1 Reply by Merlin Miller

(9 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

I agree with kerwoman.  Keep playing your guitar.  You will get better if you stick with it.  I am mainly a singer, but if I relied on someone else to play for me I wouldn't be able to play half of the songs that I do because most folks don't play a lot of the stuff that I do.


You might want to learn keyboard some.  It's a very good insturment to compose on and one of the easiest insturments to learn.  All of the notes are there in front of you, literally in black and white.  It only takes a few hours to learn to chord with your left hand while you play the melody with your right. (check out "Piano In A Flash")


Don't give up, you'll get it if you keep trying, but youre not going to learn guitar in a couple of months.

You go Girl!

Merlin

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2 Reply by Merlin Miller

(26 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I like to sing (mostly songs that tell stories) and play guitar to accompany myself.  Usually play solo & there by avoid the head trips that sometimes happen because of conflicting egos.   

Used to play bass and sing lead in a band, but got tired of drunks knocking over my equipment in bars. Don't have a bass at the moment, not a very good solo insturment. 

I mostly play a Fender F65 flat top six string these days.  Have an old Vox wildcat.  Have a violin, but haven't taken the time to learn it.  Have several harmonicas, haven't played them much since I was a kid. 

I hope to get a seven string arch top in the near future, but can't fit it into the budget yet.  Been playing guitar since about the same time the Beatles hit the U.S.


Incidently, if anyone is looking for a pretty good imitation ES335 an Oscar Schmit OE30 will give you a lot of bang for your buck.  A friend of mine has one and it's an  amazingly good guitar for the money.  Musitions Friend has them right now for $149.95. (no I don't work for them, It's just a good deal)

Merlin

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3 Reply by Merlin Miller

(23 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Hi Monny & everyone,

Did you happen to check out those Harry Chapin songs that I mentioned?  He definitely knew how to sing a story.

By the way I listened to that bricklayer's song and laughed so hard I just about fell out of my chair.  I think I'm going to learn it. Thanks.

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4 Reply by Merlin Miller

(23 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Most of the songs that I play tell a story.

I don't know the style of music you like, but here are a few suggestions that I like to play:


Most of the songs that Harry Chapin did were stories.  Taxi; W.O.L.D.; A better place to be; 30,000 pounds of bananas, to name a few.


Kris Kristoferson sings some good stories,  To beat the Devil; Sunday mornin' comin' down; Bobby Mcgee; Best of all possable worlds, lot more.


John Denver sang a lot of stories; My sweet lady; It's good to be back home again; Poems, prayers and promises, etc.


Jim Croce sang a lot of stories.

Operator;  I'll have to say I love you in a song; New York's not my home; Workin' at the car wash blues; Rapid Roy(that stock car boy) many more.


If you like funny songs, Pinkerd and Bouden (hope I spelled Bouden right) do a lot of them.  I don't know if you have heard of them or not, but, they are a hoot.  Help me make it through the yard; Don't pet the dog; Blue hairs drivin' in my lane, etc.


The Unicorn by the Irish rovers is kind of a fun story.


Most of these songs are kind of old, but the people that I play for seem to like them.


Like someone else mentioned, probably about 40% of songs tell stories. 


Hope that helps you some.


Merlin

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