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Re-awakeing

Building Cigar box guitars has been an amazing experience to not only express my art through a new medium, but to also learn about something that has always been a passion, but Life somehow always got in the way of pursuing it. That passion is Music!

During my childhood some people had tried to teach me how to do basic chords to do a song usually on a guitar way too big for me. If that wasn’t bad enough, nobody took the time to explain the fret board to me and its relationship to the musical scale. My folks were poor so we could never afford lessons, let alone buy a guitar.

I also blame our School system. Music was part of classes almost every day in the curriculum up until about grade 3. Just as I was starting to dig it and understand some of it….they took it away and it became an elective, extra curricular activity that cost money. That left me out!

Flash forward to today….building guitar necks has re-opened that channel, so many things suddenly started making sense again. Not only that I’m actually learning how to play these damned things that I build! I still don’t know what each note is, but I’m beginning to understand what notes can sound good together. There is a musical, mathematical procession that once understood, turns the light on!

As I approach my elder years I also find this exercise as good for my mind and a medium to help stave off mental deterioration as I age. Learning scales and notes and noodling around on my creations can only be good for my mental health. Like any other organ or muscle in the body, it needs attention and exercise too. If I am also rewarded with Joy and a sense of Accomplishment as I hear the voices I created from these old boxes and tins….well …It’s a win, win all around !

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on January 22, 2011 at 8:43am

What you are saying echoes and reminds me of both some of my own early experience and feelings, and of a chapter in Bill Jehles book ("One Mans Trash") I just happened to read over coffee this morning.

Page 55 starts with a story of a young lady named Satic Coleman, who found the pressure to learn to read music before learning to play music a frustrating obstacle to her enjoyment. She described it as "feeling deprived quite keenly" in reflecting on her childhood in about 1886.

She later had the epiphiny that young people who learn to "play tunes" first, often went on to a higher understanding and DESIRED to learn to read music and understand music theory. She went on to apparently become a very successful and acclaimed music teacher.

By the way I must say, that this is a remarkable book just chock full of surprises! I am just in the beginning and very excited about reading on!

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on January 22, 2011 at 9:44am

I am glad to hear Tracy that you were able to reconnect with an interest you had in your youth. Take your time and enjoy the process. Due to having fewer strings, CBGs offer a primative natural simplicity. You can explore in uncharted territory. I would like to recommend this book to you:

http://www.edly.com/mtfpp.html

It offers a down to earth explaination of musical theory that you can use as you explore how to string and play your builds.

Follow your bliss

Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on January 22, 2011 at 12:44pm

Keni says

"Follow your bliss"

Dont follow me, Im lost...........

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Permalink Reply by Justice Crafted on January 28, 2011 at 4:38am

Good for you! keep building the instruments, keep building your musical skills!

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Permalink Reply by Tracy Tomlinson on January 28, 2011 at 6:43am

I'm really loving these open tunings...they really do make it easier to "cut your teeth on"...hell...even I sound good! LOL

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on January 30, 2011 at 4:50am

I found that my cigar-box building has re-ignited my interest in "real" guitar. When I spotted the "Make" magazine cover article on building a cigar-box guitar a few years back and said "hey, I could do that...." My old acoustic had sat in the case for sometime...to be dug out and played occasionally.

With no real outlet for playing much since our old club had closed, I wasn't motivated much. Still, I'd spent so much time learning....

When I started making my own, it got me fired up and I sold the old used acoustic and bought a cheap dreadnaught... Then sold that and got a Yamaha acoustic-electric.

Now, I've just put a "hold" on a Taylor GS Mini and will pick it up as soon as my income tax refund arrives. I've been playing a lot, both flatpicking and fingerstyle, and hanging out at acoustic "jams" at the local folk school.

Havin' fun!