Just pouring out my grief..

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Skai

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004

Just pouring out my grief..

Hi again everyone, it seems like the forum has come to a standstill so I shall just post something. Well maybe not a standstill, but the forum certainly isn't very active as I remembered it to be.

Firstly, I've got a temporary job! And my main aim of working is to get a flamenco guitar as I sold my first beginner's flamenco guitar away. Once I get the money, I'll go on guitar hunt around Singapore island.

Just need to hold on till the end of next month and I'll have the cash. This job is horrible though, calling all kinds of people around the world and half of them don't even get what I'm saying. So if anyone of you guys get a call regarding an auto logistics conference, just bear with me.

Alright, I mentioned 'grief' and so here it is. Just about a week or 2 after I stop work, I'll be due for compulsory national military service and what does that mean? No fingernails, practising only on weekends, this is going to kill my already mediocre playing abilities. And it lasts for 2 years before I can (hopefully) get into university. I really feel that this will hold back my improvements, this isn't good at all.

Thanks for listening,
Cheston

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Try some Enrique Iglesias for some great cante.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2005 23:52:55

Escribano

Posts: 6417
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

quote:

So if anyone of you guys get a call regarding an auto logistics conference, just bear with me.

I'll remember that and good luck in the great big world of work... you'll be fine

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Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2005 23:54:59

mentrida

Posts: 55
Joined: Jun. 19 2004

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

I feel your pain Skai.

I got a couple of jobs going so time to practice is minimal. The little I do get is late at night, so I have to muffle the strings to keep the family from attacking me. To top it off, one of my jobs is teaching defensive tactics, so I can't have any nails or everyone comes out looking abused and going home to tell their girlfriends that a guy gave them the scratches during a class, really

Anyway, I'll be in this pattern for a while to come. Hope your two years go by fast.

Good luck!
SJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 3:15:50

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

Skai,
well, sometimes life comes and you have to live it. I don't know if you will feel this helps, but I think people should learn how to play guitar without nails, and then grow nails and adjust to them. Nails complicate an already difficult task, and I believe that you should progress from simple to complicated. So maybe after these two years, things will fall into place nicely for you.

Good luck.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 5:21:03

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

Hi Skai,
I think I'm right in saying that 2 years compulsory National Service was in place in Spain up until Franco's death.
I'm not sure if Paco or his brother escaped it, (anybody know?), but for sure many Flamenco guitarists of that period would have done it.

I know you can't tell the Drill Sergeant that "I'm not gonna climb that wall in case I break a nail..."
So just get used to playing with very short nails!

Remember, lots of guitarists have their nails just barely showing above the tip of the flesh.
As for having time to practise, I can assure you you'll have plenty.

Everybody I knew who did NS both here and in Spain would always go on about how boring it was trying to pass the time.
But they also have a lot of funny stories and experiences to tell as well, so don't feel too bad about it. You'll be OK.

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 8:23:18

duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

Paco ,Pepe and Ramón did the military thing in Madrid. For 2 years. (The master plan by Don Phoren)

Henrik

_____________________________

This is hard stuff!
Don't give up...
And don't make it a race.
Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.

RON

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 8:48:15

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

I remember reading a story in a CG technique book about a classical guitarist who had to spend some time in the army. He had exactly the same concerns as you - surely this would destroy his career? Determined to at least maintain some level of technical proficiency, he devised a minimal practice regime of exercises to ensure he used his very limited time wisely.

The author says the guy left the army and went on to become one of the world's great players. His strict 'no messing about' practice regime may have actually helped in the long run.

As for nails, Mike's point about nails is one that has a lot of support in the classical guitar world - the idea that it forces you to become a very accurate player.

So don't despair, it is amazing what you can achieve when you really want something.
There's this disabled guy in America who plays the guitar with his feet! He tours and I believe has some CDs out too. Truly astonishing.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 9:05:30

Skai

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

Yes I do remember reading that book. It's Frederick Noad's classical guitar method book. Well great idea, I was thinkng of getting a trashy guitar to bring in. Maybe one that costs less than $50 Singapore dollars, which is less than USD$30. While techniques can be developed further, I just hope it doesn't feel that different without nails.

I also agree that nails complicate matters. When I first started growing nails, I didn't even use them to obtain a gripping effect and I just used my nails to scrape pass the strings. Getting tone colours was impossible. But somehow when I broke my thumbnail from bowling, I somehow started to actually grip the string with my nails and not just scraping across them.

Watching my teacher helped too, even though she never mentions it, I just somehow notice that her tone was so much cleaner and louder.

Anyway, the nails will have to go everytime reservice comes along till I'm say 40+? My concern was that I wanted to use these 2 years to take on some classical guitar grades and I'd never sound that good without nails, regardless to technical proficiency. That's the reason why I'm in such a hurry to buy a guitar

With nails, I know exactly what sound I intend to achieve. But thank goodness NS has just been reduced from 2 1/2 years to just 2.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone,
Cheston

_____________________________

Try some Enrique Iglesias for some great cante.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 12:31:37

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Skai
But somehow when I broke my thumbnail from bowling,

Hey I did that a fortnight ago! Nearly tore my thumbnail clean off. Luckily I borrowed a plaster off someone to hold it together until I could get home and glue it back on.

Bowling and flamenco don't mix

... but I did get a strike

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2005 14:15:28

Skai

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

quote:

Bowling and flamenco don't mix ... but I did get a strike

Oh yes they don't

Bowling isn't kind to classical either.

_____________________________

Try some Enrique Iglesias for some great cante.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2005 8:21:56

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3433
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

Not flamenco, but Julian Bream had to do his national service in the British Army. After recounting several bits with dry humor, Bream tells of the time during bayonet training when he was lying on the ground with hands outstretched and the guy next to him nearly stabbed him through the hand. Bream was so frightened he started crying.

At this, they finally saw the light and took Bream to one side and asked him if he'd like to be in the band.

Bream points out that no crying is allowed in the army. "After all, if you let one chap start crying, then half the regiment would immediately burst into tears."

Bream, of course, survived and prospered.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2005 0:33:52

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

Started crying... that's a lot of passion there.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2005 16:42:10

Skai

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

Alright back from 2 weeks of the Army and I realised that they don't look at my fingernails.

I haven't cut them since the start of the 2 weeks and they're getting almost long enough to use LOL. Think I'll keep really short nails and bring in my guitar. But darn it, the green and black camouflage face cream can't be washed off that easily from my nails..

Anyway just a message to James, thanks alot for the CDs, I received them and I saw the package once I reached home yesterday night. Really sorry for not being able to reply to your emails so far. I've been so busy wasting my time in the Army..

Neither have I had the luck of burning the darn CDs properly. Do you have a gmail account? I bet the 2+ GB of space in there can store a huge number of tracks

If you'd like to get an account I can always send you an invitation.

Hope you'll reply soon, I'll be booking in to camp in by tomorrow night.

Great to be back at the forum,
Cheston

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Try some Enrique Iglesias for some great cante.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 23 2005 1:43:08

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: Just pouring out my grief.. (in reply to Skai)

In 40 years time they'll be saying "Yeah you know, that flamenco with green and blacknails - he records great stuff!!. First guy in Singapore to play an Anders".

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 23 2005 6:59:42