My Journey of Acoustic Music Works 

Introduction: If you've come across my articles on TEFL, Home Workout, Digital Journeys 1 and 2 , you are welcome for a different treat today which will talk briefly about my journeys of acoustic music works from the scratch and can give you ideas here and in the next few articles on acoustic guitar for beginners, how to play acoustic guitar chords, finding good acoustic music shop, some acoustic guitar songs which are easy to play and finally a technique to tune your acoustic guitar and ukulele without any acoustic guitar tuner.

Music has always held a special place in my heart and my journey as a music enthusiast began in 2008 when I was already studying at Mirzapur Cadet College. It was during those formative years that I discovered my love for the acoustic guitar. With limited resources and the absence of a prominent internet presence, I relied on the guidance of various teachers, YouTube videos and the wisdom of my seniors to nurture my skills. In this blog, I will take you through my musical journey, from those early days of learning to my present-day pursuit of covering songs as a passionate musician.

Discovering the Acoustic background: Let's start with a small history check of 2008, when I was just a teenager cadet, studying in Mirzapur Cadet College and was looking at my other fellow multi-talented batchmates and seniors doing lots of productive things and learning more. Artcell, Aurthohin, Black, Warfaze were some of the renowned popular Bangladeshi bands of that time that we would listen to, all day long, accompanied by some Indian and Pakistani bands like Jaal and English bands like Backstreet Boys, Greenday etc. Some of my friends had huge fascination for singing and music altogether, but none of us could take it to the next level. At those times, we were given small vacations after every 2 or 3 months so that we could meet our family and cherish few of the things that we couldn't do for the limitations and restrictions there. While the internet was not as accessible as it is today, I made the most of the resources available to me, including YouTube tutorials and guidance from fellow musicians, I soon found myself aimed with a notebook filled with insightful lessons that I diligently transcribed, ensuring i never missed an opportunity to improve my skills.

Beginner phase: As a young cadet, I was drawn to the acoustic guitar's enchanting melodies and captivating rhythms. Whenever I returned home during vacations, I sought out different teachers who could provide me with valuable lessons. So, in the same year during vacation, I got a guitar from my elder sister as a gift at a cheap price. Afterwards, I started looking for teachers (as YouTube was not prominent for learning anything by then), started learning the basics through them (I had to learn from several teachers as my vacations were inconsistent with their time) and practiced them after going back to cadet, with my seniors and 2 of my batchmates periodically. A typical starter pack might include doing some hand and finger exercises, knowing how to draw the basic chords and hold them practically, names of the notes, finger picking and plucking tasks, RPGO etc (will explain and talk about all these in the following articles). A lot of my friends got inspiration through us and started learning without having a guitar, as their mentors were right in front of them! Remember there are only 12 notes namely, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G# (# are called sharp) and 14 chords (A-G, all Major and minors). Right now, in 2023, I have learnt playing some advanced versions and stored them in my own Youtube Channel.

The Role of singing: While my primary focus was on the guitar, I also discovered a talent for singing. As a result, I became involved with several small bands, performing at various events in my college and university. Singing allowed me to express myself in a unique way, complimenting the melodies produced by the guitar. The combination of playing the guitar and singing opened up new avenues for me as a musician and deepened my passion for both disciplines.

Adapting to change: As life progressed, my priorities shifted and I found myself dedicating less time to playing the acoustic guitar. However, my love for music never waned. To keep the fire alive, I began exploring the world of cover songs. This new endeavor allowed me to showcase my vocal abilities while incorporating the guitar as a supportive instrument. With the rise of digital platforms, such as YouTube, I was able to share my musical digital interpretations with a wider audience. The positive feedback and support I received encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion.

Mistakes to avoid: As a beginner, you might face a lot of difficulties and have rush of blood, enough to take bad decisions. Please remember, learning anything like playing guitar needs focus, practice, patience and a little bit of time. Don't try to cover a song immediately after the day you bought a guitar. Whether you're a righty or lefty, take some time to adjust your hands and fingers to hold it and get used to doing things it has never done before. There are plenty of online videos on hand exercises. Buying a cheap or normal guitar with good sound is also very important, as you don't want to lose your money while experimenting on the fancy guitars and damage it. Slowly, master the chords one by one, enrich your knowledge on what major and minor chords are why they are called so. I'm hopeful that within a month or two, you'll be able to perform on stages with these knowledges. I have kept my Youtube channel just as a part of my hobby, but in future I have ambitions to earn through them as well! It's very important to earn views at first with contents with quality just like the one I got with one of the popular songs, Bondhu! (21K views already 😱).

The Joy of covers: Covering songs became a creative outlet for me, enabling me to put my unique spin on beloved tracks. It was a way to pay homage to original artists while infusing my own style and interpretation. I meticulously arranged each cover, carefully selecting the chords, melodies and vocal harmonies that would best convey the essence of the song. These covers became a testament to my growth as a musician and served as a platform for self-expression.

The Power of Music: Throughout this journey, I realized the transformative power of music. It has the ability to transport us to different emotions, times and places. Whether I am performing in from of an audience or recording a cover in the solitude of my room, music allows me to connect with myself and others on a profound level. It has provided me solace during challenging times, served as a form of celebration during joyous moments and ultimately enriched my life in countless ways.

Last words: If you like to sing as a hobby like me and don't want to pursue your career as a guitarist, still learn it! It's one of the easiest instruments to learn and impress your friends or (girlfriends/boyfriends!). You can perform on stages and get the extra attention, wherever you're shining. If you're residing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, you can find good acoustic music shops in Science Lab, Bashundhara City etc or you can even order online through some facebook pages. There are several easy-going acoustic guitar songs that you can find in Youtube channels like. Finally, if you don't know how to tune a guitar, you can buy an acoustic guitar tuner from one of the aforementioned shops or you can simply use one of your natural organs, 'ear' as the tuner if you have a pair of good listening ones. I have a video that I made for tuning ukulele but you can use the same technique for your guitar, if you're out of network and don't have the access to tune guitar from elsewhere online.

Conclusion: My journey as a music enthusiast has been a remarkable one, filled with moments of learning, growth and self-discovery. From those early days of learning acoustic guitar in cadet college to my present-day-pursuit of covering songs on YouTube, my passion has remained unwavering. Through the guitar, I have found a medium of expression that complements my love for singing, enabling me to connect with others in a unique and profound way. As I continue on this musical path, I eagerly anticipate the new experiences and opportunities that lie ahead, knowing that my passion for music will forever be an integral part of who I am.

 That's all for today.

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HAPPY LEARNING!