I don’t play guitar.
Yet.
But it’s on The List.
My sister happened to leave us her guitar along with most of her furniture to store in our attic when she moved down south, and I quickly co-opted borrowed it to start working on #3. Which leads me to my current pressing question: how do I judge when I can cross “teach myself guitar” off of my list? Is it when I’ve mastered common chord progressions? When I can successfully play a few songs? When I am able to play any song that’s put in front of me off of the tabs? In a discipline where there will always be more to learn, where there will always be someone out there more talented than you, how do I know when I can say “I know how to play the guitar?” I need to know, because I’m almost positive A won’t let me buy this until I do:
black beauty - the ovation celebrity
Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. My sister’s man has one, and as soon as I saw it I fell in love. What else would you expect from a girl who has made a life out of choosing the different and unique? Lest you think I’m entirely superficial, there’s a lot of reasons besides the look that makes me covet this guitar. First off, the sound is great. Whether played acoustically or plugged in there’s a warm richness to the sound that makes me melt. Two, it has a shallower body than a standard guitar. This combined with the feature of a narrower neck – closer to an electric than an acoustic – means this tiny-handed girl will be able to play more comfortably. Plus, look how pretty! Ok, I never said I wasn’t a little bit shallow.
But there’s no way we’re going to plunk down those kind of bucks without me being able to absolutely 100% without-a-doubt guarantee that I will play this instrument. We just had to replace our water heater yesterday for crimeny sakes. (Hello? Did everyone else out there know that water heaters are expensive?!? Holy crap, people! Hot water be pricey!) And so I will learn. Somehow. I have to, it’s on The List after all. And I’ve got this little beauty and all her friends as an incentive.
So tell me, folks: when will I be able to say I can play the guitar?
Bigger in Real Life 
I took guitar lessons for a bit during High School. I am so not musically inclined! Still have a very pretty left-handed sunburst fender strat. I look forward to hearing you play 😀
Guitars are left handed?!? Shows how much I know! O.o
Guitars can be left handed. Check out a concert photo of the Beatles, John has a “standard” guitar and Paul has a left handed one. Jimi Hendrix was an exception in that he played a “standard” guitar left handed.
But to answer your post’s question I’d say that you have learned the guitar when the tabs are easily read/played. Mastery is a whole ‘nother thing. But I’d put that in the “I’ve learned to play” category. Kinda like learning to play chess, it’s really just knowing how all the pieces move. Mastering chess is a whole ‘nother thing. 🙂
I like it…makes prefect sense.