who made you pick up that instrument

My brother and the duo James Hetfield/Kirk Hammett.

more specifically, it was my brother playing metallica(if I remember correctly)

Geezer Butler and Geddy Lee

One of my biggest inspirations is Jerry Garcia. I know i'll probably never play like he did, but whenever i listen to the Grateful Dead, i think to myself "That's how a guitar should be played".

Funny anecdote: i initially made a typo writing that aboce sentence, i misspelt "how" as "howe". Coincidence? I think not... :)

David Gilmour and Alex Lifeson.  The way they brought music out of their guitars floored me, and i got an acoustic guitar for my birthday and havent looked back.

Randy Rhoads on Diary...  I knew I had to play

It was like this.

MOM: Stop playing video games.
JOSH: Naw dawg
MOM: Doit.
JOSH: Naw.
MOM: Doit.
JOSH: Naw.
MOM: DRUM LESSONS'd.

My mom.
She made me do it.

micky wrote: staunchally wrote:   You may be a great player but telling people how good you are on a forum is very bad form. Take some advice from an old timer. exactly I couldn't agree more....  for example I am a fabulous player ..I can play damn near anything after 1 or 2 listens but I'd never think of telling people about and carrying on about it.  Bad form indeed

Your modesty never ceases to astound me. 

BaldFriede wrote: The first time I heard the MASTER drumming in "Master (sic!) Builder" I decided to learn to play drums myself. Moerlen's drumming on "You" is unsurpassed by any drummer, and "Master Builder" simply blows you away.

for all you go on about it... I should bite the bullit and take a listen.

The Lost Chord wrote: Kleynan wrote: The Lost Chord wrote: Been a piano fiend since before I even listend to prog, Tony Banks and Mike Pinder inspired me to write prog music and play like a prog master.   I have recently started to get into guitar as a real instrument for me, and this is because of almost all prog guitarists that I love, especially Steve Hackett and Robert Fripp.   I picked up the flute about 5 months ago and got real good real quick, thanks to my vast knowledge of music because of piano and prog.  This was taken up by me because of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull and how much they kick ass.   I play drums now as well thanks to Bill Bruford and the classic Buddy Rich, and my dad[IMG]height=17 alt=Clap src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif" width=18 align=absMiddle>!!   I am taking up as many instruments as possible once i get outta college, though.   The SITAR is next and thats thanks to some stuff my The Moody Blues and Strawbs (Fingertips)! Beautiful! I borrowed a flute from a girl I know and got some information about how to play on the internet. Then I learned that ingenious flute-playing by Latimer in Camels' "Spirit of the Water". I'm thinking about starting to play. I just need to practice some more guitar first.        Yeah, i know that one, Camel were amazing, although I do prefer bardens on piano alone without the flute on that one, much more moving considering hes gone...   After a few months i can blast out any ian anderson solo practically, its really not all that hard, getting the tongue roll through the flute was difficult at first, because I just wanted to be good so quick.   But after about 5 months, I am better than all of my teachers, and all the kids in jazz band and orchestra.   Prog just owns everything.