But I also think it’s worth noting that Ric Ocasek and Billy Joel were both songwriters who incidentally happen to play a guitar and piano. It was probably the mind and creativity of the songwriter vs the mechanics of strumming chords or banging on the piano that makes them unique to their wives.
Another example is Robert John “Mutt” Lange was good at writing songs and snagged the not-too-ugly Shania Twain. I have no idea if he can play guitar or piano or both or neither. He’s never been a musician in a famous band. Probably doesn’t matter.
Songwriters that write original songs are vastly outnumbered by guitar players that only know how to read tab and cover everyone else’s songs. Songwriters are good with words (poetry) and very expressive emotionally. I can see that being attractive to women. On the other hand, the technical aspects of guitar playing is overhyped for attracting girls.
Would we think Woody Allen attracts women because he knows how to operate a film camera? Or is it his creative mind of bizarre humor the more likely draw? (He’s got some money too which always helps.)
If you bring a guitar to a party or social event and start playing, usually a small group will form around you. Some of these will be women. You’ve just made yourself interesting to women and pulled some out of the bigger group for some one-on-one time.
And listening to you play a song can provide a good excuse to get away from the crowd and alone with a girl for a few minutes, or to get a girl to sit on your bed while you play.
I had a photo class in high school and noticed something similar happen when I wore my camera. There were always girls coming up to me and saying, “Oh, are you in photo? Can I see some of your pictures? Want me to model for you?” Once that started happening I started practically wearing my camera like it was part of my outfit. I even brought it when I didn’t have any film.
I know, it’s pathetic. But the hormones of a 17-year-old guy in high school getting female attention trump common sense and logic (not to mention shame at doing such a lame thing) anyday.
Come to think of it, it’s probably just females being impressed by a guy who can actually do something creative moreso than the actual camera/guitar/art supplies/poetry notebook itself.
Playing a guitar turns you into a chick magnet if you are John Mayer or Jack Johnson and you write a bunch of mellow jammy tunes that chicks like (or if you are Paul Stanley or Eddie Van Halen back in the 80s).
If you start jamming out Rush tunes and…well…you look like the guys from Rush, well…lets just say there is a reason Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson married their teenage sweethearts and are still with them to this day.
Gotta say, I’m a huge Rush fan and love playing bass and singing along with Geddy. But I’ve never performed a Rush song in public (and in any case I can’t even begin to attempt to play Alex’s guitar parts). I know better than that
That is pretty amazing that Alex has been with the same woman since he was 15 years old, though.
Ah…nice visual, **even sven **- sorry again I can’t offer the foot rub from that other thread in return. Ya know, that actually has happened a few times, so I suppose I can’t complain, even though overall I would say that the promise of guitar+girls never approached what I had hoped and prayed it would.
But I never toured extensively. My friends that did have, um, more stories to tell - but the line between “meeting girls” and plugging into the universe of groupies is pretty clear…
If you present yourself well and know how to use guitar as part of your overall seduction (to call it what it is), it can lift things to a whole 'nother level of intensity - kinda like being a great guy who happens to be an excellent cook. Being able to stand and deliver with confidence is sexy, and so much the better when what you are standing and delivering appeals to that woman or women in general.
…and yeah, Rush songs don’t work so much. Now, Norwegian Wood, with its story of an illicit encounter and a bit of flash as you show how you can make your guitar sound all sitar-y? I’m just sayin’…
To echo what others have said, when I was a teenager in the '90s then it was definitely considered a point in a guy’s favor if he could play the guitar, but it wasn’t enough of a bonus to turn an otherwise unappealing guy into a chick magnet.
This is apparently true even for bona fide rock stars. Pete Townshend of The Who has said that as a young man he did not attract much attention from the ladies, and that even backstage at Who shows girls would literally shove him aside to get at Roger Daltrey and Keith Moon (considered the handsomer members of the group).
This is a big factor. It’s easier to ask a girl to come back to your room to check out your guitar and hear you play, then transition to sex than it is to directly proposition her. Having something interesting to look at or do in your bedroom, besides sex, provides the pretense required to maneuver yourself in to a situation where sex is possible.
It works for women, too - “come up to my room and check out these drawings!” Not that I otherwise would have refused sex, but seeing her crappy art made it easy to transition from a group setting to a private one…penis ensues
Drummers always got me too. Married a guy with a set. They aren’t typically the smart guy in the band, but they’ve got rhythm! Also, have to be able to move all limbs independently. Comes in handy…
Watching a guy playing guitar is incredibly hot. He’s holding it close to him, leaning over it attentively, moving his hands over it…It’s easy to put yourself in the place of that guitar in your head, and you already know the guy has talented hands. What’s not to like?
This may be the only time I post a link with a link to NSFW content. And a lot of y’all have probably seen this already. But there’s no way I read this without thinking about this XKCD strip
Also, have to be able to move all limbs independently. Comes in handy…