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Keywords:
guitar (856), flamenco (10), keyboard (41), etude (1)
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Description:
The guitar has been a friend – and a refuge – to me for many years.
When I was stricken last year with a severely painful pinched nerve that took away my ability to play guitar, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to play again. There was residual nerve damage to my left hand and fingers, with no guarantee that it wasn’t permanent.
Rather than surrender to that depressing thought, I set out to work on my long-neglected keyboard skills... to make the best of a bad situation. Playing keyboards doesn’t require the same hand strength guitar does. It was still difficult, because there was a loss of agility, speed and dexterity in my left hand and digits, but I persisted.
I wrote this piece as an etude for myself and the exercise seems to have helped restore me to about 85% of my previous functionality.
This is a LIVE performance, warts and all... no edits. I ran a direct feed from my Yamaha PSR-530’s sound out jack to GB for this recording, as well as a MIDI out, to give the illusion of an ensemble. But it is all really just one take – one performance.
I played it as a guitar piece, hoping it would serve to create a mindset for me, to stay focused on my recovery... and my goal to play guitar again. It seems to be working. ;)
Hardware:
Yamaha PSR-530; MOTU 828mkII (FW) Interface
Software:
GB 2.x
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Excellent work &mdash 07/26/07 - 05:55:49 PM
This piece sounds real fine - outstanding as it is a first take. I hope you can fully recover from your injury. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Excellent work &mdash 07/26/07 - 09:50:06 PM
Thanks, HP for listening, commenting and your positive wishes.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Ian is missing from this one !!! GRAET JOB &mdash 07/26/07 - 05:59:31 PM
Let me be the first one Joe ..
Really great tone, is that a real guitar ?? or you used a loop ?? and if it was a real guitar then i must say .. "GREAT and more than that" ..
2nd : is that one guitar ?? REALLY LIKED ALL OF IT ..
This must to be one of the hits at MJ.
Really great work you do, i'm glad you back here with such a great piece.
Thanks for sharing this one here with us ..
Regardz
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi
DOWNLOAD IT !! [ Reply to This ]
Re: Missing... &mdash 07/26/07 - 10:03:50 PM
Thank you for your kind words my young friend...
No, it is NOT a guitar... I played this on a MIDI keyboard, using the built-in Classical guitar setting, which I fed into GarageBand as a Real Instrument. I also recorded the same performance --- at the same time --- as a MIDI Instrument track and used a stereo guitar MIDI plugin (with a different tonality) to give it that fuller ensemble sound.
As I said, I haven't fully recovered --- YET --- so I couldn't manage this piece on guitar. I'm not certain I could pull off this style on guitar... never tried it. But perhaps, in time, I will. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Sounds great &mdash 07/26/07 - 06:56:46 PM
I hear no warts; it sounds great to me. It seems like it should all be very playable on guitar... in fact, I just grabbed my guitar and tried playing along with it, and it works great! You don't have a notated version of this by any chance, do you?
Your pinched nerve problem sounds absolutely terrible. I don't play much guitar these days, but I still grab it periodically for some comfort, and it would be very stressful not to be able to do that whenever I wanted. I wish you all the best with your recovery. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Sounds Great &mdash 07/26/07 - 10:27:09 PM
Thanks, Clark... you ARE a gentleman, as well as a scholar. But the warts are always most visible to the eyes closest to them, n'est pas?
I do believe I could produce notation if I dropped the midi track into Logic... if I can recall how to generate it... I've only done it once before. If you are really interested, send me a message with your email and I'll see if I can do it.
Thanks for the positive wishes. Four months ago, my attempts at the guitar sounded like I was playing a washboard. Today, while I still can't manage some of the stretches and the speed for lead playing (my left ring finger and little finger had the most damage), I can play everything short of complex jazz chordings fairly well. At this point, I am grateful I can play at all. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
I gotta say... &mdash 07/26/07 - 09:26:55 PM
J.A., this is one "stops-me-and-immediately-captures-me" kind of a composition and recording. Must give big props to you on this... and the story behind only makes it shine all the more... a pleasure to listen.
... some would say, sunshine, I would say, much appreciation. [ Reply to This ]
And... &mdash 07/26/07 - 10:45:12 PM
I hope the full recovery of the use of your hand is yours in the near future...
---
Take a listen:) <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/32568">Just Go</a>...
It's just music... Dadai [ Reply to This ]
Re: I gotta say... &mdash 07/26/07 - 10:45:32 PM
Thanks for the props, Jack. I'm glad you enjoyed it --- and found pleasure in it and in the story behind it. It always gives me pleasure to salvage something positive out of bad situations.
