I use metal finger picks a lot on my acoustics and love the sound they produce. Never had a problem with strings wearing out.
DE
702 2013-03-14 03:04:18
Re: George Jones is retiring!! (4 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Saw him at the Nelsonville Music Festival a couple years ago. His voice is shot but it was still a thrill hearing him belt out "He Stopped Loving Her Today",
DE
703 2013-03-04 05:38:33
Re: New Banjo Day (8 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
That's great Jerome! Congrats!
704 2013-03-01 20:56:55
Re: Your towns best known band? (26 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Probably the best known from my area are jazz singer Nancy Wilson, country singer Johnny Paycheck and country-rock band Pure Prairie League.
DE
705 2013-02-27 14:10:28
Re: CHORDIESTOCK 2013 - February 23 - Madeira Beach, FL (110 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Looks like y'all had a great time. Sorry I missed it.
DE
706 2013-02-25 04:43:28
Re: Its Not Chordiestock 2013, but ........ (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Wow! What a weekend! I really regret missing Chordiestock, but must say I had a great time playing this weekend. It's been 30 years since I spent more than 15 minutes on a stage playing to a crowd. Two sold out shows - nothing but three hours each night of original music, art and poems and and an appreciative audience that seemed to hang on every word. I think poet/musician Rick Barnes said it best (paraphrasing what he said) "If Einstein hadn't discovered the theory of relativity someone else would have because its a basic science truth. Same for Watson-Crick and DNA. But if Beethoven hadn't written "Moonlight Sonata", no one else would have. Or if Van Gogh hadn't painted "Starry Night" no on else would have. If the songwriters, poets and artists that performed original works at the Sensory Serenade hadn't created what they did, no one else would have." He really got me thinking more about my own songwriting and the writers who create the music we listen to.
Here's a pic from each night. I'm the nutritional over-achiever sitting on the left side of the stage, with songwriters Rick Barnes in the middle and Mike Boyle on the right. Behind us are guitarist Steve Hummel and mando/banjo picker Barry Barnes. Artist/musician John K Victor is playing harmonica in the first pic. Poet Tyler West and artist Keri Dodds also contributed.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos- … 2137_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos- … 4466_n.jpg
DE
707 2013-02-25 03:53:11
Re: I Hope You Laugh (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I really like the lyrics Jeff, wish I could hear you play it.
DE
708 2013-02-25 03:36:30
Re: video (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Wow! Great job playing Phil. I really enjoyed listening.
DE
709 2013-02-21 03:30:10
Re: are these really the top 100 songs on chordie???? (9 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I never look at the songs because as a rule I don't like playing covers, but I just looked at the list and there's only one song I've ever played back when I used to play 'em. Several good good songs on the list but just not my style.
DE
710 2013-02-18 11:39:45
Re: Country singer Mindy McCready dead at 37 (9 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I guess the death of her boyfriend a month ago was more than she could take. Thank god the courts had taken away her two kids a couple weeks ago or she might have shot them along with her dog. Seems she's been struggling with mental illness all her life.
711 2013-02-16 14:20:27
Re: Its Not Chordiestock 2013, but ........ (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Zurf wrote:
Those sound like terrific sets. That sounds like a really cool sort of event. Whose sponsoring it? Is it a local arts initiative, or did the managers of the coffeehouse come up with it? Either way, or some other, it's neat to think how they'll tie all the senses together.
Local artist/musician John K Victor and poet/musician Rick Barnes came up with the idea several years ago and tried it at a couple venues, selling out all the tickets each time. I never attended but heard about it from John (who is also a whitewater paddler and fisherman) while we were on a paddling trip to Idaho a few years back. It's been about 3 years since the last time they performed a Sensory Serenade and this time they wanted to expand it a little to include more local artists/musicians. The coffee house will only seat 60 people at tables so it won't be a large crowd. At $15 per ticket they go quickly as the ticket includes the desserts and coffee as well as the entertainment.
The event brings supporters of art and music and local artists/poets musicians together in a friendly atmosphere. Per John and Rick, instead of performing for the normal loud and noisy bar crowd, the past audiences have been polite and attentive through the entire 2-1/2 hour event. The hosting venue makes money, the performers get a cut of the take as well as an opportunity to sell their art work, books of poetry and music CD's, and the crowd enjoys the evening so its a win-win all the way around.
I'm pleased to have been included in the event. For years I've only performed my songs for friends around campfires and never actively participated in the local "music scene". A couple years ago I joined the Foothills Folk Society, a local group trying to preserve the Appalachian arts and have played at some of their events showcasing members. Through FFS I've met other area musicians and have really been surprised at how well my songs have been received by them. Who knows - maybe I'll be starting a music career in my retirement and become the "Grandma Moses" of local folk music. 
