The Guilds of Grot
Enlightened Member
This was one!
What are your musical goals?
- Thread starter dreadnut
- Start date
JohnW63
Enlightened Member
Playing while sitting down?
JerryR
Enlightened Member
- Joined
- May 2, 2007
- Messages
- 7,632
- Reaction score
- 608
Or in my case - insane
Okko
Member
but we will play, don’t we?
The Guilds of Grot
Enlightened Member
No, that is me in the center. The guy on the right had broken his ankle and had surgery two weeks before the gig. (Notice the straight left leg which has a large cast on it!) Although it was difficult to maneuver onto the stage and he played in pain, he said: "I'm not missing a gig at the Pony!" It's Rock-n-Roll Baby!
spoox
Member
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- 734
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JerryR--
Or in my case - insane
I've got that covered too:
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
intro:
I'M SICK OF MODERN ROMANCE—MY SOCIAL LIFE'S A DUD
CHICKS I MEET ALL LOOK LIKE BJORK AND SOUND LIKE ELMER FUDD
LAST NIGHT I HAD AN OBE AND LEFT THIS EARTHLY PLANE
THEN REALIZED I HAD A MEANS TO END THIS DATING GAME:
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
FUZZY ST. JOHN WELL HE'S THERE TOO
I'M ALL IN BLACK, AND AT MY HIP
A COILED 20 FT. BLACK BULLWHIP
I'VE HAD SO MANY WIVES I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
ON THAT WORLD I'M A MOVIE STAR
AT THE DEW DROP INN I PLAY THE GUITAR
I'M ALL IN BLACK, AND AT MY HIP
A COILED 20 FT. BLACK BULLWHIP
I LOOK LIKE HUMPHREY BOGART, SOUND LIKE HIM TOO
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
GOOD-BYE MY FRIENDS AND HANGERS-ON
FORGIVE MY DEBTS—I'LL SOON BE GONE
I'M LEAVING SOON AND WON'T BE BACK
LAST THING YOU'LL HEAR IS A SUDDEN CRACK!
MY PRESENT LIFE IS UNFULFILLED, DULL AND UNTRUE
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
Or in my case - insane
I've got that covered too:
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
intro:
I'M SICK OF MODERN ROMANCE—MY SOCIAL LIFE'S A DUD
CHICKS I MEET ALL LOOK LIKE BJORK AND SOUND LIKE ELMER FUDD
LAST NIGHT I HAD AN OBE AND LEFT THIS EARTHLY PLANE
THEN REALIZED I HAD A MEANS TO END THIS DATING GAME:
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
FUZZY ST. JOHN WELL HE'S THERE TOO
I'M ALL IN BLACK, AND AT MY HIP
A COILED 20 FT. BLACK BULLWHIP
I'VE HAD SO MANY WIVES I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
ON THAT WORLD I'M A MOVIE STAR
AT THE DEW DROP INN I PLAY THE GUITAR
I'M ALL IN BLACK, AND AT MY HIP
A COILED 20 FT. BLACK BULLWHIP
I LOOK LIKE HUMPHREY BOGART, SOUND LIKE HIM TOO
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
GOOD-BYE MY FRIENDS AND HANGERS-ON
FORGIVE MY DEBTS—I'LL SOON BE GONE
I'M LEAVING SOON AND WON'T BE BACK
LAST THING YOU'LL HEAR IS A SUDDEN CRACK!
MY PRESENT LIFE IS UNFULFILLED, DULL AND UNTRUE
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
ON A PARALLEL EARTH I'M LASH LARUE
To those that don’t 
Groundwire
Member
This is such a great question. My main goal is to play as musically as possible while removing the mental divide between playing rhythm, and playing lead. I just want to play guitar in a musical, lyrical way.
Also: know my cord shapes all over the neck so I can drop into a chord wherever I am on the fretboard, and develop a deeper harmonic understanding. My chord progressions are mostly basic rock and blues stuff. When I listen to Tom Bukovac play an intro on an episode of Home Skoolin’, he makes these amazing progressions that have changes I’d never have though of, and they are so seamless even if they are unusual changes. Genius.
