Strum

Judging from the number of guitars I own, one might conclude that I play well.  The truth is, I'm still looking for that magic instrument that makes me sound terrific.  I think my proficiency peaked when I was in college, the last time I played with any regularity.  It really wasn't much of a peak.  If you compared my abilities to guitarists everywhere, I'm sure my peak would look more like a pimple.  Still, for me, it was when I played best, a relative peak as compared to the rest of my life.  I have not played in public in over twenty-five years.  In that time, I occasionally pick up the guitar but I don't really practice, I just play what I know.  When you only play what you know, you don't get better.  If I had even kept this level up more regularly I might have been able to make my peak a plateau.  Sadly, I had some long stretches where I played seldom and my meager abilities diminished.  I do enjoy playing and in recent years I've been trying to put forth a more concerted effort.  It feels good to have calloused fingertips once again.  I hope to one day match my former abilities or even perhaps to look down at that peak from new lofty heights.

For some reason, whenever I try to play a song, it comes out all folksy sounding.  This is great if I stick to "Peter, Paul and Mary" songs, but not so hot for most everything else.  I once tried playing "Smoke On The Water" and you would have sworn I was copying a tune from the nonexistent "John Denver Sings Deep Purple" album.  I've tried using an electric guitar with ample distortion but the result is still folk, just louder.  While I like folk music just fine, I'd like to be able to take a break from it every now and then.

I was recently asked to play guitar as part of a group for special music at church.  Much like having a looming race improves my daily running, this upcoming performance has focused my guitar practice.  Luckily, the song we're doing is sort of folksy (or at least it will be when I'm done with it).