There’s this old guitarist’s cliché that playing the simple yet iconic opening riff of “Stairway to Heaven” is overdone. It’s been banned by many guitar stores and is often dubbed the “forbidden riff.”
Last year, I decided to pick up the guitar. But frankly, I think if I tried playing the so-called forbidden riff in a guitar store, they’d kick me out—not because I’m playing that riff, but because my playing is just that bad.
But to be honest, whether or not I’m good at guitar isn’t what matters. If I wanted to play an instrument I was good at all the time, I would’ve stuck with piano. What matters is that playing guitar is tremendous fun.
Music is one of the best ways to bring people together: any self-respecting crowd that hears the chorus to “Sweet Caroline” can’t help but sing the “BUM BUM BUM” in glorious, off-key unison, and two people who share the same music taste immediately have something to bond over. Some people love music and some people love to hate certain music, but either way there’s a sort of universal appreciation of songs.
Creating music takes that universal appreciation of music to the next level.
So if you have the time, try it out. Making music doesn’t have to come from a $15,000 grand piano—it can come from your voice, your hands, your mind.
Why not sing your favorite song in the car? Or drum out the beat on your lap?
Music that comes from a genuine place doesn’t have to be good or professional as long as you enjoy it. And if you do decide to go the instrument route, then I wish you the best of luck. The world could always use more fellow guitarists.
Hopefully, ones better than me.