Also: know my cord shapes all over the neck so I can drop into a chord wherever I am on the fretboard, and develop a deeper harmonic understanding. My chord progressions are mostly basic rock and blues stuff. When I listen to Tom Bukovac play an intro on an episode of Home Skoolin’, he makes these amazing progressions that have changes I’d never have though of, and they are so seamless even if they are unusual changes. Genius.
Sal
Senior Member
Hey Cougar, you've got some great examples on your soundcloud page and in a variety of styles! A couple pieces remind me of Peter Gabriel with great grooves and catchy orchestrations. Nice.
adorshki
Reverential Member
What drew me to music in the first place was great songs. Inspired me to want to write me own. Had to learn the guitar to do it.
Fell in love with the instrument. Largely self taught, but wanted to play raga rock type licks exemplified on Jefferson Airplane's After Bathing at Baxter's.
On a classical guitar, because it was all my folks would spring for at the time: "Let's see how it goes with this, and then maybe we can talk about an electric guitar".
Next year, was the singer in an 8th grade garage rock band, at the time I wanted to be the next John Kay. Practiced singing Steppenwolf songs all the time, walking the dog, riding my bike to school.
Bought my first songbook, Baxter's, while on a Winnebago trip with the folks, summer before 9th grade, 1970. Had left the guitar at home for complicated reasons, but couldn't wait to get back home to start trying to learn the songs. Still work on that book every once in a while.
9th grade, decided to give up graphic arts (was pretty, good, too) to focus on music because the ideas just came easier. Still on the path of trying to learn how to play not just the music I Ioved, but bring my own ideas to reality as well. Kinda coincided with giving up collecting my beloved Marvel Comics because the art was going way downhill, too.
Favorite pastime became practicing in my room, finding the "vibe" I was looking for with modes and scales, not that I knew the difference.
One afternoon had a transcendental experience: was finally getting the scales I wanted just right, and thinking to myself "Can't wait to show this off" when I "perceived" an old bald guy, kinda like the stereotypical hermit monk on a mountain, saying "If you don't pay attention, I won't keep teaching you."
"I want to keep learning."
The presence of THC in my system may have been a contributory factor in this experience, but its impact has remained with me to this day.
BY 10th grade had gained enough confidence to want to try to play with other people (not a lot of acoustic players in my neighborhood, either), but met a guy with a 12-string guitar at my GF's birthday party. We hit it off, had similar music philosophies and tastes, and became as close as brothers to this day.
Was starting to compose some of my seminal songs by then, too, but we were able to spend 2 or 3 hours a week just jamming for about 3 years, primarily instrumental stuff, "themes" we'd use to just explore chops. Let the magic of the moment yield surprises.
When he left for college, had more time to concentrate on my own songs. Wanted to write a few really good songs. AM friendly, even. Like Jonathan Edwards' "Sunshine", or Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream".
Wanted to be a great singer songwriter loved by many. Maybe do the bar/nightclub/coffehouse thing.
In the end, busked. Some of the best memories of my life.
There was still another goal evolving, to be as facile as my favorites in solos, like "I know he's planning where he's going and knows exactly where he's at, while he's playing, how does he do that?!?
Every once in a while in a jam I'd get "into the zone" and have one of those magical moments, but I couldn't pull it off at will. (Still can't, to be honest.)
I could write good solid stuff and was a pretty good rhythm player, but being able to seamlessly transition from pure improv back to a strictly defined composition became a goal. Only in the last couple of years have I been able to do it sometimes.
Somewhere along the way, around '81, I think, I also decided that to truly call oneself an artist, one needs to leave behind tangible works that can be sampled by art lovers even after one's death.
So started making recordings. Ultimate goal was to get a magnificent perfect solo on record. Achieved with the F65ce in '07 with a jamming buddy who normally played harp but used my D25 for one of his own tunes that night.
