Who has been your biggest influence on guitar?
I know their are a gazillion different ways to answer this question, but I’d love to hear you try…
For me there would be several possible answers. Guitarists like Peter Buck, David Gilmour and Mike Campbell have really influenced the way I approach the instrument. Along the way I took lessons from two phenomenal teachers in Atlanta had a huge effect on my playing. But my answer, at least for today, is going to be my brother Jimmy.
When I was a kid, I didn’t play the guitar. I didn’t even really like the guitar. Don’t get me wrong - I was really into music. I played violin from when I was six, and later took up trombone and piano. I wanted to be in a band. Not as a guitarist, though. After hearing artists like Charlie Daniels and Dexy’s Midnight Runners have radio hits, I wanted to play fiddle in a band. That actually would have kind of ruled - I could’ve been like Boyd Tinsley! Later I wanted to play keyboards. I owned a key-tar for a while.
But it was my brother who set me straight. When he was in about ninth grade he traded his motorcycle for a guitar and an amp. For the next few weeks the sounds of songs like “Iron Man” and “Smoke on the Water” rose up from our basement. While he and his friend ultimately reversed their swap, my interest was piqued.
A couple of years later I broke my leg in a freak donut selling accident*. During my long recovery, my brother drove me to school. This was a big deal. He drove a Trans Am. And he didn’t listen to keyboard music in his Trans Am. Over the course of several weeks I was exposed to Led Zeppelin, Guns and Roses (before anybody had heard of them!), and The Scorpions. I had dug the rock music for years, but I hadn’t heard it in quite THAT setting. But one band, and one song in particular, completely changed my mind about the guitar.
I knew Van Halen. I even kind of liked Van Halen. But all I really knew was the radio Van Halen. The “Jump” Van Halen. But on this ill fated morning, as “Eruption” blared out of the speakers, my ears melted and the scales fell from my eyes:
I wanted to play the guitar.
What about you? Is there an artist who influenced you to want to play? Do you have a friend or family member or music teachr who especially inspired you? I’d love to hear about it.
Use the comments section below, or use your own blog if you’d rather. Just send me some link love 
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- Keeping it positive
