So . . . ever since the advent of the CBG revolution - I have found that this is the demarcation line.
"Player" or "Builder"
The nation (God love it) has plenty of the latter, but notsomuch of the former.
The cigar box guitar is such a perfectly primitive instrument. It epitomizes "simplicity" and the raw joy of music. Music to the lowest common denominator. We all embrace the beauty of the instrument in that regard . . .
I suppose the nature of any "internet community" is that it can become SOooo specialized and sooo very deep in the particular interest . . . The trouble is: the case of CBG's, it makes for a bit of philosophical disconnect, doesnt it?
The nation is a GREAT collection point for ideas and a great gathering place where hobbyists can congregate. But when we delve, ad nauseum into the complete minutia of things like what-is-the-best-angle-for-a-scarf-joint and what-material-is-best-for-sound-hole-grommets - and analyze every aspect to the enth degree - do we lose a little bit of the raw "stick-in-the-box charm" of the cbg??
I've noticed that many of the early crowd of "players" have drifted away. Maybe what I feel is missing is not the role of "the nation", but I'd like to think there was *someplace* online that could focus on :the player: side . . . a place where the average curious Joe Citizen who doesn't want to launch into a "DIY hobby" could click and and simply find out where to go to experience the raw joy of people playing (I'll use Mr. Speal's word:) "Primal" music - locate cigar box guitar festivals, local bands playing this stuff etc. etc etc.
When we get THAT, the cbg movement becomes something akin to a musical genre,
am I alone in this thought?
Tags:
I'm interested in what you mean by the movement becoming akin to a musical genre.
Well... I'd definitely consider myself as a player/builder - I check out the pics and vids every morning to look at builds and performances respectively. I'm all for the appeal of primal music, but I'm also happy to discuss the technical aspects. I think that the endless forum topics on scarf joints/intonation/etc. do help - the better an instrument plays, surely the more fun you'll have playing it? I think what I'm trying to say is that I think the balance on the site is about right.
That said I think those who only build should be given encouragement to play as well, as it can only improve the quality of the instruments they produce.
I'm a player first. Then second and third... I built the guitar I have because I wanted to challenge myself musically. I plan on doing that agin with my second build. Right now I have four builds planned. Each one different. A different purpose for each of them. Also really liking the Cuban Tres guitar sound. Might make one of those as well.
The idea of making it better goes right with the idea of folk art. Making the best you can with what you have.
i enjoy playing and building the same, i'm 50-50 (-:
Someone is always trying to split any population into nice neat groups to support a gripe. If there is a demarcation line, it is at best a very fuzzy gray area with, I believe, most of the population somewhere in the middle.
Any group starts from a few like-minded individuals trying to do the same thing. Then someone gets the brainy idea to take this cool new thing to the masses and start a revolution. Before you know it, you are joined by a few people better than you with their own cool ideas mixed with a mass "normal" people just trying it out for the first time and for their own reasons. Then you get a massive amount of new influence asking all the old questions from 10 years ago again. And then the OGs lose their patience, throw down their toys and leave. 'Cept to come back and complain.
I fall into Ron's builder/player category having built 17 instruments for myself and a few for selected others. None the same and none since the second one were done in a haphazard rush. I still play that second guitar fairly often. I'm a player second mostly for lack of present skill, but I practice/play nearly every day. I only started singing a year ago and man, was that bad. Glad I didn't take that to the street. Probably could have eaten my share of rotten fruit salad for dinner though.
Good comments. Slowpaw's made me ponder. I might be 50/50 or so too, on enjoying building and playing.
There are certainly more builders than performers. Almost all the builders play some or strum a little and marvel at how good their best builds sound - and feel awed when a good player plays one of their builds.
Quite a few folks have left. Some come back and some come and go. I hear talk of politics and I am never quite sure what is meant. People get tired of the same faces on the vid page and I am guilty of posting too often. I TRY to go just once a week, but then I get excited about some new song or idea. CBGs and the music gives me a lot to be enthused about.
CBN activity cycles high and low just as our interest and time. I would like to see more people be supportive of others. There are lots of good role models for that. And I would like to see more kindly stated honesty in comments on builds. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings (usually), but I will sometimes say what I think would be improvements on builds.
It is about creativity, whether we are building, playing, performing or writing a song. Any one of those is good. And enough. I feel blessed to be doing all those things. And I feel blessed to have cbg friends all over the world.
An easy 'fix' I'd say. Perhaps a 'players' page on the site that isn't just for new players that features sellers, festivals, etc. And make a very specific players forum section. There technically is one now, but we still post about building in it.
I am a player and a builder so I enjoy all the content here, but I can see getting a little lost here if all you want to do is get a hold of a CBG and play it.
i think all builders who don't play should play a bit, it would give them a better insight into their building, and all players who let others build should build a little, it would give them a good insight into their playing...but saying that Jim Marshall was a drummer who built amps, Leo Fender couldn't play but was an excellent builder....do whatever you want and gain valuable insight and knowledge from it (-:
Spot on Steve, as a cbg player, I'd make a wonderful cartoon figure, I can't play to save my life, but I give it a go, I'm sort of musically inept really, but as my wife says, 'you enjoy it, so that should be enough for you'!
I love the building aspect though!
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