What should I do if my neighbor plays guitar and sometimes has his band mates over to play (loud bluegrass/folk) music for hours each week? I’m doing my MBA and work from home when I’m not traveling for work, and it’s very distracting.
If your neighbor and his mates are playing guitar music loudly
and bluegrass music (ugh) is the style of tune they play so proudly
You could ask him (real polite like) for his lads to turn it down-
between say, 10 o’clock and 6 a.m. when you’re not out of town.You could tell him of your studies and your serious intent.
How an MBA requires – no- demands! – long hours spent
in quiet contemplation, focused solely on the task.
Perhaps he’ll see your side! (you know, it doesn’t hurt to ask)But barring that my friend, there are two other choices.
One light, one dark. One heaven-sent,
one spawned by hellish voices. So:Purchase a guitar and knock politely on his door.
And when that door is opened, well- that’s a metaphor
for expanding your horizons, enjoying life – l’chaim!
(the MBA work might wait a bit, for just a little time)My alternate suggestion’s simply horrifying, mate.
Not for the faint-of-heart. In fact, it’s difficult to state.
There is one sound that most all humans dread;
whether Verdi floats your boat or your thing’s the Grateful Dead.Purchase one of these.
And when the time is ripe –
Crush your neighbor’s sanity…
practice […]
How hard is it to learn the acoustic guitar and how much time will it take learning it on your own (I mean to be able to play full length songs including riffs, strumming, etc.)?
It depends! :-)
Start with hand-friendly chords, a simple 3-chord song and a patient friend who already knows how to do this part pretty well. Mix in a little determination, a standard portion of hand-eye coordination and a reasonably good “ear” (meaning you can hear when the notes sound correct. Bake for 2 to 3 hours. Et voila!
One serious thing though- the process is more important than the result. Although this is hard to imagine when you’re starting out, it’s true. Enjoy your adventure!!!
For a guitar student, All obstacles become stepping stones
Stand By Your Man lead sheet with lyrics
“Stand by Your Man” is a song recorded by the American country music artist Tammy Wynette, co-written by Wynette and Billy Sherrill. It was released on September 20, 1968, as the first single and title track from the album Stand by Your Man. It proved to be the most successful record of Wynette’s career, and is one of the most familiar songs in country music. The song was placed at number one on CMT’s list of the Top 100 Country Music Songs.
Released as a 7-inch 45 rpm single, it was reported added to some jukeboxes and receiving airplay on select American R&B and country radio stations by October 12, and it entered the Billboard charts on October 19. The song stayed number 1 on the U.S. country charts for three weeks. “Stand by Your Man” crossed over to the U.S. pop charts, peaking at number 19. It elevated Wynette—then one of many somewhat successful female country recording artists—to superstar status. It reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart when the record was released in the United Kingdom in 1975, and also reached number 1 in the Netherlands. An album of the same name—which was also quite successful—was released in 1968. The song earned Wynette […]
Armadillo lead sheet and lyrics
In the Navy, I knew a fella who noticed that roadkill was different, depending on what part of the country you were in. He proposed that a road trip in a car with a trunk and backseat full of coolers full of roadkill might be fun from say, west Texas to Flushing New York, depositing armadillo roadkill that didn’t belong there at points east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Was this art? Stupid, weed-and-testosterone-fueled idiocy? Biological terrorism? I don’t know. But his proposition resulted in this song… and I should point out that for your own good, I’d strongly caution you not to take any of the culinary advice I’m offering here seriously. If you’ve never tasted this particular kind of animal that’s a good thing and you can google-confirm the reason for that if you like, but in a nutshell: Besides humans, Nine-banded armadillos are the only known natural reservoir of “Mycobacterium Leprae”. In the southern United States, particularly in Texas and Louisiana, the disease caused by M. leprae is present in armadillos and has been linked to human cases of “Hansons disease”- also called – does anybody know? Yep, that’s leprosy, ladies and gents. So if you see a roadside taco stand featuring […]
You can’t repel a moose in love by blowing through a tuba
especially when you’re visiting the island of Aruba
carib moose are not as rare as one might first have thought
tempted to bring your tuba there I’m recommending not
your caribbean moose and your caribbean bear
your caribbean bigfoot are also fairly rare
that’s not to say they can’t be found in re-mote island spots
likely drinking fancy cocktails and smoking primo pot
but travel to the islands there are thing you should not bring there…
your saxophone? you bet! make that caribbean swing there!
your sandals and your snorkle ‘course! your sun block and your phone
but do yourself a favor mate and leave your tuba home
beware beware the caribbean moose
he’s looking for a paramour and wild from jungle juice
if you but make the slightest sound that makes him think you’re game
well that’s on you my friend and I refuse to take the blame
beware! beware. beware!
“A student is almost always motivated to practice if he leaves his lessons feeling capable”. -Frances Clark
“Witchcraft” is a popular song from 1957 composed by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh.
Frank Sinatra recorded “Witchcraft” three times in a studio setting. The first recording was in 1957, for his single release, and was later released on his compilation album All the Way (1961). Sinatra re-recorded “Witchcraft” for 1963’s Sinatra’s Sinatra, and finally recorded it as a duet with Anita Baker for Duets (1993).
“All the great guitarists have a spirit–a way they play and don’t play.” – Eddie Martinez
Why do stringed instruments have tuning pegs?
To keep the strings from tangling
We peg them in their places.
Or else they’d drag across the ground
like bad behaved shoelaces.The other ends we twist ’em tight!
around each tuning post
well not too tight- but just enough-
to E A D G B and E at most.“But some guitars have more” you say!
And that, my friend is true.
But six or seven or ninety-nine
you’ll make them all sound extra fine
if you can keep them all in line-
that’s what your pegs will do!
For a guitar student, All obstacles become stepping stones
For Kathy
chords, notation, guitar tabs.
Do you know that if I was buttonholed on the street and asked point blank “who’s the nicest person you know?” I’d have the answer to hand, without even thinking about it. It’s my sister-in-law Kathy Ramsay. I’ve known that for quite a while too; I wrote this a few years ago with her in mind.
Many philosophies stress that the guitar is a conduit for the soul. Shredding scales or chasing sheer technicality means nothing if the music lacks emotional weight. The subtlety of a single bent note or a well-placed chord can say more than a thousand notes
Is it a bad thing that I have been playing guitar for 10 years and know virtually nothing about music theory? Would it be harder for me to learn it at this point?
It’s not a bad thing, imho. James Taylor said famously “I don’t read music, I don’t write music. I just wander around on the guitar until something presents itself”. You’re probably pretty creative and have a decent ear. You can hear how some things fit together better than others and you’re willing to experiment until you get something that sounds nice. Am I right?
That said, if you learn a little theory and can attach it to what you already know, you’ll move light years ahead! I mean it. Find a teacher or a book or an online system. Whatever works for you can help fill in some of the gaps in your music head. You’re asking if that will be hard; it will be easier if you can start making connections right away to what you already know. Take small bites at first. And if it’s any help at all, know that we (guitar players) are all on the same path.
Best luck to you, fellow guitar player!
“Playing the guitar is like telling the truth – you never have to worry about repeating the same lie […]
