When learning to play guitar, one first learns how to hold the instrument, what tone each string represents, maybe even how to tune it. Then, finally, something representing progress: a chord. That first chord is almost always E-minor, often written as 022000. (Left-hand finger position relative to strings.) Simplicity aside, this is a good chord, as it has a wicked, foreboding sound, even out of song context.
The idea of a rudimentary step seems an appropriate parallel to this blog. This post is meant to be analogous to that E-minor chord, a starting point and an initial direction.
Make no mistake, this blog was conceived as part of a course assignment through Drake University. However, its inevitability need not be a burden; no, better to view this development as a catalyst for personal development. Hence, I will interpret the assignment as an impetus to learn a new song for the guitar.
My experience with the guitar is largely personal. I am self-taught and generally play for fun, having learned chords and tabs for a couple dozen songs that I both liked and felt would translate to acoustic guitar. My actual guitar is a rickey old axe that used to belong to my mother; she was content to part with it upon my discovery of its box in her attic, where it lied underneath at least a dozen years of dust. The guitar is by no means valuable, and by others' accounts, difficult to play.
The song will decidedly not be an original piece. As much as I might like to claim some songwriting acumen, my knowledge of musical theory likely dictates that this piece will be an 'interpretation' of a popular (relatively speaking) song for which I have some affection. My technical proficiency will be a contributing factor to song selection as well. This song should represent something of a challenge while completion within, say, fourteen days remains attainable.
Many pieces of music have been reinterpreted by artists other than the creator, but in spite of the departure from the original sound, the song remains the same, after all. (Hence, blog title.) Theoretically, my rendition of whatever song I ultimately select should bear some resemblance to the original, though success need not (and, in this case, probably will not) be determined by accuracy of imitation.
If all goes well, perhaps this song will see a public debut at a local coffee shop's open mike night. This seems to be the appropriate venue for such an exercise, both in terms of audience expectations and not provoking any sort of legal consequences.
(Song selection forthcoming...)
