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.
A big thumbs up on the title!
ReplyDeleteYou 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!
ReplyDeleteI vowed never to sing aloud again. It's worked well for sixty years.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, 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.
ReplyDeletebetty
I tend to lip sync Happy Birthday my voice is so bad. You might sound pretty good to me.
ReplyDeletewe all have our talents and our lacks-thereof... :)
ReplyDeleteMy voice is still bad when I lip sync. It's best I just not sing.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
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.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up!! I was never brave enough to try the guitar, though I am doing fairly well in my current endeavors with the bass....
ReplyDeleteSinging 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteWhen God handed out ears, I thought he said, "Beers"
ReplyDeleteI said, "Give me two big ones."
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.
ReplyDeleteWell that's Lo for you. She likes cats too.....
ReplyDeleteVideo proof or you're a liar ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't even sing in the shower, so whatever you do is better than what I don't do.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteJust 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.)
ReplyDelete