This is my ‘Folk and Bluegrass’ playlist on my personal YouTube channel. I curate the playlist, with 263 live music videos at least weekly. It’s one the biggest #playlists of the nineteen I curate on my channel. I’ve collected these #MusicVideos for over a decade, and without being too immodest I think I did a damn good job. You can hit this playlist, sit back and enjoy for hours, days even. Or just keep it on in the background on shuffle. My gift to you. BTW, if you’re not already spending the $18.99/month (USD) for YouTube premium, you’re missing out. I’d get rid of all my other streaming subs, including Netflix & Prime, before I’d part with my #YouTubePremium - Just sayin. #FolkMusic#Bluegrass#Music#Fiddle#Banjo#Guitar#Mandolin
I restringed it and tied some thinner nylon cord as frets, like you would tie gut frets on lutes. They're roo sliperry to stay in place but I think it's starting to sound more palatable and I can play chords now!
(Tuning is mandolin's GDEA)
Some really wonderful news in my musical world. My best bud and bandmate Danny Gotham, an absolute monster #guitarist with over 21 commercial releases, just asked if I wanted to do a full duet #acoustic album with him!
We've played live gigs for years and have done a few duets on his past records, but now we're going to do a whole album! #Woot!
Already starting to plan the tracks.
Meantime, for a taste, here's one we did for an earlier record.
Using #FreeCAD and my #3DPrinter to make an extremely specific clamp for a laporoscopic repair on a broken plywood #mandolin. This one will go through the f-hole to clamp a loose brace to the top. The holes accommodate an M6 bolt and cross dowel.
I hope this works, otherwise I'll have to take the back off, which is way more hassle!
Since starting transition, one of the weirdest casualties has been my guitar. It sits by my bed. I was never skilled, but I enjoyed playing around on it. I miss picking it up just to strum a few basic chords & sing, or to play a folk song for my kids before bed.
But I haven't touched it to play it since before transition. And it bums me out. But I can't do it.
I knew I was dysphoric about my voice, so I figured that was the issue. That it wasn't the guitar, it was the singing. But I've worked on that. I got professional trans vocal singing help. I joined a choir & performed publicly. I enjoyed it. I have a lot of work to do, but I overcame what was blocking me the most from singing.
But the guitar sits unplayed for years now. I miss something about it, but I can't pick it up. I feel gross at the thought of actually holding it and playing it. But I also constantly have the urge to reach for it. Probably a greater urge than I ever had before transition.
I decided that the best thing is to reshape the situation. I have the urge to play music, my hands on the strings. To sing. To make music.
But I realized I don't need a guitar to do these things.
I immediately imagined myself holding a #mandolin, and I realized that I didn't feel gross. I felt empowered. I felt like me. And yes, I tagged that because if you happen to play, I'd love tips.
I took a trip to a music store to ask questions and see if my theory proved right. I have no idea how to play. But I held it and noodled around on the fretboard and I felt so happy, and weirdly affirmed.
It's like an aspect of my transition. The way that I always felt gross wearing khakis and a polo, but I put a dress on and it just finally felt right. And I realized... I think I had always felt a little gross with the guitar despite also liking aspects of the experience, but I'd shoved those feelings down. It's not about the guitar, it's about me.
Somehow my husband and I independently bought each other musical joke gifts. He got me a #trombone (I played one in middle school band) and I got him a #mandolin (it's just a weird #guitar, right?).
After a few hours, he's already figured out a #Ween song.
All I've managed is fart sounds and remembering how to use the spit valve.
I mentioned yesterday that I let my recording students put me in the hot seat every year. Here's the result - the #Bach#Chaconne on solo #mandolin. Not my best playing, but they did a great job for only having two hours to do everything!
#NowPlaying - after midnight hang in david grisman's major label period, with his quintet looking about as hep as an acoustic group can, i suppose. hot swing, but opening/cooling to a beautiful take on j. coltrane's "naima," too. tiny bit of a dead influence in the liner text, perhaps. (grisman actually co-founded & maybe edited #mandolin world news?) #acoustic#jazz
OC Collab video of Theme Time (youtu.be)
In advance of our individual instrument demonstrations at this year's Naseby bluegrass festival.