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GUITAR HEAVEN…for me, that is
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The Uke looks great Roger, very nice.
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Thanks Tomas. I am impressed with the quality of this ukelele. Fun to play and it has such a comfortable feel. Live KOA and it is solid wood all around. Looking forward to getting into it. Enjoyed your video.
I think we should post short videos of us playing our MLT favs. I think it would be a gas….or perhaps we should start a new forum for just videos. Perhaps videos that focus on anything MLT! Roger
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Lol… Roger… I did post a couple wks ago on here a video clip of myself playing the Bongos I had borrowed from the library through their Music Instrument sharing program while MLT music was playing so I could play along with the songs…. I do have a few other video clips from yrs ago of myself singing along with MLT and doing my tambourine /harmonica attempts to play along…. Sort of… Lol… I’m not great at it by no means but I had fun doing it… I don’t take my myself or my musical abilities too seriously…..
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The purpose and idea behind the video thing is to have FUN and nothing more! I did watch your video and that was the catalyst for my suggextion. You and Tomas’ videos were great and captured the essence. I play for my own enjoyment and with a friend about once a week. I am one of those “not quite ready for prime time players”. ? Roger
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Whoops… I should have said.. I Don’t take my Lack of /Limited music abilities very seriously… I know I’m not the greatest but am Contented with what I can and know how…
My inspiration came from my late Mom… She should of been a professional singer in a band or solo… Even after her detrimental stroke… Her ability to still him in perfect tune/pitch though she could not speak properly anymore but she could say”Doo.. Lalala, etc”alongside songs she’d hear on TV or radio or at music stuff going on /Xmas party for residents and family in the sun room on her longterm hospital floor. When she was well I often told her she should of been a singer… (Perhaps secretly it was her unfulfilled dream)
One of my childhood dreams was to be a singer or in a band… Lol… I have an aunt who is a church organist, one of my older siblings self taught himself guitar, I had a late uncle who could play almost any instrument…. I have got brave and sung a few times at Karaoke… The last time I did do Karaoke. IÂ did do”I Saw Her Standing There ” and a few other different songs by different folks but” I Saw Her “got a few whistles and loudest applause… Lol
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Next week I have a new guitar arriving…a Ric 350v63! Cannot wait! Also trying to work out a great deal on a Ric 360 maple…a new, old instrument. Pictures of both will be forthcoming ?! Roger
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Here is my MLT music corner
Anything look familiar? Â I am a happy camper!
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Cannot forget these ukuleles…
Kala baritone. Lanikai concert. Â Both are tons of fun.
Roger
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Roger, your entire collection of sorts is quite impressive!
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I have come to the frustrating conclusion of reality after having borrowed a uke from the library for a few wks, that I just Cannot play it at all, the way one should. Though I understand the concept, seen the visuals on how to hold and play, for whatever reasoning, my brain cannot get my hand coordination in effect to successfully play it, that is, I cannot strum the strings with a pick or use my fingers to place on frets at same time as it’s the method to do, just not happening with me no matter the practice, I simply cannot master it as is the normal method to do, my fingers/hands and brain connection just cannot connect to grasp the concept simultaneously as one should do…. although on my own fiddling around my own plucking way, and humming, I did kind of play the one line of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, that is the sounding of the strings as I hummed, to figure out if it sounded somewhat in tune… Lol… Kinda did., but that is as far as it got. My banjo hold at library is still on, maybe I’ll be able to grasp Banjo idea and concept better or not at all either with same issues…. Once it becomes available for my turn to borrow it. I had better luck on Bongos or percussion type stuff, just not guitar family stuff… Though I can Air-Guitar well… Too bad I can’t duplicate what I do imaginary into reality, also can’t really make heads or tails out of chords charting or music notes, I’m better off to listen /play by ear. I know kids can play guitars and uke but for je, it’s just not happening, I’ve come to the conclusion. I sure would luv to play if I could. No amount of practice will help, it’s abundantly clear to me, I can’t grasp the guitar /uke playing concept with my hands/fingers and my brain to coordinate properly altogether mechanically to do so, oh well, I tried, still have my own purple uke, that I’ll continue to fiddle around my own way on it, though not proper but I’ll enjoy doing so because I know that method works best for me.
