Another Hobby...Am I Crazy?

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.