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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 26, 2013 20:38:13 GMT
Santa was brilliant with tickets for the Eagles in May; the harmonica I want to learn as a new instrument; plus Harmonica for Dummies book!
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 21, 2013 9:10:07 GMT
I'm sorely tempted by the merkin, any chance if there's a Brazilian RW version? Also the toilet seat - is there a soundport option? No I don't think so.
But as you get older you might like to try the cutaway option. Make sure you get one with the truss rod adjuster.
(For the carry case option you have to prove that you are a royal descendent).
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 20, 2013 13:15:14 GMT
This is a very interesting post for me, possibly for different reasons than most others! (I hope).
June 27th 2013 found me on my way to hospital with paramedics and having 2 cardiac arrests in the ambulance on the way; all totally out of the blue. Unless this is a ghost writing, its obvious that I made it through thanks to the parameds and the great physicians at City Hospital Nottingham. I won't bore you all with the numerous medication things that are being balanced now. But, having gone through the full cardiac rehab program and exercising well there was one particular issue that I couldn't get to the bottom of.
If I was exercising quite hard (mainly fast walking) then, after about 2-3 months, my breathing was generally pretty much OK, or no worse than before. It seemed like exercise related breathing was no worry. But, breathing whilst singing to the guitar was not. It was a great measure as I knew there were various songs that required careful breath timing to get to the end of a phrase without having to stop (e.g. If you could Read my Mind; 'I don't know where we went wrong but the feelings gone and I just can't get it back' needs a good breath not to run out of puff at the end; and this was fine before June). But post heart attack I was finding I ran out of breath when singing after about half the normal (old) time.
Its slowly getting better (and one med change may be helping). But I wonder if this is something to do with the two different elements to singing that you are talking about i.e. the breathing part that is required for exercise is different to that required for singing.
I think its too late for me to start thinking about singing lessons (and I wasn't exactly Pavarotti to start with!) but if I can be cheeky and ask you to bounce this off your teacher for 2 minutes that would be great; if he says its 'nothing to do with it' then I can forget it.
And of course if there's anyone else out there who unfortunately has had a similar experience or knows about it I'd be interested to know; by PM if you wish so as not to hijack this excellent thread.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 19, 2013 20:44:24 GMT
How about the Forum logo on the top of these?
Attachments:
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 18, 2013 13:54:59 GMT
Kathy's Song is probably the PS song that we enjoy playing the most... It would be great to hear your version...maybe at the Plucky Duck...? +1 Love Kathy's Song I don't think we've had a PS [Paul Simon] project here [or before ] have we..? Maybe something for after the festivities.. Great thought, Andrew! I'm not sure what a 'project' involves but anything to do with S&G is thumbs up for me. I keep going back to Paul Simon's stuff all the time and seems even more so lately. Sorry about the
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 17, 2013 18:00:58 GMT
I haven't seen this mag before. I've subscribed to the e-news bit and got an email offering a free copy to look at which I will do and if the content is good will then subscribe.
Thanks for the tip off.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 15, 2013 15:34:07 GMT
Unbelievable, incomparable but a bit like marmite; who likes it and who doesn't?
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 13, 2013 18:20:23 GMT
My 'advice' is not going to help you do it!! So is it much use? You've got some great advice already which will help you.
My advice is simply to not beat yourself up about it if this is not a natural skill to you. You will learn it but might take more time than others. In the group of oldies I help, some are great at picking up rhythm (and pull me up when I do something different to what I said) whilst others just can't get it. Some can hear straight away when there is a chord change; surprisingly some can't and are having to learn it; some can tell you what the next chord might be after only a short period of time; a few may never 'get' this and will always need the chords written down for them or the tab. Some grasp the basics of transposing quickly; to others its like latin.
So the advice is that we're all good at some things and not at others. I've got a pretty good ear and can usually tell what's next, where it starts, nuances between 6ths, 7ths, major 7ths etc. That's my lucky bit. I can hear it. My unlucky bit is not being too good at actually PLAYING the damn stuff!
So, work your way through it; do what Keith says; just listen and listen and then try to work it out. Cheat after you've tried by using one of the many sites which give the answers, but not before you've tried hard without.
And don't worry, it'll suddenly/eventually just happen.
