I learnt to play the flute from age 9-18. I was quite good (made it to grade 7 in lower 6th, chose not to do grade 8 the next year because of exams). I don't remember really choosing it for myself; my mother had some book about 'what musical instrument would suit your child' and while I wouldn't've been forced into it I was probably guided that way. I liked it and did a lot of ensemble playing at school.
However, when I got to 15 or so I discovered I really wanted to try the guitar. Not the electric guitar, the acoustic. At some point I heard and was fascinated with Rodriguez' Concerto d'Aranjuez (which has utterly amazing Spanish/classical guitar playing) - I loved it to the point of nicking my parents' cassette tape of it to play over and over. Happily, my uncle's old classical guitar had been discovered at my grandparents' house and I was given it, restrung, for my 15th birthday, along with some teach-yourself books.
I think the main draw was being able to play solo and still make a whole piece of music, with melody and harmony/chords. Playing the flute was frustrating because all you can do by yourself (and sound good) is a melody. (It's possible to play two notes at once on a flute by fingering one and humming another as you blow, but the resulting sound is very rough!) I had taken music theory exams, music GCSE and began music AS-level, all of which involves understanding chord patterns and progression, and there's just no scope for that on the flute. I also wanted to be able to sing and accompany myself.
I have now been playing for eleven years and have still never had a guitar lesson (though I've given some informal ones to other people). There are some things I can't do (barre chords!) and will have to get tuition when I can afford it to iron those out, but I'm generally happy with the way I play. I sing/play a lot for myself - it makes me happy - but I can also get a whole large campfire singing along if need be.
I am actually keen to get into electric at some point, probably an electro-acoustic, but I haven't the money. Unless I shamelessly pinch my middle brother's much neglected, half-broken electric guitar and spruce it up... (That's not the instrument he learned as a kid either - he got the saxophone, youngest brother got the clarinet. Neither really took to it. Youngest brother has taken up drums semi-seriously.)
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However, when I got to 15 or so I discovered I really wanted to try the guitar. Not the electric guitar, the acoustic. At some point I heard and was fascinated with Rodriguez' Concerto d'Aranjuez (which has utterly amazing Spanish/classical guitar playing) - I loved it to the point of nicking my parents' cassette tape of it to play over and over. Happily, my uncle's old classical guitar had been discovered at my grandparents' house and I was given it, restrung, for my 15th birthday, along with some teach-yourself books.
I think the main draw was being able to play solo and still make a whole piece of music, with melody and harmony/chords. Playing the flute was frustrating because all you can do by yourself (and sound good) is a melody. (It's possible to play two notes at once on a flute by fingering one and humming another as you blow, but the resulting sound is very rough!) I had taken music theory exams, music GCSE and began music AS-level, all of which involves understanding chord patterns and progression, and there's just no scope for that on the flute. I also wanted to be able to sing and accompany myself.
I have now been playing for eleven years and have still never had a guitar lesson (though I've given some informal ones to other people). There are some things I can't do (barre chords!) and will have to get tuition when I can afford it to iron those out, but I'm generally happy with the way I play. I sing/play a lot for myself - it makes me happy - but I can also get a whole large campfire singing along if need be.
I am actually keen to get into electric at some point, probably an electro-acoustic, but I haven't the money. Unless I shamelessly pinch my middle brother's much neglected, half-broken electric guitar and spruce it up... (That's not the instrument he learned as a kid either - he got the saxophone, youngest brother got the clarinet. Neither really took to it. Youngest brother has taken up drums semi-seriously.)
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*grins* I miss Lucy Campfire Singing