So here it is, my new obsession:
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Like most people, I enjoy listening to music. I also enjoy singing. But it has always been a frustration for me that I am not capable of playing an instrument to accompany myself singing. Back when I was 11 or 12, I attempted to learn to play guitar, but I never got very far. Partly, it was because I did not have an understanding of how music and harmony worked, and so the chords I learned were just disconnected pieces of information that just seemed to work when you put them together. Part of it also was that, with other interests and demands in my life at that time, the guitar just fell away.
Fast-forward 40 years...
So there I was at this little folk festival last Saturday when I saw this beautiful little instrument. The body is mahogany and the neck is faced with spalted maple. I had actually been thinking about a ukulele as an instrument, since it is probably the easiest one to learn to play, that is, the biggest return for the smallest input of effort. So on a whim, I bought it, and then attended a ukulele introductory workshop, where one of the perks was a sheet with every imaginable uke chord on it. I sat in on a couple dulcimer jams and workshops where I could practice playing. (I got well acquainted with playing in the key of D.)
Five days later, I have a hard time putting it down. The pain in the fingertips of my left hand has mostly faded to numbness. Every day, I get the idea of looking up the chords to another song I've always loved. Today, it was "The Swimming Song" written by Loudon Wainwright III. This song pretty much defines my summers. Here's the version recorded by Kate and Anna McGarrigle, my favorite version:
Turns out, the chords for this song are more sophisticated than I would have thought. I have no idea quite what Dsus2 means, but fortunately, it's just a two-finger chord. The uke really is easy to play!
And, because I know a bit more music theory now than I did 40 years ago, I understand better what particular chords are doing, and I've found I can transpose fairly easily to different keys. I have long known the truism that if you know four chords (C, G [or G7], F and A-minor) and own a capo, you can play 90 % of all pop songs, but looking up chords for songs has shown how true this is. For example, here's the pop song of the moment sung as a 4 chord song on the uke:
Other than figuring out fingerings for new chords, and learning chords for particular songs, my playing is still very rudimentary. I'm still slow moving between particular chords, and I do need to learn more sophisticated strumming techniques. My partner's reaction has been generally supportive, which is generous considering the recent introduction of the random sound of plink-plink-plink around the house, but he did give me an early birthday present of an electronic tuner. (I think what he can't stand more than anything else is hearing an instrument played out of tune.)
I hope that I can slowly edge toward competence as a musician. We shall see.
Enough of this. Let's get to the comments!
TOP COMMENTS
July 19, 2012
Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU
when you find that proficient comment.
From JanF:
In today J Town, when I pointed out to small business owner bubbanomics that he surely did not need any gubmint help for his enterprise, this was his reply.
From DRo:
In Jed Lewison's front page post, Guy who nominated Sarah Palin says 'our team saw nothing' in Mitt Romney's tax returns, Wildthumb had this response to McCain's assertion that he "saw nothing."
From FlamingoGrrl:
From TomP's recommended diary Ed Rollins Compares Michelle Bachmann to Joe McCarthy, Says Acts Are "Downright Vicious.", ConfusedSkyes came up with a hilarious way to describe Michele Bachmann's intellect.
From Dave in Northridge:
In Hunter's front page diary on Michele Bachmann's attack on Huma Abedin, Anthony de Jesus contributed this to a thread that speculated on what a wonderful woman Ms. Abedin must be. Yes, I laughed!
From NoMoJoe:
citizenx provides the perfect response to Ann Romney's foot-in-mouth moment, the subject of Kestrel's recommended diary Ann Romney: "You People".
From brillig:
This comment by G2geek in kos' WWND: What Would Noah Do? needs to be seen widely. We all need to be aware of the utter WTF the lunatics are passing off as "science" these days.
From maybeeso in michigan:
in blue aarvark's recommended post Romney and Bain profited from massive Medicare Fraud, MartyM points out Mitt's hypocrisy.
From your humble diarist:
A thread full of wordplay and cultural free association was started by Tom Stokland in weatherdude's recommended post Hmph.
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TOP MOJO
July 18, 2012
(excluding Tip Jars and first comments)
Got mik!
1) Well said, Kos. Thank you. by TomP — 169
2) Now, make it a LTE for the biggest paper in the by Dave in Northridge — 155
3) It's obvious to all but rich legacy fuckheads by FishOutofWater — 137
4) Last night on MSNBC by Dallasdoc — 135
5) Well David Frum is Canadian. by TexMex — 125
6) Say Mitt, why didn't you start your business in by eXtina — 123
7) Exactly by sangreal — 104
8) Play it in Fayetteville & Jacksonville NC, Please by FishOutofWater — 99
9) Excellent rant. by howabout — 98
10) Oh that's beautiful... by Andrew C White — 97
11) But without middle class Americans... by SuzieQ4624 — 95
12) I think Frum has multiple motives by ivorybill — 92
13) My ass is lilly white, fully american and by real world chick — 91
14) Mitt has no knowledge of this concept by Reetz — 87
15) Mitt the businessman job creator, doesn't manage by eXtina — 84
16) I know, it's the delivery that truly makes by hungrycoyote — 83
17) I amSO glad you posted this by Delilah — 80
18) Hell hath no fury like a conservative scorned. by ConfusedSkyes — 79
19) recc'd for this quote alone: by glorificus — 79
20) the blind trust by MartyM — 78
21) I love him. by Puffin — 77
22) Excellent diary. by althea in il — 77
23) I used to be in international banking by egoldstein — 76
24) The Ed Show just suggested that Eric Cantor by blue jersey mom — 73
25) Oh.My.God.Sununu was born in CUBA?!?! WTF by 8ackgr0und N015e — 73
26) Lots of credit to O'Donnell for by Zwoof — 72
27) Oh, snap! by Susan from 29 — 70
28) Contract by RhodaA — 70
29) Credit where credit is due by blue aardvark — 70
30) Great diary! by alaprst — 68
31) I am reminded of glen beck, by mama jo — 68
32) The plot sickens. Thanks for sharing this again. by divineorder — 68
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TOP PHOTOS
July 18, 2012
Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!
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Note: There's a hole in the quilt today because we did not have permission to reproduce one of the photos.