Parents and grandparents sometimes debate which musical instrument is the most painful in the hands of a beginner.

Melody and rhythm are almost inextricably linked. I say ‘almost’ because you can have melody or harmony without a distinguishable rhythm, and rhythm itself can exist with no melodic content at all.

May says guitars were illegal at his school, but he snuck one in and practiced Hank Marvin, Elvis and Buddy Holly songs with ...