It's the ultimate form of creativity. ;)
--- Joe --- LIVE TAKE!!!... Flim-Flamenco[ Reply to This ]
Well I for one &mdash 07/27/07 - 03:06:45 PM
will be sending out healing thoughts to you for your full recovery. This piece is wonderful and at first, on hearing a few notes thought it was a guitar, but then realizedit wasn't (though the sound is excellent). That takes nothing away from the dexterity of your playing or from the wonderful song, regards M [ Reply to This ]
Re: Well I for one &mdash 07/28/07 - 09:39:39 AM
Thank you for listening and for the healing thoughts, Maurice.
The curious thing about this whole thing is that in all the years I played guitar, I don't believe I ever played any flamenco style music. But when I was confined to the keyboard, it just sort of happened.
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Such a beautiful... &mdash 07/28/07 - 02:17:49 AM
piece of music. Great going, 80% recovery of the hands from it therapy!!! [ Reply to This ]
I mean,... &mdash 07/28/07 - 02:20:04 AM
85%!!!
---
I am finding there is a great mystery tied up in nine-fifths, visit my blog at: http://my.opera.com/eanbardsley/blog/ [ Reply to This ]
Re: Such a beautiful... &mdash 07/28/07 - 09:47:47 AM
Thanks for listening and commenting, Ian.
Yes this piece --- and others --- have been my primary form of therapy. The only other thing I did was squeeze a little rubber ball, to try to regain some of my strength... and constant attempts to play acoustic guitar.
Only very recently have I been able to play Ac Guitar with any semblance of my former ability. But I keep working at it. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Love it &mdash 07/28/07 - 03:17:50 AM
I love the tune. It doesn't have to be digested as an etude, I hear a lot of really enjoyable musicality in here.
It inspires me to hear how you approach the siutation. What you describe sounds like something that shoudn't happen to a guitar player if everything was right in order. The music is so important to the world and a musical mind like yours shouldn't be hindered.
I have the recovery of your hand in my prayers. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Love it... &mdash 07/28/07 - 09:59:36 AM
Thank you for your words and prayers, my friend.
You're right --- it shouldn't happen to a guitar player... or anyone. But it does. So you do what you have to do. The hardest part was hearing the doctor say it was possible the nerve damage was permanent and that I might never regain my physical abilities again.
Thank heaven, that now does NOT appear to be the case. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
amazing! &mdash 07/28/07 - 09:10:51 AM
I LOVE your love for music, that against the odds of your hand difficulties you continue to create music that inspires! This awe-inspiring performance is a testament to your unwavering energy and passion for what you, and we, love most... [ Reply to This ]
Re: Amazing... &mdash 07/28/07 - 10:22:11 AM
Thanks for your kind comments and thoughts, Leon. I am pleased you liked the piece.
Yes, passion IS a powerful fuel for the human *engine*.
I try to conserve it for the people and things I love. I seem to get better mileage that way. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Cool sounds &mdash 07/30/07 - 09:50:23 AM
Nice structure, lots of great infectious guitar type feel.
WAy to go! [ Reply to This ]
Re: Cool Sounds &mdash 07/30/07 - 10:06:11 AM
Thanks, Bill... it's probably because I still *think* like a guitar player when playing the keyboards... and the only way I'll be able to approach your unique stylings on the guitar. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Beautiful Piece &mdash 07/30/07 - 01:03:07 PM
Sorry to hear about your injury. I hope it heals back to 100% for you. It almost sounds like you played it on guitar. Real nice. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Beautiful Piece &mdash 07/30/07 - 05:29:01 PM
Hey, Barry... thx for stopping by and giving it a listen.
I see you've been gone for awhile, too. Welcome back!
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Amazing &mdash 07/31/07 - 11:12:26 AM
WOW! This is beautiful! You will absolutely play guitar again. There is no doubt at all. You love it too much not to. And it shows even in this keyboard piece, which, b the way, sounds just lie a guitar!
Gorgeous, as always! [ Reply to This ]
Re: Amazing &mdash 07/31/07 - 01:42:07 PM
Thanks for the positive vibes, Stacey. I already can play guitar again, but not as well, or as fluently as before.
Still, I keep working at it. ;)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
Love it &mdash 08/04/07 - 10:32:06 AM
Thanks for this one fits well to a day like this.
Awww soon I come to be in US and my dream comes true to be with my love.
One's again thanks for this beauty.
I think we come to listen on this me and my love.
Take care
---
Kenta [ Reply to This ]
Re: Love It &mdash 08/04/07 - 01:17:30 PM
Thanks, Kenta.
I wish you and your Love all the happiness.
