Playing the Acoustic Guitar

My first experience trying to learn to play acoustic guitar started when I was 8 years old. I had just seen my first music videos on MTV, and I wanted to be a rock star. I was never particularly gifted musically, even though my dad met my mom when he was playing the drums in his college band. I figured I would waltz in, pick up a guitar, and be strumming “Stairway to Heaven” by the end of the afternoon. I was in for quite a surprise after my first day of lessons.

My first lesson consisted of the most rudimentary basics: what parts the guitar consisted of, the names of the strings, how to tune the guitar, how to hold a pick when playing, and they tried to teach me a simple song. Unfortunately, my skills were not up to snuff and I could not coax much sound out of my instrument. My rock star dreams were dashed on the rocks of reality once I realized that I would actually have to put a decent amount of work into playing anything at all.

I ended up playing for a year or two, but I eventually realized that without really dedicating myself to it I would never get to where I wanted to be. I tried a couple of other instruments to see if my talents lay elsewhere, but I think listening to music might be more my style than playing it. I have enough skill now to jam on my own, which I use as a sort of catharsis to calm myself down after a particularly long day or frustrating time at work. My friends have tried to get me into a little electric guitar, but it does not hold the same appeal for me as an acoustic does.

The acoustic guitar I associate with the music of my childhood, growing up with James Taylor and other stalwarts on my dad’s CD player. I heard plenty of traditional rock music as well, but I have a very mellow vibe of my own so I always gravitated towards the acoustic guitar. I think playing the acoustic is something all hippies aspire to at some point or another, me included. Electric guitar always conveyed feelings of rebellion or rage, things that were in short supply in my happy household growing up.

Nowadays I am living in a hostel full of guitar players and considering taking up lessons once again. An Argentine friend of mine has offered to teach me how to play in return for English lessons, which I think is a pretty fantastic trade. My dreams of one day playing “Stairway to Heaven” might be rekindled after all those years of neglect and shame. Maybe then I will be able to pick up chicks at parties like all the other guys that always seem to have an acoustic guitar on hand for no apparent reason. Not that I am bitter about that or anything, no sir not me.

Mark Knopfler – the Sultan of Swing

Mark Knopfler is considered as one of the all time guitar greats. He is not only an amazing guitarist but also a great singer and songwriter. He was the vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter for the group Dire Straits. Dire Straits were formed in 1977. After it disbanded in 1995, Mark Knopfler has continued on his musical journey and produced more music under his own name. Since he’s a pro on the guitar, he’s been invited as a guest artist on many bands. He has even composed music for English films.

Mark Knopfler has popularized the fingerstyle play of guitar. He has even been listed on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Some of the songs which he performed as a part of Dire Straits were Sultans of Swing, So far away, and Walk of life. But nothing can beat the popularity of their single - Money for nothing. It’s one of the greatest anthems for all music lovers. It was also the first video to be aired in Britain on MTV. Mark Knopfler has found creative success as a solo artist too. Music geniuses like him are respected by people of all generations