The Guitar Story
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After hearing my wife strum chords, I first got a flamenco guitar and a comprehensive teach yourself book which I can't find (this was from living in Spain and hearing it and fado in Lisboa in 1984.
Soon realised lessons were needed for the technique, it was way beyond adult beginner.Then inspired by Andrés Segovia and David Qualey playing, I got a classical guitar, and a year later a steel strung parlour size folk style.
Used terrific books by Frederick Noad mostly, Solo Guitar Playing vols 1 & 2.
And attempted some from The Romantic Guitar by Carlos Bonell. And Qualey's music.I realised two things.
After decades playing piano my fingers bend only like a piano player, guitarists fingers bend the other way too (the way your teacher stops you doing as a child).Lessons and a lot of concentrated time to learn the various keyboard positions are needed.
I got to chapter 11 in the Noad book, this level:
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We have 9? 10? guitars at our house. I have two, but only play my Taylor GS Mini. Mr. AM has 4 or 5 from when he was playing about 20 years go. And several of kiddo’s guitars still live with us; they live in a small apartment.
I play cowboy chords so I can sing. I hate the F chord, so everything is transposed to key of D, G, or A. Capo from there! My singing trio doesn’t get together much any more since one moved away.
There is definitely an opportunity for Swedish Death Cleaning here!
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We have 9? 10? guitars at our house. I have two, but only play my Taylor GS Mini. Mr. AM has 4 or 5 from when he was playing about 20 years go. And several of kiddo’s guitars still live with us; they live in a small apartment.
I play cowboy chords so I can sing. I hate the F chord, so everything is transposed to key of D, G, or A. Capo from there! My singing trio doesn’t get together much any more since one moved away.
There is definitely an opportunity for Swedish Death Cleaning here!
Having jammed with a number of excellent bluegrass players in campgrounds after festivals, I’ve learned that most everyone plays using G chording and moves the capo up and down.
G is described as “God’s own key” and He doesn’t mind if you move it around.
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Having jammed with a number of excellent bluegrass players in campgrounds after festivals, I’ve learned that most everyone plays using G chording and moves the capo up and down.
G is described as “God’s own key” and He doesn’t mind if you move it around.
@Steve-Miller Thanks. Have been going about it all wrong.
Andy, I also have piano fingers I suppose. Is that why the guitar seems made for aliens?
Wonder what percentage of guitars are played regularly.
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Having jammed with a number of excellent bluegrass players in campgrounds after festivals, I’ve learned that most everyone plays using G chording and moves the capo up and down.
G is described as “God’s own key” and He doesn’t mind if you move it around.
@Steve-Miller Three chords and the truth are all you need for a song! The capo is my friend.
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@ShiroKuro I know! I’m only responsible for two of them. I should sell my Takamine; it’s really too big for me.
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@ShiroKuro I know! I’m only responsible for two of them. I should sell my Takamine; it’s really too big for me.
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Very nice. Just how difficult is it to learn all the fret positions!
And fingernails...on the first episode somebody demonstrated how, with good fingernails you could vary the sound produced half a dozen ways.
I tried to grow and maintain my right hand nails over some years, but DIY ruins them, gardening ruins them, and then there's the shortish length required to play piano. Superglue helped.Ventosa viri restabit
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Of all the concerts I've heard, i put my hearing Andre Segovia's as my favorite. I have his signature on some music of Bach. He was amazing. Our audience in Chicago has a bad reputation for being noisy. When Segovia played, there was no sound with the exception of his plucking of the strings. No one breathed, coughed, moved, blinked, etc. Hi playing imprinted on my soul.
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Very nice. Just how difficult is it to learn all the fret positions!
And fingernails...on the first episode somebody demonstrated how, with good fingernails you could vary the sound produced half a dozen ways.
I tried to grow and maintain my right hand nails over some years, but DIY ruins them, gardening ruins them, and then there's the shortish length required to play piano. Superglue helped. -
Of all the concerts I've heard, i put my hearing Andre Segovia's as my favorite. I have his signature on some music of Bach. He was amazing. Our audience in Chicago has a bad reputation for being noisy. When Segovia played, there was no sound with the exception of his plucking of the strings. No one breathed, coughed, moved, blinked, etc. Hi playing imprinted on my soul.
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Have lousy nails. Spent some time looking for players that do not use nails.
Think not having nails is not the impedance people think it is. Many do not use them.
Had the worst ever stage fright attack when I sat down to play before the Denver Classical Guitar Society. My right hand was shaking, could not get it to the strings. Did not get a note out. Playing something in front of people without my mind entering a white out is on my bucket list. -
That's thankfully never going to be a problem for me, but I find when playing for family or recording, thinking with a driving mindset works. Switch off worldly distractions and drive the car a to b.
I recall Segovia said his nails depended on a good diet, but I'm guessing genetics played some part. -
That's thankfully never going to be a problem for me, but I find when playing for family or recording, thinking with a driving mindset works. Switch off worldly distractions and drive the car a to b.
I recall Segovia said his nails depended on a good diet, but I'm guessing genetics played some part. -
Well I played a bit today
badly of course; tuned and left out on a stand, so fingers crossed.Back in the 1990s in Malaysia, a brother in law who plays with a bannd lent me a cassette (I think it was called 3.5 Hours) by David Qualey. It had an acoustic version of Scarborough Fair like this earlier version:
https://cover.info/en/song/David-Qualey-Scarborough-Fair
I loved his playing so much it ended up me buying one of his guitars!
The steel string I have was bought because of this:
Link to video
Although it's not a 12 string, the tuning would drive me crazy.
If I ever indulged again, I'd like a really small deep bodied one like this, I think its Japanese, hand made yamaha?
Link to video
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