The Story Continues...Once Upon A Time Part II

Dude,

Many many thanks for your kind words on the first story. If I am that good, I believe I owe part of what I am today to SB Influence. Will elaborate more on that when I come to that story….It’s nice to know there is at least someone out there who can appreciate the noise I create on the axes and even more so, understand the obsession and passion when words like “Strat” or “Les Paul” are mentioned. Thank you.

Let’s pick up where I left off…

As the story goes, I would continue the classical classes (and the dreaded art lesson) for the next 2.5 years. Techniques became more advance – harmonics, triplets plucking and even wider stretches – were introduced. I was still struggling with sight reading though and until today, I still can’t clap the beat to notes based on the values…..

During this time, in order to make lessons a little more fun and to fit us into contemporary music, my teacher had transcribed the very first pop song I would learn – Richard Marx’s Now and Forever. We have to learn everything, from the rhythm to the short solo. It was rather fun at that time though. We were given manuscript, that right, notes, to Tears in Heaven as well.

Of course, during that period, my favourite music will be the like of Rick Price, Bryan Adams, and anything that is poppy and major chord based, better still, guitar oriented. Maybe that’s why I got used to chord changing. Did I also mention to you before I did 3 school gig with an independent Chinese songwriting group and a gig for a major Chinese daily’s journalist night? I am not afraid to admit but that took strumming and finger picking (or plucking) accompaniment to the next level. I won’t go too detailed on that part of my life though.

So Rick, Richard and Bryan helped by establishing a good understanding of chord changes and various style to accompany the song with guitar. I-IV-V progression type of music became a norm at that time until one day, my music school decided to organize a music workshop. Among the attendee, is another teacher from another city and he will be doing some electric stuff.

I never thought what electric guitar could do and the demo really amazed me. We were given a catalogue of Yamaha electric guitars. One of the most vivid image till today, is the picture of Bill Leverty of Firehouse (he is an endorsee of Yamaha Pacifica).

During the same period, television were showing concert by Clapton, Bon Jovi, The Eagles, etc. And one of the biggest thing at that time – 1995 was Metallica’s Black album and Nirvana’s Nevermind. Those were the days of cassette and video tapes. I have recorded most of the TV gigs and watched them again and again. That got the electric vibe going. I have to credit Yngwie Malmsteen’s Magnum Opus. That albums sealed my destiny……

I started buying Guitar World beginning 1996. From then on, I got more exposed to rock music and electic based materials. SRV, Dream Theater, Johnny Winter, KISS, Pantera, are some of the many new bands I got introduced to.

I took me quite some time to actually hear them – small town issue. Luckily, there was a record shop downtown who is very helpful is sourcing the cds for me. Never fail. So most of my school allowance went to CD. At that time, I could afford only one per month. That’s why cassette was a better choice. That’s why you still see them in my car.

Unknowingly, the wind of change lied ahead where it would change the whole course of my guitar playing life.

Had I tried the Classic Vibe before the Mex, I may have settled for the former......