Air Guitar Dreams, Real Guitar Life
From tennis racket solos to busking with six strings
by Braden Whilsmith
I play a mean air guitar. Seriously, I’m really good—probably at expert level. If not there, then advanced for sure. High advanced. I mean it…I’m good.
I should be, I’ve been playing since I was a kid. Growing up in the ’60s, with older siblings rarely around, I had lots of time to myself—and access to their records. Hours alone in my room, listening to Gilmour, Page, Keith, Dylan, the Beatles…the guitar parts always spoke to me most. Naturally, I started playing along.
With a tennis racket in hand, I would wail, strum, and pick with all of them. My slides, vibrato, bends, hammers—all of it was top shelf. It really seemed like I was a natural. I had the moves, the look, the feel. I could jump into anything on the turntable.
Of course, I didn’t have an actual guitar. The racket subbed in well enough: it had a neck, a body, even “strings.” Dual function too—I could play tennis with it after my concert. Sometimes I rocked out on the court, but mostly I kept it to my bedroom, where I was free to be whoever I wanted on that imaginary stage.
It was during these years that I knew I wanted to be a musician. Playing guitar was the coolest thing ever, and I shamelessly fantasized about being a rock star. Still do, to be honest.
But when my parents finally put me in lessons…it was piano. Not guitar.
I stuck with it for a while, even learned some theory and songs. My “go-to” was Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head for my mom’s tea parties. It made her friends giggle, but it wasn’t much fun for me. Piano was fine, but it didn’t have the cool factor of Jimmy Page or David Gilmour. Mrs. Wilfong, my piano teacher, couldn’t compete with Led Zeppelin.
Eventually I quit. And so, the air guitar became my only outlet.
Learning to play the air guitar was one of the best things I ever did. But as fun as it was, eventually a nag started in the back of my head. Was I missing something? I had mastered air guitar—but maybe there was more.
Practicing in front of the mirror one day, it hit me: there was nothing there. No instrument.
If I was going to be a real musician, a tennis racket wasn’t going to cut it anymore.
Flash forward fifty years.
I’m 65 now—retired, with kids grown and grandkids around, still playing tennis several times a week. But guitar? I never started. That revelation in the mirror never materialized.
I lost most of my enthusiasm for air guitar too, though I never let it go completely. I still loved music, but as a listener, not a maker.
Why I didn’t start playing guitar earlier, I’m not sure. A combination of reasons, I suppose. It remains one of my life’s true regrets. Always wondering what could have been.
Always wondering what could have been.
But I know I’m not alone. Why do so many of us put off learning guitar—or any instrument? Is it lack of confidence because it feels too hard? A work ethic issue? Laziness? Or maybe we’re just too busy with the demands of life. Truth is, it’s none of those things…and it’s all of those things.
But here’s where I should probably come clean: up until now, you might’ve thought this was the sad story of a guy who only ever played air guitar. But that’s not actually how it ends. Here’s the real ending…
It’s been said we live vicariously through our kids, and for a while, I did. When my youngest was ten, I brought home a guitar and signed him up for lessons. He took it seriously, and after a few years he was pretty good. The house was full of guitars.
Then one day, I walked past an acoustic sitting on a stand. I stopped. Stared. And I heard it clear as day: Now’s the time. Get started.
Within weeks, my son had shown me the cowboy chords and a few scales. I never looked back. Fifteen years later, I own a bunch of guitars, know around forty songs (with more in the works, including originals), play jam nights, give lessons to my grandkids, and now I’m reinventing myself as a busker.
I’ve finally become a musician after all those years of being a wannabe. Not quite a rock star—but close enough.
And yeah, I still play a mean air guitar. In fact, I’m still better at that than the real thing. But now I’m closing the gap.
It’s never too late. Rock on.
Music is such a gift to the player, the listener, the composer. And we all start at the time which feels right. I’ve played for the better part of 30 years. Then one day I put it on the stand and didn’t touch it for round 6 years. I wasn’t progressing and my voice was, well not very good either. Then a best friend started playing during Covid and he re-ignited my passion. I’ve absolutely loved TAC and what I am learning and this too at a rather twilight time of my life. So cheers to you amigo. Let’s both keep on rocking!
