Belle and Sebastian and Barre Chords - Song Challenge Number One!

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

Welcome to Kate vs. the Guitar!

After 12 years as a professional orchestral musician - a french horn player, no less - I had finally retired from the music world and started along a new career path. But music has a way of sneaking up, smacking you over the head with a bassoon, dragging you unconscious to a seedy bar and bringing you 'round with a pint of beer and three chords in the face. So to speak. Much to my surprise I ended up (through the recommendation of some friends) playing trumpet in an indie band. I've played in stadiums and concert halls all over the world, but I've never played as a core member of a rock band. It's a completely different world for me, and a surprisingly scary step to take - I was more nervous playing my first gig at the local live venue Jade Monkey than I ever was playing at the Sydney Opera House!

I've come across so many amazing musicians since joining the non-classical music world, most of whom play multiple instruments (just about everyone in my band plays at least three! Damn talented whippersnappers!). I've been looking for a new musical challenge for a while (as well as a vaguely unique blog topic to practice my writing), and my friend Haydon had a spare acoustic guitar lying around, so I thought I'd give it a shot!

Since deciding to do this I've had a huge response from friends and family - it seems everyone and their dog knows (or maybe think they know! ;)) something about guitar, from their favourite chord to the first song they played in their school rock band. I'd LOVE everyone's comments, advice, links, encouragement and recommendations - please don't hesitate to throw anything my way!

I'm hoping this blog will keep me practicing and pushing through the frustrations and want-to-throw-it-on-the-fire moments that will inevitably arise as I strum, pick and swear my way through learning the guitar. ROCK!!