Thursday, 3 February 2011

So I thought it was running that supposed to hurt?

When I set out on this latest journey, I recognised that learning to play the guitar was going to be a challenge; indeed possibly a significant challenge. However I also thought that one of the benefits of a musical* as opposed to sporting** challenge would be that I would not need to suffer the joys/pains of aching body parts.

Humph.

It appears that the challenge of the guitar is not just about the production of a listenable sound. Nor, in fact, is it about my fingertips (of which more will be I am sure be written (if not read) in forthcoming days). No: it appears that sitting (no doubt with bad posture) and picking out chords (slowly) is also about testing the forebearance of the shoulders. I know I'm tired, but I really hadn't anticipated that a few minutes of guitar-handling (however poor) would leave with me shoulders that are (following advice and guidance received from the calves perhaps?***) already protesting.

Despite the discomfort, though, today's mammoth achievement was that I managed five chords. Ok, as yesterday each chord was carefully prepared finger by finger. And yes, I continue to wonder as to the wisdom of this latest venture. However, regardless of the slow progress I am making at least I can say with truth that on Day 3 of my own little Febethon I have played and now I have posted.

* Naturally, you will appreciate that I use the word musical in the broadest sense
** I acknowledge also that the word sporting has to be stretched to fit into this precise context
*** See Janathon blogs for further details of the calves' negotiation strategies

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