Over the past few years I have attempted to learn how to play the guitar. In this last try, I took a break for a couple of months to get holiday gifts finished. This time around, it feels like I have forgotten so much of the music I had already learned.
I learned how to read music many years ago and prefer reading the notes as opposed to reading tablature; which I have recently learned how to do. Everything seems all upside down and backwards.
A neighbour was in awe at my playing since I am a left handed player and I don’t have a left handed guitar nor has mine been restrung. I play just like Sir Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix – flip it upside down and play. But that isn’t the only challenge for me. I have small hands and find it very difficult to play chords – I have decided not to bother. :) I tell people that if they want me to play chords then we are going to have to go Jeff Healy – he was a Canadian rock musician who was blind and played the guitar by laying it on his lap.
My musical preference for playing is Classical and Celtic. I would like to learn some Spanish and Flamenco music but that will have to wait until I am much better at playing. So, playing melodies instead of chords is no big deal. Now, if I can just learn how to play more than one note at a time. 🙂
Admittedly, I am probably doing all kinds of things incorrectly. I have started playing a right handed guitar upside down and prefer to keep it that way. I don’t play chords and prefer not to use a pick, because I want to “feel” the strings – it makes it easier for me to find the right strings/notes.
Right now I am doing everything on my own with a few video lessons and just picking a piece of music and learning how to play it. My neighbour, who is also a musician, would her me practice; but the only “people” that get to hear me play are my teddy bears and baby dolls.
I may be doing lots of things wrong, but I enjoy learning pieces and feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally learn the piece; especially when it is something like “Ashokan Farewell” – a Civil War piece.