Andrew Caracature/ And others

[artist4perry]

What I really wanted to do was piano... but I knew better than to ask for that.

It's never too late to learn.

Yeah. I tried to self-teach when I was about 17. Got me a tiny keyboard and Michael Jackson sheet music book. I can't read music, but I put letters on the keyboard. Learned to play (one-handed, since I can't comprehend the bass clef) EVH's intro to "Beat It" (have you ever noticed that I air-key that one in the car? LOL) and half assed- learned the intro to "Faithfully".

Guitar's definitely easier than piano to self-teach I think. It reallly is never too late though, and that's what's awesome about playing music. My other activity I was proud of and put a ton of work into was athletic, and that can only go down with age - music skill won't unless I stop practicing.

I think guitar is easier too. My REAL love would be drums. But I'm not coordinated enough to do 4 things at once (no comments from the damn peanut gallery!!). My sister tried drums at one point... she said it's definitely a lot harder than you think... so I'll stick to my incorrect left foot lead bass drum while driving.

About two years ago, I was *this* close to getting me a guitar and taking lessons. Hmm. Might be time to revisit that idea.

I got a great deal on mine. I went into the music shop to buy a simple beginning guitar and amp. I looked at these Starcasters I believe, but being left handed it is hard to get a guitar in a color I wanted. I wanted a cobalt blue one. So we ordered one. Two months go by, no guitar, and I had already paid for it! The guy who owned the shop explained that the company does not get many requests for left handed guitars..............he said I will make you a great deal though, since you have been so good about the wait, and they will probably put this on backburner forever............ He said I have a fender stratocaster........with dual humbucklers............ left handed...........the guy bought it then could not afford to pay for it, and since I don't sell many of these and it is a purple wine color............I won't be able to sell it..........I will give it to you for the 250 dollars, and throw in the amp and chords. This guitar he told me was worth 750. I said sold! I won't part with it! I love my guitar. But, it will take me getting lessons or a chord book to learn. Next agenda I guess!

[brywool]

That's a great story! Kinda like those "Well, they were getting divorced and the wife got the Porsche and wanted to stick it to her ex, so she sold it to me for 50.00" stories. Very Cool.

Is it a Mexican Strat or is it a US one?

On guitar, piano, etc...

I think that piano is easier because it's more linier (up and down). Guitar is more up and down and then sideways. I've been picking up the Bass lately for a tribute project and that is a blast. Especially learning to sing it and play it simultaneously. I also have to play piano in another tribute project because the keyboard player can't cover all the parts. It's not too bad. It's way fun learning new instruments! (I'm sure my wife is probably sick of it, but she doesn't let on). I had to learn mandolin for a duo project I was doing last year and that was also way cool, though so much different from guitar as far as tuning, that it really was hard to get the logic of it all. But totally fun.

With piano, I just look at the guitar chords above the music and play those on piano. I can read, but usually, we don't have all day to get through the song! So I just do that. Learn the basic piano chords, then just look at the chords written above the staff on the sheet music. I seem to remember some Public TV guy teaching a similar method. You really should learn it right, but if you just want to play for fun "or to entertain at parties" (as all the tv stuff says), that's a good way to go. I'll be doing that in my situation and it'll work nicely.

[artist4perry]

[bluejeangirl76]

Screw it. I'm taking kazoo lessons.

[StevePerryHair]

I wish I had learned to play something:( I can't afford to now! I have $45 a week (which I hear is cheap) tied up in 3 kids playing. 1 French horn, 2 piano, and 1 drum lessons. They play multiple things. I learn to enjoy their talent

[brywool]

What the hell's wrong with it?? It's all backwards!!!

(I read the original post. Just messing with ya)

Looks like it might be a MexiStrat. If you look up on the neck under "Stratocaster" is should say "Made in...."
I have a MexiStrat and Telecaster. I like both of them quite a bit. The Strat neck has a lot of the finish coming off, so it has a really Clapton, beat up look to it. That's fine though. Sounds good, plays great.

Matt had a post a while back where peeps were posting their instruments... I've got a bunch.
I love guitars just as art. They're like cars too me. Very cool looking.

[Angel]

I played clarinet and piano in high school but when I wasn't forced to do it everyday, other things got in the way and I haven't played in years-I'm not sure I could even read music anymore.

[artist4perry]

Screw it. I'm taking kazoo lessons.

Nope.............girl, I learned a long time ago, regrets are ugly things.

Look..........back when my kids were little, my ex bought me a beautiful used accoustic Fender. It looked like new. The former owner took excellent care of it. I had always wanted a guitar, and so he suprised me........nice huh? I thought so, he normally forgot my birthdays, and ran to a convenience store to buy some last minute crap off of the nick nack shelf once he realized he had forgotten........usually not till he had seen cards and presents sent to me by my family.