You all may not fathom or understand the idea of how I cannot play/grasp the concept like should normally be done, just consider me the oddball and I’m ok with that because I admit my failure at this ineptness I have in this particular dept.  Perhaps it’s a cognitive genetic slight impairment I was born with…
But, I’ll keep on doing the best I know how, and that is what matters, if what and how I do something makes me happy, then I’m sticking to it.
I applaud everyone that can play guitars, etc. It’s magic to watch, just wishing I could of been blessed somewhat with it… Lol
I think writing song lyrics would be more for me to do with some success…. Lol
Guitar and Uke Onwards Folks… Make beautiful music
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No failures in this MLT group! If playing is not your thing, you are still good to go with trying. I, for one, cannot string words together in any kind of lyrical form. It seems that the “harder I try, the gooder to be with words, the worser I gets”!
Do not give up on any of your dreams.
Roger
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Hi, Jacki.
I just started playing the ukulele a few weeks ago, and I was having many of the frustrations you mention. Much earlier in this thread I described how I overcame some of these problems by laying the instrument in my lap and pressing straight down on the strings.
It gets rid of the issue of trying to physically support the instrument with your hands (which are needed for more important things), plus your view of your fingers is not foreshortened or uncomfortably close up. I also find it’s much easier to depress the strings this way without my fingers touching them in extra places.
I’m still struggling with some chords that involve more than two fingers (death to G!), and I probably look ridiculous, but to some extent I’m making music!
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Hi David and Roger, Thankyou both for your encouragement but I do know what I’m not good at and know not to further pursue it as I don’t enjoy if I cannot do… However, I might try David’s method approach but I need a visual reference photo to grasp visually the concept, as I’m visual learner, I best learn by seeing /being shown how as opposed to just explaining, could you post a photo David of your method approach here so I could look at it to understand/grasp your concept visual wise and attempt at another time. I was kinda trying out different ways to hold uke, but the frustration issues I mentioned previous here, made it more awkward.
I’m sharing 2 links of Canadian Blind guitarists (Jeff has passed away but Lucas still alive& I have seen both live separately…. Impressed was I…)
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Okay, I found this picture. It’s a guitar rather than a ukulele, but it’s the same idea.
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Yep… The way Jeff Healey played his guitar… Most of the time… Lol… But this is a method I could try to tackle doing…. But I know I’d still have some of same issues… Lol… Can’t tell what key I’m doing unless I labeled the frets/strings and a book of illustrated chord playing with diagrams of person doing chords in this method would probably be of great help…. Lol…. I enjoy listening and than trying to play what I hear in my own way…. Visual and hearing… Lol… I can’t strum/pluck while coordinating fingers on strings and frets at same time, I’d have to do both separately…. That is how my brain can’t correlate doing… Both at same time… It must be done individually… For me to have it work remotely…. Lol, I’m better at singing /kinda harmonizing though again., no key sense but I know what goes high and low from what I hear… Makes sense to you what I just tried to explain?!  Hope so, did my best to make myself understood… Lol… Goodnight… Time for my ZZZZZs…..
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I think I understand what you’re saying, Jacki. I admit that my technique is adapted from how I learned to pick out chords on an electric keyboard when I was a kid, so I already had that skill set in place.
They do make little color-coded stickers that you can attach to the fretboard to indicate where to press down for different chords, so that might be helpful. To get my hands to “think” about two different types of motion at the same time, I just view strumming as repetitively tapping horizontally to provide a beat, and I focus completely on my left hand.
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I saw Jeff Healey play live early on in his career, I think back in the 80’s. Certainly a talented and inspiring musician despite any handicap.
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I as well Jung got to see Jeff Healey play live only the once, glad I had, as for Lucas Haneman, I’ve seen him live once so far… I can honestly say that with both of the guys, you completely forget that they have a disability, you just go in awe of their Guitaring skills…
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Here again is my MonaLisa Twins music corner. Â It really is a ton of fun to play the same, or near same, model of guitars as I jam with the Twins via my Yamaha Chord Tracker app.
