Blues Picker Vs Classical Player

You know the difference between a blues guitar picker and a classical one - Blues pickers play all day and never tune - Classical players tune all day and never play.

That's my dad's favorite guitar joke. I must admit. I tell it often too. (There are a bunch more musician jokes - some I can put here, some . . . well there musician jokes and not exactly family friendly.)

All good joke have to be based on some truth. And this one is. I have played with guys that spend hours "tuning" or getting ready to play. Then there are those who never get ready. They just play - good or bad, right or wrong. It's a "joyful noise" but they are not "Playing skillfully on a loud instrument." In the military world, we had the "Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim . . ." and the "FIRE!!!!, Aim, Ready" guys.

There has to be a balance between preparation and performance. Unfortunately, I'm more of the Blues Picker. I have never let a lack of knowledge or preparation keep from anything. I have talked my way into and out of trouble so many times. My wife has seen it so often she just laughs at me now. She now laughs and calls it a bookstore experience. I have never had a job I was qualified for. Resumes are the ultimate sales job - or mine is at least. When I was a consultant, (every few months - when I was trying to land a client) I would go to the bookstore or library and read about the problem or system I was trying to land. I would learn just enough to talk to the company. I focused on the problems or weird features. Then if I got the gig, I would go buy all the books i could find on the subject and learn as I went. I played a lot without "tuning" as a consultant.

My cousin, John Wilson, also got to experience a lot of my mouth writin' checks we had to cash. We were moving an office for a friend one summer when I said I could wire up some of the office. And next thing I knew, we were doing it. I think my quote to John was, "Hey it's just two wires for the electrical. And we can buy pre-made cabinets to hang. How hard can it be?" We did it. No one died. Someone may have gotten hurt but that was not uncommon for us.

I cant say i have ever experienced the "Tune all day and never play" side of life. I depend on the people around me for that. My wife and John mainly get that privilege. It's up to me to keep thier life exciting.

One day, I may learn balance. I am trying. (But, "try" means to attempt and fail.)