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Playing a guitar is like writing because--well, everything reminds me of writing. But here's what I've learned so far from playing the acoustic guitar, and I've had one lesson so believe me I know what I'm talking about, being a beginner is awful. It's not fun or joyous. When I pick up the guitar and attempt to play a chord it sounds bad. Really bad. When I try to follow along with an "easy" song, it's painfully slow going. And it's frustrating because I know what it should sound like and it's not this. But I'm glad I'm trying something new and bumbling along because it helps me remember what it's like for my kids who I always encourage to try new things. They get frustrated and give up easily and I always say stuff like, "C'mon, try a few more times. So you fell off your skateboard five times. Get on it again." 

But now I remember. It's hard to struggle with something new. Something that looks easy and cool and fun, and then when you try it you flop. Of course everyone's a beginner at some point. And it just takes a little encouragement to keep going. From your mom, or a friend, or an agent. See what I did there? It all circles around.

In only 10 short years, I'm sure my rendition of Barenaked Ladies' If I Had a Million Dollars will go from lethargic to almost singable.

Have you taken on any new projects where you're a rank beginner? Does it make you feel exhilarated with the new experience or frustrated?

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1. You guys, I got my new acoustic guitar! It was an early Christmas gift from my hubby*.

Isn't it beautiful?

2. Why, yes, that little Post-it reads: Don't Touch Guitar. That's because on the first day, my Little Guy "tuned" it for me, requiring about an hour and a half of me re-tuning it with my new digital Quik Tuner. He also dropped a pick inside it. Another long fishing out process.

3. Not to worry, Little Guy's getting a kid-size acoustic guitar on his birthday. We will be jamming together soon.

3 1/2.  I'm revising my YA novel set in Hollywood. A new type of story for me, kind of a romantic mystery with some glamour on top. How's your writing going?

p.s. Random poll: just wondering, anyone else buy their own gifts ahead of time? Ahem. 




*Which he was delighted to learn about upon its arrival. Check that off your list of things-to-do, hon. You're welcome.

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A Month of Celebrations; It is Stress Awareness Month, I have already put that in motion hopefully by the end of the month I will celebrate National Humor Month or maybe I'll invent by own a Celebration of Tears. Then I could drag out the guitar after all it is, International Guitar Month to create a song, "Tears of Stress and Laughter," while I help Keep America Beautiful Month celebration raking the lawn and tending the garden month. Or maybe I could list the titles of over 20 poems I have written on author David L. Harrison's blog the past 17 months; after all it is Poetry Month. There is always some kind of holiday and celebration each month that will make your day or week or month. There is 12 month to be serous, happy, cry, or think to yourself who cares for it is more fun to invent my own celebrations; such as Trimming Your Toes Month, or Cracking Knuckles Month. Have some fun invent your own and celebrate the moment.

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Alternative album cover artwork for the album All This Dancin' Around by the Flemish rockband Triggerfinger.

Sevensheaven images and prints are for sale at sevensheaven.nl

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Here's my "Monkey" submission, inspired by the band "Arctic Monkeys". I've been listening to them a lot lately because they have cool accents, energetic guitars, and they easilly have the record of longest song title in my iTunes playlist with "Probably Couldn't See Me For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me".
See also Bagalagalaga's Blog.

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Carlo the Robot trains his guitar skill.

Eric Wirjanata
http://twitter.com/robocadaver

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I appreciate it when an artist shames a big big beaurocratic organization into realizing that they can't get away with bad policies. I don't know if United Airlines' policies will change, but David Carroll of the band Sons of Maxwell have certainly made the airline pay attention after baggage handlers broke his Taylor guitar. For almost a year, Carroll, tried to get some compensation, only to be

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On this day in history, August 19, 1959, Blind Willie McTell passed away.  To honor this great musician we have excerpted his biography from Oxford Music Online’s Encyclopedia of Popular Music.  When you are done reading the post check out some of his music here.

McTell, Blind Willie

b. 5 May 1901, McDuffie County, Georgia, USA, d. 19 August 1959, Almon, Georgia, USA.

Blind from birth, McTell began to learn guitar in his early years, under the influence of relatives and neighbours in Statesboro, Georgia, where he grew up. In his late teens, he attended a school for the blind. By 1927, when he made his first records, he was already a very accomplished guitarist, with a warm and beautiful vocal style, and his early sessions produced classics such as ‘Statesboro Blues’, ‘Mama Tain’t Long Fo Day’ and ‘Georgia Rag’. During the 20s and 30s, he travelled extensively from a base in Atlanta, making his living from music and recording, on a regular basis, for three different record companies, sometimes using pseudonyms which included Blind Sammie and Georgia Bill. Most of his records feature a 12-string guitar, popular among Atlanta musicians, but particularly useful to McTell for the extra volume it provided for singing on the streets. Few, if any, blues guitarists could equal his mastery of the 12-string. He exploited its resonance and percussive qualities on his dance tunes, yet managed a remarkable delicacy of touch on his slow blues. In 1934, he married, and the following year recorded some duets with his wife, Kate, covering sacred as well as secular material.

