March 17, 2008

Inspiration

I’m a fingerstyle guitar enthusiast! So much so that I volunteer to write the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar weekly newsletter. I’ll post my articles here for your musical pleasure. Be sure to check us out online at http://www.torontofingerstyleguitar.com.

I’ve been pumping nylon all week. My classical guitar asks me to come out and play several times a day. I’m fortunate in that I work from home and really could play guitar all day if I wanted to (and I could have my pick of five guitars - including, believe it or not, the Karol Guitar that my posse is defending my right to play LOL) so a few times a day, I take a break from typing away on my keyboard and pick away at my guitar.

I know I should play more - but I’m finding that even five minutes a day is helping. Maybe it will take me ten years to learn a Tommy tune or six months to master “Romanza” but every day I see progress. And each week, I’m inspired by some truly great guitarists to challenge myself. Whether it’s a guitarist on the radio who catches my attention or one of the great local talents in Toronto.

This week, Dunstan sent me a welcome distraction and fantasitc inspiration.

“Speaking of Pino, I just found this guy (not sure if I want everyone to know, cuz he does a much nicer version of Whiter Shade than me!)”

Take a moment and check it out now!

You can find inspiration in the most amazing places: every other week at a TFGA Pickin’ Party, when you’re riding on the subway, when you skip into one of the many live music venues in the city, when you pop a Tommy CD into your player, or shuffle your way through Chester & Lester on your iPod. All you need is to stop for a moment and tune in to what your ears are hearing.

As a regular at the TFGA Pickin’ Parties, I’ve got to tell you there’s nothing like one of Dave Barrett’s smokin’ solos to make you want to rush home and crank out a few licks. Or Dunstan’s great melodic lines in a jam that draw you into the beauty of jazz and fingerstyle. Then there’s Des picking his way through Lewis & Clark and making it look so easy that I think to myself “I could play that” and then actually going home and trying. There are so many more great players to talk about - I’ve only just scratched the surface. Be sure to join us at our next TFGA Pickin’ Party at Chalkers on January 29th.

Inspiration is all around you. All you have to do is listen. Come out tomorrow night and be inspired.