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I wish I'd committed to learning an instrument years ago. My new love...

Chock Full o Nuts

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...don't tell the wife.. Nah, she knows, and down with it

I've always been one to 'get into' music. Follow those instruments and notes and hear the talent. Not just bob my head.

But never thought I could pull it off. See buddies play whatever in many years past. Tear it up.
I pick up and pick around a minute?.. Yeah, ^%&# this..

My chosen, banjo. The rolls, pulls, plucks , hammers, and just the sound. Love it.
Though I could be listening to Maiden at one minute(or 2 minutes) and picking banjo the next.

Got a couple tunes pretty well down with little thought. It just happens! I got 6 fingers just doing it!

Muscle memory is amazing. Your brain's got this. Just relax and let it do its thing.

Working on Country Roads now, but didn’t watch it all before embarking and having about a third of it down.
"Didn't tell me I had to do all that!"
This might take a little bit..

Kinda get lost in it. Did someone say something?

I wish I had stuck with my passing interest close to 30 years ago.
But it took laid up for 2 months with a bum leg for me to say "ima get another banjo."

It went passing as I got back to work, but is now back with a vengeance.

Absolutely love it.
Like when someone who hasn't done LSD asks you how it feels to do LSD?
I can't explain it...
 
Years ago, when our kids were young, they took piano lessons from a local person. Vicki was a great teacher, and they learned a lot.

Vicki's passion, though, was the banjo. She played with at least one local group (can't remember the name).

Glad you've found that instrument again.

"Absolutely love it." As I recall, that's how Vicki felt about banjo-playing. (Apologies if that's not the correct term.)
 
Just got that sound and rhythm. Wife and live in mom said "oh god!" When I stated my intentions.

That foots tappin', who's laughing now?

Live isn't "paddle faster!"
 
Chock Full o Nuts said:
Just got that sound and rhythm. Wife and live in mom said "oh god!" When I stated my intentions.

That foots tappin', who's laughing now?

Live isn't "paddle faster!"
Click to expand...
"Foot tapping"....that's what I think of (and do) when I hear banjo playing.

Your wife and mom probably appreciate your playing.
 
Glad you have rediscovered your musical talent! Always nice to see non-political, personal stories... even in a political forum.

I've also been into music all my life. I played the piano at one point in time. In the 80's, 90's and 00's, I was an amateur DJ. I first spun records, then CDs. I have many mixes on cassette and CD. I don't think I could go back though. Everything is done through computer and there is nothing like the feeling of speeding up or slowing down vinyl to match beats.

Congrats!
 
You are born with music skill, you either have it or you don't. The only way to find out is you have to try it. If you have it you're going to learn real quick. If you don't have it...you can practice forever and you'll still struggle.
 
The definition of perfect pitch is when you throw a banjo in a dumpster and it lands on an accordion
Click to expand...
doubt steve martin would approve of ^ that joke
but it is great to connect with an instrument. for me, it is the way i meditate
over 60 years playing and i am still a hack; more guitar owner than player
but, keep on playing
one of my favorite quotes:
"talking about music is like dancing about architecture"

no need to explain it. just play and enjoy being able to do so
 
I used to play guitar (acoustic because I could never grow the callouses for steel string or electric.) I enjoyed it but nobody else did. I quit when my girlfriend of the time (who played) smashed up my guitar. This on top of an event years earlier when someone broke into my house for no other reason that ... to smash up my guitar. I can take a hint.

I own a banjo actually. A gift from a friend. The only way I would consider playing it is if I decide to get lessons. Until then it's just decorative.
 

One of the most fun things about learning a musical instrument is seeing yourself get better and better at it over time. If you enjoy it, keep practicing. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t learn it as a kid. The most fun part is working hard and getting better at it. Enjoy the process. The mastery will come.

From the violin world:

 
Go to Jim Pankey on You Tube. Does a great job explaining and encouraging. 10 lesson series there teaches some tunes that get some basics down. Then plenty to choose from.
 
dmpi said:
You are born with music skill, you either have it or you don't. The only way to find out is you have to try it. If you have it you're going to learn real quick. If you don't have it...you can practice forever and you'll still struggle.
Click to expand...
That is so true, i love music and have played around for many years with Organs and keyboards, i still struggle but get much pleasure out of it, friend of mine who is a great keyboard player is a natural, semi professional, never had a lesson in his life, he just started when he was aged about 7 learning chords, that was it, no stopping him, he can hear a tune and just play it.
 
I sincerely hope to God you aren't with that girl anymore. Speaking as a musician, music is a uniquely personal thing. If she smashed your guitar, I hope you kicked her @$$ out of the house and out of your life. If you got enjoyment playing, who gives a flying **** if others enjoyed it or not.
 
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