My Writings. My Thoughts.
Acoustic Guitars and Happiness
September 19th, 2009
I think I was born half musical instrument–sound fascinates me. Some days I’ll lie on my bed, hitting different notes on my guitar and letting them ring out, just to listen to the sound slowly fade.
I feel more at peace socially when I have a guitar in my hands. I’m often nervous to meet a person or two, but I’m more than happy to sing and play for fifty. I can’t play much more than the basic chords, and I sing about as well as that cousin of yours that “is very brave to try so hard,” so it’s not competency that does it… I’m pretty sure it’s just a disposition from my bloodline. My grandma was a mandolin or something.
Question for you (yes you, reading the blog): Do you find you feel better about life when you’re making music? Or am I really descended from a string instrument? If you don’t feel overly awkward, leave a comment. I promise to give you an approving nod.
Chris, Chad and I playing Demons (by Guster) and Facebook Girl (an original) last Friday
Britton, I feel I am at my best when I am writing words down about girls on Facebook and buying in bulk prices at Costco. P.S. http://dailyderbi.com (my shameless quest for inbound links)
I really think stringed instruments are in your bloodline. I remember once having a very fascinating conversation with your Dad’s father. He kept mentioning his cousin the Hurdy Gurdy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurdy_gurdy
I hesitated at first, but threw cautions to the wind when you brought up the desired approving nod. I will pull a Matt Showalter and take a trip back to high school (love you, Matt..). The small-group parties made me nervous when there were people I didn’t know. But there was always a guy strumming the guitar, raising the chill level astronomically and making me much more comfortable. If I were any good at the guitar I suppose my own playing would have soothed me, but you can’t really be comfortable when mortifying yourself, so I was wise enough to never try that option. Well, you feel better when playing the guitar and I feel better when someone besides myself plays the guitar. We should have taken advantage of this. Since we were always so uncomfortable around each other..?