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:
Good to see you here... Performance anxiety... a big, big barrier. It was rumored that Wilt Chamberlain threwup before every game. Some find enough value in what they get from performing to push through, some don't.
If folks want to see some nice pickin', they need to look up the Blind Doughboy on Youtube or one the marrsguitars.com website.
Ron, I can't find any of the video's from the early day's with you out in nature, speed pickin'. They were so of the best and I'd love to have them.... the best, Sam
O_o....reaches for Mason jar of 160 proof brain bleach.... X_X
rabble rouser.
Oh yeah, Knotlenny! You got it all stirred up - in a good way.
Im really loving this thread. I started diggin on cbg's when I heard a cat playing one in old town alb. N.M. I wanted to buy one. he said build your first. I did. And started playing it. Ive never played before. I had a couple acustic 6 strings and had a couple chords down , but really not a guitar player. Have always wanted to learn to just ( make music ) melodies and the such . always loved the old blues . lightning hopkins , RL those sounds. So I start building and playing. and lo and behold. I can actually play this thing. guess who tought me my first lesson. You mr Knot lenny. Still play maybelline. cbg's opened up a wonderful world for me. A way to create , and also a way to express with music ive always wanted to make but never could understand on a 6 string. Now i actually have learned more on playing my 6 string from my cbg, and the guys here on the nation. Will I ever post a video ? might, might not. but im good with that . I love the way my builds sound. and love the simple music I can make . it sounds good to me. and my dogs .
I have two friends that are wonderful musicians acomplished . one is a serious lap steel and slide player. I built him a three string. he came over played all my gittys i had laying around and got the smile you are talking about . Couldnt believe the tone blew his mind. But it never fails . he started talking about strings and 7ths and how you need a x amount of this and that bla bla bla . he spent about an hour trying to tune the thing to what he was trying ??? finally i got frustrated and said just put it back how it was and play the dang thing . do ray me , and he wailed on it. My point is this , sometimes its the " performers " who discourage the small fry in the pond. with all the techicalitys. Ive noticed most of this comes from the performers not the casual players. I get it if someone wants to find 7ths. but some are just happy as oily might say to play the same ol thing in open g. remember some of us havent been playing for years , but are playing never the less. just not really wanting to post up videos.
I get what you're saying about keeping it simple and I've also seen plenty of players carry on about 7ths and such and can see that it's never going to be helpful. I guess for me as a player, and a teacher, I try to keep it relevant but there's a point where you need to start talking the language.
I get a few comments on my youtube channel from people complaining about the language - "I just want to play the song". The trouble is that there comes a point where you can't play the song without knowing what you're doing and that needs the language. Even if I say that a particular lesson is not for beginners people complain that they don't get it because they're a beginner - and that's my fault?
I don't get a lot of the technicalities of the building: joints, angles, tools, woods, blaah blaah but I don't care, and I certainly don't feel like I'm being discouraged from building.
If people are going to talk about the different aspects of playing then eventually it's going to get complicated. Some will get it, others won't. Some are happy to keep it simple and others will want to extend themselves.
It's a simple instrument sure but the music doesn't have to be and so a musician will naturally look to take it as far as possible musically. Some will use their (usually limited) knowledge to try and show off but sometimes we're just talking tha language.
Still no rules. Someone mentioned how much more intricate the builds are than the early ones and how it's not a bad thing. I would be disappointed if the more technical musicians weren't stretching both to make themselves make the most of these instruments and to show others how to be more technical musicians. (I have never found a word on CBN that I couldn't Google and the context to understand btw.) That expansion on theory and ultimately the huge pool of resources for intermediate to advanced players and builders is what will ensure the revolution eventually grows into whatever successful revolutions grow up to be.
In defense of technical players. I've played for a wile. Even did jazz. My first build is a four string. I've tried over and over to use alternate tunings. I get frustrated and go back to standard. Been playing around with only three strings. Even took the first, second and fifth strings off of one guitar. Still standard tuning. I can understand the frustration a 6 string player has with a guitar with less strings and tuned differently. Because of physical remembrance you automatically move your fingers to where the notes should be. I may eventually warm up to the idea of alternant tuning. For me it'll take some work.
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