I'm a relatively new convert to the world of indie pop, and I've recently become completely hooked on the cuteness and/or catchiness of bands like Belle and Sebastian, The Shins, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Architecture in Helsinki and awesome Adelaide band The Keepsakes. Seeing as my musical tastes used to lie almost exclusively in the punk, ska and hardcore camp (aside from the requisite classical - it was my job, after all) this is a pretty big genre expansion, but then again, I was into Dinosaur Jr., Pavement and The Lemonheads, etc. back in the day, too. It was a seminal moment in my formative musical years witnessing live Evan Dando's vague but masterful indie stylings and realising the artistic validity of rock musicians. I don't think I'd properly understood that before - classical music snobbery at its finest, I suppose. I have an excuse, though - it was the '90s. Yes, I am old.Anyhoo, I completely adore Belle and Sebastian's Storytelling (it makes me feel like I'm in a Wes Anderson movie!) so I looked up the chord chart - to my happiness I discovered I know almost all of the chords (G, C, D, Am). So I'm just missing D# (am I just a brass player or does E flat make so much more sense than D#? I guess it's because the tonic is a sharp key, or maybe it's a guitar thing. Any ideas?) and Bm.
B minor. You bastard.
As far as I can see, there's only one way I'm going to be able to manage this sucker to my satisfaction - I am officially going to have to start learning damn barre chords. I have it on good authority this is the time many people give up on guitar, that the mightiest of men crack when faced with contorting their fingers into uncomfortable shapes, THEN being expected to slide them up and down the frets with perfect form and tuning. Damn it!! I knew this day would come, guitar. But I'm ready.
B minor, you're going down.
So that's it - my first challenge is decided. To play Storytelling by Belle and Sebastian on video for your viewing (dis)pleasure in one month. *gulp* Whatever happens, and however awful it may be, I pledge to post that video on April 1st. To the practice room!
Today's result: Kate: 1 - Guitar: 0
1 comment:
I actually like barre chords. I'm not good at barre chords but I like them. Why? I am lazy and the less I have to remember the better. ;] Good luck with Bm!
-Andi x
PS I think E flat makes more sense, too. Sometimes on ukulele I'll look at a chord chart and it'll say E flat, the next time it'll be D#...I don't know what's going on there.
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