Next up…coming next week…a peerless Epiphone Casino (ebony of course), a Gibson SG Standard, and….ready for this?….a 50 year old Epiphone Excellente (MIJ) in mint condition. Â This last acoustic guitar is probably the best made Epiphone during recent history. Â Will take pics once they all arrive next week.
I agree with Lisa when it comes to the Gretsch jet duo…one of the best guitars made.  The new Ric 350v63 like Mona plays is not bad either….but I prefer the Gretsch.  The Ric’s thin/narrow neck is going to take some getting used to over the next few weeks.  Also, may have to invest in a Vox or Rivera amp since none of my current amps do a good job with the Ric 350.  This is a bad habit/past time if one ever plans to save a lot of money!
Hope everyone is having a great week.
Roger
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Congrats Roger! That Ricky 350v63 looks awesome next to the Gretsch Duo-Jet. Love your MLT music corner of guitars. Thanks for posting these.
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Roger. So I was in a big Best Buy store near where I live, and in addition to their vast supply of big screen TVs, computers, digital cameras etc they’ve always had for years, they have a substantial music instrument section with digital piano/keyboards and acoustic and electric guitars hanging on the walls, just like in your pictures, and the prices on some of these guitars are quite affordable. I could sell a few of my fountain pens and buy one of these!  Maybe one of these days I might cross over from the piano to acoustic guitar if I spend enough time in your thread here and watch enough Mona and Lisa videos of them smoking their guitars.Â
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Hi Jung,
Great hearing from you. How close to my location did you get? I got a couple of new additions and I will have to take pics of them. A 1992 Peerless (factory name) Casino with P-90 pickups, and a Ricky 650…also, a 1992. The casino is ebony (keeping with the MLT grove), and the Ricky is a neck through natural finish…a beautiful and a bit unusual. The Ricky also has a wider neck than other models which offers a slightly more comfortable play time.
I wish that I could find a buyer for my 609 Clavinova…it has been played about one-half a dozen times. New:$12,000.00. My price: $5,000.00 It would make someone one of those buys of a life-time purchases. Why did I buy it? Great intentions, but as the saying goes, “the road to heaven is paved with good intentions” or, was that the road to hell? In any case, if you know anyone…heck of a buy! Just needs to find a home and player who can make this baby sing!
If you ever think of buying guitars, you should touch base with your fellow MLT players! Can’t hurt and folks may offer you fantastic deals!
Good hearing from you. I e joy reading your offerings in various forums.
Roger
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Hey Roger thanks! I am up in the Pacific Northwest of Canada (Vancouver BC). It sounds like a great idea about touching base with some of the MLT fans here if/when I decide to get a guitar. Right now though, if I do get one it will be a rather very, very modest one to play around on. I think I saw an Epiphone acoustic guitar in that store (wow I know some guitar brands now!), but no Gretsch or Rickenbackers.  Looking forward to seeing some of your new additions when you get a chance.
On the recent MLT posting of their two radio interviews with James Whale from 2015, they play some songs and the acoustic guitars just sound so great (crisp rich tones).
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My new-used Ricky…somewhat rare. This is a 90s model.
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50 years old, minty Epiphone Excellente FT550. Great woods. Wonderful craftsmanship. Beautiful sound.
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1990s Epiphone Casino from the famous Peerless factory. P90s add a distinctive punch!
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Something that usually is found within every collector’s “herd”…Gibby SG Standard with great sounding pickups.
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It’s awesome to see and read and learn about all the guitar models and makes that you are all familiar with to which I’m not even remotely sure of, I know of what Team MLT has, as they ‘ve mentioned about, and I know of Gibson, Telecaster, Fender, & other familiars, I just don’t know enough on specifics as like you all do on here but with your photos and great detailed descriptions of, for a visual learner person as I am, that helps me understand and learn about, in with those methods you’ve posted by, Thankyou ???
