I've taken up yet another new hobby. Yes, really. Here is my insanity: there's always a good reason.My husband and I have been looking for an activity for us to do together that doesn't involve spending a lot of money or having to leave the house. We tried playing cards at night, and board games but c'mon: how many games of scrabble can a couple really play before you look up and say, "I got nothin'. Wanna watch TV?"? So Brian suggested that we learn how to play guitar. What an awesome idea!
As it turns out, we both actually have our own guitars. Brian got them out of the deep recesses of our closet and brought them to the music shop for a tune up. He picked up a self-help book for guitar virgins and came home with our instruments.
Hope and promise shone from the velvet-lined cases and the brand new strings. My guitar is a classical, nylon stringed variety, while Brian's is an acoustic steel stringed version. We sat down. We started with tuning. Right away, I struggled with even being able to reach my fingers around the massive neck of this instrument (a classical guitar has a much wider neck than the other kind). My hands are small, and my fingers are a bit stubby. I was reminded of my first attempts at knitting when I thought, "Are you kidding me? This is just not natural!" And if I didn't have a mountain of evidence to the contrary I would've said, "I'm sorry, but this is just not possible." Giving up already?? No worries, let's switch guitars, says my sweet man. WHEW! Disaster is thwarted. But now I'm playing on steel strings! I am not exaggerating when I say that my fingertips are now white hot globs of stinging pain. And at the same time, they are numb, which I didn't know was possible. BUT, I can now switch between these chords smoothly (if I play slowly enough): E, A, and D. Pretty good, eh?
The picture of the guitar case is a vintage, 1970's. The painting is an original by a friend of my Mom's named Monica Rice. I remember her being a beautiful gypsy woman with insanely long blonde hair and she was not afraid to dress in costume. This guitar used to be my Mom's and so I am happy to be giving it life again.
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10 comments:
Bravo to you, you brave girl! I've always wanted to play guitar (another thing I took a few lessons for and then gave up) You are amazing! And I think I love your husband. What a guy!
AND, one more thing - you are a really good writer.
Oh Pam, you're so sweet to give me compliments. Coming from you, it means SO much! You are my crafty HERO!
NO, you are not crazy!! Just crazy/brave! What a GREAT idea. I believe I know some family folks that will be thrilled to hear your progress. Ahhh, to be musical. (what an amazing guitar case!)
No, you are definitely not crazy!! I think this is great. A family cannot have too many musicians! Maybe I will find the fiddle that I haven't touched in years....
Hey, I want a youtube video! What type of music do you (plan to) play? I love singing while someone is playing :-)
I think this is fabulous, and brave and wonderful in every way! I hope you both have a blast! Your guitar and case are super cool!
that sounds like great fun for you and your husband! who knows maybe you will get big and start touring together. how fun would that be?? haha. :)
Ha-ha! YouTube! We'll see, Judit, we'll see. I just need to build up my callouses first!
In another life I'll play guitar and sing. Until then I like these kid people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUvgIFBMFKA
Thank-You SO much, metrosupial! I loved that song, and had never heard it before. I am determined now to learn that song. It looks not too hard! Plus now I have to purchase the CD and support them!
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