In 1988 he left Meinung for Tainan to attend high school. Influenced by a friend, he began playing the guitar during the summer break after his freshman year.
1988 年，林生祥離開家鄉美濃，來到府城就讀台南二中。高一暑假，受到死黨影響，他開始自修玩吉他，並陸續在民歌餐廳駐唱。