You're an inspiration Noel. Keep it up.

da-ron wrote:

3) As for solos in songs - why not? If that's what you can do, then do it, and show every one you can do it. You'll inspire someone. And besides, it's always nice when the singing stops for a bit

That's the annoying thing... It's like a train crash, because you're supposed to play iron maiden like solos over the vocals, and it becomes a big, muddy mess... I don't know. Starting back up soon, though. I'll keep you posted.

IMO.

Volcanik wrote:

Stringer wrote:

You're an inspiration Noel. Keep it up.

+1

Thanks! A lot. One of the reasons I had for starting this topic is because I knew, if I can do it, here in the Poconos & over 60, literally anyone can wherever they are and however they play. All I had to do was forget my age and start acting 15 again. Literally. It was like, "Hey, let's get together and play surf music for fun and maybe learn enough songs to play a show somewhere with a friendly audience and ... " Okay, it actually wasn't that easy. There were plenty of times I thought I'd never find anyone besides a CD to play music along with. And I still have a long way to go to be a decent guitarist. But it did happen, and all of it since I joined SG101 a little over two years ago.

Believe me, I'd be all over the Sierra Surf Music Camp if I were closer; it would have made everything gobs easier and I'd know far more than I do now. But even with all that, it wasn't absolutely necessary. Look what's happened so far! Ventures East Coast Fan Fest this October. Then after that, the All Summer Long project.

The most amazing thing to happen yet is, I just got an invitation to play bass in a real band. Not surf, but with established and brilliant musicians. I don't know what all will come of it, but I was asked. And I said yes! Most of you know what something like this means to anyone who really wants to make music. It means all that to me, too.

If I can, anyone can! And I really do owe all this to everyone here. No matter what comes from all this, I can never thank you all enough. Ever.

Somewhere, my dad is smiling and saying, "See? What took you so long? I knew you could do it."

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Aug 28, 2013 16:24:12

Noel, I have the pinky problem myself and find that placing my thumb in the center of the back of the neck helps me stretch out more. I'm mostly self taught so I may get fussed at for giving bad technique advice but it works for me. I broke my left arm badly around 89 and lost some range of motion, but have gained a lot back by learning guitar. Hang in there and practice all you can

++1 what wfoguy said! I'm in the same boat (on the same kind of board?) same age bracket and in a surf music wasteland too. Will I ever make it? Don't know and not worried about it, it's just too much fun leaning all this new stuff.
Neil

All I wish I knew what they were talking about

That's what should drive music: passion.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Glad to hear it's coming together Noel.
It's a great feeling when it starts to click with a group of players, isn't it?
Awesome news.
You guys are going to be great!

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

I want to again thank everyone here for your enthusiasm and support. You mean more to me than I can express. But nothing I'm doing would have happened without you.

But I want to add this. I'm still a poor guitarist. I've only managed to play maybe half of the time since I started taking lessons, and I've nearly started over each year but this one. I have trouble forming certain chord forms and keeping up with fast changes that use them. But I'm doing this now, was invited to play bass in a real band and am starting my other projects in a few weeks.

I've heard more than a few people tell me lately they can't do what I'm doing - that is start a band or play in a band. That's exactly what I thought before I started doing it. I'm being careful not to play beyond my abilities, while I learn to play better, and letting better players play the harder parts so we sound the best we can. They can take all the credit their playing earns them. I'm just having fun and trying to sound as good as possible. If I can do it, anyone can.

You can!

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Sep 22, 2013 18:45:07

You are going to have a great time ! Relax and do what you do ! Take what you got and rock !play through the mistake if you even make one. The passion of your playing will be evident anyway.smile all the way because your hard work and dream of playing is a reality now Noel ! Congrats man !

The music room. It used to be a reading room, but I needed to make room for 4 guitarists and a drummer. Priorities!

My guitars for Oct 12; Baritone Strat & Cort Source-BV. The Quilters are loaner demonstrators I take to guitar stores, let musicians play and that we'll use when we play. If anyone is willing to come over, you're welcome to play these amps. One's a MicroPro-200 8" and the other's an Aviator Ultralite Eight. And, yeah, you can crank up the Music Man, too!

My gear. I'm also using a BOSS RE-20 Space Echo.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Sep 28, 2013 22:30:07