I was so happy! It made up for all the crappy birthays, and christmases before. About a month later............Desert Storm was happening. He was a soldier, and said he wanted to go see his mom and dad in Indy..........by himself, just in case he got deployed. So he asked me to sell my guitar. I felt sorry for him........and I let him sell it. The new owner was elated......it was a very nice guitar for what he bought it for..........he paid 100 dollars.........he sold it for 400. He went to see his parents in Indy. Come to find out they were never going to be deployed...........he knew it.


Dan said he would never let me sell my new guitar, it was my baby, and he knew how much I scrimped and saved for it.......how much I wanted to learn. I love Danny! Even when we had car trouble and the air conditioner broke down he would not let me sell it. That is love.

[artist4perry]

Brywool........it says made in Mexico...........must be a Mexistrat. I still love it. It might not be the best, but it is the best I have ever had.

[brywool]

Brywool........it says made in Mexico...........must be a Mexistrat. I still love it. It might not be the best, but it is the best I have ever had.

Nah, it's a good one. The Mexi's are pretty decent. For my Telecastar, I dropped in a new pickup and love it. They just play well. I've got Les Paul's and Rickenbacker's too, but the Fender necks are my favorites.

[artist4perry]

Brywool........it says made in Mexico...........must be a Mexistrat. I still love it. It might not be the best, but it is the best I have ever had.

Nah, it's a good one. The Mexi's are pretty decent. For my Telecastar, I dropped in a new pickup and love it. They just play well. I've got Les Paul's and Rickenbacker's too, but the Fender necks are my favorites.

My hands are small, and I can reach around and put my thumb on the other side of the neck to play the other string on the far side. It is great for me, I just wanted something to accompany me on simple tunes.

[Ehwmatt]

That's a great story! Kinda like those "Well, they were getting divorced and the wife got the Porsche and wanted to stick it to her ex, so she sold it to me for 50.00" stories. Very Cool.

Is it a Mexican Strat or is it a US one?

On guitar, piano, etc...

I think that piano is easier because it's more linier (up and down). Guitar is more up and down and then sideways. I've been picking up the Bass lately for a tribute project and that is a blast. Especially learning to sing it and play it simultaneously. I also have to play piano in another tribute project because the keyboard player can't cover all the parts. It's not too bad. It's way fun learning new instruments! (I'm sure my wife is probably sick of it, but she doesn't let on). I had to learn mandolin for a duo project I was doing last year and that was also way cool, though so much different from guitar as far as tuning, that it really was hard to get the logic of it all. But totally fun.

With piano, I just look at the guitar chords above the music and play those on piano. I can read, but usually, we don't have all day to get through the song! So I just do that. Learn the basic piano chords, then just look at the chords written above the staff on the sheet music. I seem to remember some Public TV guy teaching a similar method. You really should learn it right, but if you just want to play for fun "or to entertain at parties" (as all the tv stuff says), that's a good way to go. I'll be doing that in my situation and it'll work nicely.

See Bry, I could pick up piano that way and I definitely have the ear to do so... but I need someone or something to teach me basic technique at least.

When I first got a guitar as a little kid, I took 6 months of lessons, which was at least enough to learn the very basics. It's also a lot easier to study your favorite guitar players techniques since you can see the fret and picking hands as they play, as opposed to seeing a good pianist on film since the camera angles generally don't allow for study of their technique.

[brywool]

See Bry, I could pick up piano that way and I definitely have the ear to do so... but I need someone or something to teach me basic technique at least.

When I first got a guitar as a little kid, I took 6 months of lessons, which was at least enough to learn the very basics. It's also a lot easier to study your favorite guitar players techniques since you can see the fret and picking hands as they play, as opposed to seeing a good pianist on film since the camera angles generally don't allow for study of their technique.

I guess for the piano, I don't see a lot of technique that I can't figure out. Speed would be nice, but I've never been a speedy player on any instrument. Maybe because I have a lot of bad habits that wouldn't have been there with proper lessons. For guitar, I think I did have a few lessons as a kid, but nothing that lasted long at all. I should say, I'm NOT a lead guy really, but I'm a good rhythm player. If I wanted to be a lead guitarist, I would probably get back into lessons.
Actually, I did do this about 15 years ago (man, time flies...). I was in a 3 piece and was the guitarist, so I wanted to get to be a better lead guy. I took a few lessons. The guy I worked with had worked with Ray Charles and showed me some great stuff, but nothing really as far as a lot of theory. Things became a bit more clear then, but I'm still not a speedy player.

[Ehwmatt]

See Bry, I could pick up piano that way and I definitely have the ear to do so... but I need someone or something to teach me basic technique at least.

