing you what they do and how they do it.”
Some of the YouTube channels Rubin and Gilbert recommend are Rick Beato, JustinGuitar, Paul Davids, Andy Guitar and Wings of Pegasus.
While Rubin acknowledges the utility of something like YouTube, he also continues to take in-person lessons at the Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor in Arvada, despite having played the instrument for over six decades.
“All of the best guitar players I know — including my teacher, who has a master’s degree in jazz — continue to take classes,” Rubin said. “If you can afford it, take lessons, not because it’s the only way to learn the instrument, but it gives you a strong set of fundamentals.”
The Denver metro area is awash with music schools that offer guitar lessons. Arvada’s Pickin’ Parlor, Denver’s Swallow Hill Music, Englewood’s Denver Music Institute and the Littleton School of Music all offer lessons for a variety of different styles and skill levels.
While many continue to take lessons long after first picking up the instrument, other players eschew them all together. Kevin Pounds – a Colorado Springs-based musician who records under the name Kevin Lbs. and has played in bands including We Are Not A Glum Lot and The Short-TERM – is completely self taught and learned the instrument by ear.
“I spent my first year playing, probably hours a day, sounding out Nirvana songs by ear,” Pounds said. “Just dragging my fingers up the strings until I heard some semblance of what was coming out of the speaker across from me. I became a bit more literate with time. I started to realize that certain chords that I was learning matched individual notes on my fretboard.”
Pounds echoed Rubin’s sentiment about trying to learn from others.
“Try not to compare yourself to others,” Pounds said. “It can be very discouraging. But on that note, don’t be afraid to steal their tricks or techniques. You’re always going to put your own scent on it anyway.”
Gilbert said the main hurdles he’s dealt with as a newer player are developing the muscle memory to be able to quickly change chords and finding time to practice.
“It reminds me, actually, somewhat of where I started to feel a little stumped with learning a foreign language,” Gilbert said. “Doing rapid chord changes is still something I’m training my fingers to do.
“The other big challenge for me right now is just time,” Gilbert continued. “You know, I’ve got a fulltime job and I’ve got kids, so, if I’m lucky, I’ve got half an hour in the evening to sit down with a YouTube tutorial and mess around with guitar. But that’s sort of the benefit of the YouTube thing. I don’t have to build lessons into my schedule. I can fit them in where it works.”
Rubin said that instead of seeking out mastery, one should play simply for the enjoyment of the instrument.
“If it brings you joy, you already play well enough,” Rubin said. “And you know, what brings you joy? Is it just playing three chords and being able to sing some of your favorite songs? Is it being able to sit in your chair and noodle a little bit while you watch television? Do it. It’s never too late to start.
“You don’t need to become a virtuoso,” Rubin continued. “I’m not going to live long enough to be a virtuoso, but you don’t need to be a virtuoso for playing to bring you joy.”