My New Guitar

I ORDERED AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR as a gift to me on Christmas. It just arrived and I’ve unpacked it.

I want to learn twelve classic songs from my youth hoping to become proficient in playing chords and singing verses. What the heck, if Leonard Cohen can sing Hallelujah and get away with it, why can’t I?

Further, I ordered a soft storage case for my guitar and a dozen celluloid picks. I’m serious about this pursuit.

Tuning it has been my first challenge. Tuning apps are available for iPhones. Based on my first tuning attempts I must also investigate the phenomenon of tone deafness. Webster defines it as insensitive to differences in musical pitch. I’m afraid I might be facing this condition which adds to my challenge.

I just cut my fingernails on my left hand realizing I will need to toughen up my fingertips to play the basic chords along the neck’s frets more easily. I also cut my nails on my right hand simply as a matter of habit. I am also aware that my hand arthritis is creating some hurdles that I’ll have to work around. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Here we go!

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

[Verse 1]

  C                 Am

I heard there was a secret chord

     C                   Am

That David played and it pleased the Lord

    F                G               C        G

But you don't really care for music, do you?

        C                  F           G

Well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth

    Am                 F

The minor fall and the major lift

    G            E7             Am

The baffled king composing Hallelujah 

[Chorus]

     F           Am          F           C    G   C      Am C Am

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah ...

                                                                ***

I’ve just learned that Peter Yarrow passed away this week. He was a member of the iconic Peter, Paul, and Mary group, one of my favorites from the 1960s. They performed two of my twelve favorite songs.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

… All my bags are packed

I'm ready to go

I'm standin' here outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin'It's early morn

The taxi's waitin'He's blowin' his horn

Already I'm so lonesomeI could die.

… So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go.

I’m rolling up my sleeves and ready to put my arms around this new challenge.