DE
712 2013-02-16 02:56:22
Topic: Its Not Chordiestock 2013, but ........ (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= … mp;theater
Since I canceled my trip to Chordiestock, and would be home, I was asked to participate in a "Sensory Serenade" that weekend at a local coffee house. Two painters, two poets and 3 songwriters with a couple other back-up musicians will make up the cast. The format is to appeal to the audience's five senses. There will be 7 "categories" in which the poets and songwriters will perform original pieces and provide short descriptions of the piece's development process. The categories are: 1. First poem/song written by the performer 2. Easiest poem/song to write 3. Hardest poem/song to write 4. Autobiographical poem/song 5. Poem /song about family 6. Newest poem/song written 7. Wildcard (perform any of your original material). This will appeal to the auditory senses of the audience (or in my case may damage it)
While we are playing, the artists will be painting something which was inspired by one of the poems/songs while the audience watches, to satisfy the visual experience. There will also be rich deserts and gourmet coffee served to appeal to the smell, taste and feel senses of the audience. At the end of each show, the paintings will sold by a silent auction. We were also told to bring CD's etc for sale.
For my piece of the action I plan on playing:
First song: "Bluestone" (about river in WV)
Easiest: "Great Day to be Alive" (things that make me happy)
Hardest: "Hard Times" (effects of shutting down coal mine in KY in 1930)
Autobiographical: "Favorite Times" (hi-lites in my life)
Family: "Cold VA Snow" (great-grandpa killed in Civil War 1865)
Newest: 1st night "Trenches of Richmond" (Civil War song), 2nd night "The Whisper" (solo camping in wilderness)
Wildcard: 1st night "If I were the Wind" (tornado destroys a farm) 2nd night "Ridin With The Man" (cowboy finds religion)
Should be interesting to hear original compositions by local songwriters and poets. It won't be as much fun as soaking up sunshine and music at Chordiestock. But it will have to do.
DE
713 2013-02-15 10:15:50
Re: Setting a goal (11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Zurf wrote:
Fire art wrote:Roger Guppy wrote:Good for you, go for it. Keep and eye open for the next time we have a Skype jam and come and play to us guys first to get you used to playing in front of others.
Roger
That sounds real scary
I have found the Skype jams to be nothing but encouraging. Letters on a screen from handles have become characteristic thoughts from genuine friends with names. Paul (Normtheguitar), Amy (Mekidsmom), Jeff (Topdown), Jeff (Jets60), Ken (Dirty Ed), Chris (Guitarpix) I've all met in person, shaken their hands or given them hugs, met some of their spouses and children, and some have been to my home or I to theirs. You should definitely join in. Dirty Ed, Jets60, KAP54 are all songwriters whose music you will only have the chance to hear from a stage or on Skype. Frequently there's more talking than playing. Though it's focus is music, it isn't all about music. One thing is sure - you will never find a more appreciative and encouraging audience.
For full disclosure, I've known Dirty Ed for years before Chordie and think of him as kind of a crazy uncle though we don't share any blood. We do share Yeungling, which we put in our blood when together, so maybe that's it.
Have I told you lately that you're my favorite nephew? However, you're still not mentioned in my will . 
DE
714 2013-02-13 06:52:25
Re: Silly little things (27 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Mine is my "Molly Cup" - the first Christmas present my grand daughter Molly bought me. For the last 13 years its the only coffee mug I drink out of.
DE
715 2013-02-03 20:39:46
Re: Has anyone ever done anything this stupid? (29 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Sorry to hear about your accident JJJ and the painful result.
Because of the type of work I've done and hobbies enjoyed, I've beat up my fingers a lot. One of the worst was from a table saw. I was building a house to sell on spec and had been trying to get it done for the spring market, putting in a lot of hours in the evenings and weekends when I wasn't working my normal job. I was on my 3rd straight 20-hour day and my wife begged me to take a day off because I looked tired, but I needed to finish up some trim in one room. I was using a table saw with the guard removed because it had broken a few days before and I didn't want to take the time to fix it. I was being real careful and was even using a push stick so my hands wouldn't get near the blade. A couple hours in to the job I pushed a board through, turned off the saw and while the blade was till spinning reached for the board. When my fingers were an inch from the blade I realized what was happening but my reactions were too slow and my fingers went into the blade before I could pull them back. When I finally jerked them back, blood splattered over my safety glasses and onto the ceiling of the room I was working in. I was afraid to look at first, thinking my fingers were gone, but I took a peek and was relieved to see my fingers still there. It looked like someone had stuck firecrackers in the ends of three of them and blew them apart. Emergency room couldn't stitch them so they put metal caps over the ends of three fingers and it was a month before I use my guitar again. It was probably a year before I could hear a saw start up without flinching.
