I didn’t plan on becoming a guitarist — in a way, it happened by chance. I was constantly surrounded by music growing up; when I was a toddler I sat in on my sister’s violin lessons, and as I got older I began studying piano.
I was probably around eight years old when my mom took me into our neighborhood music store to buy a book for my piano lessons, and I locked eyes with a Daisy Rock electric guitar. It was heart-shaped, purple, and as an eight-year-old, the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
I had never considered playing the electric guitar before — in large part, because I had never seen someone like myself playing the instrument. The guitar books in my music store showed pictures of young boys holding guitars, but I never saw someone who looked like me. When I saw that Daisy Rock guitar, it felt like someone was telling me, “You can do this too!”
I haven’t always had such a clear epiphany while shopping for an instrument, but choosing a new instrument still feels exciting. Many people will tell you what you “should” and “shouldn’t” look for while buying a guitar: how certain types of wood are better or which brands are the best. While it is important to spend your money on a well-made instrument, it is also important to choose an instrument that inspires you and makes you want to pick it up.
If a guitar feels comfortable in your hands, if you’re drawn to its sound, and most importantly, if it makes you excited to play, then it’s the right instrument for you. Music is one of the most powerful outlets for self-expression, and finding an instrument can feel like finding an extension of yourself.
I still have that Daisy Rock guitar — I don’t think I could ever get rid of it. I never play it anymore, but looking at it makes me smile, and reminds me of the young girl who found a little bit of herself in a purple guitar.