The Guitar
As I sit here tonight I can see my guitar in full view next to the tv. It’s a medium brown wood color with a large flat plastic pick guard just below the sound hole. It’s a Martin guitar from the orchestra series. I’ve played it in hundreds of places, my dad bought it for me when I graduated from college. It cost about $1500 in 1995.
When I hold it up to my face and take a whiff, there is a strong smell of wood … like firewood in a snowed in cabin. The neck is thin and the rosewood fretboard smooth when I travel up and down forming chords. It has a leather strap fastened with a black shoestring I bought years ago just for that purpose. As my eyes travel down I see a sad reality, the place where the guitar was broken. It’s put back together with packing tape and an American flag bumper sticker. Sort of the poor man’s fix-it job. The look of it reminds me of punk rock I listened to in high school. But it still strums melodic like an angel’s harp.
This guitar is like an old friend. I’ve written some of my best songs on it. It has a Baggs pickup that lets me plug in to any sound system and have volume. Sometimes I disappear into my garage and play for hours. Other times I just sit draped over with my arms resting on it and I just think. It’s a part of me, and it will continue to be all my life.
I think being able to write music is incredible and truly, is a gift. I’ve sat down at my keyboard many times, but I can only play…not write. I’m definitely missing the emotional connection with my keyboard like you have with your guitar! That’s what makes a musician, I believe. I just play. It’s way more than that for you!
Jessica The Rock Chick’s last blog post..The Name Game
That is an outstanding description. I can actually picture your guitar sitting there and can see exactly what it looks like.
Thanks for sharing!
Derek’s last blog post..There Was No Folgers In My Cup
@Jessica: Hey thanks so much. I enjoyed writing about my guitar, it is definitely a part of me. Thanks for seeing that.
@Derek: You are welcome. I thought I’d bust out a short word picture, glad to hear you received it!
My guitar is part of me as well…I know this is going to sound cliché but…my guitar is an extension that allows me to convey how I am feeling at any given moment (without needing to speak). I think this is why I tend not to play other people’s material. Thanks for sharing.
Sepia’s last blog post..St. Paddy’s Day Show at the Brass Monkey
Sepia: We are so in agreement my man! Except for the covers thing. Through the years I have learned it can really grab an audience to do some recognizable numbers first and throw in some originals here and there.
I see your point…when playing live (unless you already have a pretty good following) you really need to bring some good covers into the mix…to pull those people in.
Sepia’s last blog post..St. Paddy’s Day Show at the Brass Monkey
Absolutely. The venues I have been playng the last few years have been people walking in off the boardwalk and such so those covers are golden. If you can do your own and keep the crowd that’s always the bomb!!!!