Please help me interpret the divine message- because I'm convince that God is telling me something. After having not played the guitar for almost 20 years, guitars have started falling into my lap.
I currently have a nice folk dreadnought kinda thing, and a stratocopy. Both picked up as impulse finds, both play great, both cost $40. So I'm coming around to the idea that there's a divine power that wants me to play the guitar.
I've just received an email from a friend who is leaving town suddenly, can't take his guitar, and is giving it to me. (THANKS!) The divine power continues.
But the question is- what is He, or She, telling me to play? My newest addition is a fairly nice classical guitar. I've never been into classical- but if the universe provides it, I gotta make use of it, right? I play primarily rock, mostly classic rock and some harder stuff, as well as some blues and some folk classics. (I'm a big Dylan fan.)
I don't even know or listen to too much on nylon strings- but there is (imo) obviously something important I'm supposed to learn from this guitar. I'm thinking that it'll help with my finger picking- which I've been doing on steel strings, but not very well.
What else? I don't know where to start with a classical- but I'm gonna start. So let me know- if somebody dropped a classical guitar into your lap tomorrow, what would you play with it? What would you hope to learn in order to make you an overall better player?
Or if you have a classical, but are into the kind of music that I am, what have you learned from the classical that made it worth it?
Many thanks,
Ande
Take a listen for Muriel Anderson's work.
She plays all kinds of stuff using a nylon string guitar.
But of course it's all fingerstyle.
If you don't like that then-
You might be going to learn who to give that guitar to?
Unimogbert
(indeterminate, er, intermediate fingerstyle acoustic)
Cool man...
Maybe the Classical isn't for you... maybe its for a younger future 'student' of yours, perhaps one of your children, a neighbor kid or someone from your church or whatever.
It sounds like you know enough to teach the basics to someone else and get them started with guitar, and for some people, learning on a classical for the first few months may not be a bad way... (ie finger pain etc).
That was my inspiring thought when reading your post :)
Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977)
If they are "falling into your lap", then, they must be played! Prepare for sore fingers and get going! :D
..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´ -:¦:- Elecktrablue -:¦:-
"Don't wanna ride no shootin' star. Just wanna play on the rhythm guitar." Emmylou Harris, "Rhythm Guitar" from "The Ballad of Sally Rose"
The story continues- thanks for the input.
I had been thinking that this one may be destined to be given away eventually. Honestly, I have a small open plan apartment, and it's filling up with guitars and related things...and even if I find space for it, I certainly won't be able to take it when next I move on. (I'm in a line of work that seems to involve changing countries every few years.)
In the meantime, though, while it's karmically mine, I'll be checking out Muriel Anderson. It's not that I don't like fingerstyle- more that I suck at it. But then, I used to suck at folk rock as well, so I guess it's only a matter of time. (Actually, I still suck at folk rock. But less.)
Best,
Ande
PS- my fingers have been sore since the first one fell in my lap almost a year ago.
I love to listen to classical guitar, but have never played it. My wife and duo partner, Leilani played a bit of classical but gave it up for more commercial interests.
You might try to listen to some Charlie Bird. He plays jazz on a nylon string guitar and does a very nice job of it. That way if you aren't into learning classical, you can hear what else the box can do.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton
Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com Add-on Styles for Band-in-a-Box and Microsoft SongSmith
The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<
I'm a great believer in things happening for a reason - maybe not for a clear reason straight away, but in the fullness of time, doubtless one will manifest itself.
BTW, I'm pretty sure I've seen Brian May of Queen kick off a rock'n'roll medley with a nylon strung acoustic......
Enjoy - your guitar karma must be pretty good for all these guitars to be flocking to you!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
If you have enough time on your hands, you can do this with nylon strings....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDVktJw5K7Y&feature=related
good luck... :P
Teamwork- A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction.
Actually, I probably can't do that! Unless I have years on my hands. Wait a minute- as far as I know, I do have years on my hands! I'll get back to you...
A friend here also recommended Silvio Rodriguez, and gave me a CD- Cool stuff! Of the stuff I already play, some dylan sounds pretty cool on the new toy, which I received yesterday. (Finger picked, chords separate, not strummed.)
The World We Created sounds really neat on it too!
But I think the karmic reason for it's presence in my life is that my girlfriend started fiddling around with it last night- she's never been interested in my guitars before, but was fretting single notes tentatively when I got home, and asked to borrow a book of chords...this is a result!
I'm also thinking about when I move on from here, and who the guitar might want to live with next.
Best,
Ande
Pic's?
I love to listen to classical guitar, but have never played it. My wife and duo partner, Leilani played a bit of classical but gave it up for more commercial interests.
You might try to listen to some Charlie Bird. He plays jazz on a nylon string guitar and does a very nice job of it. That way if you aren't into learning classical, you can hear what else the box can do.
Insights and incites by Notes
I think I'm one of the few who admits to liking the Smooth Jazz genre. I do miss record stores. You could go in see the classical guitar on the album or CD cover. At some places hear the entire record or a snippet..
You could check out the album for songs you know and hear how a Marc Antoine, or Peter White for instance covered a favored song. You could hear Jonathan Butler and his South African influence. You could then move over to the New Age section and listen to the neuvo flamenco guys along side with the virtuoso guys like Michael Hedges. Just needing to check out the nylon specialist.
Or today coming out of the rock world you can listen to Rodrigo y Gabriela.
A lot of Marley sounds pretty good on it, too! My own version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen may sound good on it, but it's going to be a few weeks before I know.
Pics will be forthcoming, as soon as I figure out how to post them. In the meantime, it's a sort of blond coloured light wooden body (seems to be real wood, odd in a cheap guitar, but locally made- hardwoods are grown here, and paneling would be imported, so maybe it makes sense.) Fretboard is a strange red-ish colour, seems painted. Standard classical shape, no cutaway, medium to large-ish body. Pretty resonant, but it's hard to be sure, as I'm sure I'm not playing it right yet. Sounds nice, though quiet, when fingerpicked- the quiet part is probably me. I'm not used to finger picking. Not nearly as nice when strummed- no place near the resonance, sustain, or volume that I get with steel strings, but again, this may be me. Overall- for a free guitar, three thumbs up- I'm enjoying it now, and when it's time for it to be free, I'm sure it's next "keeper" will as well.
Best,
Ande
congrats on the new toy. :D
I'm also thinking about when I move on from here, and who the guitar might want to live with next.
"Andy....this is your classical guitar spaeking...give me to Blueline next. " :mrgreen:
Teamwork- A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction.
Maybe! Where do ya live? :wink:
Ande