What an adventure! :)
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
This is superb &mdash 08/05/07 - 04:12:45 AM
I just love the feel of travelling over soft hills with all the soft changes and the forward impetus. Beautifully written, beautifully played. I very much look forward to hearing you play this on your guitar one day as I know you will. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Superb &mdash 08/05/07 - 11:07:49 PM
Thanks, Magritte, for your encouraging words.
I'm pleased you enjoyed the tune.
--- Joe
---
LIVE TAKE!!!... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/33901">Flim-Flamenco</a> [ Reply to This ]
I loved &mdash 08/13/07 - 11:46:01 PM
it great tune and its amazing that it was done on a keyboard! Hell learn to play the guitar with your teeth if need be . Downloaded [ Reply to This ]
Re: I Loved it &mdash 08/14/07 - 10:28:21 AM
Thanks, Benny. I'm glad you liked it.
Hmm... interesting idea about playing guitar with my teeth. But then I might rough up the rose I have clenched in my teeth as I dance to the flamenco music. ;)
--- Joe
---
Love is in the air at MJ's... <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/34270">She Can</a> [ Reply to This ]
Moving &mdash 01/24/08 - 01:05:52 AM
This piece is moving and inspirational. I hope you play guitar again soon! [ Reply to This ]
Re: Moving... &mdash 01/24/08 - 11:34:54 AM
Thanks, Adam. I glad you enjoyed it.
Actually, in the months since I posted that I have been slowly recovering and have plateaued at around 90% of my former strength and agility. So I will soon be posting more guitar work. ;)
--- Joe [ Reply to This ]
Great! &mdash 01/24/08 - 01:34:47 PM
keyboard inspiration &mdash 02/20/08 - 04:39:33 PM
Here, all along, I've been wishing I could play the guitar like Joe Hollywood ... and now I've got to add the piano to my wish list : >
Sorry to hear about your nerve-wracking disability. Life just isn't fair. In the end, as nasty as the concept of plateauing is, the fact that stands out is 90% is better than zero gain.
Perhaps this is a demonstration of the healing power of music?
Your hand strength may be operating at 90-percent, but this delightful, inspiring keyboard study shows your mental agaility is still operating at full capacity. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Keyboard Inspiration... &mdash 02/21/08 - 01:17:20 AM
Thanks, Warren.
Believe me when I say I'm grateful to have recovered as much as I have. The doctors told me there was no way to predict whether or not the nerve damage was permanent, or whether I would recover at all.
So what I have recovered seems like a WHOLE lot to me, compared to what little I was left with while I was stricken. ;)
--- Joe [ Reply to This ]
Remarkable guitar!! &mdash 02/28/08 - 08:39:57 PM
Wow, Wow, Wow!! Can you tell that I love your guitar work here. Are you playing the bass with your thumb or is there another guitar playing with you? Great tune man. [ Reply to This ]
Re: Remarkable Guitar!!... &mdash 02/28/08 - 09:59:24 PM
Thanks, Sean... but if you read the song description notes, you'll discover that I performed this etude on a MIDI keyboard, because a pinched nerve took away my ability to play guitar for a long while.
But thanks for listening and commenting. I guess it's even more of a compliment because you thought it was played on guitar. ;)
--- Joe [ Reply to This ]
guitar? ooops &mdash 03/01/08 - 08:57:11 AM
Beautiful &mdash 04/05/08 - 08:52:32 PM
I use GBand also play keyboard your playing is really cool love it.
I love the chords you chose brilliant. Cheers
Peace Dee . [ Reply to This ]
Re: Beautiful... &mdash 04/05/08 - 11:46:50 PM
Thank you, Dee.
Playing the keys in a classic guitar style was an interesting exercise, but I've worked my way back to playing guitar and will soon be posting more current material.
I'll be sure to listen to your keyboard work. Anything in particular I should listen to?
--- Joe [ Reply to This ]
HUGE effort here... &mdash 04/14/08 - 08:16:32 PM
"Ditto" what Leon said, he said it best IMHO. I don't know the first thing about keys, much less the tech side of today's keys. It must've be a lot harder to use your brain to click-in the individual notes that your guitar hands know as innate muscle memory... kudos on this huge effort. And in case I need to say it: you've got a great SOUND here, too... this isn't a "charitable" message of appreciation, but one my ears thank you for. [ Reply to This ]
Re: HUGE... &mdash 04/15/08 - 12:10:49 PM
Thanks, Bob. The keys were my second instrument, so I also have some muscle memory developed for them, as well. But playing the part on keys as if I was playing it on guitar was an interesting experience. ;)
--- Joe
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