That old monk who'd told me to pay attention or else had finally decided to just take up permanent residence.
Next goal: An album of my best songs. Over a couple of years compiled about 20 hours of takes with the buddy, that album was realized around '11.
Entirely "home made", no studio, no processing, just live to the mic in my living room, and "Master" and copies made on my Sony CD500RW. Even made sleeve inserts with art and credits, a "complete presentation".
But that one was primarily vocals, intent was the long-lasting "AM friendly" philosophy: Short, tight, almost exactly the same every time. And some new tunes had been composed which needed to be recorded, as well as some instrumental pieces that simply wouldn't fit on the first album.
So 2nd "Vanity CD" was finally realized last January, during the making of which I rediscovered old stuff I'd forgotten about, from the jam session recordings. Some of my best moments captured, magnificent stuff by my own self-conscious standards. So now have at least an artistic legacy to leave behind and gift to friends and family.
So, gotta get it out there. Just gotta get the sleeve organized. Have art but the credit and song listing requires tedious hand-written copying to fit on the cd-size insert. But I can probably do it on the computer now, soon as I get a printer.
So lotta goals achieved, some still works in progress, like having Chris Isaak to do one of my tunes.
And posting some Youtube vids here of new stuff played really really good.
And not sideways, this time. 
Hell, nothin' wrong with tryin' to monetize it either, if folks're willin' to pay. Guy's gotta supplement the retirement income somehow.
Busk on the internet for tips. 
We have the technology.
Fell in love with the instrument. Largely self taught, but wanted to play raga rock type licks exemplified on Jefferson Airplane's After Bathing at Baxter's.
On a classical guitar, because it was all my folks would spring for at the time: "Let's see how it goes with this, and then maybe we can talk about an electric guitar".
Next year, was the singer in an 8th grade garage rock band, at the time I wanted to be the next John Kay. Practiced singing Steppenwolf songs all the time, walking the dog, riding my bike to school.
Bought my first songbook, Baxter's, while on a Winnebago trip with the folks, summer before 9th grade, 1970. Had left the guitar at home for complicated reasons, but couldn't wait to get back home to start trying to learn the songs. Still work on that book every once in a while.
9th grade, decided to give up graphic arts (was pretty, good, too) to focus on music because the ideas just came easier. Still on the path of trying to learn how to play not just the music I Ioved, but bring my own ideas to reality as well. Kinda coincided with giving up collecting my beloved Marvel Comics because the art was going way downhill, too.
Favorite pastime became practicing in my room, finding the "vibe" I was looking for with modes and scales, not that I knew the difference.
One afternoon had a transcendental experience: was finally getting the scales I wanted just right, and thinking to myself "Can't wait to show this off" when I "perceived" an old bald guy, kinda like the stereotypical hermit monk on a mountain, saying "If you don't pay attention, I won't keep teaching you."
"I want to keep learning."
The presence of THC in my system may have been a contributory factor in this experience, but its impact has remained with me to this day.
BY 10th grade had gained enough confidence to want to try to play with other people (not a lot of acoustic players in my neighborhood, either), but met a guy with a 12-string guitar at my GF's birthday party. We hit it off, had similar music philosophies and tastes, and became as close as brothers to this day.
Was starting to compose some of my seminal songs by then, too, but we were able to spend 2 or 3 hours a week just jamming for about 3 years, primarily instrumental stuff, "themes" we'd use to just explore chops. Let the magic of the moment yield surprises.
When he left for college, had more time to concentrate on my own songs. Wanted to write a few really good songs. AM friendly, even. Like Jonathan Edwards' "Sunshine", or Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream".
Wanted to be a great singer songwriter loved by many. Maybe do the bar/nightclub/coffehouse thing.
In the end, busked. Some of the best memories of my life.
There was still another goal evolving, to be as facile as my favorites in solos, like "I know he's planning where he's going and knows exactly where he's at, while he's playing, how does he do that?!?
Every once in a while in a jam I'd get "into the zone" and have one of those magical moments, but I couldn't pull it off at will. (Still can't, to be honest.)
