The Sound of Music by olivetreeann

The Sound of Music

My husband Jeff is a very talented musician. He prefers the blues and Southern Rock, but he can also play folk and bluegrass. He's got an assortment of instruments for each genre and when he's playing, he's "in the zone" as they say. He just walked in and saw me uploading this shot onto 365 and said, "When did you take that?" It was taken this morning in during a sound check in church. He was so focused on the sound, he didn't even notice the camera! Jeff unleashes his creativity using the strings of his instruments. I unleash mine through the eye of the camera. LOL He's got his instrument, and I have mine!
He's playing the chord 'D' at the moment! Lovely guitar!
July 23rd, 2012  
@maggiemae lol Maggie! This guitar has a great (and long!!!) story behind it- but the short version is that I bought it as a gift for him many years ago. I had been saving money for a camera and a la "The Gift of the Magi" I used the money for this guitar. However unlike that literary classic, I actually ended up with a camera after all. Maybe someday I'll take another shot of it and tell "the rest of the story".
July 23rd, 2012  
Great action shot. I know you enjoying hearing him. I sure do, when my daughter plays. A talent I wish I had, but didn't get. :-)
July 23rd, 2012  
Great spontaneous shot. It must be so nice to have a husband who plays the guitar. I hope you take another shot and finish the story...
July 23rd, 2012  
Great perspective. Your husband is very talented.
July 23rd, 2012  
must be fun to be able to play music.
July 23rd, 2012  
Great pov
July 23rd, 2012  
Creativity comes in many forms. The important thing is that you both appreciate each other.
July 23rd, 2012  
Love the perspective.
July 23rd, 2012  
artistry thrives in a home where both appreciate each other's form of art. lovely set up. i like it.
July 23rd, 2012  
Great perspective
July 23rd, 2012  
What a great capture and story! Memories to hold close forever :-)
July 23rd, 2012  
Terrific pov, making me want to get mine out for a strum
July 23rd, 2012  
Beautiful capture, Ann. When I was young I tried to learn to play the guitar but gave up very early.
July 23rd, 2012  
Well you captured his enjoyment quite well from that angle.
July 23rd, 2012  
I don't have a musical bone in my body and I really admire people who do. Perfect capture of your hubby doing something he really enjoys.
July 23rd, 2012  
Great shot ... guitar music is just so beautiful!
July 23rd, 2012  
Super POV
July 23rd, 2012  
Nice touch of movement in the right hand too. I used to play a bit of blues and ragtime, but haven't picked up a guitar for years now ... I know enough to say that your husband's a terrific musician though.
July 23rd, 2012  
Bev
Nice shot! Great perspective!
July 23rd, 2012  
very nice point of view! guitars are very photogenic
July 23rd, 2012  
@vposey @anazad511 @daisy @sarasdadandmom @kerristephens @allie912 @nadaa @summerfield @kimmistephens @salza @wenbow @sangwann @digitalrn @nicolecampbell @paulavdmerwe @httpgeffed @automaticslim @prttblues @woot

Thank you one and all: Vickie, Ana, Kathryn, Terry, Kerri, Allison, Nada, Vikki, Kimmi, Sally, Wendy, Dione, Rick, Nicole, Paula, Colleen, Andy, Bev and Davide! (Phew!)

So glad you all liked this spontaneous shot. So here's the full story on the guitar. Jeff and I had only been married for two years when his acoustic Gibson got a crack in the wood by the pick guard. Thinking that it was unplayable he put it in the case and basically resigned himself to being without a guitar for a LONG while. We had no money for extras. But he was so SAD!!! We'd sold the amp to his electric guitar to help pay rent, so that was silent and now this. I had been saving what little money I earned babysitting, doing odd jobs and serving as a human guinea pig for a product testing firm (they loved my light skin for testing the spf abilities of sun tan lotion!). I was just a few dollars shy of getting my first 35mm camera but as Jeff's birthday approached, I just couldn't bear to see him without an instrument, so I enlisted the help of a friend (I didn't drive then) and together we went to one of Jeff's music store haunts in search of another guitar. I was hoping to get the exact same guitar but they didn't have it. However, they did have this Guild which was very similar to his Gibson. "Here," the salesman said handing the guitar to me, "Play something on it. You'll see. It has a great sound." Well, I did play guitar for a bit, but only campfire songs! So I had him play it instead. It had a great sound and I knew Jeff would like it. I couldn't bring it home that day (because I wanted to surprise Jeff on his birthday) so we made arrangements for my friend to pick it up later. I was a bit disappointed to not get my camera, but I knew I'd be able to save up again. Jeff was utterly surprised when I presented that guitar to him! A few months later, Jeff was at the music store where he'd purchased the Gibson (different store) and mentioned to one of the guys he knew there that the Gibson had cracked. Lo and behold the instrument was under warranty! So we sent it to Gibson and they repaired it. Now Jeff had two acoustic guitars! One day a friend from church mentioned that her teenage son really wanted to learn guitar. He had bought an amp, but then decided he wanted to play acoustic guitar instead. Since Jeff had come to prefer the Guild, he told her about the Gibson. Connie and Pete traded the amp and the balance value of the guitar in cash for the Gibson. Now Jeff was able to play both his electric and acoustic guitar AND I was able to go buy a camera! I always think of the Gift of the Magi when I think of that story, but unlike the main characters there we both ended up with what we initially wanted even after sacrificing what we had for the other.
July 23rd, 2012  
I'd love to hear him play sometime! Wonderful picture....and even more beautiful is the story that you told.
July 23rd, 2012  
@olivetreeann Great story Ann!
July 23rd, 2012  
Wonderful story, Ann. Thanks for completing it. It pays to be nice and be for each other.
July 23rd, 2012  
@mrssmith Thanks Carla- if you go to YouTube and type in Bigfatskinee his page will come up. There are several songs there- both with the guitar and the banjo.
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen!
@anazad511 Thanks Ana!
July 23rd, 2012  
Love the perspective and how nice to have a musician in the family. Great story, Ann.
July 24th, 2012  
@cimes1 Thanks Carole! And a very talented musician at that!
July 24th, 2012  
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