| | | Hey Friend,
Friday night,
It was late,
I was walking you home,
we got down to the gate,
and I was dreaming of the night...
"Reminiscing" by Little River Band
Since we took a little walk down Memory Lane yesterday thinking about the whoopin's we might have gotten as kids, I couldn't help but recall this pop hit from the late 70s. Love's me some Little River Band!
I know, I know, it seems to be way too "easy listening" for your hard-rocking host, but sorry, when a great line or melody hits my ears, I have no prejudice.
In fact, I don't really care when or where a song came from - if the music catches my ear and the lyrics weave an interesting story (or at least cause my mind to wander in a particular direction), I'll dig in and check the artist out further.
You might be surprised to learn that I cut my teeth on Pop.
It all started with the "Barry Manilow Live" double album. GASP! Sorry, but that guy can sing. And the songs he wrote/chose were well written with provocative stories and brilliant melodies.
We all start somewhere. We don't have much control over that first exposure to music. Our parents, an older sibling or friends are the ones that introduce to different musical styles.
My parents didn't listen to any Rock when I was growing up. They listened to Adult Contemporary and folksy Christian songs. Think clean-cut late 50s kids growing up in the early 60s...
Before you start thinking I've gone soft on you, Barry Manilow was me being rebellious! My 'rents were thinking the Devil was gonna get a hold of me! Seriously...
I guess he did...
In my first band, I was playing songs by the Eagles, Boston, Journey, Rush, Cheap Trick, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin. The apple had fallen from the tree and was starting to rot!
The very first song I performed live for an audience was Boston's "Feelin' Satisfied" off their second album "Don't Look Back."
Here I was, a clueless kid rockin' out power chords and not even knowing what they were. I was just going for it!
"Feelin' Satisfied" was written in the key of E major. This song has a classic power chord-infused riff that lead's into and forms the song's chorus. (Get riff here)
The power chords it uses are all rooted on the sixth or fifth strings, starting with a C#5 chord at the ninth fret.
The song is a lot of fun to play and proves I wasn't a slave to Pop inclinations.
See, you can expand your tastes and grow your skills to play whatever music you like.
Some music is better served with full chord voicings, while other music lets you get away with using a lot of power chords.
It helps to know how to play both, but when you're starting out, power chords get you playing songs - of any kind - quickly.
You'll build up your confidence and start strengthening your hands so they can handle full chords. This is the way to give the Devil his due*...
Get the full complement of Easy Power Chords here today!
Peace~
Dave
* Another classic hit from the 70s - "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Band |
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