At this point in my life, I'd describe myself as a high-functioning "wannabe" guitarist.
Here's what I mean: I never had a guitar lesson. I bought an electric guitar and a small amp just out of
boot camp in the late 1980s. I taught myself to play by ear, and picked up chords by reading tablature.
Approaching 40 years later, I'm still working on it. I've been in bands, and we've played small shows,
but not as a guitarist - I sang and played drums, and left the guitar to somebody way more experienced
and way more capable. At one point I was in another group where I did play guitar and sing, but I never
got to play with them out anyplace.
I suppose it would be fun to get onstage and actually play a show, but I'm a hobbyist, not an
innovator. I play in our spare bedroom to music I like. I don't write songs; I nerd for a living, and
music is my escape.
For me, learning songs is kind of like programming; you find something that works and you build on it.
And the "finished product" — that is, when I arrive at something passable — is perhaps a bit like
discounted furniture: it resembles an expensive original, but it's not the same quality. I'm not saying
the "discounted furniture" version of a song I play is my goal, but it's a start. I'd much rather learn
it properly, using a combination of ear and tablature and chords to improve my output, and practice to
improve my skill.
So this past Christmas, when I was asked for gift ideas, I said that I'd love a music book of Billy
Joel Greatest Hits 1 & 2. I'd gotten into trying to play along with a few tracks from that album a couple
of years ago, and his arrangements are challenging. I've gotten to the point where I can keep my head
above water on a few songs, but my curiosity and desire to play them better has reached the "okay, let's
quit messing around" point.
I have a small collection of music books. And when I say "small," I mean like... six. Artists include
Barenaked Ladies, Queen, Rush, Styx, Van Halen. I bought some of those books — probably most of them —
back in the 80's. Until recently, I hadn't opened some of them probably since then.
I'm excited to work on some Billy Joel with the aid of the new book. I haven't been able to play
since before Christmas — we had actual guests in our guest room, so I had to take down my guitar rig —
but I think once life returns to normal in there I can set everything back up again and learn what the
actual chords are to "Movin' Out" instead of what I've been playing.
Did you catch the pun in the title of the post?
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