I could write good solid stuff and was a pretty good rhythm player, but being able to seamlessly transition from pure improv back to a strictly defined composition became a goal. Only in the last couple of years have I been able to do it sometimes.
Somewhere along the way, around '81, I think, I also decided that to truly call oneself an artist, one needs to leave behind tangible works that can be sampled by art lovers even after one's death.
So started making recordings. Ultimate goal was to get a magnificent perfect solo on record. Achieved with the F65ce in '07 with a jamming buddy who normally played harp but used my D25 for one of his own tunes that night.
That old monk who'd told me to pay attention or else had finally decided to just take up permanent residence.
Next goal: An album of my best songs. Over a couple of years compiled about 20 hours of takes with the buddy, that album was realized around '11.
Entirely "home made", no studio, no processing, just live to the mic in my living room, and "Master" and copies made on my Sony CD500RW. Even made sleeve inserts with art and credits, a "complete presentation".
But that one was primarily vocals, intent was the long-lasting "AM friendly" philosophy: Short, tight, almost exactly the same every time. And some new tunes had been composed which needed to be recorded, as well as some instrumental pieces that simply wouldn't fit on the first album.
So 2nd "Vanity CD" was finally realized last January, during the making of which I rediscovered old stuff I'd forgotten about, from the jam session recordings. Some of my best moments captured, magnificent stuff by my own self-conscious standards. So now have at least an artistic legacy to leave behind and gift to friends and family.
So, gotta get it out there. Just gotta get the sleeve organized. Have art but the credit and song listing requires tedious hand-written copying to fit on the cd-size insert. But I can probably do it on the computer now, soon as I get a printer.
So lotta goals achieved, some still works in progress, like having Chris Isaak to do one of my tunes.
And posting some Youtube vids here of new stuff played really really good.
And not sideways, this time. Hell, nothin' wrong with tryin' to monetize it either, if folks're willin' to pay. Guy's gotta supplement the retirement income somehow.
Busk on the internet for tips.
We have the technology.
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Cougar
Enlightened Member
FNG
Enlightened Member
To play as good as this guy...maybe if I practiced once in awhile...
Al, I enjoyed your original song videos and would be happy to own and listen to any of your CD's! And I love Chis Isaak, so I definitely want to know if he does one of your songs!
walrus
walrus
mavuser
Enlightened Member
realistically just to stay sharp enough to play along with someone else, or to learn something in a day or two, if i really wanted or needed to. have not rehearsed or prepared anything solid, start to finish, to go thru in a solo acoustic setting, in many years. and its been forever since i played with a full band, in a any type of setting. i play with friends whenever I can, but hasn't been very much recently. I should practice more. that would be a good musical goal.
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
At this point playing more than 5 minutes a day is a goal ;]
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
- Joined
- May 3, 2007
- Messages
- 24,730
- Reaction score
- 8,863
- Location
- Central Virginia, USA
- Guild Total
- 5
What are your musical goals?
To do something musical better today than I did yesterday.
Since my need to create does not compel me to turn to music, the "something" tends to be "improvise" which can generate various subgoals.
To do something musical better today than I did yesterday.
Since my need to create does not compel me to turn to music, the "something" tends to be "improvise" which can generate various subgoals.
Right now I just want to get out and play with and for people again.
I have been on a quest to improve my playing for several years and I feel like I continue to improve and grow. Goal is to get as good as I can before I start getting worse.
I also want to get into some home recording before I start to lose ability. Been shopping interfaces and condenser mics...but that's another thread.
I have been on a quest to improve my playing for several years and I feel like I continue to improve and grow. Goal is to get as good as I can before I start getting worse.
I also want to get into some home recording before I start to lose ability. Been shopping interfaces and condenser mics...but that's another thread.
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Something I always try ro remember is what I tell my students - you don't drive the music with the guitar, you lead with your voice and accompany yourself on the guitar. If you've got the tune down vocally, it's amazing how even a simple 3-chord strum can enhance it.