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During the later months of 2023, Pam was pondering a return to the “stage.” What kind of stage, with what instrumentation, and with whom were just a few of the questions. As of June 2024, with no prospects for a possible duo combo, Pam resolved to go it alone–solo guitar as background music for small social gatherings in public spaces . . . Scroll to read updates . . .

2-16-25

Details and More Details

Read the previous article which describes how the conception of Pam & Guitar came about and what I am working on musically speaking. Meanwhile, before a guitarist can book any gigs, there are many logistical details to consider. Which guitar am I going to use? What kind of sound system is required? What additional equipment and supplies will be needed? How will I load and then transport said guitar, sound system and additional equipment from Point A to Point B? Until all of these details are worked through and practiced, going live with a video or profile for booking purposes seems premature. This process is so much more complicated than showing up where sits a piano, sitting down, playing for two hours, standing up and going home. I do look forward to the challenge, however it is in fact a challenge for someone more accustomed to hauling guitar and pedals only, because the amp was usually sitting in the band trailer/vehicle from week to week.

1-19-25

Pam & Guitar–Progressing As a Solo Guitarist

I am fully realizing that guitar may be the most difficult instrument to master. Those who have played both piano and guitar would likely agree. Each of the six guitar strings varies in thickness. The frets vary in width from the nut to the bridge. The variance in tuning from string to string changes from fourths to a third. Finally, there is no visual contrast as with black and white keys.

As a self-taught guitarist, I have struggled to grasp the logic of the guitar fretboard. Recent comparisons with the patterns on the keyboard have helped immensely, as have instructional videos on Youtube. That said, I still learn best by listening to recordings and attempting to match what I hear. (I learned long before cable TV, Youtube and music streaming.) Because I have always sung along with the songs I have learned, written, and recorded and also gigged with some of the most skilled lead guitarists around, my guitar work remained somewhat limited. I either lacked the patience to learn beyond my chording rhythms or had no real need or motivation to progress beyond the skills I had achieved by age sixteen.

Since June of 2024, I am in the process of combining all of my chording, strumming, and picking skills–now adding the melody lines to the chord progressions. This “chord-melody” style is less common among guitarists. Most are either rhythm players or lead players. Currently, my chord-melody style playing is less “rhythmic” and more “flowing,” as is classical guitar which has no true melody but rather movements. (I am also attempting to expand my musical vocabulary.)

Though I am accustomed to playing with a drummer, drum track or metronome, I will have to develop further in order to play songs in actual dance time. This will occur naturally with practice. So, my initial solo gigs will be more for the socializers and listeners who aren’t necessarily paying all that much attention to exactly what my skills are. Since I’m usually battling stage fright while performing–especially new material, I’m most comfortable when no one is paying attention. However, with said ongoing practice, my solo gigs may/will eventually lend themselves to dancing. I might even become so familiar with the fretboard I am able to move my gaze from the strings and frets to the dancers . . .