DE
716 2013-02-02 17:17:49
Re: The straw that broke the Camel's back (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Zurf wrote:
That's good news Dirty Ed. What I'm trying to figure out is why you heat your septic tank.
It's actually a carry over from an old "social status" thing. Back in the days when folks used "out houses", the very rich heated theirs for comfort, so its one of the ways we poor folks can pretend we're rich. As a society we've evolved so that we now crap indoors and cook/grill outdoors so it all becomes very confusing, so I understand your dilemma.
What is further confusing is why a "regenerative blower" is needed for a septic system. I would think that since the purpose is to break down the "solids" into clean, environmentally safe effluent, a "degenerative' blower would be more appropriate. Also, the furnace utilizes a "squirrel cage" blower, yet I saw no nut shells or or other evidence that one of the little bushy-tailed rodents has ever been employed to move warm air through my abode. Indeed it is all very bewildering.
DE
717 2013-02-02 05:29:00
Re: The straw that broke the Camel's back (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Ahhhh life is good again! Regenerative blower came set up for 230VAC and needed to be changed for 115VAC, and although the instructions were in Italian and the wiring diagram was a little different than I'm used to, I managed to get it all hooked up and feeding oxygen to all the little microbes in my septic system. I ended up calling a service tech for my furnace. Although one of the two guys that came out was young he knew his stuff. The fix was a little difficult as the problem started because of a couple wires shorting outside at the heat pump which caused some relays to fail in the aux heat/blower unit. Didn't have to replace the blower motor and relays were a whole lot cheaper. It actually was fun going through the schematics with him and troubleshooting the problem and although it took 3 hours he only charged me for 2 as I helped troubleshoot the problem. Temps were in the teens today and it was nice to know my heating unit was again in good shape.
I was mildly surprised at all the nice comments I received for the acoustic set I did at the Foothills Folk Society showcase at the Ohio University Chillicothe campus this evening. (Zurf, you'll be happy to know I started the set with "Bluestone".) I had several people requesting to buy CDs when I get the new one finished. I was more shocked at being asked to play a venue with two well-known local singer-songwriters for two nights on February 22-23. I had told some friends that due to all my recent expenditures I wouldn't be making the trip to Florida for Chordiestock and when the other singer/songwriters found out I was available I was asked to join them. So at least I'll be playing along with other musicians that weekend, although it won't be with my Chordie brethren.
Looks like good karma is heading my way again.
DE
718 2013-01-28 17:17:39
Re: The straw that broke the Camel's back (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Whats bugs me is I had the same run of luck back in September. In one weeks time I had to replace the front struts in one of my vehicles, the clutch went out of my truck and our refrigerator quit working. I remember thinking "at least that'll never happen again". I just finished paying off those bills this month and now the nightmare has returned. I'm reminded of the old song line "If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all".
On the positive side, I believe that karma evens out and I'm due to have something really good happen.
DE
PS - Delivery truck just pulled into my drive and brought the blower for my aerator. After I get that taken care of at least I'll be down to just troubleshooting my furnace. Warmer weather (mid 50's) is predicted for the next 3 days so I have a window to work in.
719 2013-01-28 03:10:04
Topic: The straw that broke the Camel's back (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Although I'm in the middle of remodeling the entire upstairs in our house, I figured I could shake loose enough extra money for Jen and me to take a little vacation and attend Chordiestock. Last week my Subaru was making a noise so I took it in and ended up spending $600 for a rear wheel bearing, brake job and repairs to the power steering pump. Two days later a steel belt broke in a front tire on Jen's old car, so $250 later she had new front tires. On Sunday the regenerating blower on my septic aerator system went fubar and I had to order one for $500 (it hasn't arrived yet). Then last night the furnace fan for the A coil and aux heat for my heat pump quit working. With temps in the mid-teens it got a little chilly last night but a couple electric heaters brought the temp up to 70 in the house today. I'm gonna try to access the fan and motor tomorrow but the way the unit is positioned in the corner of my utility room, it may require removing the A coil to get to the fan. Due to the issues involved I may have to call in a service tech and it's not going to be cheap.
If this was a football game, the refs would throw a penalty flag for piling on. I can't complain too much I guess - the aerator system has ran trouble-free for 18 years and the heat system for 24.
Bottom line , due to these unexpected expenses, I won't be showing up for Chordiestock. I hope everyone attending has a great time and leaves with sore fingers.
I was really looking forward to meeting some new faces and getting a chance to jam with everyone.
