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Day Three Hundred Fifty (Year Three)

So, at the tail end of last night's post, I mentioned that I had other music-related news.  I also let slip that it was related to this Start Experiment that I signed up for.  Here's what has gone down...

Our first "assignment" in this whole crazy experience was to fill out a survey with two questions in it.  They were:

1) What kind of a team do you want to be on?
2) Share one thing you're going to "risk" during this 24 day experiment.

I chose a location-based team, just because it seemed like a whole lot of fun to have a chance to meet up with some people who are also trying this experiment.

As for the second question: the word "risk" in this case is synonymous with "what are your goals?"

Mine were two-fold.  They were:

1) To write and record a 3 song EP
2) To learn a Buddy Holly song (more specifically, "That'll Be The Day")

To anyone who has been following for a long time, the first goal is an obvious one:  I've written here for three years that, if you put me in a room with a guitar, a notebook, and a pen for a weekend, I could come out at the end of it with the musical basics for a record.  While this isn't quite putting that theory to an exact test, it's coming closer to doing so than I have ever attempted before.  I'll say again, it's going to be the lyrics that trip me up the most.

As for the second goal, I've had this idea in my head for a while now that it makes sense to me to base my learning around the things that inspired me to pick up the guitar in the first place.  That seems obvious, but can sometimes get lost 18 years down the road when you finally get the kick in the ass you've needed for a while.  As it happens, Buddy Holly has a prime spot on that list.  Along with Chuck Berry, The Beatles, and (oddly enough) the solo from "Wanted It To Be" by Sister Hazel.  And "Red House" by Jimi Hendrix, and... you get the idea.  Anyway, this is me finally having the belief and the courage to follow through on that idea.

Played Through the Holly tune a few times tonight.  I've got a great transcription from an issue of Guitar Techniques that was on newsstands FIVE YEARS AGO.  See how long I've had this idea in my head?  See why it's time to punch fear in the face?  Yeah, me too.

It's not really all that tough of a song.  The challenge parts will be the timing and speed on both the intro lick and the solo.  And, you know, I think slowing them down with my Tascam guitar trainer for a day or two will do the trick there.

It's been a good day.  Feels good to START.  
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