The new research also found 72 percent of respondents said they picked up guitar for the first time to gain a life skill or as a means of self-betterment, while 42 percent viewed guitar as part of their identity. The charting of humble aspirations continued as 61 percent of guitar players admitted to wanting to learn songs to play by themselves or socially, while 46 percent wanted to play for others.
Differences arose across the U.S and the U.K with 50 percent of respondents in the U.K. listing “playing privately” as their preferred environment, while the U.S. showed just 32 percent for the same preference. Diversity across statistics was also encouraging, with African-Americans accounting for 19 percent of beginners, while Latin players made up 25 percent. No statistics related to Australia; however, Oz-guitar wunderkind Tash Sultana got a mention from Fender’s CEO Andy Mooney in a statement.
“Today’s players have grown up in a different cultural context and popular music landscape, and rising artists like Mura Masa, Tash Sultana, Youngr, Daniel Caesar, Grimes and Ed Sheeran are changing the way guitar is being used,” Mooney said.
A full summary of the results can be found here. Feeling inspired? Browse our guitar reviews and find your new instrument of choice.
Image via Alicia Fox.