Sorry for all the whining ........ sniff....sniff ........sniff
DE
720 2013-01-26 04:04:48
Re: Songwriting Year Has Commenced (8 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Good to hear you are in a writing mood. In my opinion playing covers is like an artist who just copies other people's paintings. When you paint your own paintings or write your own songs they may not be great but at least they are yours. In conversations with other writers I'm amazed how many different ways that song writing is approached. I'm the type that almost always starts with a hook and then develops lyrics to support the hook, all the time experimenting with different melodies and chord progression to support the storyline. Occasionally I'll start with some little guitar riff and build a song around it but in my case that is pretty rare.
I'm guessing that for every song I've written that I'm not ashamed to play in public, there is at least one that goes into a folder for a future re-write or into a "black hole" never to be seen again.. One of the best song writers I've met swears that the best songs come from re-writes, but unless I consider the song a "keeper" early on, I don't spend much time trying to refine it. For me the toughest part is trying to get rid of "extra" words that do not contribute new information in each verse. Nothing bugs me more than a song which drags on, essentially saying the same thing verse after verse. My goal is to someday write a song like "My Girl" - just 21 words or less in each verse and another 18 in the chorus, yet conveys a story and emotion.
I hope to hear some your song writing efforts sometime.
DE
721 2013-01-26 03:25:45
Re: What was your first song? (173 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Like a lot of other Chordians, "House of the Rising Sun" was the first song I learned to play. The first song I wrote was either "Ballad of New River Fats" or "Bluestone" - I was working on both of them the same time (35 years ago) and can't remember which one I finished first. I'll be playing "Bluestone" next Friday night at a venue featuring local musicians at the Ohio University Chillicothe campus.
Here's a clip of me playing the song at an open mic 5 years ago. Sound isn't the greatest, and I've grown much more handsome since then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BySDkFX3BWw
DE
722 2013-01-11 23:57:01
Re: For WWII aviation lovers (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Schweeet pix Zurf. We also have a large collection of planes at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, about an hour from my home. The WWII exhibit has about 60 planes including a Zero, Junkers 88, ME-109, Me-163 (Komet), Focke-Wulf 190 and several US planes such as a B-17, B-25, B-29, P-38, P-40 and P-51. The Cold War exhibit includes a B-2, B-52, Mig 29, F-16, F-104 and an SR-71. My favorites have always been the WWI planes they have there like the Spad, Fokker and Sopwith Camel.
I've been there many times but its been at least 3 years Since my last visit. Your post has got me thinking a mid-winter trip may be in order.
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
DE
723 2013-01-10 23:35:01
Re: Busted guitar (9 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Zurf wrote:
Well I hope they don't bust up my Breedlove when I head to Chordiestock. I don't earn anything with it but smiles or sometimes getting people to clap hands over their ears and run away, but I'd be awfully put out. I'll have it in a hard case and hope that they'll let me gate check it instead of baggage check it.
Why would they clap their hands over their ears? I already squeezed all the bad notes out of that guitar before you bought it.
DE
724 2013-01-07 03:07:54
Re: Best Band Ever!!!!!!! You choose and share you're thoughts!!!!! (231 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
joeyjoeyjoey wrote:
By far-Leonard Cohen. Maybe the most covered artist ever.
You got me thinking about who has written the most recorded songs and who has written the most hits. Per info I pulled off the net, Willie Dixon has written the most recorded songs. I also found a list (don't know if its current) of most #1 hits:
Most Number Ones
By Writer
Paul McCartney 31
John Lennon 25
Barry Gibb 16
Brian Holland 15
Lamont Dozier 15
Robin Gibb 13
Eddie Holland 13
Maurice Gibb 11
Carole King 9
Lionel Richie 9
Gerry Goffin 8
Mick Jagger 8
Keith Richard 8
Jeff Barry 7
Daryl Hall 7
Michael Jackson 7
Bernie Taupin 7
Stevie Wonder 7
Burt Bacharach 6
Harry Wayne Casey 6
Richard Finch 6
George Michael 6
Freddie Perren 6
Norman Whitfield 6
I found some of the names surprising, although McCartney & Lennon is pretty much of a no-brainer.
DE
725 2013-01-07 02:39:27
Re: Best Band Ever!!!!!!! You choose and share you're thoughts!!!!! (231 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Wow! picking the "best" band ever is pretty hard considering all the different styles of music.
I would have to agree that the Beatles were one of the most influential bands that ever composed and played pop/rock songs. I'd also list Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Gentlemen as one of the best groups ever- how many other bands have had a whole genre of music named after them? And the Glenn Miller Orchestra who changed swing music from a mostly brass genre to one dominated by clarinet and saxophones and dominated the charts during their day. Admittedly, both the Bluegrass Gentlemen and the Glenn Miller Orchestra had many different musicians come and go, each adding their unique sound to the total discography of the bands.
I can also think of a lot individual writers/singers also but the thread is about best "band".
DE