Shall we begin?

Webster's defines an addiction as "compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance". I believe this is the most accurate description of my feelings in regards to me and my love of guitar. Oftentimes I wonder what I would do if I didn't play. I imagine the extreme boredom, which is enough to be glad I have my six-stringed babies, but then it drifts into the other things I would miss. To truly understand what guitar means to me, you would need to know a little about me. I guess this is our introduction.

I am 25, and have a wonderful career. I am a lover of cars, technology, my dog and music. I am the most fortunate person I know. I was able to go to school, and experience the 4 years of "adult freedom" that college offered that is so often portrayed on television. Through all of that there was one constant...my guitar. Sure, I didn't play as seriously as I do now, and I didn't have access to the same resources, but it was always there in the corner.

As I've aged I have learned more and more about myself. Trying to be a realistic person, and honest with myself, I have come to grips with certain things. I have high anxiety and depression problems, and to a small degree, ADD and OCD. I don't believe it will or could rule my life, but it is ever present and is much easier to deal with realizing it is there.

My medicine is music. My home is layered with instruments of every variety. There are trumpets, ukuleles, basses, amps, backpackers, drum machines and a keyboard. Cd's line the shelves, and bookcases hold the vinyl. My roommate is an amateur DJ, and has his own collection of musical gear.

I use guitar to speak. Many people write, sing, discuss, or use blogs and forums to speak their minds. It's a form of meditation to want to blow off steam using expression. My guitar is a voice box to my soul. Everything that I am unable to say because I don't write, I don't sing, and I rarely want to try and explain it. Guitar equals the exact emotion I am going for. I can make my guitar say anything I want. Out of tune doesn't matter.

This blog is not for me to bitch and rant. In fact, very little after this point will be about me. I simply wanted those who choose to explore this to know a little about the person who wrote it. I know when I search for things along these lines, I always appreciate it.

This blog is to show the things that I use to play guitar. I am fortunate enough to be able to experience many different aspects of guitar equipment. And this is an ode to them...