Reply To: Why Do You Play?

[peter]

On timboalogo said

I think I started playing guitar because my best friend played guitar and drums. His drums were these cardboard snare-shaped things that he managed to make sound like drums.

My first guitar (Degas) cost $100 Cdn in 1975. I somehow learned to play it, not realizing there were such things as minor chords. I went to a catholic school that had money for religious education, but not for music. The guitar ended up in my sister’s garage for 20 years, along with the tuner and a crucifix or two.

Fast forward 20 years. My kids got a Casio keyboard for xmas. I commandeered it because it could make Pink Floyd-like sounds and I  learned that it too had minor chords embedded in it.

Then I realized that the Casio’s keys lined up with the guitar fretboard. 20 years were wasted, but I haven’t looked back.

My daughters all can read music cuz they played in band in public elementary and public high school. They like a wide range of music, from classical to Taylor Swift, but can’t stand most rap stuff cuz of the awful lyrics that Frank Zappa fought for.

I wish I could read music. And that Frank was still with us.

When I was a working drummer, I was constantly compared to Neil Peart, because I was strong on technique and would often do fast fills on my toms. But the drummers I really was most strongly influenced by were Vinnie Coliauta, Billy Cobham and Mike Clark (the last two are jazz drummers). Vinnie played with Frank. Frank used to refer to Vinnie as “another fine Italian.” I too miss Frank. I’m a huge fan of independent thinkers and non-conformists, and Frank was certainly strong on both counts. While I grew up reading music — it’s been so long since I stopped playing that I haven’t even attempted to try. A lot of rock, funk, pop and R&B players can’t read music either. Now, you wrote about how you started playing — which is interested, of course, but I was looking for why you play today. For instance, I used to play semi-professionally. But now, with tendinitis, that will never again be an option. I originally started attempting to record to get good enough to record a song I wrote for my son when he was a toddler about how much he’s meant to my life. Since I’ve recorded that, I suppose I could stop now! 😉

So, the big question for everyone is, why do still play today? What motivates and inspires you to play?

Your friend who keeps the beat.

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