talesofweirdfl's recent activity

  1. Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music

    talesofweirdfl
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    I've been digging on Jade Bird and this crazy awesome Americana Album "Memories and Moments" by Tim O'Brian and Darryl Scott. Magnificent

    I've been digging on Jade Bird and this crazy awesome Americana Album "Memories and Moments" by Tim O'Brian and Darryl Scott. Magnificent

  2. Comment on Does anyone here play banjo? in ~music

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Okay, now you're talking my language. There are a couple of easier (read more accessible) banjo styles that have excellent online training options. First, go listen to both Scruggs style banjo...

    Okay, now you're talking my language. There are a couple of easier (read more accessible) banjo styles that have excellent online training options. First, go listen to both Scruggs style banjo (banjoben.com) and Clawhammer style banjo (clawhammerbanjo.net). Both are fun, both are different, and either one will be more than enough to eat tons of hours and give you plenty of enjoyment.

    Both Banjo Ben and Clawhammerbanjo.net are also excellent training resources.

    Personally, I've been playing clawhammer style for a few years now. The reasons I went with clawhammer were as follows:

    Clawhammer is unique in that it covers both the rhythm and the melody. This lets me play by myself (which is basically all I get to do where I live) and it still sounds like a song and not just like notes or chords.

    I like the guy at clawhammerbanjo.net. His instructions are great and he answered all my emails.

    Bluegrass is great, but it really requires all the instruments to sound good. When it's just you and your 'jo, clawhammer is there to make you happy.

    Feel free to PM if you want to talk banjo.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Does anyone here play banjo? in ~music

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Hmm, hard to say. I think I started with a Goldtone. Personally, the biggest challenge with Irish banjo is the tuning. They like it to be tuned like a mandolin, but the neck is longer, so you end...

    Hmm, hard to say. I think I started with a Goldtone. Personally, the biggest challenge with Irish banjo is the tuning. They like it to be tuned like a mandolin, but the neck is longer, so you end up having to be super creative with the stringing. You almost always have to do a mix of steel-wrapped nylon and metal strings. I'd spend some time on banjo hangout and ask the guys/girls there what's good and even more importantly, what strings and configuration they are using.

    Deering is a fantastic banjo maker. I met Mr. Deering when he came to Florida about 5-6 years ago. Great guy. In fact, I own a Deering Goodtime open-back I play clawhammer on. I can't say enough good things about it. But, to be fair, my Goldtone 4-string worked fine for Irish music.

    The biggest challenge is going to be figuring out a solid set of strings for whatever you select (and you are most likely going to need individual strings from different manufacturers) to get the tuning right (GDAE). Most tenor banjos are going to want to tune CGDA (like a mandola/viola). This is going to be frustating, as it can lead to a floppy G string (which is why I went steel-wrapped nylon on the G string (and maybe D) to keep from going crazy.

    TLDR; Search banjo hangout for tenor banjos that can do the Irish tuning. Ask around which string combinations work best. Be compassionate and understanding with yourself, Irish music is insanely timed and sessions can be less than welcoming places for newbies. Expect to work for a while on their favorite tunes before you can sit in, especially with a banjo, as you'll be one of the loudest instruments there.

    PM me if you get stuck and I'll do what I can. Banjo is fun.

    3 votes

  4. Comment on Does anyone here play banjo? in ~music

    talesofweirdfl
    Link
    This sounds like me. I played Irish banjo for a few years before I got into five string. Okay so like the person above 17 or 19 doesn’t matter. With Irish music everything I ever played was in the...

    This sounds like me. I played Irish banjo for a few years before I got into five string. Okay so like the person above 17 or 19 doesn’t matter. With Irish music everything I ever played was in the first seven frets or so.

    There’s really no transition from four string to five string. The drone string is really different. Either using finger picks or playing claw hammer it’s tough to get much common ground with four string Irish music.

    Here’s the thing, Irish banjo is tough as nails. It moves fast, like incredibly fast. I second the metronome and lots of practice. Just be patient with yourself, it’s not easy.

    Feel free to pm if you want to talk further. Good luck!

    5 votes

  5. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

  6. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Sure. I didn't want the post to seem like an advertisement for her. I have to admit I don't know all the rules on tildes like I should, so I often error on the side of caution. I'll direct message...

    Sure. I didn't want the post to seem like an advertisement for her. I have to admit I don't know all the rules on tildes like I should, so I often error on the side of caution. I'll direct message you her name and FB acct.

    2 votes

  7. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    I am in awe. Amazing. I would love to try a small slice of it, is there any portion you would recommend for a weekend warrior?

    I am in awe. Amazing. I would love to try a small slice of it, is there any portion you would recommend for a weekend warrior?

    3 votes

  8. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Happy to help! Took this offline to private messages.

    Happy to help! Took this offline to private messages.

    5 votes

  9. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Thanks! Yes, totally not a "big name." But the whole experience was surreal. It was so amazing to get what amounted to a private set, then to be treated like a fellow creative? Well, like I said,...

    Thanks! Yes, totally not a "big name." But the whole experience was surreal. It was so amazing to get what amounted to a private set, then to be treated like a fellow creative? Well, like I said, it was the highlight of 2023, without question.

    4 votes

  10. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    She was on the verge of tears when we met. Couldn't believe I'd held onto the album so long. I told her I was crushed when the CD player ate it. I'd gone so far as to contemplate taking my dash...

    She was on the verge of tears when we met. Couldn't believe I'd held onto the album so long. I told her I was crushed when the CD player ate it. I'd gone so far as to contemplate taking my dash apart. Yes, as an artist, to have that sort of effect on people is beyond measure.