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Wow, love seeing those guitar photos, and that newly acquired Ricky look exceptionally nice, like a little piece of art. Just like a piano in the house can give the place a little extra character and charm, I am thinking, having a few guitars hanging around the house could make for a really nice atmosphere, especially if you can just pick one up and start playing. You are a lucky guy Roger with all those guitars! 🙂
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Jung…and one of the prices we pay for having so many guitars…the cases,
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The cases, and…
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Yup…and more cases! Of course, it is a small price to pay for the joy guitars bring us! The Ricky is like a work of art, for sure. I feel thst way about most guitars. Roger
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Roger, I guess every nice guitar comes with baggage (pardon the pun), but the good kind. I collect fountain pens of all sorts, modern, specialty, vintage (have one from 1915), and some of the elegant case/boxes they come in is part of the experience. Some in nice wooden boxes with elegant inscribing and velvety plush interior lining. It’s not like a cardboard box that smartphones come in these days, but in elegant cases made with care, pride and attention to detail. Works of art like musical instruments. In high school I took band for a year and I had to rent a trumpet. It wa so beautiful I remember, all shiny and its customized elegant case. Something special.
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Jung,
I like older pens for the size and heft that they present. You know that you not only hold a well-made, well-crafted pen, but usually one with style and a message about the person possessing it.
The cases are almost as beautiful as the item or items they contain within and protect. Those of wood that were carefully hand-carved and could be made to represent so many people, places, and things…very important cultural artifacts with stories to tell and secrets to hide.
What is of special interest to me are the varied rituals that people would go through before, during, and after using their pens. That is, the many ways in which they often helped to emphasize routine, or perhaps very important, events or moments in time.
I can see why a person would develop a special interest in them. You should consider posting a picture of a few…they are, after all, instruments to be played!
Roger
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Well said Roger, I couldn’t agree with you more. There is something so very personal and special about receiving a hand written note these days with the words and thoughts physically formed by the writer by pen and ink on paper. I know Mona and Lisa appreciate that given the recent hand written lyrics and beautiful hand drawn sketch art work with pens they do.
Some special moments deserve to be signed off on in a ceremonial way with a nice pen and ink. It’s some how more physical and real than a digital text on a phone or computer. You are making a real physical mark.
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True Jung. However, the days of hand-written signatures with pen on paper are fading fast. Just the other day I had to sign for a parcel using my finger on a digital screen. The result didn’t look very much like my normal hand written signature. It’s going to take some time to get used to.
We’ve come a long way since the printing press of Johannes Gutenberg circa 1439. Â Prior to that we had thousands of monks copying transcripts by hand in monasteries.
The concept of movable type however, was not new in the 15th century; movable type printing had been invented in Chinaduring the Song dynasty, and was later used in Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty, where metal movable-type printing technology was developed in 1234.
By the way Roger, Jung has posted photos of his pens previously. under the Topic: “Your favorite MLT merch”. There are several pages I recommend you scrolling through and perhaps adding to!
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Okdokey, putting in my 3 cents worth on the handwriting side topic here :
Because I was born full term but only at 3 pounds-3 ounces, struggling to survive, I’ve always hand hand/eye coordination issues (guitar/uke issues mentioned previously on here) and printing and cursive handwriting was not fun and quite frustrating for me that I ended up repeating Grade 7 as one of the main reasons(other personal reasons factored too)
I can still recall quite vividly how I was for longest time not able to properly formulate to printing the capital “K” as I had been taught to read and see, I did my own version of it for the longest time before finally doing it at a fairly properlike way.
Cursive Handwriting in Grade 2….Nasty and Frustrating for me and a constant struggle thereafter all the rest of my schooling years. Thankfully in my Grade 7 – Round 2, the English teacher enrolled me and a few others in a specific cursive writing exercise class every morning before school started for about 40 mins, I did improve somewhat, enough to go to Grade 8!!
In highschool my hsndwriting/printing still continued to cause me grief at times. Even now if I’m tired, it will be messy like the old days before taking that specific class in Grade 7 – R2…
I do believe it is vital to maintain the art of handwriting, once in awhile, though with arthritis in my hands now a little, and modern tech, it’s nice to have choice of having both ?
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Hi Roger, well while we are on the topic of pens, here are some of my writing instrument, that to me are works of art anyway:
Sterling silver fountain pens
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