Best doggone tutorial ever

This one's for Matt, and anybody else out there who has purchased a guitar with every good intention of learning to play.  It isn't usually difficult to summon some inspiration, but once you place your fingertips on those steel strings you realize it ain't gonna be as easy as it looks.

Then there's that old song by Larry Crane whispering in your ears and casting doubt in your mind:

Mama said no good come from wire and wood
You never feel no pain like a guitar playin
Keep you from doin things that you know you should
Mama said no good ever come from that wire and wood

Mama is wrong, of course. Dead wrong.  There's plenty of joy that comes from the wire and wood.

And it's really not any more difficult than learning to drive a stick shift -- and there's no clutch!  Don't give up until you've at least tried this Johnny Cash styling of the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt." 

Just a kid, his guitar and a dog.  Beautiful.