    14 votes

  11. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Good for you! As with any big change, the first step is always the hardest. Go you!

    Good for you! As with any big change, the first step is always the hardest. Go you!

    6 votes

  12. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Thank you! It might get a little dark as I write horror, but you never know!

    Thank you! It might get a little dark as I write horror, but you never know!

    7 votes

  13. Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link
    This is a long one, but hopefully worth it. So, 15 years ago, my wife and I used to be way more hip and trendy. One night we went out for drinks and ended up listening to this 20 something soulful...
    • Exemplary

    This is a long one, but hopefully worth it.

    So, 15 years ago, my wife and I used to be way more hip and trendy. One night we went out for drinks and ended up listening to this 20 something soulful goth guitar girl. Anyway, I was so taken by her vocals that I bought a CD off her.

    I kept that CD in my car until 3 weeks ago, when I inserted it in the dash player and something broke.

    Just like that, a CD I'd cherished for 15 years had been eaten. In a panic, I tried to get it out. A few hours of internet searches and a dozen attempts with different combinations of button presses, I had to give up. So I went back to the computer to track that musician down. Well, turns out her life went sideways and she had to get out of music in 2020. She makes jewelry now on Etsy.

    So, what the hell, right? I messaged her on Etsy and explained the situation, sent her a photo of the CD case and asked if I could buy a replacement.

    She was floored. She wrote me back and couldn't believe I'd kept her CD that long. She talked to me all about her retirement from music and how hard it had been, etc. I promptly sent her $15 for a "burned" replacement as she had long since lost all the originals.

    I asked if she was going to ever play again. She said she was playing Friday for her Mom's new interior design studio opening, along with a couple of NYC indie musicians.

    I asked if I could buy tickets and again, she was stunned.

    So last Friday I showed up with my wife and we watched her play. First, I felt like a damn VIP. It was like having a private concert in your living room. What was even crazier was she'd told the story to the other musicians who wanted to talk to me about my books.

    Turns out she'd googled me. So there we were, for a solid ten minutes talking artist to artist. We talked writing, songwriting vs novel writing, stories, etc. They asked me all about inspiration and was amazed that I'd written so many books.

    This alone would have been enough, but then, against all odds, it got better.

    She asked what my favorite song was, and at the end of the night, played it just for me. Like, legit adjusted her seating and focused only on me.

    I didn't quite know how to handle the sheer amount of joy. I was overwhelmed.

    That's my win.

    It was an evening I'll never forget.

    139 votes

  14. Comment on What did you change your mind about this year? in ~talk

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    As a fellow writer who is eyeing the door after many years of failure, may I ask what changed your mind?

    As a fellow writer who is eyeing the door after many years of failure, may I ask what changed your mind?

    4 votes

  15. Comment on The Shadow over Innsmouth in ~books

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    Well this is just wonderful for my eyes. Thank you!

    Well this is just wonderful for my eyes. Thank you!

    2 votes

  16. Comment on Announcing Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo) for 2023! in ~creative.timasomo

    talesofweirdfl
    Link
    Oh yeah! This sounds perfect. I've been dying for an excuse to make my upcoming novel into a short puzzle game (like old infocom stuff). I've been looking at Gruescript and thinking it might be a...

    Oh yeah! This sounds perfect. I've been dying for an excuse to make my upcoming novel into a short puzzle game (like old infocom stuff). I've been looking at Gruescript and thinking it might be a simple way to make something fun that could be shared online. This sounds like a perfect excuse to make a short game during spooky month. Thanks, guys!

    2 votes

  17. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    no idea how I missed this! So sorry. Fascinating! That's a huge amount of work you put in. I'm looking forward to digging through all this. Thank you!

    KeenWrite Architecture

    no idea how I missed this! So sorry. Fascinating! That's a huge amount of work you put in. I'm looking forward to digging through all this. Thank you!

    1 vote

  18. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    talesofweirdfl
    Link
    I am loving exploring the Inform7/TADS/Ink/Twine world of interactive fiction. Right now, I'm neck deep in Inform 7 and rediscovering so many amazing games from my youth. I know the first dozen+...

    I am loving exploring the Inform7/TADS/Ink/Twine world of interactive fiction. Right now, I'm neck deep in Inform 7 and rediscovering so many amazing games from my youth. I know the first dozen+ things I make will be rough, but I'm so excited to work on this in the evenings.

    Other than that, I've been playing with building a novel production workflow out of Vim/Git/Make/pandoc, etc.

    Still in the embryonic stages of that, but it's certainly exciting!

    7 votes

  19. Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv

    talesofweirdfl
    Link Parent
    We are of a like mind. I'm just lost in more than half the story lines. At this point I think it's time to call it a day and move on to something else. Thanks for confirming my suspicions!

    We are of a like mind. I'm just lost in more than half the story lines. At this point I think it's time to call it a day and move on to something else. Thanks for confirming my suspicions!

    1 vote

  20. Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv

    talesofweirdfl
    Link
    I'm struggling to get through Foundation right now. It's not bad per se, it's just...flat? I want so badly to care, but it's just not pulling me in. The settings and the intro are beautiful, and...

    I'm struggling to get through Foundation right now. It's not bad per se, it's just...flat? I want so badly to care, but it's just not pulling me in. The settings and the intro are beautiful, and Lee Pace does a great job, but the bulk of the characters just feel like they're going through the motions. Contrast this to, say, The Expanse and there's just no comparison. That show oozed character, conflict, excitement. This feels like tepid oatmeal. But still, I'm trying... Perhaps there's some Psychohistory equation that explains why I'm not getting into it ;)

    3 votes