Kat Eye Studio

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A New Love

I have a new love these days. It came at me out of the blue, unexpected. I’m learning to play the guitar. Not just any guitar, but my Dad’s 1950’s Gibson.

Sometimes life throws us a curveball. Through some twists and turns, the guitar came to me in January. My brother, the only one who played, inherited it after my Dad passed away in 1995. Now it’s come to me for safekeeping.

I have so many memories of my Dad playing this guitar. Listening to him play 50’s and 60’s country-western music. Singing along to “Country Roads” by John Denver and “Sing a Song” by the Carpenters. Hours spent on Saturday nights watching TV at a certain house, while my Dad played music in the basement with his friends. He had this guitar my whole life, even before he married my Mom in 1969. It was a tiny piece of him we were able to keep after he passed away.

My Dad and the guitar in the 1980's

If you had asked me, two months ago, if I would be learning guitar today I would have laughed at you. What guitar? Who has time? I would have said. But when this piece of my history arrived and I put my hands on the guitar I knew it couldn’t stay in its case. I knew I had to learn. It’s like a living thing; it needs to be played. And by playing it, I feel closer to my Dad than I have in a long time. As I learn to play the chords I wonder how he managed to use his very large fingers to play them. I wonder how and when he got this guitar, why he chose this particular one. And I miss him, even more.

My guitar-playing friends seem to love this guitar. It’s a ~1956-7 Gibson ES125 hollow-body electric. Don’t know that that means? Don’t worry, neither did I a couple of months ago. It’s an early electric guitar, and little tiny piece of guitar history. A big piece of my personal history, growing larger every day.

I was surprised at how comfortable it is in my hands; how well it seems to fit me. I find that I like having music in my life again. Making music again. (I played flute years ago.) I always like learning something new, but in this I’m a true beginner. I can see how far I have to go, to even play a song. But I’m working on it. Working a little bit everyday, through the sore fingers and the awkward pauses to play the chords right and someday, I’ll be able to play a song or two.

And you know what? Surprise of all surprises, I’m loving every minute of it.

PS – Today is the last day to enter the Market/Wheels Giveaway! I would love your feedback as I prep for my exhibition, and you could win a matted print for giving it. Visit this post here for the details.

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Comments

  2. Beautiful, Kat. So wonderful that you learning to play and it is your father’s guitar and you’re making more memories with it.

  4. You go for it….you will never regret off minute of the process. My grandson who is a senior at St. Andrews Delaware has my “Amsterdam” violin, and it is a joy each and every time I get to hear him play it. I still have the old cheapies to entertain myself. I am thrilled for you that you are learning on your daddy’s old Gbson. The sound has to be sheer perfection. I sold my Martin mandolin many years ago and have regretted it many, many times. Good luck. You can do it. genie

    • Thank you so much for your well wishes. It warms my heart to hear about your grandson playing your violin, I think these are the best kind of family heirlooms to be passed on and cherished. I hope someday my son will have fond memories of me playing too. (When I can actually play, that is!)

  6. What a beautiful guitar – how lovely for you to have it.
    Well done on learning. Our youngest Emma taught herself how to play the guitar – I feel quite jealous. It must be really nice to be able to play an instrument.
    Keep at it.

  7. Kat, what a wonderful story and legacy to have, and how great that you’re actually using the instrument. The guitar is beautiful in its own right, and very photogenic against that turquoise wall. I love that second image, the vertical closeup.

    • Thanks Lee! I love it against the blue wall too. The blue really sets it off beautifully, and makes it convenient to grab and sit in my window seat to practice.

  8. Oh my goodness Kat, this is wonderful!!
    How fortunate you are to have your Dad’s guitar.
    That is truly very special indeed.
    You are an inspiration!

    Thank you so much for sharing with us today at The Creative Exchange.

    Have a wonderful evening!

    lisa.

  11. I’m so glad I stopped by, this is a beautiful post full of many lovely memories. The guitar looks gorgeous even to my inexperienced eyes.

  12. Awesome post Kat! I just now read it, and am having warm feelings for you about learning to play your dad’s guitar. My husband and son both play, and we have had guitars in the home for years. They are such beautiful, delicate instruments. You’ll see a photo on my post I made this evening before I read this one. 🙂 Please enjoy the learning, the holding, and the sound…. A Gibson is a priceless piece to own, enjoy, and treasure!

  13. oh ho Kat. A new challenge. You never quit do you? Are you sure you actually sleep?
    I never did learn to play guitar, but as you know, music is where my knowledge base is, so if there’s anything I can say that would be helpful, please let me know.
    I’m sure you’ll have that up and swinging in no time. That is once your fingers get calouses developed. It ain’t easy. Good luck.

    • I would love your help, Susan! Unfortunately, I think it’s going to take my own practicing to get what I need though. Transitioning between chords is a challenge! The finger callouses are coming along nicely. 🙂

  14. Best of luck to you in your new pursuit! That guitar and the memories are much too beautiful to be locked away. I had forgotten about that Carpenter’s song – I think part of the lyrics are : Don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song. In your case just play, play a “song”!

    • I was singing those lyrics yesterday too, as I wrote this. It’s a wonderful positive message. Just sing! Who cares how good it is, enjoy the process.

  15. My dad died 15 years ago today. I inherited his love of music, but not the ability to play. Good for you for picking up guitar- what a legacy from your dad!

    • Barbara, I’m so sorry for your loss. I know the emptiness losing your Dad can leave behind, even years later. I’m glad that you shared a love of music with him too!

  16. How exciting, Kat, to learn something new and what a lovely new journey to be on, especially as you are using your dad’s guitar to learn how to play this instrument.
    The lovely part about life is that we are always reinventing ourselves and learning that we are the ones who create the life we see and experience!

    • Yes Sandra! I love this – “we are the ones who create the life we see and experience.” It’s so easy to get into a routine, and to forget that we can choose to reinvent ourselves. Thank you for this comment!

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