somethng to learn

[Oss]

something to try to learn  make me go out of my mind

while cleaning my moms top floor loft and closets I found an old acoustic guitar

The back and front panels were hanging so I used elmers glue and painters tape hold it all real tight so as to reattach them
It looks ok now but needs to be re strung


Then I will try to teach myself how to play the damn thing

I also have an old, (that comma is for you Gig) kids electric fender guitar that my son abandoned after a year

Guess I am at that age where trying to open new pathways in my brain should be a priority
as I am already forgetting where my keys are and why I opened the refrigerator

(cue mental image of refrigerator girl... if you dont know it dont matter)

Happy new year, off on my new year day ride before the rain returns

We had bodacious lightning and thunder around midnight  a real show !

[JimmyG]

Good luck Oss!  I opened up my old guitar case after 20 something years of it being in storage last year. I decided I would practice and get back in shape. Man, what a difference those years made.  I did get back to playing fair, but dang the timing and stretching of fingers makes after all those years.  Hope you accomplish what you are after.

[Pluggy]

Playing the guitar is as easy (or challenging) as you choose to make it.  As it is wood, a guitar stored for years can warp and be difficult to play.  I have been presented old guitars that were so out of shape that they would take Vise Grips to play.

A regular player can tell you if it is in good working order.  If it is not easily playable, get another one.  Learning guitar is time well spent.

[GiG]

   " have an old kids electric fender guitar..."

Went and looked it up in the OSS to English Dictionary & it turns out Old Kids are widely referred to as "adults"  

Hope you had an excellent ride, Buddy!

[Jess from VA]

I have a beautiful old Kay banjo.  Has fantastic sound.  I love Bluegrass banjo.

I worked for years (off and on) trying to learn to finger pick (no slip on finger picks, just fingers; and no cord strumming).  My poor old fret-board fingertips would get so sore and raw I'd have to quit.  Back in the day, I talked to a few musicians about it and they showed me their callused fingers.

I haven't had it out of the case for a decade.

My instrument in jr hi and HS was the Coronet (short trumpet) (and was the boy scout troop bugler).  I could not play one today at all (if I had one).  There's this thing call embosure (like lip calluses); gone forever.

Can't sing anymore either.  Can hum OK though.   

[John Schmidt]

I can still sing, dance, and play the radio. When I get started people often request my presence...elswhere. 

[JimmyG]

Playing the guitar is as easy (or challenging) as you choose to make it.  As it is wood, a guitar stored for years can warp and be difficult to play.  I have been presented old guitars that were so out of shape that they would take Vise Grips to play.

A regular player can tell you if it is in good working order.  If it is not easily playable, get another one.  Learning guitar is time well spent.

Right on, mostly. Age and severe hand injuries can sure make it difficult, although, it may be very good therapy for the hands.    Also, I think well cared for guitars will last a life time. Mine was given to me in about 1960. A nice Gibson hollow bodied electric. I played it for several years until I moved and finally got it back from my dad.  One day I just laid it down and it stayed in it's case for several years, over twenty after I sat down and counted them out.   I got the urgeto play again a little over a year ago, so I took it down to a friend that owns a guitar store and was a very good musician and actually played with some famous country folks.  He looked at my guitar and said, no way am I going to do anything but clean it up and put some new strings on. He kept it for a couple weeks and called me up and said come get it.  He had researched the guitar and informed me of it's value and why he would not do anything but clean it and re string it. $$$$$$$$  Long story short, he said, and I agree, it still plays like a dream. No vise grips needed.   Good material, good craftsmanship, stored properly and it still sounds wonderful.   

[Pluggy]

Yours is one of the best, Jimmy.  Yes, electric guitars, by design, will hold up better if stored for years.

Happy pickin'

[da prez]

  Jess , if you want to part with the banjo , contact me. I got this hairbrained idea to take up that instrument.  I am interested in learning and also when the neighbors dog is barking , I can accompany it and make it sorry.
  I was learning the guitar and drums about (it seems) a hundred years ago. Never got real good , but liked the challenge.

                                                 da prez

   John , pappy would say learn the song "far , far away . And do it.

[Jess from VA]

Ross, let me think about it.   And I have to find it too.   

[Jess from VA]

Jess , if you want to part with the banjo , contact me.

OK Ross, I found it, thought about it, and you can have it for the cost of shipping.

I sent you a PM with more details a few minutes ago.

Let me know your thoughts.  No rush.