Archive for the ‘Guitars’ Category
The Trials and Tribulations of a Southpaw
Despite the fact that both of my parents are right-handed, I somehow acquired the rare gene that creates southpaws. It seems that left-handed people are becoming an endangered species and, personally, I think that it is a direct result of the setup of virtually all consumer products in today’s world. Nearly everything is designed to cater to the needs of right-handed people.
As a southpaw, growing up in today’s society can be difficult. The world is ever-increasing its dependence on computers, which are obviously designed for right-handed people. Another example of this trend is in musical instruments. Although Jimi Hendrix broke the mold by playing his guitar left-handed, he is the exception to the rule. Luckily I was able to find a store online that left handed acoustic guitars when I started playing.
When kids pick up a guitar for the first time, the learning curve can be rather steep. Once children learn a basic song or two on the instrument, they are generally well on their way to a lifelong love of playing. Early on, though, before they can grasp such techniques as stringing chords together in sequence, playing the guitar can feel like work. This perception is only magnified by the development of calluses.
Before the fingers grow accustomed to pressing guitar strings tight to the fretboard, they are susceptible to some minor pain. It’s important for parents to emphasize the value of developing calluses as they will make playing a classical guitar much simpler and more enjoyable. In time, a young guitarist’s fingers will begin to look and feel like that of a manual laborer. That’s how you know you’re on the right track.
While electric guitar may be at the forefront of most mainstream music today, many artists will still occasionally go back to the classic acoustic guitar. There is still a love for acoustic music in the mainstream, and there are efforts to assure that the tradition doesn’t die. Although MTV has done a lot to “kill the radio star,” their popular series Unplugged has helped revive the mainstream appreciation of acoustic music.
In the last few years there has been an increase of bands exclusively performing acoustic music. Sub Pop Records is home to some of the most notable of these bands, including Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine. The Seattle radio station KNDD features a full three hour radio show each week devoted exclusively to acoustic mainstream music.