Ouch.

Well, fingerpicking work was severely hampered when I completely jacked up my thumb playing basketball. I got through another go-round of "Carousel" and the piano version of "This Old Road", and some more piano covers.

On my mind: microphones. The 1970s-era Akai microphones I have pick up spoken word and even vocals fairly well, but I've not managed yet to get them to pick up my guitar in anywhere close to acceptable, and the piezoelectric pickup I've had for years just doesn't do it for me either. It probably doesn't help that my pickups and sound card cost $20 each, but hey. I'll get there. Right now there's no point in rushing on any of that because I've certainly still got work to do ironing out and finishing a few of the songs. [More]

Where do people find the time...

I put another set of song lyrics up, and actually had some time to practice through quite a few tunes on the guitar at home: "Carolina", "Cry", "Catch the Sun", "Best Days", "Anger", a bit of "Crossroads", and the guitar version of "This Old Road". I also played a few of the covers I'd like to record, but after learning a little about mechanical licensing, I definitely could not offer free downloads at any fidelity of my version of a cover, period. And, since it's not terribly likely that anybody would be lining up to pay for one, I'll probably have to stay away from them for now. [More]

Putting yourself out there

Well, I used Writely to put a few songs worth of lyrics online. It's certainly a much easier and faster way than trying to use Google Pages to edit several pages and get everything "just right". Of course, "just right" certainly doesn't summarize my feeling on the lyrics at all. Standing alone, without music -- wow, they look juvenile and simple. But then again, not may people mistake a lyrics book for poetry.

Maybe it's a good thing I don't have my actual poetry online anymore...

I didn't get much practice in last night, since I was taking in the Jimmy V Volunteer dinner. To my surprise, a very accomplished singer-songwriter, James House, was the evening entertainment. Once home, I did manage to get once more through "Carousel". I'm not sure I'm happy with it but it appears to be getting "set" into a final state. My songs are so limited in chord changes and variety, but at least I threw a capo on for "Carousel" to change the pitch of the drone and hum, even if it's basically the same rythm and chord progression for the most part as "Best Days".

I've got to get with Bud and iron out some kind of agreement for the poem he wrote that I turned into a song, back in 1998 or so. But he's yet another of the friends I've completely lost contact with over the years. (Maybe there's a song idea in there somewhere...) [More]

Is this thing on?

Against all better judgement, I'm finally getting around to recording some of my songs. I don't think they are particularly good, or that I'm a particularly good musician. But they're my songs, and I think at least a couple of people might enjoy hearing them. In any case, my friends and family will have something more tangible to point to when I ask them why they are pointing and laughing at me.

The main home for things like lyrics, tabliature, and links to downloads will be over at the main montsamu music website, but this blog will keep track of my progress as I put pen to paper, pick to string, fingers to piano, and microphone to input and try to put together something that sounds sort of like a guy and his guitar and piano instead of static or the sound of a cassette tape going round and round. [More]