Missing Things

I didn’t remember how big music was in my life, in my family’s life.  I gave it all up at age 12 and never took violin or piano again.  I did get a guitar for Christmas that year and played it for a few months with no lessons but C, G, D and E were all I could coax from it with no music or mentors.  So I led our little three-guitar band out on stage in eighth grade when 2/3 of the band was tone deaf.  How, I don’t know.  Perhaps with the grit I needed to get out there in my last school and sing the first stanza of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” solo.

I’m sure to be making my new teacher bonkers, because I pay him (aka I’m not a kid on the parent’s dime) and could do what I want.  He tries to do otherwise and succeeds often but that’s because I need to learn.  Every lesson I learn something new and remember songs I want to learn how to play.  So I download lyrics during the week and like to figure out and learn the chords myself.  He knows that so challenges me in other ways, every week.

Much better organized than my life or our receipts is my notebook.  It includes scales, chords, lessons, items in progress and a library.

But I didn’t tell you that this  week I played Dylan and Cash at our lesson.  My interest is in folk et al, country, acoustic guitar.  These songs are about love and life and loss.  When I’m at a loss playing one I think of the author/artist sitting at home with Mama eating pie or whatever Mama cooked.  Sitting there and wanting to play music with voice, guitar, mandolin, violin, or piano.  All to thank her for this wonderful gift.

I’m dedicating this blog entry to my guitar teacher, Douglas.  He plays bluegrass gospel, electric guitar.  Talented guy.  Sorry Bob D. but I have to give your man his due.  Same to Johnny C. for what comes next:

In the end “you gotta serve somebody.  Might be the devil, might be the Lord, but you  gotta serve somebody.” Cheers, Dee

** I believe Bob Dylan wrote this but it took hours to find it and his version and I finally have it on iTunes, along with two other singers.  Interesting journey.