In 1940, John Lomax recorded McTell for the Folk Song Archive of the Library of Congress, and the sessions, which have since been issued in full, feature him discussing his life and his music, as well as playing a variety of material. These offer an invaluable insight into the art of one of the true blues greats. In the 40s, he moved more in the direction of religious music, and when he recorded again in 1949 and 1950, a significant proportion of his songs were spiritual. Only a few tracks from these sessions were issued at the time, but most have appeared in later years. They reveal McTell to be as commanding as ever, and indeed, some of the recordings rank among his best work. In 1956, he recorded for the last time at a session arranged by a record shop manager, unissued until the 60s. Soon after this, he turned away from the blues to perform exclusively religious material. His importance was eloquently summed up by Bob Dylan in his strikingly moving elegy, ‘Blind Willie McTell’.

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I like this. Tom Borja.

(He's got some other clips on You Tube, but he sings on them. I don't like those.)

And here's a clip posted by Alvin Bodic of the "Feel Good Vibe"--love the music, not quite sure about the vocals. There's an effect there, though, so yeah...

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4 Years

First and foremost, today is Travis's birthday. My oldest little guy is 4 years old today. Seriously...4 years. Just like that. I'm amazed it's already been that long and though it's cliched to say, it's stunning how quickly time passes. We were just at the hospital, feeding the little cone-headed dude. Like it was yesterday.

But alas, we celebrated his time in style. We had a handful of our closest friends and family over on Saturday and just did a simple little party. Considering how exhausted both Laura and I are with the arrival of Jake, it was the best we could do.

I think he had fun, though.

So, it's kind of weird to have a party and then 4 days later, it's your real birthday. Of course, I had to work and Laura is still at home with Big Jake on maternity leave. Travis got to spend the day with my folks in good ol' St. Anthony. They did all sorts of fun crap together:

- Went to the Eagle's Nest (indoor park)
- Made Valentine's Day cookies
- Got to eat lots of French Toast (my mom makes KILLER French Toast, y'all)

While at work, I was struck with the idea that I had to get Travis something else for his birthday. We got him a bunch of stuff for his party on Saturday, but something just didn't sit right, you know? TODAY is his birthday and though he never asked or expected anything, I had to get him a little something else.

When I went looking around, I saw the PERFECT thing.

Let me set it up a little. I'm a big fan of the movie A Christmas Story and I love the part where the dad tricks the kid and says: "Hey, what's that back there?" knowing full well it's the bb gun Ralphie wanted.

I did it at Christmas with Rock Band 2 and I couldn't resist repeating the magic. Wecovertly wrapped the thing (well, Laura did...I suck at wrapping gifts) and we put it where the pile of presents were stacked during his party back on Saturday.

After he came out of the kitchen when he was done eating, he saw the present lying there. I said: "Dude. Did you forget to open a present on Saturday?"

The rest is, as they say, history.

Okay, so the audio is horrible, but it cracks me up. The kid does not fall for my shenanigans. When I tell him it's probably for some other kid, he points out that his name was on the card. When I get all smart-mouth on his and tell him that we can't play with it and we need to keep it in the box, he just sees right through my ruse.

And I wonder why people call him Mini-TKT.

4 Weeks

As if seeing Travis turn 4 wasn't enough, today also marks the 4 week mark for Big Jake. On Valentine's Day, it'll be one whole month.

V Day

Thankfully, Laura and I get to spend some time together on Saturday as my folks are taking both of the boys for the night. We had big plans...

"Let's go see a movie!"

"Yeah, and then we'll go out to dinner!"

"It'll be awesome!"

The reality? We will probably do something uber mellow like go to Boston's, eat and come home and go to sleep. Eh...maybe we'll watch a little 24 and try desperately to get caught up. Might sound sort of lame, but we're looking forward to it like a kid anticipates Christmas morning.

"Let's stay home and get some sleep!"

It'll be awesome.

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Hi, folks. Here's my entry for a different weekly illustration challenge.

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This drawing is based on my friend Carlos Melendez, a true artist on guitar. A kami is a Japanese nature spirit, and when Carlos plays, he is totally comfortable and at ease with his instrument and music, much as a kami is one with nature and the environment.

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This flowchart by MisterHippity, (courtesy of The Urban Mennonite) of how Pete Seeger would write songs if he had been a software engineer delights me: Speaking of urban Mennonites, I'm also pleased to have been introduced to this guitar blog written by one of my fellow college alumni: Amish Guitar. As much as I enjoy reading blogs by musicians proficient in guitar, it's good to have forums for

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I've been so busy lately I haven't had time to post and I apologize and hope to get back to posting regularly.

Above, a photo of the illustrations side by side right after my sons unwrapped their gifts.

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Your Roommate Plays the Indigo Girls, by Lore Sjöberg For those of you who have requested a sound file of me singing and playing guitar, this may as well be it. Sure, it's a guy singing, and true, I'm more likely to struggle over the Beatles' "I Will" than the Indigo Girls' "Closer to Fine," but still, it's pretty close. A friend of mine sent me this flash clip a long time ago. I lost it, but

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