Warning: Dropped D Tuning May be Addictive

It all started out so innocently. I slowly and methodically dropped the lower E string of my guitar down to D and carefully started relearning that old Woody Guthrie chestnut I'm Gonna Mail Myself to You. But in the next few days, the dropped D tuning magically led to Here Comes the Sun (Beatles/Richie Havens), Norwegian Wood (Beatles), and Oxford Town (Bob Dylan). And then, dare I say, I took the big risk, dropping the upper E string to D and Not Fade Away (Buddy Holly/Rolling Stones) appeared without being invited in. For those faint of heart, do not explore the magic of the double dropped D, but for those brave souls willing to risk it all..............................


P.S. Last night I had the strangest dream. I had also dropped the G string down to D, after consulting Ravi Shankar, and approached Nirvana (smells like middle aged spirit).


Gary B

Getting Back to Church

"An untuned guitar is not worth playing......" (apologies to Socrates)

Well last night, Saturday, January 19th, I made it to the open mike run by Neil Zimmerman at Perry Hall United Methodist Church. with featured performer Bob Sima. It was such a nice evening, a real musical shot in the arm. The featured performer, Bob Sima, a singer-songwriter with his own CD, played some strong songs including one about not dying with the music still in you (I could relate to that one) and one about warm ham and cold bodies (couldn't relate as much to that one). Heard some fine open mike performances too, ranging from humorous songs (about state songs) to Yiddish folk songs (sung by Leah Ulanskey who runs the Friendly Coffeehouse). The church of the basement was pleasantly filled with good people who listened and even sang along.

I sang three songs and the audience seemed very receptive. The set list:

1. If I Had a Hammer (I know, an old chestnut, but I've reworked it recently and it has a little different feel to it-more late 20th century :-)

2. Ballad of a Crystal Man (old Donovan song reworked to fit the current political climate)

3. Bring Them Home (old Pete Seeger tune covered by the Boss (Bruce Springsteen) last year that I learned off of http://www.youtube.com ) and it was a folksinger's dream to have the audience sing along (if a song like this doesn't bring the troops home what will?)

It was good getting out and seeing some old musical friends that I hadn't seen for over two years (Dick Oles and Leah) and I will be back. Oh, and did I mention that they had cookies, coffee, and veggies (donation requested)?

Gary B

Was Socrates the Original Beach Boy?

I learned this morning, while reading philosophy (one of the great pasttimes of almost famous folksingers) that Socrates said (more or less) "God only knows". Controversy still arises as to whether he sang it also..........

Gary B

Is it true all folkies are closet rockers?

This past Sunday, January 6th, 2008, two old friends who had barely played together since junior high school (over 30 years ago), got together in a living room with their guitars, and started sharing songs back and forth. One (Howard) was predominantly a rocker and played amazing guitar riffs reminscent of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix, and one (myself) played predominantly folk oriented stuff. I'm sure Pete Seeger would have no problem knowing one of his songs was accompanied by some amazing swirling fast guitar riffs (Pete once said that he electrified long before Bob Dylan when he first played in front of a microphone). I did my best to keep up the rhythm when Howard was doing his rock stuff and it went alright (I still do love rock and roll).

Think if everybody that was fighting would drop their weapons, join hands, and sing a rousing version of Kumbaya while all the rock guitarists in the world provided a wailing background. Works for me :-)............

Gary B

A Musical Night at the Ukazoo

Had a pleasant evening at the open mike at the Ukazoo book store in Towson last Thursday night, January 3rd. Nice atmosphere (I find a certain comfort in being surrounded by books), chairs for virtually everyone, no sound system (I prefer this-gives a more natural sound), respectful audience (mostly people in their twenties), and free coffee and cookies. The crowd was fairly receptive, and as I looked out as I was playing and singing I felt like maybe I connected with at least one or two (especially my sister, who has been such a wonderful supporter over the last 30 years :-). The set list:
1. You Ain't Going Nowhere (Bob Dylan tune)
2. Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream (that timeless anti war song from the early folk revival, I believe written by Ed McCurdy, and covered by artists from Pete Seeger to Simon and Garfunkel)
3. Walking in Your Footsteps (The Police)

All in all a good experience, and the host (Shenko) even posted pictures on My Space (I feel that I have now truly entered the post-post modern era (error?). I am quickly beginning to realize that folk-oriented music is best played in living rooms, but there is still something to be said to getting out in public and presenting your wares. BTW, did I mention the free coffee and cookies?

Gary B

How do you eat an elephant?

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I've been experimenting with this method lately with learning a new song (which does get harder as one is about to turn 50), working on one verse a day, and practicing the same song 5 or 6 times a day for a month until it becomes an organic part of you.BTW, this is a great test for deciding if the song is a keeper, because at the end of month, if you still want to sing the song, you really must love it :-) Nothing wrong with singing from a piece of paper, of course, but their is something to say about communicating a song when a piece of paper if not between you and the people you're with......

Gary B