Besides sewing, knitting, and photography...I have added another hobby to my ever growing list of things I enjoy doing. I am teaching myself how to play a classical guitar. So far, I have learned to play Jingle Bells and Love Me Tender. I am actually reading & playing the music notes.
Okay, so how did this start?
The classical guitar has been in my family for at least 35 years. One of my DBs originally brought it. I remember when I was in my pre-teens, I picked it up and played a few notes (not knowing what they were). I picked up my DB's Alfred's Beginning Guitar book and learned a few notes. I ended up learning to play first few notes of Dueling Banjos and Scarborough Fair. Did I just age myself? That was the end of my young guitar playing career.
Now, here I am with the guitar in my possession. It has moved with me through the years and left in many basements. I made contact with the guitar when the hot water heater broke late last year & we had a tiny flood. I scooped it up before water could damage it. This guitar had developed broken strings over the years (from aging) and remained that way until last month. My DB#2 replaced the strings for me.
Okay, so how did I learn to read music?
A few years ago, DB#2 told me that since I type really, really fast...I should be able to play the piano/keyboard. I know it sounded ridiculous! But hey, what the heck...both of my DBs know how to play electric guitar and I was the only one without any music talent or instrument. So, I picked up a Yamaha keyboard (really good deal). I taught myself to read music and learned the keys on my Yamaha. I started out with Christmas songs...you never forget those famous tunes that stay in your head forever. I ended up playing tunes from The Sound of Music using both hands on the keyboard. It was a long struggle and a huge milestone.
Relearning how to read music didn't take me long. I'm just struggling with learning where to place my fingers on the strings of my old/new guitar.
Naturally, I'm now thinking about sewing a guitar case to protect my dear old friend. See, it didn't take me long to figure out a way to get my sewing hobby mixed in with my music hobby.
3 comments:
I say go for it! You're never too old to learn something new, right?
WOW! That's excellent! Where do you find the time!?!?
Your DH is right! It's all in the fingers. My keyboarding/typing skills are topnotch (a Bus. Ed. Typing and Keyboarding teacher in my "former" life ;) ) AND I was an excellent guitar student in my youth/teens. My fingers just glided from chord to chord effortlessly and finger picking was also a breeze.
Sadly, the last time I played guitar was at 16, but one never forgets the chords. Kind of like walking IMO. Once you have it, it's always there.
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