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Friday, March 20, 2015

YOU CAN PICK YOUR NOSE, YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS, BUT I CAN’T PICK MY OWN GUITAR


YOU CAN PICK YOUR NOSE, YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS, BUT I CAN’T PICK MY OWN GUITAR
Cranky's axe
I don’t know what that title means; I just wanted to try a Victorianesque title (Val the Victorian @ http://unbaggingthecats.blogspot.com/),  
This post is about the guitar.
As some of you may know I have recently tried to learn to play the guitar.  It is purely a recreational endeavor, and I am enjoying it quite a lot.  I am even beginning to improve a bit. 
My chords sound crisper, there is less screeching and string buzzing and I have even learned some finger-picking progressions along with strum patterns.  I started to think I was getting pretty good.
Several months ago, a Mr. C. Chatterbox requested I video a demonstration of my prowess.  I took him up on that and posted my rendition of “Only The Good Die Young” on YouTube.  Don’t bother to look for it, I played it back and it was deleted in a New York minute. If you did hear the recording, which you never will, you would understand.
It turns out that the guitar has several musical functions.
1.     It is excellent in a group to maintain a beat and lay down the cord progression.
 
2.     Advanced players can throw in licks, notes and chords that sound like several instruments at once.  These players can entertain solo without need of any vocalization.
 
3.    It is a classic vocal accompaniment instrument.

I can do simple chord progressions, but I can just about beat an egg.  When God handed out rhythm and timing I thought it was ribbon and tithing and had no interest. No musical group would have me.
Even gifted musicians cannot be “advanced” guitar players in one or two years, so my only hope is to accompany my own singing.
I think my voice is wonderful.  I enjoy my voice and the accompanying guitar immensely.  My enjoyment drops precipitously when I listen to a recorded version.  I have no doubt that most people would have the same aversion to this guitar strumming cranky voice combination.
If I could find someone with no interest in rhythm who is willing to sing along with my strumming I might attempt to record again.
Perhaps the wonderful Lo of “It’s always something” @ http://loisstearns.blogspot.com/.  Are you interested? I remember you were once brave enough to let us hear you sing.
Probably not.
shitpissfuck!*
*It’s a Lo thing.

17 comments:

  1. A big thumbs up on the title!

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  2. You can borrow SD if Lo isn't interested - everything he sings either sounds like the death march or the Jaws theme tune - he would make you sound GREAT!

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  3. I vowed never to sing aloud again. It's worked well for sixty years.

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  4. Honestly, not sure what can be done over the Internet, but if you sent something to hubby, he might have some advice on improving rhythm and timing. I'm very tone deaf here myself, I never know if someone's in tune, behind, ahead, wrong key, etc. I sing very quietly at church but one day I hope to be in charge of worship music in heaven.

    betty

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  5. I tend to lip sync Happy Birthday my voice is so bad. You might sound pretty good to me.

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  6. we all have our talents and our lacks-thereof... :)

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  7. My voice is still bad when I lip sync. It's best I just not sing.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  8. Well, i've made a promise to never sing in public (be glad), so no hope or help from me! Enjoy playing and singing for yourself, though, as i enjoy singing when alone in the car.

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  9. Keep it up!! I was never brave enough to try the guitar, though I am doing fairly well in my current endeavors with the bass....

    Singing and playing an instrument at the same time is like trying to do that thing where you pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. Some people just can't. Some people can after a reeeeeaallllllyy long time of practicing.

    And then there's a-holes like my little brother who could pick up a 20-strong sitar and master it in 10 minutes, and sing at the same time.

    If you go down the shore this summer, we should meet up and play and sing badly and put it on youtube.

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  10. I think it's fantabulous that you're learning how to play the guitar. I taught myself how to play when I was a teenager, and had a lot of fun holding impromptu hootenannies (remember them?) with my friends back then. There were lots of other opportunities to play and sing in public over the years, but bottom line? It's a wonderful thing to do in private. If you're enjoying it, that's all that matters.

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  11. When God handed out ears, I thought he said, "Beers"
    I said, "Give me two big ones."

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  12. I give you credit for trying to do something outside your comfort zone. That takes courage. Maybe you could get a waterproof guitar and accompany yourself in the shower.

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  13. Well that's Lo for you. She likes cats too.....

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  14. Video proof or you're a liar ... ;-)

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  15. I don't even sing in the shower, so whatever you do is better than what I don't do.

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  16. I am so happy that you like your voice. Also Guitar is a beautiful instrument. It is a good thing that you are learning to play it. Never too old for music. Enjoy.

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  17. Just sing and play and make yourself happy. Music makes us more alive. (This is a good reminder to me that I was planning to blog about that very thing.)

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