Piao Minghuan, a native of Anshan, Liaoning, studied under the renowned Northeastern guitarist Tian Yifei and graduated from the Composition Department of the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. In 2012, his original composition “Blue Snowflake” won the runner-up prize at the Guitar China Online Fingerstyle Competition. In 2015, his original piece “Rock Heart” took the national championship in the Fingerstyle Original category at the 3rd Guitar China Acoustic Guitar Competition. In 2018, his original track “Convertible” won the national runner-up spot in the Fingerstyle category at the inaugural Kama Cup Guitar Competition. In 2019, he released his debut solo album of original fingerstyle compositions, titled Thirty.
The following content is reposted from Guitar China.
Reflections from Piao Minghuan, Champion of the Fingerstyle Original Category at the 3rd Acoustic Guitar Competition:
I began learning the guitar in 2000. Initially, my motivation was simply to play the songs I loved. Like many in the post-80s generation baptized by the music of the band Beyond, I picked up the guitar largely because of the song “Truly Love You” (Zhen De Ai Ni); I was no exception. As a first-year junior high student, I was absolutely crazy about Beyond. Soon—within the same year I started learning—I switched to electric guitar and formed my first band. After a brief period of formal instruction, I began teaching myself, feeling my way forward step-by-step in the vast world of guitar playing. Learning resources were extremely scarce back then; there were pitifully few books available. If you wanted specific sheet music, you had to share it among guitarist friends or figure it out by ear from recordings. Many guitarists aspire to be lead guitarists when forming a band; this shows that guitar lovers enjoy the feeling of playing solos—the sensation of letting the guitar do the talking—and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.
Not long after forming the band, our attention gradually shifted toward international acts like Metallica, Mr. Big, and Guns N’ Roses. Watching their dazzling performances and flamboyant stage presence gave us a true appreciation for the allure of rock music. Then came the era of guitar virtuosos like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen, whose solos were simply unstoppable. We scrambled to find their tablature and backing tracks, and for those of us who loved to let the guitar do the talking, the age of the electric guitar solo had truly begun.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, I had graduated from university. Since my family didn’t support a musical education, I had majored in graphic design—a field that appealed to me given my childhood love for drawing. Yet, after working in design for a short while, I couldn’t suppress my longing for music; I eventually returned to its embrace, trading my paintbrush for a guitar. Why? Because I needed a stage. Even if there were only one audience member or a smattering of applause, I would be completely satisfied. I believe that for any singer, instrumentalist, or even a dedicated music enthusiast, a stage is essential. Whether it is a grand venue packed with hundreds or a modest setting with just a few friends listening from the sofa, the stage is vital; one must perform wholeheartedly to honor the space the audience has created. For musicians, the stage is a medium for sharing music and expressing emotion. When the music ends, the applause and cheers from the crowd serve as immense encouragement and praise. The stage holds a magical allure—a sanctuary where performers long to linger—which is why I picked up my guitar again, hoping to find a little stage of my own. I switched from acoustic to electric guitar after playing the former for only a short time; consequently, my acoustic playing was limited to simple chord accompaniment, while I spent most of my time playing electric guitar solos. It wasn’t until late high school that I stumbled upon “fingerstyle” guitar online. I didn’t know the name for the technique at the time—only that it was a solo performance on an acoustic guitar that looked incredibly fun. I was captivated by the novel playing styles and unique sound effects. I visited various music shops looking for books on acoustic guitar solos but found nothing. Eventually, I met a classical guitarist who told me it was called “fingerstyle” and gave me plenty of sheet music. From then on, I put my electric guitar aside and devoted myself to practicing fun fingerstyle pieces on my acoustic guitar every day, until I had played through most of the songs I loved. I found fingerstyle truly enjoyable; a single acoustic guitar could encompass melody, rhythm, and harmony—while perhaps not as “full” as a band arrangement, it was more than enough.
Two years into playing fingerstyle, I felt the urge to compose my own music. After attempting to write a few pieces, I realized my knowledge of music theory was lacking. Looking back at my years of playing, I had always performed other people’s music; although I had picked up some theory along the way, it wasn’t nearly enough for composition. I then sought out the renowned guitarist Tian Yifei from Northeast China. With a mindset of starting from scratch, I began to study guitar and music seriously. Understanding my goals, my teacher focused heavily on music theory, giving me a fresh perspective on music and equipping me with new knowledge—it felt like a complete transformation. I am deeply grateful to Tian Yifei.
Because my family hadn’t originally supported my pursuit of music, I had chosen to study fine arts in college—a decision that always left me with a lingering sense of regret. Later, I enrolled in the Composition Department at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music, finally fulfilling a long-held dream. A captivating piece of music resonates deeply with its audience; when listeners experience a sense of beauty or excitement, it shows they have been moved by the music—this is the very power of music itself. Yet, composing a truly evocative piece is a formidable challenge. I do not feel my own works possess this quality—in fact, I often view them as still lacking maturity—but I remain deeply grateful to everyone who has offered applause, support, and encouragement.
Your support and encouragement, combined with my own passion and dedication to music, will serve as the driving force for me as I navigate the challenging path ahead. My sincere thanks to you all.
