Comments on: Guitar lessons—and life lessons

By: hmunro

hmunro — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:44:58 +0000

Niiiiice! As for your fingers … at least you *can* pick out a few notes. I took guitar lessons for a year and all I can remember is the open chord for e minor. (And I have to use my right hand to position my fingers on the frets!)

By: XpatScot

XpatScot — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:07:07 +0000

I still have a guitar and occasionally dust it off and pick out a few notes but the fingers are getting old and slow. You can see it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xpatscot/3339783553/

By: hmunro

hmunro — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:56:39 +0000

Congratulations on providing the grossest/tastiest analogy for what it takes to “make it” as an artist, XpatScot! (I happen to rather enjoy haggis … but other readers may not concur.) And thanks, too, for drawing the parallels to Django Reinhardt. I love his music, but am ashamed to admit I didn’t know his story. I *have* known enough musicians, though, to know that only a small fraction become rich and famous. The rest either stick with it because they love it, or go on to pursue ill-advised modeling/acting careers. I’m very hopeful that Billy will be able to make it — again. BTW: Do you still play the guitar? As always, lovely to hear from you …

By: XpatScot

XpatScot — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:49:30 +0000

It seems to me that the recipe for success in the arts is a lot like the recipe for Haggis. First of all, you need the stomach for it; then you need lots of guts; and finally, you need heart. After that, it’s a matter of hard work and a little bit of luck. It would appear that Billy has everything necessary for success, despite the challenges he’s had to confront. He reminds me of another guitarist. Django Reinhardt was learning violin when a fire partially destroyed the mobility in his left hand. So he took up guitar and created a style that was unique in its time. The fire didn’t destroy his genius; or his determination; or his appetite for hard work; or his will to prevail. I bought my first guitar when I was 13, with my own money. But just having a guitar and having a vision of oneself on stage, making music is not enough. Billy’s story tells us what it takes.