Thought for the Day, July 20,00

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: bob jr
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 10:56 PM

ever sold one of your instruments? i did once when i was young and i think all the time about where its gone and what it is up to i should never have done that we had a good relationship and i betrayed it.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Marion
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 10:46 PM

Just for the sake of anyone who remembers my contribution to the "Boys won't date girls who smoke" thread - rest assured, I haven't been smoking anything.

All you have to do, Spaw, is get a little French with your instruments, and there may be surprises in the varnish.

Marion

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:58 PM

We all have relationships with things which are important and I think everyone gets pretty attached at times and there are some good points on both of these threads, but Marion my dear I was wondering if you have any of that stuff you're smokin' that you could send me? Maybe just a sample? **BG**

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:50 PM

Good point Marion, I guess I still have the mind set of a newly-wed. And my current banjo has never been in a relationship before. Comes from a good family though, the Deering family. Fine reputation they have I must add.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Marion
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:27 PM

Banjo Bonnie wrote: "The only thing that is different this time is I don't think my banjo plans to walk out on me."

Am I the only one with an irrational fear that one of my instruments will walk out on me?

My guitar used to be with Randy, but it left him; it used to be with Will, but it left him; and it used to be with Mercy, but it left her. I don't know what its history before Randy was. But it seems possible that the universe might take this guitar out of my hands too.

Maybe I care more about this guitar than Randy, Will, or Mercy did, and can keep it with me as an act of my own will. But maybe I've been reading Tolkien too much, or watching "The Red Violin" too much, but I have this sense that instruments have their own lives and destinies to fulfill, and just might find their way into other hands despite my will.

Generally I enjoy letting other people play my instruments, especially if they're good players or if they have nice things to say about my instruments, but if my guitar spends too much time in another person's hands, I get antsy and want it back. I think this is basically a primitive fear that my guitar will leave me and go to be with the other person.

Marion

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: sophocleese
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:10 PM

Maybe that's part of the reason people think of singers as distinct from musicians. They are single instrument musicians. A guitarist has a favourite, or several, well-loved instruments but a singer has one voice and, generally, that's all they ever have in their lifetime. Would be kind of neat though to experiment, try a little trill on 'those' notes in one voice and then see how it sounds when you borrow your friend's voice at a session. Kiri Te Kanawa (sp?) and Janis Joplin trying out their individual repetoire in each other's voices.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Dee45
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 07:50 PM

Musicians feel a special bond with their instruments.

Much in the same way a person has a trademark baseball cap they always wear; or a particular late model car they've restored and drive with pride, a child attached to a particular blanket or teddy, or even a particular pair of rubber boots one puts on while doing chores on the farm.

It helps define our identity to those things we hold true, and to things we are inextricably tied to for their innate beauty, the security they provide, and the magic we can bring out of them or what they in turn can bring out of us.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 07:35 PM

Well I have been playing for over a year now and to me it is more like establishing a new relationship after you have decided to seriously commit to it.
I am going through all the stages as I have in my past romantic life. The only thing that is different this time is I don't think my banjo plans to walk out on me.
And personally, I don't plan to walk out on it either.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Catrin
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 06:03 PM

Once I had a saxaphone. I spent a year or so learning how to play it and became fairly proficient (well, sort of) at playing 'summertime'. I fell into hard times and sold it to a friend. I don't think I have ever forgiven myself. I carry the guilt round with me to this day, and still go through the 'what ifs' so often felt by bereaved people. - That was twenty years ago - 'what if...' etc.

Catrin

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 05:53 PM

Musical instruments to me have a useful beauty - they are practical art. Almost like a painting you can take off the wall and that you've taught to walk. I understand that it's difficult to understand our obsessions - to many others it must be like listening to a foreign language. As Louis Armstrong said when someone asked him to define jazz - "If you have to ask the question you won't understand the answer".

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 05:51 PM

I was going to say "it can also be a canoe paddle"......but, for me learning the guitar (and banjo) was the first time I ever had any actual sense of accomplishment. Up til that time ('bout age 16) the only (and I mean only) things I ever took any self pride in were drawing and playing baseball...and I saw both of those things as being lucky accidents and not the result of any actual learning of a skill. Without the instruments I would have had a much less interesting life, although I know I overdo their importance. Really it's just so much fun. Don't worry Prof. Pete I won't try and talk you into buying a Martin.

Rick

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 05:50 PM

You think that's bad Peter, you should see me and my prized 10-cent guitar pick that no other pick will come close to, not even copies of it...they just don't feel right...

--Mbo

Subject: Thought for the Day, July 20,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 05:37 PM

Late today, sorry.

Prompted by the "Sad Goodbye To An Old Friend" thread -- I have been looking for the dividing line between a card-carrying musician and a non-musician (a dope like me) ever since I got here, and today I got a big hint. Total obsession with your instruments, past, present, and future is critical. I thought this was merely Rick Fielding and a few Martin guitar fetishists -- turns out the whole place is a seething mass of instrument fetishists. I am duty bound to say that while I like the things, this sexual frenzy, sentimentality, nostalgia, and longing for that guitar which will never be, is completely alien to me (I save it for other things). They seem to be pet, lover, friend, historical marker, security blanket, torment, all in one....Maybe one day.....