That Crazy Beat
Think big.
Do something.
Keep it simple.
Stay focused.
Spending a lot of time working on Hendrix-style chords and embellishments…specifically “The Wind Cries Mary”.
The genius of Hendrix was that he always put the song first. It wasn’t just about his guitar playing. What a spectacular writer/composer.
His thumb-over-the-neck technique is really kicking my butt right now. Hands and fingers were not designed to stretch and bend that way.
I’m taking a new approach to loading up my iPhone music library. Instead of keeping several hundred albums at my fingertips, I’ve selected a limit of 20. I’ve noticed that I don’t appreciate the songs and subtleties of newer albums (post-iPod) as much as older records (pre-iPod).
I think it’s because I haven’t spent enough quality time with some of them. There are too many convenient choices that get in the way.
I’m going to use this space to keep a journal of my musical development/progress. Some people may find it interesting to follow a musician’s progress and development. Really, I just want to keep a journal for myself with a visible target. I’m just starting to develop as a guitar player. However, I continue to suffer from the social disease known as rock-n-roll and need to scratch that itch. So here goes.
Drumroll please…
My goals for the next 12 months:
- Understand my creative influences. Why do I like the artists/songs that I gravitate towards?
- Write a few songs
- Start performing in a public space
I’ll be tracking my progress here. Stay tuned.
