As for me.....

by RayLee, Monday, December 12, 2022, 19:26 (712 days ago) @ RayLee

I am/was self-taught long before the days of tutorial videos. All I seem to be able to accomplish is a crude percussive strumming progression brightened with a bit of unmeasured cross-picking. I decidedly lack the melodic zippitydoodah that is considered minimally standard.

As for primitive, homemade instruments, I just can't seem to "get" the open tunings....g, d, or e. Using a slide is supposed to be super easy but I just cannot seem to make them ring. I tune them to g-b-e like the high 3 of a guitar which, in open chord terms is a quasi e minor.

Here is an example of one of my original compositions played on a g-b-e tuned 3 stringed cigar box.....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HcsyY5RBkvk

And a folkie alternate arrangement of "silent night", same tuning, different box.....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_VGZ-iHTwTw