Family power trio

warnergt · #1 06-04-2008, 09:27 PM

My 11-year old boy has an on-again-off-again fondness of the guitar. I've tried many times to get him to learn a tune that we could play together but with little success.

I encourage him to play but don't push it. I think the seed is planted and have my fingers crossed that it will come to fruition some day. There is nothing stopping him; he is well equipped: guitars, combo amp, Mac and decent knowledge of how to find stuff on the Internet.

Anyway, tonight I hear him playing guitar. Later, I hear him playing "House of the Rising Sun" about 100 times. Even later, he asks me if I can play the bass part. So I dig up a MIDI file from the Internet plug it into the Mac to get the score/tab. Lucky for me, it's an easy bass line.

So, we're playing a little and he says, "Let me hear the drums." I isolate the drums from the MIDI file and we can see the drum score and it's actually pretty darn easy. So he goes and gets my 13-year old daughter to play drums (she's kind of like him -- had some lessons but still not what I would called skilled). Then, he is printing out the lyrics.

It was already too late on a school night before we really got going but it was pretty darn cool. I'm hoping we can resume tomorrow or later in the week. We'll get this family power trio going yet.

I think it's kind of comical that the song is "House of the Rising Sun." How many bands cut their teeth on that tune?

Rattlehead · #2 06-05-2008, 08:15 AM

Awesome story, that was heartwarming to read.

I wish I had family members that were musically inclined so I could have people to jam with casually. There was rarely music in my house as I was growing up, and I was almost 16 by the time I picked up bass. Best decision I made in my life, but I could have become a musician much earlier.

If I ever have kids I'll certainly make playing music an option to them, while doing as you did and not pushing them. Good job!

Spinal Tapper · #3 06-05-2008, 09:54 AM

There wasn't much music in my household either when I was growing up - just the Golden Oldies on the radio occasionally (some solid bass lines in some of those oldies though!).

Sometimes I wonder if my parents would've pushed me if I'd be better than I am now, or if I would've just burned out. I always had crappy gear because they never gave me money to get anything - I just got my first real Fender Jazz two years ago after college. Good job on not pressing them too hard. In a few years when they meet friends in high school who play music, hopefully some sort of garage band will ensue. Just be prepared to park your car on the driveway for the evening!

IAmTheDood · #4 06-05-2008, 10:33 AM

my 6 year old daughter has just started piano lessons.

i've taught her a few things .. I played piano from 6 until 13. I also am setting up my computer room / den as a music room for my band to practice in ..

last night i bought a new 88 key privia hammered key electric piano for her and me .. she was in there playin while i was playin on my bass .. kinda fun.

she likes to do rock band on x360 with me too.

edhead · #5 06-06-2008, 10:02 PM

I can relate. This was last summer, now my oldest boy is playing bass, so I'll be on guitar.

Dave R · #6 06-07-2008, 01:20 PM

A Marshall half-stack for the guitar...twin 15's for your bass...I'll bet you guys rocked the neighborhood.

edhead · #7 06-07-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

A Marshall half-stack for the guitar...twin 15's for your bass...I'll bet you guys rocked the neighborhood.

That was the neighbor kids Heavy Metal band setup. You know how size is more important than the sound to high school metal heads.

warnergt · #8 06-07-2008, 09:20 PM

Very cool.

ClassicRock55 · #9 06-08-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edhead

I can relate. This was last summer, now my oldest boy is playing bass, so I'll be on guitar.

Thats pretty awesome, man. Nice to see that your keeping your kids supplied with good gear

Lalabadie · #10 06-08-2008, 08:44 PM

My brother plays the banjo pretty well. Banjo and fretless BG rocks

warnergt · #11 06-09-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalabadie

My brother plays the banjo pretty well. Banjo and fretless BG rocks

Hey did you ever notice that the "Dueling Banjos" tune only has one banjo? The other instrument is a guitar. I think it could be easily adapted to the bass.

Lalabadie · #12 06-09-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warnergt

Hey did you ever notice that the "Dueling Banjos" tune only has one banjo? The other instrument is a guitar. I think it could be easily adapted to the bass.

I did notice. Not sure my bro can play THAT, though

The song in itself is pretty open to adaptation. I might give it a try. Right now I'm practicing Coldplay's Clocks song, for guitar and bass. The bass plays the piano part