I have always been curious about learning to play Guitar because I love singing. It emerged as a dream of mine to make music along with my voice, feeling inspired by my Dad since he regularly did gigs for events. He taught me my early guitar lessons. Strumming is when I took a plectrum up and down the strings it was easy. But pressing down on the string board to change chords was hard; I had to press down on strings till my fingers hurt. It felt like multitasking to pick at left then switch chords at right.
The chords I had trouble switching to were G to C, E to Dm, and Am to F. Time got in the way of my dad teaching, so Cynthia who he sometimes played with took over.
We spent lessons just trying to get those chord switches down so I didn't learn any actual songs. But my easiest chord change was G to Em and I wrote a short song with just those two chords called What is This Worth? That is a relationship song. I wrote another similar to that using chords C to F but I can't remember what it was titled. I just remember the lyrics were about a girl missing a guy who left her. Playing these songs helped me with practicing these chord switches.
Taylor swift was my other inspiration besides my Dad that influenced my songwriting. A lot of her music had to do with relationships. Some favorite songs by her are Mine, Mary 's Song , State of Grace and White Horse. All those songs seemed kind of complicated to learn at the beginning of my guitar. Moreover playing my own seemed easier and it was fun to play with rhythm plus lyrics, although only three of my ideas actually got written down new ones just remained in my head. A quote by Taylor Swift that kept me determined was, "People haven't always been there for me but music always has. (Author of Taylor Swift. Goodreads.com. Goodreads.com, Web. 6 Oct. 2017) I liked the idea of a hobby being able to keep me happy when a person can't
After a few weeks of my learning, Cynthia taught me to play the nursery rhyme, Twinkle Twinkle little star. An easy beginner song and I also played a bit of was Happy Birthday to you For my brother. But chord changing songs were still difficult therefore it took me a few months before I could switch better. Once I could, I still had to look at my fingers on the threat board to make sure I changed notes correctly.
Additionally, when Cynthia thought I was ready I started to learn, Our Song by Taylor Swift. It felt like a challenge because of fast finger changes on the threat board and trying to keep the rhythm. I never got a chance to really learn it because my dad got a new job so we moved to Sequim. As a result he had to find me a new guitar teacher.
For the few months of me starting high school my dad still had not found a teacher. Uniquely motivation was still in me some days to keep picking it up and find a song on the internet to try playing.
Later at a guitar store, Joyful Noise he met John that started to teach me. I felt excited to finally keep learning and getting better. Distance by Christina Perri was my first well learned song on guitar that I played for my family.
As time has passed I have been taught further skills and music for this instrument. Also written four songs that feel done and one I played at an open mic but I admit I' m not sure what to do with them. But as I continue this hobby maybe I'll learn other songs or continue writing them just to see where it takes me.