When I first got a guitar as a little kid, I took 6 months of lessons, which was at least enough to learn the very basics. It's also a lot easier to study your favorite guitar players techniques since you can see the fret and picking hands as they play, as opposed to seeing a good pianist on film since the camera angles generally don't allow for study of their technique.

I guess for the piano, I don't see a lot of technique that I can't figure out. Speed would be nice, but I've never been a speedy player on any instrument. Maybe because I have a lot of bad habits that wouldn't have been there with proper lessons. For guitar, I think I did have a few lessons as a kid, but nothing that lasted long at all. I should say, I'm NOT a lead guy really, but I'm a good rhythm player. If I wanted to be a lead guitarist, I would probably get back into lessons.
Actually, I did do this about 15 years ago (man, time flies...). I was in a 3 piece and was the guitarist, so I wanted to get to be a better lead guy. I took a few lessons. The guy I worked with had worked with Ray Charles and showed me some great stuff, but nothing really as far as a lot of theory. Things became a bit more clear then, but I'm still not a speedy player.

I'm just talking about basics, like hand positioning and stuff. I suppose I can read it in a book, but I just don't have the patience right now. I have so little time to get better at guitar (which I could use a lot of improvement with), that i'd feel bad not working at that while struggling to plink out a few basic piano chords. When I do self-recordings, I can do just enough to lay down string pads or an occasional piano chord on my MIDI controller.

[artist4perry]

[Saint John]

Nice shells, Moonie.

[artist4perry]

Nice shells, Moonie.

I can draw you with some if you want!

[Rockindeano]

Gingy,

why don't you create a true masterpiece- a group picture with everyone and their traits. Well, feel free to leave RobbieG out of it.

[artist4perry]

Why is it when people stare,
they act like you don't see them there.
It is so cute how they watch me work,
and are afraid I would go berserk.
The truth be told I never mind,
their comments are most often kind.
And when I draw so long you see,
a break would be a help to me.
So if at Starbucks you find me there,
say hello and talk, I will not care! -Ginger G.

[artist4perry]

Gingy,

why don't you create a true masterpiece- a group picture with everyone and their traits. Well, feel free to leave RobbieG out of it.

When I get a chance Deano..........it would take some time. There is a great number of folks here. Some may or may not want theirs done, so I would have to know they don't mind. You and Robbie need to work this thing out! LOL!

I would have to put multiple Dean's...........your personality is all over the place! LOL!

[Ratgirl]

Nice shells, Moonie.

I can draw you with some if you want!

I say DO IT!

[Rockindeano]

Why is it when people stare,
they act like you don't see them there.
It is so cute how they watch me work,
and are afraid I would go bezurk.
The truth be told I never mind,
their comments are most often kind.
And when I draw so long you see,
a break would be a help to me.
So if at Starbucks you find me there,
say hello and talk, I will not care! -Ginger G.

How does one go bezurk? I have gone absolutely fucking berserk before, but never have I gone bezurk.

[Rockindeano]

You and Robbie need to work this thing out! LOL!

As soon as Hillary makes love to Ahmadinejad, we will.

[artist4perry]

Why is it when people stare,
they act like you don't see them there.
It is so cute how they watch me work,
and are afraid I would go bezurk.
The truth be told I never mind,
their comments are most often kind.
And when I draw so long you see,
a break would be a help to me.
So if at Starbucks you find me there,
say hello and talk, I will not care! -Ginger G.

How does one go bezurk? I have gone absolutely fucking berserk before, but never have I gone bezurk.

It happens when someone constantly makes fun of your spelling............the desire to pummel.....throttle...........LOL! Thank you Miss Deano! LOL! Mispelled...........

[Saint John]

You and Robbie need to work this thing out! LOL!

As soon as Hillary makes love to Ahmadinejad, we will.

Having to fuck that Pinocchio-looking bitch would make Steven Hawking stand up, straighten up and run like hell.

[Moon Beam]

Just wonderful woman!, thank you so much Ginger.

[Moon Beam]

Nice shells, Moonie.

At least it stops em from sagging.

[Lora]

Very sweet and that pretty much sums it up. I showed the drawing to Cookie as he was walking all over the keyboard of my laptop and he was very impressed.

[Babyblue]

Very sweet and that pretty much sums it up. I showed the drawing to Cookie as he was walking all over the keyboard of my laptop and he was very impressed.

That is just so cool!!!!!

[artist4perry]

Very sweet and that pretty much sums it up. I showed the drawing to Cookie as he was walking all over the keyboard of my laptop and he was very impressed.

Well, that makes my day that Cookie likes it! Thank you Lora, for all the kindness you showed me through the years. I think the world of you.