Good luck
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 12, 2013 17:17:15 GMT
Martin I always wanted to learn the accordion so I could play this I defy anyone to listen to the song and not tap their toes Love this album of Mark's and particularly the backing musicians. Still play it all the time.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 12, 2013 16:46:16 GMT
So who's going to join me?
I know its not a great step forward for mankind but I've asked for a harmonica for xmas and will try to learn to play it 'properly' (whatever that is). If I succeed I'll do a Plucky Duck post later in the year. Why do I want to do it? Just because I always wanted to 50 years ago and never did! How will I learn it? Hopefully with some youtube stuff and any guidance from other forumites!
Is anyone else going to branch out? If so in what direction; why; and how do you propose to learn it?
(Just playing a 'different' guitar doesn't count!!! )
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 7, 2013 16:41:44 GMT
If I'm in a hurry then it's just a case of getting it done asap, and I don't usually bother changing the plain steel strings unless I didn't do so at the last string change. Keith I have always changed the full set (which on 6 string is a labour of love , not so much so on the 12 string ). So I've wondered about whether its necessary to changed the non-wound pair. Would be interested to know whether others, like Keith here, leave these on longer and
a) is it their view that they don't lose their tone and b) do you therefore buy the wound strings as singles; and does this cost less or work out the same.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 6, 2013 16:08:33 GMT
Good thread and one which we all encounter I'm sure.
Like many things you are learning its a question of balance. You need to enjoy what you have achieved as well as trying to achieve more. So there's nothing wrong (and a whole lot right) in spending a lot of your time playing stuff you know well; and of course possibly adding a few embellishments that you've recently learnt from other stuff. Equally, throwing in both new songs that simply use the skills you've got; or new techniques that stretch you is important and, as above, will enhance your enjoyment of what you already do well.
Another thing I've learnt is that its important not to beat yourself up if you just can't do something. I'm not naturally talented at this wonderful instrument and my limitations are frustrating. For example, I have never cracked doing barre chords successfully (and believe me its not through lack of trying). So my developing skills include finding ways of playing things which avoid the damned things, but which still sound OK to me as work-rounds. I find this particularly useful in fingerstyle where you don't need the full barred notes anyway.
So, part of the learning curve is dealing with your own limitations and making the best of them! And above all, making sure you always enjoy it. It MUSN'T become a chore. Keep mixing it up; the good, the bad and the ugly. (Some days it seems ugly takes over a bit ....)
I sometimes surprise myself by trying a song a gave up on a few years ago and finding that I can now do it; that feels great!
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 5, 2013 20:28:42 GMT
I've bought from Strings Direct for many years; I once had a delivery which didn't arrive after about 4 days; contacted them and they immediately sent replacements. The original ones arrived about 3 weeks later and had obviously been lost by Royal Mail. No other problems. But no doubt every company has something that goes wrong. Having said that I don't use them for strings any more as they've added a postage charge which used to be free. I have recently used, via Amazon the following company and so far so good.
D&M Supplies
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 5, 2013 9:28:28 GMT
I started trying to play guitar a long time ago before youtube, websites etc and, as I was only trying to do some accompaniment, everything I did was from a chord 'shapes' little book (I've still got it!). Learn a shape, then learn another etc. I had no idea whatsoever of which note any string/fret represented and no knowledge at all about 1st, 4ths, 5ths in a progression; why a minor was a minor; or even what a 7th was (other than you put one of your fingers somewhere different). Everything else was by ear and working out the order of chords to fit a song tune, usually by trial and error.
And, 40 or so years on, whilst I've picked up a lot more generally since returning to guitar after a long break, I still couldn't tell you the names of most of the notes on the fretboard! And I've NEVER played a scale. Has that been a problem? I have managed fine without. But I am pretty sure that, if I'd done some more theory and practiced individual note work a lot earlier I would be a much better player now; I still do very little solo work, its all chord based.
So I suppose my answer is that you should try to learn the theory and do some theory based practice. But, the absolute rule must be to enjoy what you're doing and don't let anything stop you enjoying it. I remember having some piano lessons when I was in my early teens and hating it because I seemed to just be doing scales and arpeggios all the time. Put me off music for ages.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 3, 2013 15:27:13 GMT
Keith cost me a tenner too after introducing me to Lisa Hannigan [not in person sadly ]...I bought "Passenger"...John Smith guests on a couple of tracks...another fine album! Looks like Keith's bar bill at Halifax next year is growing by the minute ............
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