The Guitar
The last time I went to Tahoe to visit my parents, my father gave me an old acoustic guitar that he found at his mom's place. He didn't need it, and I really wanted to play, so he just said "Here, take it if you want it."
Always a dream, but also a challenge. Was I finally ready to embark on the endeavor of musical expression? Could I handle the wood and steel that delicately held a tune?
When I was much younger, I was not allowed to go play in the school band because my mother didn't trust me with an expensive musical instrument. I wasn't sure if I was just idolizing my sister and father who are very talented musicians, or if I was being spiteful to do something my mother didn't want me to do, or if I just wanted to belong. But back then, the idea of creating melody cried to me.
Apparently, it didn't cry loudly enough. I couldn't get into it, no matter how hard I tried. I couldn't focus long enough.
In the sixth grade, my parents decided to buy me sticks and a practice pad, so I could take a whack at the drums. I went to all the rehearsals and practices for the school presentations, but once we had our concert it was all over. That, and repetitively tapping on a drum just bored me to no end. (no offense to you drummers out there, this was my mindset as a twelve year old junior psycho)
Later in my pot-smokin' college years, I inherited my dad's fretless bass guitar. I practiced on that as much as I could with no guidance or lessons. I also got involved with some other guys who played together, but all we really did was get high and jam terribly. That fizzled out in time too.
Now, in my ripe old age of twenty-something, I'm a much mellower man. I have calmed myself to be patient with learning new things and performing simple tasks. Tonight, that new simple task has been to master the A-minor, E-minor, and D-minor chords. My neighbor loaned me a trainer CD that showed me how to hold, tune, strum, and set chords. For a beginner, I think I'm doing rather well (although making a smooth D-minor transition is difficult, I'm giving myself a break).
I'm so happy! I get to take another chance at this music thing. Hopefully it sticks around this time, and I learn a thing or two before having to cast this new joy aside for other things.
The last time I went to Tahoe to visit my parents, my father gave me an old acoustic guitar that he found at his mom's place. He didn't need it, and I really wanted to play, so he just said "Here, take it if you want it."
Always a dream, but also a challenge. Was I finally ready to embark on the endeavor of musical expression? Could I handle the wood and steel that delicately held a tune?
When I was much younger, I was not allowed to go play in the school band because my mother didn't trust me with an expensive musical instrument. I wasn't sure if I was just idolizing my sister and father who are very talented musicians, or if I was being spiteful to do something my mother didn't want me to do, or if I just wanted to belong. But back then, the idea of creating melody cried to me.
Apparently, it didn't cry loudly enough. I couldn't get into it, no matter how hard I tried. I couldn't focus long enough.
In the sixth grade, my parents decided to buy me sticks and a practice pad, so I could take a whack at the drums. I went to all the rehearsals and practices for the school presentations, but once we had our concert it was all over. That, and repetitively tapping on a drum just bored me to no end. (no offense to you drummers out there, this was my mindset as a twelve year old junior psycho)
Later in my pot-smokin' college years, I inherited my dad's fretless bass guitar. I practiced on that as much as I could with no guidance or lessons. I also got involved with some other guys who played together, but all we really did was get high and jam terribly. That fizzled out in time too.
Now, in my ripe old age of twenty-something, I'm a much mellower man. I have calmed myself to be patient with learning new things and performing simple tasks. Tonight, that new simple task has been to master the A-minor, E-minor, and D-minor chords. My neighbor loaned me a trainer CD that showed me how to hold, tune, strum, and set chords. For a beginner, I think I'm doing rather well (although making a smooth D-minor transition is difficult, I'm giving myself a break).
I'm so happy! I get to take another chance at this music thing. Hopefully it sticks around this time, and I learn a thing or two before having to cast this new joy aside for other things.
good luck with the music thing and such.
*shrugs*
If you want to learn how to play anything you want to play and learn how to make songs yourself, you take your guitar and you go to where a crossroad is. A big black man will walk up there and take your guitar, and he'll tune it...
I believe Robert Johnson sold his soul for some Hellish guitar licks, don't believe that is necessary in your case
[Edited on Aug 28, 2004 2:09AM]