I identify with this a lot.
This reminded me of a comment an old HS friend said a few years ago to me reflecting back to the old days 50 years ago (now actually 60 years back), that she remembered me playing “air guitar” to Pinball Wizard on the bus corner – I had forgotten that. But I was playing real guitar back then with my HS sweetheart. Then I stopped playing, picking it up time and again only to stop again. Now I feel like I can keep on going with TAC because I do not get bored with playing the same old things and not improving my technique. Thanks for the memories Branden. – Susan Lambeau
I see Braden is a Lefty, rare breed indeed.
Paul McCartney was my Dad’s inspiration and the reason he bought a Hofner in late 50’s….which I inherited 2021 and kick-started started my Guitar Journey….I too am getting better with TAC help, have a strong routine playing Mon to Thurs for 10 to 30 mins sometimes longer. Even though I don’t follow each TAC lesson through the week – I am still too slow in getting the “techniques” under my fingers….BUT sticking to it at my own speed is definitely showing progress.
Sounds very familiar! I picked up my guitar for the first time at 69 years old. Way to go! Enjoy!
Rock on yourself!! Love it.
Hi Braden – So good to hear your words. I know the feeling and the frustration but you DID it, brilliant.
Magic that you and your son could do something together – and he would have sensed that it was really from your interest. And now the grandchildren – what a kind and compassionate teacher you will be for them.
Thanks pal, that was a lift for me too. Ill health is my problem at the mo but “we shall overcome!”
All the best
Henry
I’ve looked through many of the responses to your story, Braden and have seen how you’ve inspired so many of us including me. I’m a week from my 78th ! YIKES Birthday and still needing inspiration to keep on playing, iI appreciate your whole story and I’d like to add that it was written very well……have you given any thought to writing songs?
Great story, Braden. I can relate! And, you know what? Sixty-five is really not that old! Keep on keeping’ on. Congratulations!! Kate
Never too late resonates with me. I have to stop using my age as an excuse and dive in. Thanks for sharing your story.
. Rock On!!
Great story, Braden, thanks for sharing! I had a different moment of truth. I was spending a lot of time playing “Guitar Hero” with my kids and nieces. We eventually got the drum set and microphone to go with it. While the family time was good, it occurred to me (duh) that I had a beautiful Washburn dreadnought in a case in a closet that I got on my 40th birthday. I drastically cut back and started playing a few songs and noodling but not really making much progress. Then Tony[s infomercial hooked me 5 years ago and changed everything. Now I play at least 5 times/weak and have noticed (as has my wife) noticed real progress when repeating the lessons.
A great story. You are a rock star to your grandkids.
Similar to you I had an older brother who bought all the best music of the late 60s and by the time I was 13 I had mastered the air guitar with my alone time after school while everyone one else was still at work. Got a cheap guitar and amp for Christmas soon after but never took lessons or learned how to play because it just seemed too complicated. The one thing I regret from my early teens was that I had an aunt who was an accomplished classical pianist who had her own school. She offered me to come and stay at her home during school vacation in summer and she would teach me how to play the piano. They lived several hours away and I was a teenager who wanted to hang with my friends during summer and I really wanted to learn guitar not piano so I turned her down. I regret that to this day. Anyway, life got in the way. Jobs, marriage, kids and before I know it I’m 60 and looking forward to retiring soon. Thanks to the internet I was able to reconnect with some old friends who had become fairly good musicians over the years. I had a party for my daughters graduation from college and several of them showed up and brought their guitars and sat around outside playing and I thought to myself why I hadn’t stuck with it all those years ago. I could be sitting there playing with them instead of being envious of their talent. They convinced me it’s never too late to learn and with a little help from them and the internet it’s been about 10 years since that party and I have learned so much. I can play pretty good, not a virtuoso, but good enough to rock a campfire and I just love playing every day and learning new techniques. It really is never too late!!
Awesome !
What a fantastic story. Well done, Braden.
