Category: Instruments

Fingerpicking

My parents encouraged me to learn how to play a lot of different instruments over the years. At some point, I picked up a harmonica. This came natural enough that I would play it at churches with my cousin Sammy accompanying me when we performed at churches. Another instrument that I got around this time was a banjo. I found it a frustrating instrument and I didn’t pick it up easily. It occupied a place in the corner of my room, then got tucked into a closet to be forgotten until another cousin expressed interest in playing around with it. The banjo was a failed experiment.

Instruments Music Education

My Son’s First Guitar

I mentioned in an earlier post that my son had a good guitar before I had one. When he got the guitar bug, he wanted an electric guitar. We bought him a Red Squier Stratocaster starter pack with the upgraded amplifier. He had enough natural music talent and drive to be able to learn what he wanted on his own. I was also able to show him some chords and techniques. Not having access to a good guitar never bothered me that much. I was comfortable playing guitar even though my skills weren’t that developed. In college, there always seemed to be an extra guitar around the fraternity house if someone wanted me to entertain. I enjoyed playing these better instruments but wasn’t motivated enough to get one for myself.

Instruments

Guitar Amplifers

A few years ago, I bought a new bass guitar amp. Prior to purchasing this amp, I had a small practice amp. I had started playing bass at church and needed something with more power. And all guitarists seem to be continually looking for new and better equipment.

Instruments

My First Year of Band

I have always been musically inclined. My mom was a piano teacher when I was born and continued to teach music throughout much of my childhood. Naturally, we had a piano in the house. I learned to play piano by listening to my mother teaching her students. While I can read music, I play primarily by ear. My parents always encouraged my interest in music, providing me with a variety of instruments. I started playing trombone in fifth grade but for reasons I cannot recall, I stopped playing after one year. I didn’t pick up another band instrument until the year between seventh and eighth grade. One of my cousins had played alto saxophone a few years earlier and they were no longer in band. My mom wanted me to get involved in band. She was teaching special education at the city school, which had grades K through 12 on one campus. Her classroom was next door to the band room and she knew the band director well. She arranged for me to take saxophone lessons during the summer before I entered the eighth grade. The next fall, I was in the school band which because our school was so small, included both junior high and high school students.

Birthday Instruments

The Jawbone of an Ass

Every year, I celebrate my birthday every day of the month during March. My actual birthday is March 23rd. Most years the real celebration is sometime around my actual birthday and the rest of the month I accept all gifts, well wishes, cakes, balloons, pats on the back, hugs and kisses that I can get. This year my family took the celebration to the next level. I was travelling on business on February 29th. I got back home late that evening and was greeted with a “Happy Birthday” banner in the garage on the wall in the bay where I park. When I went into the house, there was a gift bag on the counter and I was told I could open it. There was a nice gift inside. I was also told not to throw away the bag because it would have a new gift in it each day. I was told that some would be better than others. As of this writing I will say that each day’s gift has been great in it’s own way. So far the most unique gift has been the jawbone of an ass.

Instruments

Buying a Guitar

Sometimes it seems like I’ve had this guitar forever. You know how it is, sometimes something happens and you remember the circumstances around how you acquired something. Something that happened yesterday reminded me of the things that happened when I was purchasing this guitar. Because the things that happened are related to my latest CD project I thought now would be a great time to share them with you.