Musicianship

[walrus]

I got turned on to the cool sound of bossa nova via the Frank Sinatra and Antonio Jobim album. I've learned "Girl From Ipanema" and "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars". The chords are so interesting, and also challenging (at least for me).

Here's one of my favorite clips of '60's classic television - the height of coolness - Frank and Antonio live from a 1967 TV Special. Frank sitting casually and smoking a cigarette while he sings. Just great stuff.



walrus

 

[dougdnh]

The thing about "Girl From Ipanema" is that there are different versions of the chords used. For example the popular way to go is in F - Fmaj7 to G7 to Gmi7 to F#7, but supposedly the 'real' way in Db - Db6/9#G to Bbm6 to F#Maj7/Bb to G#13/-9 - yikes this will keep you busy! The bridge is also very different. The bossanovaguitar.com is a great site for the 'authentic' (harder) chords to all these great songs.

 

[walrus]

The "popular" way is hard enough for me! And still sounds sweet...

walrus

 

[richardp69]

These days, I'm just really happy if I can get these old arthritic fingers around a guitar neck and play a chord or two.

 

[dreadnut]

I like to tell people "I'm still on my trek to international rock stardom." In reality, I've never really had that desire or aspiration. In some regards, I play for myself, but I've also always had a desire to play music for other people as well. I've got some history; my folks used to have me sing in front of church in a little suit and tie when I was 4 years old. In 1958, my Dad had the foresight to take us to a recording studio where my older sister played the accordion and I sang. I still have the vinyl, and I had it digitized recently.

Then a guy our family used to camp with in the summer would play and sing around the campfire at night; Johnny Cash. Jerry Reed, Ray Stevens, other country and pop songs, he really inspired me. I wanted to lead songs around a campfire. Never mind that I was madly in love with his daughter in one of those summer camping romances...but I digress.

50 years later I'm leading the music at my church and leading sing-alongs with residents of Alzheimer's facilities a couple times a week. At least, I hope to be back to that schedule after the big shutdown.

So I guess I don't just play for myself.

 

[Cougar]

The thing about "Girl From Ipanema" is that there are different versions of the chords used. For example the popular way to go is in F - Fmaj7 to G7 to Gmi7 to F#7, but supposedly the 'real' way in Db - Db6/9#G to Bbm6 to F#Maj7/Bb to G#13/-9 - yikes this will keep you busy!

Huh. On keys I always used Dm7-C#7-Cm7-B7... Oh wait, that's One Note Samba! Nevermind!

 

[Stuball48]

These days, I'm just really happy if I can get these old arthritic fingers around a guitar neck and play a chord or two.

And have noticed the direction the fingers are going is not the direction I prefer.