Great story, glad you prevailed. I started on air guitar too, and was surprised when I got a real one how controlled and precise the hand movements have to be, despite all the posing around a rock star might do. That mixture of wild and precise is really interesting.
What a great story! I actually sang a solo of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head in the 3rd grade concert. LOL I also initially picked up the guitar in 8th grade, but I wanted to play Stairway to Heaven. My teacher wanted me to play Country Roads. I quit. I finally picked it up again at age 53 and have been going strong for 9 years so far. Keep on playing.
Very similar story, but listening to my older sibling’s’ stuff in the 70s and 80s. Many of the same artists though. I got a guitar at 15, but then a car and a real part time job at 16 so I didn’t put any time into it. For many years, I had a guitar in the house for my kids but they had no interest. One day my 18 year old asked for a guitar out of the blue and he was better than me by his third day. This year, at 25, he gave me one of his guitars and purchased Tony’s Acoustic Challenge for me on Father’s Day and told me it’s my turn. Been loving it ever since! Struggling some but learning and loving it. My story is just taking shape, and hopefully long from over.
Rock on man! Thanks for the great story.
I love reading about other people’s journeys, they inspire me.
Bravo, Branden,
Wow, that’s a long time to have a dream! But, as you expressed loud & clear, it’s never too late to live those dreams.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Great story! To air is human but to play a real guitar is divine! Congratulations on learning so much late in life.
Brilliant!!!
What a wonderful gift you gave yourself, your son, and your grandkids!
Well done. I hope to follow in your footsteps…
I was a pretty good air guitarist too. I might be safe in saying that a vast number of guitar players were air guitarists. It used to give a real boost to the ego. And don’t get me wrong, I still imagine that I’m playing those great Mark Knopfler songs (and it’s easier to imagine now that MK looks older than me!). But the reality is that struggling and learning the guitar does me more good and more fun and even my silly ego should realize that. Great story!
There’s no time like the present. There are so many avenues we’ve taken to get here. Youth was always a time to find a profession. If you didn’t progress at an instrument, it followed that music was out of reach. Being an adult, at some point, I learned it was okay to suck at things. That was a freeing feeling. And through that freedom, the world of possibilities opened up. So … I suck at guitar (some days). So what. I’m showing up. And enjoying it. As is. Always will do better tomorrow.
What a great story!
Great story and it just goes to show us- it is never too late. I started 6 years ago at age 65 and still suck, but enjoy playing every day.
It’s a good story. Many people could have a dream of this kind.
I am 74 years old and grew up with a flute – which I loved. But I wanted to play guitar. Why didn’t I do It??? I don’t know. All I can say is that I bought a guitar and at 74 I am slowly learning to play. It is never too late, and no matter what it is that you are playing, like chords, scales, or runs or whatever it is – that is ‘playing’. Playing doesn’t start when you are Tommy Emanuel the second. It is anything you do on an instrument. Thanks for your story.
I’m 66 and the I still fantasize about playing “Dear Mister Fantasy” – I’ve been playing guitar for 51 years and haven’t improved for 40. I got busy, put it down and only pick it up to dust it off. Thanks for sharing – maybe today is the day!
By the way, I did the same for my son, except he is a drummer. I was determined to make sure he didn’t do what I did and also lived vicariously through him. He’s been playing drums since he was 4. He is twenty-nine now and known all over the world as a great drummer in a great band. There is that – but it’s not me.
Braden, this is beautiful. You spoke words to my story as well. I too have been an air guitar aficionado for the last few decades….. And only just jumping on the true guitar wagon about 45 days ago. I’m fascinated, excited, and inspired in my life again, and in a completely different way. So grateful to have taken the leap and looking forward to the unfolding adventure! All the best!
great post, I too am an air guitar master!
Great story and inspirational to the point that it is never too late to start playing guitar. Thanks for sharing Braden.
I’m there now only still working 40-60 hour weeks
Wonderful heartfelt tale, you’re an inspiration to all the young people around who watch you follow your dreams. Keep on keepin on!
Love, love, love your story! Good for you!
Great story. Well said.
Very cool