As a kid, I never had siblings, relatives, or nearby friends available for play dates. My solitary childhood necessitated that I become skilled at entertaining myself. That challenge offered me a tremendous opportunity for lifelong success.

I spent countless hours alone in my room building sophisticated Erector and Tinkertoy structures. After I conquered each new challenge, my creativity and self-confidence soared.

It became clear I could learn any skill I set my mind to with basic instructions and perseverance. That self-awareness set the stage for me to build a fantastic lifetime music career one chord at a time.

Starting my guitar journey

When I was ten, I discovered my mother’s steel-string blonde bodywood Gibson acoustic guitar. The beautiful string instrument was tucked into a sleek black case in her closet. Alongside my newfound treasure were picks and a Mel Bay instruction book.

Goosebumps covered my entire body as I plucked the strings for the first time, and joy filled my soul as I held the sleek body. I knew I wouldn’t rest until I’d conquered that guitar. At that moment, I set my sights on becoming a world-class performer.

With our family’s tight financial situation, I understood lessons weren’t an option. But I also knew from past solo accomplishments that I could teach myself anything. I didn’t suspect that this quest with my newfound treasure would shape the entire course of my life.

Teaching myself the guitar

What I lacked in outside guidance, I supplemented with iron-clad determination, hard work, and endless practice. I rehearsed every spare minute of my waking hours.

Besides learning every note, scale, and chord, I encountered other challenges. I had to develop proper hand strength, positioning, and stretching. Fine-tuning my finger pressure and coordination also contributed to my ongoing learning curve.

As I progressed, I discovered how to find the root and the intervals. I became skilled at finding my way around the frets. I learned to identify and understand scales and what differentiated a major from a minor.

When I first learned to play guitar, Johnny Cash and country music were the top genres. Rock hadn’t yet been ushered in with the discovery of The Beatles in 1960 and The Rolling Stones in 1963. By the time I’d invested three years of all-consuming practice on my guitar, the world of rock had overtaken country.

The most essential string instrument had become the electric guitar. If I was going to realize my dreams of becoming a world-class musician performer, I knew I needed one.

My first electric guitar

When I turned thirteen, my parents bought me an Airline electric guitar with a matching Silvertone amplifier at the local Sears. They also purchased an inexpensive stereo, which allowed me to play along with songs on the radio.

Once I had my new electric guitar, I focused on learning to play every hit rock song I heard on the radio. I could listen to any music and immediately reproduce it. Then, I would practice until I had it completely memorized.

Playing songs by ear helped me learn to recognize patterns and repeating phrases. When I took risks and broke patterns, my self-confidence skyrocketed, and my creativity soared.

I became known locally as a guitar hero. Long before the wildly popular rhythm Guitar Hero video game was released in 2005, this was mainly because I could play all the top Billboard Hot 100 singles by ear on my guitar. Students lined up for lessons, which led to my next big opportunity.

The beginning of my big guitar dream

When I was 16, one of my students told me the top rock band in Madison, Wisconsin, was looking for a lead guitar player. I’d never heard of The Novells before, but an audition was a great opportunity to test my guitar skills. Trying out would allow me to meet professional musicians and see how they manage their band.

I had no expectations and didn’t see any downsides. When I arrived at my audition, my heart was in my throat. The band consisted of polished, skilled professionals in their early twenties. After polite small talk, the band got down to business.

They asked me to play the 1960s instrumental version of “ Memphis ” by Lonnie Mack. It was one of the most demanding top rock songs at that time. It featured fast picking and showcased a desirable blues-rock lead guitar style. The song separated seasoned guitar players from novices. Following my success playing Memphis, the band asked me to play several more songs.

Then, they asked me to jam with the band to determine how well we all gelled together. After an hour, the musicians thanked me for my time. They told me they’d let me know their decision in a few days. At that point, I had no idea whether they would select me.

I knew I’d played my best, but there was stiff competition from other guitar players for the spot.

The band’s leader, Jerry, called me a week later and offered me the job. It was one of the biggest opportunities I‘d ever received in my lifetime. I was a naive 16-year-old with an unprofessional guitar, but The Novells picked me out of all the other guitarists.

Success is built upon hard work and practice.

My many years of practice and hard work paid off. I was on my way to fulfilling my music dreams. My first day with the band, Jerry fronted me money for a new Fender electric guitar and amp. After I had a few weeks of practice with the band, we were out on the road playing big gigs.

Jerry took me under his wing. He taught me how to dress, stand on stage, and connect with the audience. We often played three to four nights weekly, and I loved every second.

The Novels were an in-demand professional rock band in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. We often fronted well-known groups that were on Billboard magazine’s hit parade charts, including The Beach Boys, Lynn Easton, and The Kingsmen, to name a few.

Set yourself apart from the crowd

During my audition with The Novells, because I understood the music patterns, once I knew the key, I could play anything they asked.

That knowledge gave me an additional advantage when jamming or playing free style. Even though I could play any tune by ear, I could also read basic music notation. Both methods contributed to my growth. The best musicians learn to play songs by ear as well as read music or tabs (notations), which allows them to learn songs quickly.

During many years of writing and playing music, I took the time to develop a signature style. Writing my own songs was instrumental in helping me develop them. I learned to utilize a particular sound and an unexpected sequence of notes.

No guitar player or musician should attempt to play exactly like anyone else. There are only 12 notes and a limited number of chords. How you sequence the notes together and the timing you use allow you to create something special.

When playing cover songs, you must follow the standard format of what has already been created. Even still, you can add a dash of your own flavor. Develop a nuanced flair you can infuse into the standard songs.

Creating your own signature sound is essential when you play original music. How do you accomplish that? Add your own nuances, with notes, timing, and phrasing. Unleash your ultimate creativity by being willing to break the pattern.

How to become a successful guitar player

When budding guitar players ask me to share how I became a successful lead guitar player, I provide the following tips:

• Start studying guitar by learning chords, scales, and notes
• There are no shortcuts. Practice makes perfect
• Precision is key
• It’s better to play something correctly than fast
• Playing fast doesn’t ever make a song better
• Note choices are more critical than the speed at which they’re played
• Infuse your playing with feelings and emotions
• Songs with simple melodies that grab attention are enduring
• Memorize everything you learn
• Learn to identify chord and note patterns
• Understand how and why those patterns work
• Stay cool and calm under pressure
• Always keep learning new songs, patterns, and sounds
• Never stop practicing
• Learn how to be an entertainer

Anyone can play music; only a few can entertain

The Novells played diverse musical venues, from small clubs to small stadiums. Even though I was still in my mid-teens, I earned an average of $50 a night after expenses. There were many weeks I brought home $200, which in 1963 was equivalent to $2,000 in 2024.

During my time with The Novells, I learned many important lessons. But one lesson was more significant than all the rest. Jerry taught me that anyone can play music, but only a few can learn how to entertain.

Those musicians who become polished entertainers are always in demand. I embraced that lesson and preached it to every band I was in from that point forward.

You can’t forget that being in a rock band is both a profession and a business. They play for money. The people who attend your gigs and support you as loyal fans are your customers.

You must do your best to be a successful professional musician. You have to be serious and focused. Whether you’re on stage playing music or mingling with your patrons, you’re entertaining. It’s not a party.

Never stop the music or stop entertaining, and success will be yours.

Sources

• Kowal, Barry. Billboard Magazine’s (USA) Top 100 Single Recordings of 1963, Hits of All Decades. August 27, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1963
• “Top Records of 1963”, Billboard, Section II, December 28, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved February 17, 2018.