Chord blind guitar boy wows professionals in China

[Video source: weibo.com]

The amazing 'fingerstyle' guitar skills of a 13-year-old boy from Baiyin in northwest China's Gansu Province did not only become an internet sensation, but also attracted many music professionals in China.

Liu Jiazhuo shot to fame after a video emerged online of him, dressed in school uniform, playing spectacular fingerstyle guitar while doing drumbeats in a middle school office.

The video caught the attention of celebrities, one of whom commented: "the boy's talents make me want to smash my guitars."

Two weeks after the viral video posted, Liu was invited to appear on a show in Beijing where he delivered an assured and mesmerizing performance, again wearing his trademark school uniform, and to huge audience appreciation.

Liu Jiazhuo (left) attends an online music live show in Beijing on Apr. 6, 2017. [Photo: ifeng.com]

During his time in Beijing, Liu also met many professional music producers and guitarists, who suggested him to stay and develop in Beijng.

The boy said he hopes to be a musician and create his own works in the future.

Surprisingly Liu doesn't know how to play any chords at all. All his guitar skills are the result of imitating world famous guitarists he watched on the Internet and through endless practice at home.

Liu Jiazuo playing guitar at home [Photo: baidu.com]

Liu first encountered fingerstyle at the age of 9 when he saw a Japanese guitarist playing by this unique technique. Liu immediately resolved to learn how to do it himself.

Liu has the full support of his parents. But as the family comes from a very poor background, they have been unable to afford a guitar teacher for their son. Instead they arranged to get broadband at home to allow him to learn to play by himself from online videos.

A guitar with many celebrities' signatures gifted to Liu Jiazuo [Photo: dongqiudi.com]

When asked if he is a guitar genius, Liu shook his head and said his skills are hundred-percent gained through practicing in his spare time.

All of Liu's after-school time is spent either practicing guitar or looking for melodies from the Internet. Liu's father says he is able to master about 5 songs a month and can now play over 50 songs.

His parents believe that even if their son doesn't achieve the level of professional guitarists in future, he will still be able to make a living by opening a guitar store or by becoming a guitar teacher.