Svengali Navigating forums can be tricky for newbies, such as me. Hope this finds its way to the intended introductions section. I've just joined. I'm a classicaly trained piano nerd flirting with the coolness factor from guitar hero land, recreationally. I do mainly my own songs which is sort of old schooly, jazzy, experimental. I like coming up with something uniquely me in letting myself be led by diverse influences, including folk tradition and classical voice leading rules. (Some of my songs use chords containing up to six seven different notes [need the help of the bassist]) I own a Yamaha LL6 acoustic, a 60th aniversary american tele, a Roland JC-120 and a Peavey Classic 50 212. (For those interested: also an upright Grotrian Steinweg Piano, a Yamaha Electric violin [which I'm better at playing than the old guitar] an assortment of harmonicas and the Yamaha P250 stage piano). Looking forward to some interesting discussions and - especially- widening of knowledge
PeteM Hi Svengali... not a bad idea to come and slum it with the guitarists... we have a few tricks up our sleeves. ?
Tonedef PeteM wrote Hi Svengali... not a bad idea to come and slum it with the guitarists... we have a few tricks up our sleeves. ? You can fit plasma cannons up your sleeves? ???
singemonkey Welcome. Always good to have a few more trained musicians to keep us wannabes humble. Sounds like you're nicely set up gear wise. p.s. One of the mods - Renesongs - is another JC120 owner.
Svengali This is not an excuse, I know, but classical training (much as I love the music I mainly do) can really hamper you in other departments. Can't seem to loosen up enough to shake it a bit. LOL
singemonkey Svengali wrote This is not an excuse, I know, but classical training (much as I love the music I mainly do) can really hamper you in other departments. Can't seem to loosen up enough to shake it a bit. LOL Have you listened to Thelonius Monk?
Svengali Know what, I'll be honest here. I appreciate expertise and skill in any field, but my knowledge of jazz is very limited: I own exactly one (double ?) jazz CD by Oscar Peterson. I love it and a lot of what I've heard on the radio, but I don't know my Thelonious Monk from my Gregorian Chant (not quite true). I find that ny interests are just so wide I have to limit myself. And once I get into something....! I discovered his Royal Bob-ness when still at school. Didn't get into him like people often get into the likes of Dylan, The Doors, etc based on reputation; first song I heard of him was his croaking of Froggy went a-courtin' from Good As I've Been To You somewhere in the 80's and fell in love with his voice (some would say his weak spot) straight away. Then I had to have every single record of his. Problem with that was I already couldn't keep up with the vast number of Classical CD's I needed to get hold of and THAT is still ongoing! I think it is much the same with jazz lovers. Funny thing is, the last four or so of Dylan's album releases are 50% blue and 50% very old jazz to my ears (of course not being able to differentiate between every style there is). Apart from that I also like Southern (black) Gospel, Funky vibes a la Jamiroqui, plain good ol' Rock (although only certain strains of it). On the one side I can appreciate what might be termed as Campus Rock such as Semisonic and on the other some cleverly experimental alternative stuff like the Pixies used to be (if you're adventurous check out the Belgian band, dEUS). I think, simply put, I like good melody and for the tone of the instruments to shine through as well as a bit of inventfulness. I DON'T like pretence! (Not into th seventies Avant Garde thing at all) Not enough money and time to discover everything, but some of my favourite CD's were recommended by friends and I will definately get back to you on the Thelonious Monk (his name keeps popping up in conversations since my student days). Hope to discover some fascinating guitar playing through this forum too.
