Over the TG weekend, I spent some time at my parent's house collecting some of my things to bring back with me to NoMi. One of the items I found was an old PC game that request 256K (which was really fast at the time) called "the Bard's Tale." The long story short, this was one of the first D&D style computer games that allowed you to have 4 characters at once, with cryptic instructions. Let me tell you, I was swept away with nostalgia when I found this game!
Here is one of the best parts...in "The Manual," it has descriptions of the characters, one of which is The Bard. This is the description word for word: "The Bard make magic by playing music. He needs an instrument, of course. He can play in combat or during exploration, with different effect. Only one tune at a time. And one tune for every experience level. Then he needs to get a drink from any nearby tavern." Okay, maybe subconsciously this is where my concept of the Journeyman Guitar-Player was formed....well, at least the last part! Well, I have my instrument.
As I read on, I couldn't help but relate to background: "Bards were once warriors, and can still use most warrior weapons." I mentally checked that one off. "But they turned to music instead and now play songs with an almost magical effect on other characters...." Check again. "Any true Bard has 6 tunes on his lips...Bard songs vary according to the difficulty of the dungeon. When the going gets tough, the Bard goes drinking." I swear that it say that...and remember, it was a teenager's game from 1985!
Okay, so aside from the drinking references throughout the Bard description, the one thing that occurred to me (besides the gender-specific orientation of the game) was that this minstrel was expected to be able to play six songs at any given moment to create "magic." Well, I thought, I'm one song short right now (though I know where the nearby taverns are located!!!).
So that leads me to something that happened yesterday, when I went to Cliques barber shop in dinkytown to get a haircut. Close to closing time, a young man walked into the shop carrying a guitar case in hand. So, guess how long it took for us to be in an impromptu jam session? This young man, with 3-4 months of playing time, is probably technically described as a Apprentice Guitar-Player...but you couldn't tell once he started playing. Now, most new guitar-players are a bit shy to play in public, but when asked, this young man jammed out "Knockin on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan on his "Mitchell" acoustic guitar without hesitation. I played a few my favors...and in short time the conversation drifted to techniques, syles, music, and why I love my Crimson Red Pearl Ovation CK057 before it was time to go. The owner suggested we return to do a sort of "open mic" some evening, which to Journeyman Guitar-Player, sounds great!
Of course, there is that little problem of being one song short of six, but think I will add this new song I learned on the fly to be at the full capacity ... but I have a feeling my version will sound more like Guns n Roses...
As I have said, it's a journey. So, keep practicing. I get the feeling there will be a good event at Cliques in the near future.
Addendum: Ashton said...
I finally have my list of songs:
1. Knockin On Heavens Door by Bob Dylan
2. Slow Motion by Third Eye Blind
3. The Times They Are-A Changing by Bob Dylan
4. I've just seen a face by The Beatles
5. Let it Be by The Beatles
6. Hey Mama by Kanye West
I also been workin on Blackbird (tab) by The Beatles
Cool!
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